Narrative on Attending a Speech by Ira Berlin -- Slavery

Narrative It was 2:23 on a Friday afternoon. Normally, at this time, I would have been missing my Computer Science lecture. But by a strange and, dare I call it convenient, twist of fate, the professor?s father died a couple days ago and the class was canceled. Not that it would have made a difference; I was prepared to skip the lecture and attend another given by Ira Berlin, a distinguished Mellon Senior Scholar, entitled Rethinking Slavery: 1800-1861. I walked through the entrance to 213 Gregory Hall, the room in which the lecture was to be given, and entered a completely empty room. To the best of my knowledge, the lecture was supposed to start at 2:30, which puzzled me. I figured that maybe it was rescheduled to a later time, and I?d stick around for a while until I got bored enough to leave. I seized the opportunity to choose my seat wisely. The room was divided into two major groups of seats, oriented in columns. Each column was seven seats wide and 10 seats deep. And there were a few seats lined up along the windows in the back as well, providing an approximate capacity of 150 persons, I estimated. My thought process was that I was here to observe the people more than the lecture. I also analyzed the fact that I don?t like history and concluded that if I sat in front, to see and hear the professor with greater ease, I would either bore myself or I wouldn?t understand. And since both of those were scenarios that ev entually resulted in my narrative being terrible, I decided to try my luck in the back. Two minutes passed before two more entered the room. They were two men, young enough to be students. The first had white skin, and wore a T-Shirt, a cap, and a metallic watch similar... ... made my way out. I had sat is that seat for over 2 hours and 10 minutes. My legs needed stretched, and I had a taste for a Big-Mac. What was the point of that lecture? For me, it was for a grade in Rhetoric 105, but I was probably a minority. It puzzled me that the lecture was open to the public, yet the average Joe, unless I have seriously overestimated my intelligence, would have no idea what Berlin was talking about. I go to lectures and classes in order to learn something, but I learned nothing here. Berlin spent a good 45 minutes bombarding me with new information, but he obviously assumed that the audience already knew things that I didn?t, because I comprehended none of the material. The only conclusion I could make was that, in order to understand what Berlin was saying, you had to already be familiar with the material that Berlin was covering.

The Catcher in the Rye and The Outsider novels hold

The Catcher In the Rye are both among the most important novels of the twentieth century. The modern world's general moral change and the individual's alienation from the society serve as the main, basic topic for both novels which is still relevant to any twenty first century reader. Since many people find themselves in the same position of feeling like an outsider from society In their own worlds, I intend to outline how It still finds relevance today.Both characters, Meursault and Holden Caulfield share the same sense that they are lienated from the worlds in which they live in which is important to a twenty first century reader as many people have problems assimilating themselves into society. Like Holden, teens today also resist conforming to society's norms as is also highlighted in The Stranger with the protagonist Meursault. Salinger chooses to narrate his novel so that the novel that depicts his protagonist, Holden's, transition from adolescence to adulthood.In contrast, Cam us writes his novel In order to record the events leading up to, and the last days before, the execution of his main character, Meursault. Through the employment of settings, characterisation and endings, both authors imply that society's pressure on the individual to fit in plays a major part in both of these climaxes, this has huge importance to any twenty first century reader as the topic Is still challenged in todays society. Both characters Meursault and Holden Caulfield suggest that society pressures individuals to fit in and conform to.Holden is a teenager struggling with the fact that everyone has to grow up, which to him means that you have to become â€Å"phony' or corrupt. Holden distances himself from the adult world and so to stay a child he gets imself expelled from schools. While on the other hand Meursault does things for no real reason. He is completely aloof, unattached and almost an unemotional person. He does not think much about events or their consequences, no r does he express much feeling In relationships or during emotional times.Both of these characters express their detachment from society which is relevant for many people in the twenty first centurys society as many people find difficulty finding their place within civilization. Holden's conversational tone and choice of words Illustrates his rebellion from adult ociety as a stereotypical teenager. His frustration with adults Is characterized by his persistent use of words like â€Å"goddamn,† â€Å"puked,† â€Å"hell,† â€Å"crap,† and â€Å"moron. † When Holden describes Jane's stepfather, he talks about how he would â€Å"run around the goddamn house naked†.He continues using this word when he tells the reader how Sally was conversing with a college friend, â€Å"they continued their goddamn boring conversation†. This relates to a twenty first century teenager in particular as they also have their own language to separate themselve s from their parents such as In the ries desperately to have almost a direct conversation with the reader, aware of his audience; he attempts to impress the audience by exaggeration or repetition through a narrative tone. There is a sense that Holden wants the audience to like him as he utilizes the audience as a counsellor as outpours his ideas.This is relevant to many teenagers in the twenty first century as they try to find their place in civilization or a school society and may go to extreme lengths to find themselves and create a reputation for people to remember them by. In The Outsider, it is almost the opposite ith Meursault. Through short clinical sentences and abrupt punctuation it highlights a detached character. Instead he lists a logical thought process and lays out what he thinks, almost unaware of a reader highlighted in the opening lines, â€Å"I'll catch the two o'clock bus and get there in the afternoon.Then I can keep the vigil and I'll come back tomorrow night. I asked my boss for two days off†¦ † This almost list style of writing enables the reader from building a connection or impression to the character as there doesn't seem to be much depth to his emotions or opinions. Meursault is unlike Holden in the sense that he does not crave attention and want people to like him his actions throughout the book explain how he is a stranger to society as he cant fathom why everyone around him is so interested in his being.The story examines the uncertainty of Justice: the public official compiling the details of the murder case tells him repentance and turning to Christianity will save him, but Meursault refuses to pretend he has found religion; emotional honesty overrides self-preservation, and he accepts the idea of punishment as a consequence of his ctions as part of the status quo. The actual death of the Arab as a human being with a family is seems almost irrelevant, as Camus tells us little more about the victim beyond the fact tha t he is dead.Indeed, Meursault is never even asked to confront, reflect or comment upon the victim as anything other than as a consequence of his actions and the cause of his current predicament. The humanity of the victim and inhumanity of murdering another human being is seemingly beside the point. The book holds huge relevance to the twentieth century reader as an interesting motif in The Stranger is that of watching or observation. Camus is writing a book about our endless search for meaning: that we are all looking for a purpose in our lives.The characters of The Stranger all watch each other and the world around them. Meursault watches the world go by from his balcony. He later passively watches his own trial; the world around him is a fascination to Meursault. He keenly observes the sun, the heat, the physical geography of his surroundings. The eyes of the Jury and witnesses at his trial, finally the idea of the watching crowd, representing the eyes of ociety, as he is an out sider of the world he surrounds himself in.To conclude, both The Stranger and The Catcher in the Rye are both relevant to different people within the twenty first century society for many different reasons, but both novels were written with the same topic of how one fits into society. Due to both characters in the novels being from different age groups within society it allows them to become important to people within those same age groups today as many face the same dilemma of finding themselves an outsider within their society.

