Amputee Boy Helped by Marines to Finish Race

 

View video: http://youtu.be/oD0OSOHjEXY

            When I watched this video my eyes got watery because it’s always nice to see other people help each other and someone being an inspiration to others. Ben Baltz is a 11 years old boy who lost his leg to cancer when he was 6 years old. He took part in the Sea Turtle Tri-Kids Triathlon in Florida, where he had to swim, bike and run. When Ben made it halfway through the one-mile run his prosthetic broke in half. A few Marines nearby watching the race saw Ben and picked up him and gave him a ride to the finish line.

            Little act of kindness like this one are special and rare. Children like Ben inspire other kids who may feel like they can’t do something because they may not have a leg or arm. Ben represents what life is all about, even thou we may face challenges and unfortunate events we must continue on and not let anything stop us. We can do anything we set our minds to and there is nothing in the world that we can’t do.

 

"The Very Old Man wth Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

 

            In the short story “The Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez we are told the mystery story of how a couple who found an old man with wings. At first they don’t know what he is until a neighbor tells them he’s an angel who fell from the sky because of the storm. The couple decides to lock the angel up when they concluded that the angel may have come to take their sick child. Soon the word gets out about the old man with wings and people want to come see him. After a while people get tired and instead go see a young girl that turned into a spider. Many years pass and the old man heals and his wings grow out and as simple as he came to the couple’s life is disappears.

            Marquez blends reality with fantasy which he does in his short story. He writes in such a way that the story doesn’t seem unusual instead it seems like one day you too will cross pass with an angel. Reality and fantasy are equal in his story. People are willing to believe anything if they can relate, like the people could understand how a girl was turned into a spider because she sneaked out of her house to go to a party. Marquez presents the angel as an ordinary situation, like if an angel is seen all the time. Our perception of what is reality is determined by our culture and beliefs. People can believe in witches and demon but when they were told about new inventions like the portable phones, airplane and internet they are amazed and can’t comprehend.

           

 

Pakistani Girl To Be Killed If She Suvives From Her Injuries

                                                http://www.kgmi.com

A Pakistani girl, Malala Yousufzai, is shot in the head by a Taliban man because of her support on girls having an education. She was shot by the gunman as she was leaving from school. She is a critical condition and being treated. The gunman who shot the girl, has told the public who he is and will kill her if she survives.

            This is just disgusting and unbelievable. How can someone kill an innocent child? How can a person say that he will kill her if she should survive? Are they so afraid of an innocent girl that they would decide to kill her? When I read this I couldn’t believe what they had done to this girl. What has the world become? Whoever kills or hurts a child is a coward in my eyes.

            Malala is an inspiration to all of us because she stood up for what she believed. She knew the risk of expressing her opinions but she still told people what she believed in. That is what I consider bravery and a hero. I hope she survives and that the Pakistani government can keep her safe because this world needs more people like Malala.

http://news.yahoo.com/taliban-vow-kill-pakistani-girl-shot-going-school-131916069.html

 

Voters Action Project

Today in colloquium, we had the Voters Action Project speaking to us. The speakers were no other than Wolfson Campus Honor students. They talked about how important it is to vote and let our voices be heard. And most importantly to know all the facts before we decide who were are going to vote for.  You shouldn’t vote based on what other people are voting for or because you want to vote on whoever is more popular, that is not what voting is about. You should vote base on who will help this country. We have to think carefully and be wise because whoever wins this next election will have the hardest job to so far, to get this country back to its feet.

It was very inspiring to see fellow classmate be so passionate about an issue so important like this one. They are the perfect example of what each of us should be doing for our country. We shouldn’t just stand by and not be heard. We are the future and we should set an example for future students to stand up for what they believe in.

First Presidential Debate

After watching the First Presidential Debate, I was astonished at how unprepared Obama was. Clearly, Romney won the debate and kicked Obama under the rug. I have no idea why Obama didn’t confront Romney more and asked him for more specific answers. President Obama is one the best speaker we have had in a long time, which should have given him the upper hand but it was the opposite  the debate was a major disappointment. It seem like Obama was out of practice with this sort of thing. It may have been because he hasn’t been challenge in over four years. I hope in the final two debates Obama is prepare and attacks Romney on his ever-changing political standings.

Phone Storage Truck

Associated Press/Tina Fineberg
http://news.yahoo.com/phone-home-ny-teens-pay-valets-store-devices-062352589.html

This is the funniest thing I have heard in a long time, a storage truck for student’s phone, who are not allow to bring phones to school. It counts a $1 a day. You exchange the phone for a numbered yellow ticket. I never knew that such service existed. Why waste $180 a year, if you can just leave your phone at home for free. It makes no sense to me why would anyone pay for this type of service.  

On the other hand, I don’t understand why they don’t let student have their phone with them during school. For many students this is their mode of communication with their parents and if there is an accident, they have a form of communication to ask for help. I think the New York school system should reexamine their decision on banning cell phones.

Wisdom from Buddha

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” -Gautama Buddha

Don’t believe in something just because others tell you too. First, you have to agree and understand what it is that you are being told. Sometimes what others believe to be right or wrong may not be what you believe is right or wrong. Before you say “I believe”, you must feel it in your heart. We all crave explanations and sometimes when present with those answers we believe them to be true. But how do we really know what to believe, that is the question we should always ask ourselves. Sometimes what we perceive may be different from others and thus cause people to believe in things differently.  I believe that everyone should have their own beliefs and like Buddha says “live up to it.”

I have my own beliefs and there are people who don’t agree with them but that is alright because what’s important is what I believe is right and good. We all have different ways of viewing the world and different people thus the different religious people practice in this world.