Category: English 11 Honours

The Issue In a Logo

by nighinar2016

English 11 – Opinion Essay – Nighina R-1k9sixn

Once upon a time, there were Indians… or what explorers thought were Indians. Tribes of people that lived on this country before us are all stuck in the past and crammed under the world “Indian” or “Native.” It is as if we wanted to erase the fact of their tribal individuality and enforce them into our culture. As if these people haven’t gone through enough damage from urbanization, culture assimilation, and appropriation, we have been literally comparing them to animals for years as the false portray of them is used as logos along side logos of grizzly bears or hawks.

News Flash: Cleveland Indians and Washington Redskins have racist and offensive logos. If you don’t see why, you must be blind to the privilege you hold; you probably are able to paint your face red and chant at sports games without feeling offensive towards indigenous tribes.

This may be sounding critical of these amazing sports teams that have had long history with their logos for more years than I have been alive. Though, these teams will not be losing their players, fans, or successful reputation if they change a tiny logo or name. Moreover, names like “redskin” is just downright ignorant to use. I might as well make a team called “cracker,” but honestly that doesn’t hold the same racist slander. Redskin is just another slur that continues to remind the Indigenous people had been killed and skinned; therefore, the redskin from the skinned scalp was taken to prove they had been killed. Graphic, I know, but it is the history behind a team’s name that has still not been removed. 

If you don’t see the problems with the name, I repeat, you must be privileged. You must have privilege to not realize that stereotyping many different people of different tribes and cultures as reskinned men with a feather in their hair is destroying their identity. This privilege is not letting you see the problem because it does not affect you at all. I hope you are comfortable in your status because indigenous kids currently struggle to feel like they belong because they may not fit your perception of an “Indian.”

Rita Pyrillis writes from her experiences of being a Native Women and states that “[Indigenous people’s] very existence seems to be in question.” (Rita Pyrillis, Manataka.org) No matter what they may do, if the upper hand can only accept them in stereotypes, they will never be able to fully express themselves. These stereotypes have created a transparency towards these groups of people. Logos of feathered hair men with red skin and chants preformed at game times in attempts to display savagery does nothing but promote the stereotype of barbarity, brutality, and depravity. This is a stereotype for so many tribes. Everything they might be is condensed under the idea that they wear feathers in their hair and use a tomahawk; therefore, letting that idea replace any individuality they may have, culturally or personally.

In the end, these logos can seem like such a tiny problem, but the result can be severe. If we don’t start by changing this perspective of people, Indigenous people will never feel truly accepted as effect. If stereotypes can stop being promoted, it may end making people in a multicultural society feel left out. Something small as a logo that represents a negative depict should not be allowed to be used. My final thought is that a group of people don’t deserve to be represented falsely and cruelly, whether that be in the form of a logo or a name.

“Why Is the Chicago Blackhawks Logo Okay but Washington Redskins Racist?” Indian Country Media Network, 10 Apr. 2017, indiancountrymedianetwork.com/culture/sports/why-is-the-chicago-blackhawks-logo-okay-but-washington-redskins-racist/.

“The History of the Chicago Blackhawks Logo.” Sports Mockery, 6 Nov. 2014, sportsmockery.com/2014/11/history-chicago-blackhawks-logo/.

Release, C. B. (2008, August 07). Blackhawks Logo Voted #1 In NHL. Retrieved December 19, 2017, from https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/blackhawks-logo-voted-1-in-nhl/c-476429

P. (2013, January 30). Winona Linn – Knock-Off Native. Retrieved December 20, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_zFOsd_pqA

Rita Pyrillis, Sorry for Not Being A Stereotype, www.manataka.org/page392.html.

Holmes, Baxter. “Update: Yes, A ‘Redskin’ Does, In Fact, Mean the Scalped Head of a Native American, Sold for Cash.” Esquire, Esquire, 7 Oct. 2017, www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a29318/redskin-name-update/.

Blessings Away from a Bomb

by nighinar2016

English 11 – Narrative Essay – Nighina R-yhfhtt

The bombs did drop. I expected such before arriving; I knew the risk was considerable. My father begged me not to go. The danger of being there was enough to cause anyone to reject the trip. Nevertheless, my mind wouldn’t be at ease if I stayed here while my grandmother was sick and alone in Afghanistan. That was the first time I went; the first time I witnessed everything and nothing in front of my eyes.