The Impact Of Nascar On American Sports Culture And Socio...

The impact of NASCAR in the American sports culture and socio-economic activities National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is an imagined community that promoted nationalism in the US. Anderson Benedict categorically presented insightful information about the imagined communities through his numerous pieces of writing. He noted that the imagined communities promoted social integration, sporting activities among the US people, economic growth and cultural practices that include a new way of life (Goldberg 1). In particular, NASCAR helped in promoting national unity and change in the cultural practices including a way of life through sports and related activities. NASCAR community presents a great impact on the American sports culture and socio-economic activities. NASCAR community is made up of sports personalities. The community values sports and champions sporting activities with the aim of fostering peace and unity (Batchelor 226). They have always achieved significant gains with the sporting initiatives concerning the transformation of the way of life of the southern people including other parts of the nation. Likewise, NASCAR is a sporting community that coordinates multiple auto-racing sporting events. The community started its activities in 1948, and the brain behind its formation is known as Bill France. It was formed to spearhead motorsports stock-car racing that is highly prominent. The community’s objective was to foster cultural practices, provide aShow MoreRelatedSport Tourism6457 Words   |  26 PagesThe term sport tourism has become increasingly common in the tourism industry over the past five years; it is a lucrative segment of the tourism business. Lavalle (1997) estimated that sport tourism is a 845 billion industry . Sport-oriented vacations, however, are really nothing new. After all, the Romans and Greeks traveled to and participated in numerous sports events. Todays sport tourism is merely a new adaptation on an old theme. The growth in the popularity of sport-oriented leisure travelRead MoreMonster Energy Essay11236 Words   |  45 Pagesâ€Å"Through Monster’s partnership with Feld Motor Sports, Global Inheritance and our retail partners we’re able to reward supercross fans with an enhanced live pit experience for free, just for doing the right thing by recycling their Monster cans.† Corporate Social Responsibility CSR is a business approach; a concept where organizations voluntarily consider the well-being of society. The organization takes responsibility for how their businesses impact consumers, customers, suppliers, employees, shareholdersRead MoreInternational Marketing4703 Words   |  19 Pagesfor hosting extreme sporting events and sponsoring some 500 athletes. Over the years they have acquired four soccer teams, a Nascar team, and two Formula 1 racing teams. All of their teams have been quite successful and are financed from their healthy operating income. Since Red Bull aims to be seen as this drink for the extreme and cool, their association with extreme sports definitely helps inspire the consumers to consume Red Bull, especially the young and media sensitive. Over time, Red Bull beganRead MoreThe Subway Story5534 Words   |  23 Pagesfollowing: Strengths Size and number of subway stores. Opening of new subway restaurants on unusual and non- traditional sites. Structured, brief and organized training is provided to the franchisee to assure rapid start -up and success. Partnership with American Heart Association. Menu reflects the demand for fresh, healthy, tasty and fast food. Internationally recognized brand. Customizable menu offerings. Low cost of start up cost for franchisee. Weaknesses Some franchises are not happy. No control over