# 3 Once Upon a Long Time Ago

Once Upon a Long Time Ago.

Cameron Canupp

Eng 102 M-W 5:00 pm

Michael Benton

            Enlightenment was shown heavily through the RSAnimation video that I Watched in class, it showed a nice take on how in the 18^th century our founding fathers have came up with an idea or ideas, that could change the country. The enlightenment made public schools, a currency that we still use today, it helped break Americans away from many of their ties they had with England. I’d say many if not every country has had some sort of enlightenment, this is where they try to set boundary for everyday lives to or in order to be happy so they say.

            Personally I think its time for a new enlightenment, the 21^st century is in desperate need of one. All we do as every day working Americans is make the rich richer and the poor more poor, and warn out. If you start at the bottom of our society it is hard to get back up. Don’t get me wrong though if your at the top its just as easy to slip off. Are we all happy as Americans? Personally I think not I feel as if we are fed up with the he said or she said, finding total happiness in today’s society I believe its damn near impossible.

            I agree how today’s education is ran as if it were a factory, kids all the same age groups go in everyday and study and work for a chance to go to college and be successful. Just because you have that degree does not automatically pay off, Its hard to get a job in a certain specialized field. Which is no good if you go to school for twenty plus years including grade school through graduate school. And still not have a job, how does this make you happy. To find happiness you have to find it on your own not what they say (government, boss, mother, father, and teachers ect.) Its what you do or how you interpret life. We are in desperate need for a  21^st century enlightenment. 

# 2 Total Control

Total Control

Cameron Canupp

Eng 102 M-W 5:00

Michael Benton

        

         After reading the article They Say By: Douglas Roshkoff, I must say I don’t always agree what “they say” for example marijuana leading into LCD. I think that matters on how much control you have over your mind and body, being able to stop the urge to do things, some people on the other hand I feel is that they lake the mind over situation theory. I’m personally only make decisions on what I want or think is best, at least as much as I can control without my subconscious kicking in

            Now I do believe the conspiracy on changing the lighting or colors of a store, for example Wal-Mart, to make us shop more and buy things we did not intentionally go in to buy. They always have signs saying rollback deals to lure you in, but once you’re inside your mind subconsciously feeds and goes on a buying spree when introduced to the bright lights and color scheme.

            With the Internet anyone who wants to have any say on any possible thing you can think of, is now possible. The information that use to be not easy obtained is now accessible with a few simple clicks. It can either be a really bad thing or really good. Personally I think it’s a bad thing. First off why is there a need to know every possible thing? Its impossible to retain it all anyway. Plus people can access your information whenever they want, if they know what their doing. Its practically impossible to stay private off web, unless you have never made an email, or had a bank card, or even made a small loan through your bank, because your not the only one who puts all your info on the computer companies would wide now also do so.

            I enjoyed the article there were many good points and debatable topics all throughout the article. Even if you think you are in total control, its not ever that simple. The way he manipulates you to read this article, and talks about how media manipulates you is genius I was astonished after finishing this reading.

#1: Second Guessing

Second Guessing

Cameron Canupp

Eng 102 M-W 5:00

Michael Benton

            An introduction to criticism opened my eyes more than I thought it was going to. Usually I avoid the reality of what the world really is. I am a working student, I show up on work on time everyday, then go straight to school, go home and start my homework and rest when there is time. I realize after reading an intro to criticism, that I am the gold fish in a bowl. Going with what I learned was “right.” I now know that the pyramid is not as simple as it is made out to be, but to stay protected in modern day civilization is to abide by these rules that are set by society. These rules come into play as early as I can remember. Starting in Kindergarten, I learned that the number one rules were to keep hands and feet to yourself, and to treat others as you would like to be treated. My mother raised me to be a hard worker and always said to work hard, as hard as you can, and good things will follow. 

            After completing the reading, I now realize that the concept of not being able to climb the “wealth” pyramid when you are at the bottom is not true. The people who are at the top of the wealth pyramid have protected themselves to where people below them stay working while they get wealthier. I’m not saying that hard work doesn’t always pay off, at least the way I imagined it, but I have been blind living day-to-day the same sociable routine. Words change the way you think, they bend the truth so you can go about your everyday life believing what the higher power does. If you were not to follow societies meaning of what is right and what is wrong, it almost seems that society will put a stop to your actions/beliefs in all sorts of ways. An example in the introduction mentioned that they would incarcerate men or women for going outside of the guidelines when really they are acting upon human nature, before culture was even thought of.

            Personally I honestly thought about not doing this paper, because reading this meant changing my everyday routine. I thought maybe I could give you an explanation why I didn’t do it, but the reality from not doing the paper would have caused me to have a bad grade. Now I look at the world a little differently, second-guessing what is more complex, then they as in the media or radio etc, have brought to my eyes. The war on terrorism is more complex then I could ever summarize in a three hundred-word paper. Instead of hearing what I think about the situation, I wonder what they think. I believe what they did was morally wrong. I think the way we handled it was just as wrong, there could have been a compromise; we already liberated Iraq, so why are we still there?

            What I’m going to take away from this assignment is to not go with the first thing that comes to mind, but maybe in fact wait for the last thing. It is no longer about morals or what is right or wrong. It is about finding out who I am and not falling into the assumption made every day, from just hearing words such as ‘terrorism’ or ‘poor’. Whatever it may be, it is time to go outside of the box and switch up my routine. I’m not saying I’m going to act wild and wined up and end up in prison, but to look at all of my options.