Afghanistan is a beautiful country. It could’ve been my hometown had there not been unnecessary invasions and wars. If only the fear of being killed had not been crawling in my parents mind; if only they didn’t have to worry about the safety of their family. If only a country could mind its own business and use their own land graciously; if only men weren’t greedy, selfish, and war-creating conquerors. All this history left the land unsafe; therefore, it leaves it a last option to live due to its instability in governing and its unexpected internal actions. And o’ boy does my frustration have tantrums over the unjustifiable actions historically produced in this country.

Nevertheless, the tickets were booked, and my head began to pound due to the blows between excitement and fear as they battled for control of my emotions. I was about to travel across the world, meet new people, and see new things. I was, also, entering a country unlike my own; importantly, a country of conflict and great poverty caused by war and invasions.

This left the next few days to pass in a daze and confusion; suddenly, I’m on a plane that was headed away from home. In the end, the importance of my grandmother came and left fear and excitement hidden while battered, broken, and beaten in the shadows of my mind.

When the plane doors opened, the breath of hot air winds me. It was unbearable and unbreathable air that fogged up my thoughts. My mind tried to jump back on the plane home, but it was my heart that held onto it tightly and kept me on Afghan soil.

A week hurried past. I could faintly recall the days for they were nothing but routines. The routine of waking up, assisting the lady whom I loved, and falling asleep distressed, drained, and depressed followed everyday; nothing interesting had occurred. My mind can’t still conceive an understanding of what had happened to my family and how quickly it had all flipped around. I just knew that I had ended up in a country and my grandmother needed me; the fact that I was out of safety’s reach can’t matter.

I concluded from the time spent in this new place, that the country is not a reflection of Western media. It wasn’t in pieces like it is often represented, but it wasn’t striving due to their set backs. It was a functioning country in its own way. The land had flowers flourishing where it could; the people had kindness flowing through their extended hands. The country wore its flaws openly, for they could not hide the poverty or destruction left behind by wars. Indeed, my family fell to conflicts when deciding to leave their home country; though, life and safety came first.

I observe the people around me continue to maintain a steady day as I, a stranger to their lives, float by. I roam, pushing the shaky wheelchair, through the bazaars while witnessing bodies heading away and following another duty of their life.

How can these people live peacefully? They live happily and calmly, yet countries can invade them in any minute and the government stability is out of wack. Are they not afraid for their safety? Are they not sad about the fall of their homeland?

My thoughts jump off my lips and escape my mind. The soft spoken internal question was answered by my grandmother: “Nighina dear, they have no choice. Their families weren’t as blessed as yours. Not everyone can move away and live a stable life, yet everyone who passes us wants the stability to live in a peaceful place. Everyone wants to know they are safe and are away from the chances of being harmed because of the country they live in. And some just don’t want to leave their home; instead, they stay and fight.”

We continue our own way, just like everyone else. Unlike everyone else, I was going to leave in two weeks and be under the protection of a secure government. I would go home to a place with a fulfilling education and a bright future that I know has little chance of being blown up; literally and figuratively. I was born in a family granted with the blessing of safety, a family that didn’t need to stay and fight.

The night slowly began its creep towards us and we decide to end the day. My grandmother’s snores were audible in the room I sit in. I tried to read the book in my hands, but it seems the words could not remain in their places. My eyes could not follow them into space as they floated away. My eyes could not focus on anything; instead, my mind remains occupied by the words of my grandmother that it couldn’t spare energy on other functions.

The lights began to flicker, disrupting my vision. The silence of the house was interrupted without notice, by the sudden rattling of windows. My body shot up with explosions erupting in every corner, not letting me understand what had just happened.

Why did the house shake? Could it just have been an earthquake?

God knows this couldn’t have been anything close to an earthquake. An earthquake doesn’t roar; an earthquake doesn’t bang on the windows manically; an earthquake doesn’t end in screams; an earthquake does not flow smells of smoke through the air. My legs drag to the door and my hand jitter as it pulls the handle towards me; no one was around to stop me. The silence outside was deafening. The heat in the air intensifies with fear and anger every passing second. My ears ring with uncontrollable cries heard from a block away. A bomb had fallen on the streets of Kabul.

I never knew everything could fall to nothing so quickly. Security and comfort felt like a pen pal located miles away and I had never been so eager to visit this friend. The knowledge that I was alive flood my mind and rippled ideas to keep living. Why live? Because I survived the now. Because I can make it to a future.

–

I used good verbs to describe my experiences.

I chose an original topic.

Next time, I want to take more time to make sure sentences aren’t too awkward.

Dead Poets Society and Macbeth

by nighinar2016

The central message of Dead Poets’ Society can be summed up in Mr. Keating’s words “To really live you have to suck the marrow out of life, but be careful not to choke on the bones.” It is a story that reminds us to live the life we want to live; to be our own persons and not conform; to see the beauty in life. We should fall in love with our lives. But, it also reminds us not to “choke on the bones” or to be wise with our decisions when living life outside of others ideas.

