New Playlist

Used the site Brian used to make a playlist. It's really easy to use and mine has about 45 songs on it right now :). Just click on the button that says create your own free playlist and make an account. It is really quick and easy and it will even work at school. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Fahrenheit 451 Essay

Nick Sieb
English
December 10, 2008

Fahrenheit 451


Your life is blank and devoid of meaning; no one cares no one notices. Everything is controlled precisely, no one is thinking freely, no one is thinking for that matter. Censorship destroys everything that makes us human, and takes away all of our rights. You cannot suppress the combined power of the mind, for curiosity will always exist, and people must think for themselves. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 they try to censor everything, and people are not given the information that they need. This makes sure people do not know the severity of the issues that are affecting the country, this means they have no reason to worry, but they cannot help.

Mankind will always be curious and we have the right to know about issues that are affecting our lives. Clarisse awakens the curiosity that is laying dormant inside Montag’s mind. She wants to know the reasons why things are how they are. Curiosity is what drives mankind to make advances in technology and other fields. When Mildred overdoses on the pills, she does not even know what the pills do. She has no curiosity to find out what the pills do, or how much she has to take. Mildred is the perfect example of what will happen when we have no curiosity. She does not care, and she does not know; in short her life is just about doing the robot motions of daily life, without any passion or fulfillment. It is so obviously an irony, because mankind would never be able to live their life doing things so mechanically; life has no purpose without fun or curiosity.

Unlike Mildred, Montag realizes his ignorance and tries to change it. He becomes frustrated with other people, he knows he is right, but people are unwilling to accept the truth, because they are afraid of change. Just like the Myth of the Cave they are unwilling to accept change, for they only know how things are now and they don’t want to change them. Montag begins to see the world in a whole different dimension, and for once he actually begins thinking how things could have been better. This sort of knowledge comes as a shock to the women at Montag’s house and they call him a monster for having these intellectual thoughts. People need to voice their opinions, because everyone has a different opinion, and everyone can contribute something to society. If only one person were to think for you, and tell you everything, and you had no power to think differently everyone would be the same and passion would be gone.

Although thoughts being expressed orally is good, written books are a great way to gain intellect and stimulate thoughts in your brain. When Montag learns of the power of books he is amazed. When the woman is being burned she says “You can’t ever have my books”. He realizes that if people are willing to die rather than give up their books, then books must be pretty important, and powerful. Books teach us what we should fear, and shows the mistakes we have made. While we cannot exclude ourselves from society, you must be able to criticize things intellectually. Montag realizes that not being able to criticize society, the society will become corrupt, and you have no say in it.

Even though Montag knows that everything is turning bad, and he needs to do something; he can’t help them now. The people are mindless, and they cannot be changed. If everyone allows the government to censor what they read, people will cease to have to think about things. If everyone allows their minds to be turned to mush then the government will take over. The government wins and they control everything and everyone. Every thought is closely monitored and you cannot disagree with the governments opinions or decisions. This is the ultimate dystopia.

Great Expectations

Nick Sieb
English
November 18, 2008

Great Expectations


You are all alone, a young man in the big cruel world, yet suddenly you come upon a huge fortune and everything changes. The money and power go straight to your head, and you find yourself doing things you would never have done; you would find yourself becoming what you once hated so much. For Pip ignorance is his tragic flaw, his downfall, and the cause of all of his misery. Ignorance is within every single human being, so overwhelming, so powerful. It as silent as the night; before you know it, it swoops down and takes you over. Pip in the novel Great Expectations suffers from this flaw, yet when he realizes what is happening the damage is already done.

After he gets rich, Pip completely forgets where he comes from, and starts treating his friends and family like dirt. Bribing his friends to like him, wasting money even though he has no idea how long it took to make the money; he becomes exactly what he hated when he was lower class. He believes that money is all powerful and those who have it are entitled to just about anything they want; he even believes that these things can come at the expense of others. His whole life turns into one big mess, and he does not have the tools to clean it up; in fact he does not even desire to. Pip even realizes it and reflecting on it he says “In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong.” After realizing he has sealed his fate with his ignorant choices he tries to make amends, but he has lost so much.

Besides being ignorant to where you came from, you can be ignorant to other people, because you believe you are the one that is suffering the worst. Ms. Havisham’s ignorance stems from the fact that she refuses to get over what people have done to her. Her senses of passion, love, and remorse are completely gone. What is left is a life without fulfillment, with no joy, and with no reason to live. As she is suffering from major burns she realizes “…suffering has been stronger than all other teachers, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.” It proves that ignorance can take a once sweet, caring young woman, and melt away all the goodness, and leave you with a blackened heart. She realizes her mistakes, and tries to make up and get some closure, but it is too late for her; she is doomed to a lonely life.