The poem “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow” said by Macbeth before his death has a different perspective on life. This idea of life is completely different from what Mr. Keating tries to bring to the boys. Macbeth is sharing the idea that life, no matter what you become or what you have, is never going to help you live peacefully. This why he lets death in. Macbeth realizes that even as a king, even when he finally has accomplished what he wants, he will never be truly peaceful. Therefore, all he has done in life has been meaningless since life has passed him by and he will die without being truly content.

When Macbeth recites this poem, he is giving off the theme that he has given up on life. This is all similar to Neil’s idea of life before he kills himself. Just like Macbeth, he realizes that all he has done, all he aspired to become, would never be able to fully be accomplished. He thinks that life is pointless if what he has become never can remain, just like Macbeth realizes that even as a king he cannot avoid death and continue living his life as a king peacefully.

I love this movie. This movie is what has inspired me to be happy in life and follow my dreams. It helps me see different perspectives on life and become more empathetic towards those who can be seen struggling in life and with their dreams. It helped me finally resolve the question “what’s the point of everything I am doing in life?” This is because Mr. Keating shared the idea that no matter what you do in this short life, be happy in it.

Image result for dead poets society

Human Savagery

by nighinar2016

Image result for human good or bad

English 11 – Persusive Essay – Nighina R-23tqzwl

It is human nature to question what it is to be human. It takes science and opinion to finally answer what a human is. This philosophy of life will always be questioned and debated. With opinion alone, William Golding wrote his book about the way of life in 1954. A book about boys, laws, and savagery. War strikes the world and a plane, heading towards safety for the passengers, crashes; therefore, leaving a group of young boys to fend for themselves on an island. William Golding’s novel The Lord of the Flies discusses the philosophy that humans are born evil by nature and without laws, will then go back to their corrupt ways. This perspective of humans is shown through the story of Ralph, Jack, Piggy, Simon, and the rest of the boys that survived their crash and are left on this empty island. Despite the popularity of the book, Golding’s philosophy is incorrect and cannot be proven completely true. Golding’s philosophy derives from his experiences of the world and explains his idea, but cannot defend it. With this philosophy in mind, Golding creates The Lord of the Flies, but struggled to mirror a common human civilization and relate this philosophy to all humans. Furthermore, Golding lived in a time where science was not fully positive about the functions of the human brain and had yet proven whether nature or nurture played the role in the good and bad of humans. Golding created his book with the intent to share to the world that humans are not perfect and can be evil. Due to lack of accurate evidence, Golding’s philosophy has no truth.

Golding lived through World War II and D Day. He witnessed the worse of humans and the hardship of the world. He witnessed humans that have fallen to evil and follow the order of those that order corruption. These life struggles gave him the perspective of cruelty towards humans. His past justifies his hurt and pain. He watched those around him fall, which gives him the right to feel hatred and believe that it is nature that creates evil. Golding saw evil in the humans of war and created the philosophy that the evil must come from nature and not from human’s environment and it is laws that hold humans back from becoming evil. Golding said, “Before the Second World War, I believed in the perfectibility of social man… but after the war I did not. I had discovered what one man could do to another… anyone who moved through those years without understanding that man produces evil as a bee produces honey, must have been blind or wrong in the head.” (Golding, Bloom’s Guide Lord of the Flies, Page 56) Through his years of pain, he rightfully can have this opinion about the world. Though, this opinion does not apply to all humans. He witnesses humans fall to evil under power or become forced to participate in destruction. However, he did not account for all the people who did not participate and who did not want to see the world fall to ruins in the hands of power and evil. War is a human creation and is created to gain what a human may not have. The advancements in technology and the way that society classifies things with standards is what causes greed and lust. If the environment or society never placed these standards, people may have never fought for them. If you remove money and the idea of power and control from people, they can find peace. War is a production of the society, it is not a blame on all humans.

Golding’s philosophy is about humans but his book lacks justification for this idea. The Lord of the Flies is written about the idea using prepubescent British boys. Golding states that “Nazi Germany was a particular kind of boil which burst in 1939. That was only the same kind of inflamed spot we all suffer from, and so I took English boys and said, ‘Look. This could be you.’” (Politics and history in William Golding; The World Turned Upside Down, Page 30) The book aims the idea of savagery more towards the British, going against English Exceptionalism: the British are not perfect, they are not the greatest, and they are not all saints, and Golding wants to let them know that. Jack even reminds the boys that “We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savage, we’re English; and the English are the best at everything” to ensure they know of their English superiority. This quote is purposeful by Golding to show that these boys thought they would survive just because they were English. In the end, this superiority does not keep them saints; therefore, proving that being English didn’t help them from avoiding savagery. Also, Golding represents savagery with anything that is not a civilized democracy or a western society: face paints, spears, chanting, and dictatorship is what is used to represent the boys as savages. None of these aspects are truly savage, just different from an English government. How can Golding define all humans as evil from nature when he doesn’t use all humans to prove this? His society created on this island even lacks female characters. Without a correct representation of a society, it is not able to state that all humans are inherently evil. Females balance out in civilization, so they should be represented when defining humans as evil or good. Therefore, this book truly portrays “fears and fantasies of masculinity” (Green, Crash Course Literature 305) and the fault in English exceptionalism instead of humans and their nature. Even if Golding wanted to represent humans and their descent to savagery, they all should have rightfully become savage. Not all the boys were savages: Piggy and Ralph, even after savage acts, resist join the tribe of savages and try to avoid it. Piggy died before joining Jack. Ralph is nearly murdered for being against Jack. It is proven that not all humans are inherently evil and will fall to corruption if there are no laws because even without laws and order on the island Piggy and Ralph try their best to avoid the evil and savagery.

There are those that say if not all humans are inherently evil, Roger should not have hungered the savagery as much as he did. He is a boy that still follows the rules of the adults at the beginning:

Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed, and threw it at Henry – threw to miss… Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them. Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which he dare not throw. Here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. Round [Henry] was the protection of the parents and school and policemen and the law. Roger’s arm was conditioned by a civilization that knew nothing of him and he was in ruins. (Golding, Chapter 4)

However, Roger then follows Jack and becomes savage. Some takes Roger’s actions as proof of evil by nature, which is why Roger chose to let his hunger for evil free. If it were not for his savagery environment, for a society that creates different levels and standards and safety to hunger for, Roger may have never been influenced to feel the savagery he did. It is with the new way of life that Jack was portraying that Roger followed.

The Lord of the Flies is a book of ideas and that is all. There is no scientific accuracy to human’s nature. The book is an idea, an idea that anyone can become evil without laws, that Golding wishes to share to open British eyes that they are not perfect. It is simply an idea that he created after experiences with the world. Science has come a long way since the days of Golding and now proves that compassion is created in the brain and grows with experiences. Looking at this idea from a scientific point of view, there are many notable experiments that are out there to prove whether good or evil comes from human nature or human experiences. The show Brain Games experiments on babies, from ages where they are not able to express themselves through words, whether they will choose a stuffy bear that showed compassion or a stuffy bear that was mean. The children had a chemical release of oxytocin in the brain, making them more likely to go towards the kinder stuffy. In fact, Neurologists have pinpointed where compassion in our brains really come from: one of the oldest brain structures that run to the heart, intestines, kidneys, and liver, is the vagus nerve. It is believed that this nerve has been in the brain for so long for survival. When humans rely on one another this helps them stay alive; this is because they receive help and care from people that isn’t themselves and can possibly help more. There are only the smallest percentage in society that have no compassion for humans: psychopaths. For the most part, humans have compassion in their brains and the system grows and learn through experiences of receiving and returning compassion. Can Golding argue his philosophy that humans are born evil when humans have a nerve system made to treat humans good?

Ultimately, in whatever way Golding wishes to explain his philosophy, it will never be enough to prove that all humans are inherently evil. When one faces that many hardships in life, positivity becomes hard to hold onto towards humans. It is understandable as evil is the core of wars. The war was created because of society and its standards and social hierarchies. Though, when war breaks out, there are always those who oppose. Furthermore, the literature he wrote expresses this philosophy towards boys of the British descent. But, not all humans are British; therefore, this philosophy cannot be proven towards girls and non-British civilizations. The book also shows two boys that refuse to accept their “evil” and join the tribe of savages. Not everyone, not all humans, on that island became savage. Finally, Golding’s book was written in 1954, a time when science was still very clueless towards Nature vs. Nurture in humans. When this book is read now, there is no solid proof backing this philosophy up. This can be proven by watching an episode of Brain Games. If the philosophy of Golding’s was correct, there wouldn’t have been so many faults within his own book. Thus, leaving Golding’s philosophy incorrect towards humans.

Golding, William. The Lord of the Flies. Faber, 1954.

https://youtu.be/WfNiQBXmPw8

https://youtu.be/kGuykvhLUtQ

–

I found solid evidence that helped justify my idea.

I was able to share both perspectives and find the faults so that the essay was truly persuasive and directed to one idea only.