The only thing worse thing, is seeing how others act and not making any effort to become better than that person; to stand up for what you know is right, and what you believe in. Estella realizes that Ms. Havisham has no love, or passion for her, yet she does not make any attempt to not let all these terrible things rub off on her. Her guardians treated her like dirt, and so she thinks that is how it should be. “So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses, and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise.” phrased Dickens. What she doesn’t understand is everyone can change, and with enough effort anyone can be a kind loving person. All traces of caring are gone and she leads people on, even when she recognizes she should not be. Seeing what you have become, and not wanting to change it, is like throwing your life away, and not caring. Estella was like a beautiful flower; wilting, and wilting, and finally turning into the dirt it had once sprouted from.

Although Mr. Jaggers comes off as ignorant and weird, he is better than the more ignorant characters. Mr. Jaggers makes sure he tells it how it is, and does what he thinks is right. He doesn’t keep many secrets from anyone, and makes sure he does everything is a business-like fashion. Wemmick is also a very business-like person, yet he tries to hide the fun, caring side of him. He is too feeble to stand up, and refuse to do the things he thinks is wrong; instead he justifies it as saying “Home is one thing, and work is another”. It is not respectable to hide the real you, and what you stand for. If you have an opinion you need to let it be heard, and do what you know to be right, not what others tell you is right. You should not just go with the flow, you can be the flow. You should never give up hope, because you will fail everything you don’t try.

Unlike all these ignorant people Joe is the ideal, for what you should be like. He knows that he is a lower class person, but he does not try to hide it, or fight it, he owns it. Pip sometimes tries to force him to be something he is not, but he only agrees out of love for Pip. The real way to find fulfillment in life, is to like where you are, and what you do. Joe has a pure heart, and he follows it, doing what he thinks is right. It proves that even a humble blacksmith can still enjoy life; no matter how rich or how poor you are; it’s your attitude that determines what kind of a person you are; and what kind of life you will have. You only have one life, and If you do not enjoy it, you will have wasted everything you have. And you will never get it back.

In the end, Pip and Estella both learn that what they did was wrong. Both of them made mistakes, and let themselves become monsters. They are undoubtedly ashamed of what they have become, but they cannot undo what has already been done, they cannot fix all the people’s hearts they have broken, however they know they cannot be together, and must go their separate ways. Pip was too blind to realize that the girl he wanted was right in front of him the whole time, but she was too good for him; an ignorant person like that does not deserve a sweet loving girl. Joe ends up with Biddy, and they will live a blissful life, and I am sure they will be happy with what they have; but Pip is probably so blind and ignorant he does not even care. Dickens phrases “Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. Ignorance can take over your life and destroy it before you know it, and when you look back it will be too late.

Leaf

Time

This is my entry in the Patriot's Pen essay competition.







Why Veterans Should Be Honored

You’re miles away from home, in a foreign country, with danger lurking everywhere. Why are you there? The answer is simple. To defend your country to provide a safe and free country for generations to come. It doesn’t matter what nationality you are, Italian-American, German-American, African-American, Asian-American, French-American, defending our country brings us together, and brings the best and worst out of everyone. It is important to honor these brave Americans, these true patriots, these talented and honorable individuals. This is a very serious subject, you must honor our veterans, because without them we would be overrun, and our freedom ripped away.
We are a unique country, with new ideas and a certain fairness, that most other countries lack. A sense that we have equal rights, that all sexes and races deserve to be treated equally. The people of America are willing to fight to protect our rights. It is not just because we are told, it is not just for the pay, but for honor and justice. Some veterans are forgotten, whether they were labeled MIA, or POW. These veterans went through a lot for our country, and I believe it is our duty to remember them. Sometimes, our veterans are unfairly criticized and the media only tells of the bad things. We need to focus on the good things our veterans have done, and they heavily outweigh the bad things. The memorials we build help honor our veterans, but there is more that can be done. Everyone should thank these veterans and keep them in their prayers.
Veterans are some of the most important people in America. They do not sit there as things pass them by, they act on things. Using their strength, they help our nation continue to protect innocent civilians. Our nation believes in fairness and justice, and our armies try to enforce and preserve justice not only in our country but in other countries too. This is what makes them veterans, the fact that they put their life on the line, not for money, but for the love of humanity and justice. Of all the people that are in our beautiful country, our veterans are the most brave and valiant heroes.