I wish to write in more detail.

Next time, I hope to make my sentences and paragraphs flow better.

Your Favourite Lord of the Flies Characters as Disney Characters

by nighinar2016

Disney brings us complex characters in a childish concept, characters that we fall in love with. Lord of the Flies is about a bunch of young boys trying to survive. Here is a list of Disney characters that relate to our beloved Lord of the Flies characters the most.

1. Ralph is our Beloved Li Shang

Li Shang was our warrior who fought bravely against the Huns. He fought and led to protect his people from danger. Quite like Ralph, who had the position of leading his group to safety. They both led with hope and powerful speeches. Well, their leading was debatable at times, but they still had the realistic ideas that kept them in-line.

Image result for Li shang Mulan

2. Jack Would be a Peter Pan Double 

What was Peter Pan all about? He wanted to live where there were no adults and it was always fun! In this world, they were always young and having a good time. Peter Pan wanted kids to join him in this place. What does Jack believe in? Jack believes in fun! On the adult free island, all Jack wants is to have his group of hunters behind him and run in the forest all day for the enjoyment of catching their prey. Also, they both rock red hair!

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3. Piggy is Totally Mushu

Our little Piggy and Mushu never were much of a strong character, but they never failed to be a supportive companion. Piggy couldn’t lead but helped Ralph remain a leader. Mushu was always there to support the beloved Mulan in her fight to victory. Both seemed weak but never failed to be helpful to their leader.

Image result for Mushu

4. Simon is Christ-like, Just Like Simba

Simba, after all the hardship, helped heal the problems within his people. He was a saint. Simon is a character that has been highly represented to be saint-like; whether Simon is sharing or helping out, he is always there for others in need.

Image result for simba

5. Sam and Eric or Deedle Dee and Deedle Dum? 

Both are twins. Both stick together in everything they do. Both just want to enjoy themselves and may not be the most responsible or reliable. Need I say more?

Image result for deedle dee and deedle dum

What it means to be human…

by nighinar2016

Humans need to communicate

Humans want to be happy

Humans want to connect

Humans need companionship

Humans need friends

Humans like to help

Humans can be empathetic

Humans need hopes and dreams

Humans sometimes strive for knowledge and improve

Humans are scared of each other

Humans abuse power

Humans are selfish

Humans are violent

Humans are greedy

Humans are diverse

Humans can be accepting

Humans are resilient and with unity, may overcome adversity

Humans are curious

The novel The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, has a strong message about humans and their betrayal, guilt, and redemption. It is about a boy named Amir who grew up in Afghanistan and fled the country when the Russians created war. He left behind his servant and his son, his best friend. When he hears of bad news of another friend, he returns to Pakistan to see how he is doing. He finds out his childhood best friend is dead and he should help his son. In the end of the story, he was able to bring the son home to live with him and his wife.

I learned about how people cope with the remorse. Amir left his best friend, the son of his servant, to be raped in defense of him. He watched and couldn’t be brave enough to help. When he left Afghanistan only with his father, he held on to the hope and the happy memories of him and his best friend flying kites in winter days. He held onto the happiness, proving again that happiness can get you through the toughest of times. When Amir left though, he still had the guilt of never acknowledging what happened in the alleyway, apologizing, and having tried to make them leave the house so he never had to deal with the memory again. He traveled back home, through a dangerous and war torn country, to help the son of his best friend and feel redemption from his betrayal; he was able to then forget his guilt after helping the boy. The war torn country itself represented betrayal. The Afghans fought against the Russians, but ended up becoming power hungry. With this power, they betrayed the Afghan people and created a racist and extremist fight against their own people.

This book shows both sides of betrayal. Those who betray others for power. It shows the humans who are selfish, who crave power and control. They may have seen their ethnic cleansing and extremism as the best for the country. It shows a friend who betrayed a close friend. It showed that with betrayal, you can choose to redeem yourself. The Afghans who created another war after the Russians left may not have seen their actions as betrayal. The book shows that reasons for betrayal are not always evident to the person, some may feel guilt with their power over others and some may not. It also has a small representation of happiness. Humans need to be happy, to have good memories, and to care. Without any care, they might not have any motive for actions. The Afghans cared about their country, Amir first cared for himself, then his redemption. Happiness is a light that may let you stay strong in rough times. Rough times could be being inside a tank, escaping your home country to a new country. Happiness is something to hold onto that is there to help you get through an issue.

This story shows different perspectives of the same emotions. It shows how some humans become selfish and may cope with guilt. It was a powerful story that taught me about struggles of those in war torn countries and the perspectives of radical leaders and regular people with guilt.