Under a blind justice, all are equal and victim to a fair consequence. In reality however, justice is controlled by ones that have money in their sights. Two people that have committed the same crime are often judged differently according to judgments made by the court of law or the laziness of the people representing them. This is neither fair nor just.

            The scales of justice are set but the people that represent justice often tip the scales. One instance where the scales were obviously tipped was an instance not to long ago. There were two cases totally unrelated except for the dates at which the court cases where set. One case was against a man that being prosecuted on his 3^rd drug offense and was being sentenced to 11 years in prison. The other case was 1stoffense manslaughter and that man was being sentenced to 6 years in prison. I think the examples speak for themselves when it comes to the scales of justice.

            I believe that the human element should count towards the punishment of a crime. Proof of intentions should count. A 5 year old that accidently smothered it’s 1 and a ½ old sibling should not for any reason be held accountable, it could not possibly see the results of his actions. It simply would not comprehend the results. Someone should be tried as an adult based on their level of maturity and age. A 15 year old has the same capabilities to commit murder out of anger as much as an adult does.

            One time that I was treated unjustly was when me and my friends we walking my friend Mat home. 5 of us left with Mat to Texaco Liqour and he was going to walk the rest of the way at 9:30pm. We had already dropped him off and where already a block away from my house. When a light flashed behind us and two police officers pulled us over. It was 9:50pm when this happened. They said that two or more people walking in a group is probable cause for gang related activity. We tried to explain to them that we were just a block away from the house and that if they would just let us go we can get home. They decided to hold us until 10:30pm and search us while trying to get us to mess up the story so we could incriminate ourselves even though we weren’t doing anything wrong.

When they finally let us go we started to walk away, and then one yelled out to us “Hey, wait a minute. It’s 10:30 you are all passed curfew.” We looked at him in shock and just kept on walking. This incident showed me taught me some street smarts about how to walk the streets at night and not get in trouble. 

Absurdists would say that life has no meaning or plan, which is in a way sort of redundant. To say that your life has no plan is already stating a plan for your life. You make your own purpose to life. Our opportunities for purpose in life are endless, we are the only ones that hold us back. Without a purpose or meaning there would be no reason to live.

I personally believe in life after death. People when they die either go to heaven or hell according to how they lived within the Christian religion. This in turn sways a lot of my thoughts or opinions, but I believe that the Bible is a book that people do not fully understand so one can not say all the exact requirements but one. You have to accept Christ as your personal lord and savior. That’s the only requirement that is for sure. Otherwise the rest is to be studied. And the only backing that I have with this belief is faith. That is all I have, and all I, or anyone really needs.

We create our own meaning to live. This sounds like I am contradicting my beliefs, but in reality one just needs to study a little bit harder and the answers would be right in front of you. In the bible it says in Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you…” but in the bible, though I have no quote, that we have free will. Though conflicting sentences, these word actually work together with perfect harmony with a little understanding. God knows the plans he has for us, that would mean that he has many different plans for us, and if we have free will he have the option to chose which plan we want. To make things a little clearer, if you are walking down a road and you reach a crossroad, you can either go left or right. God knows all the possible “plans” that will happen if you decide to take a left, and the same if you decide to take a right. In all honesty that doesn’t get any clearer. He doesn’t control us, he just knows what we may or may not do. That’s not control in my book.

“I believe that we came from Adam and Eve. That Adam was the first man, Eve was the first woman, and threw process of elimination we are all related in some way some how. What is my proof? Have you ever seen some one that you recognize as someone else? Well, there you go. Genes man… Genes.” –Ben McDonald. Hey I said it once; I don’t need to say it any other way.

There are many cultures that have been around long before the creation of Christianity. Many of these cultures have been persecuted by Christians or they were a wall trying to prevent its growth. So I have chosen two others that are heavy in history of Christianity.

After the growth of Christianity in south Europe and middle east, the Christian lords and kings sought to spread the “truth” to there northern neighbors. Along with that they would conquer land and in turn make profit from the people they enslaved. One such group of people was the people of the Netherlands. These were the people of the Norse culture. In the Norse culture they believed that, the first world was Muspell, a land of light and heat. The flames were so hot that those who are not native to that land cannot endure it. Surt sits at the border of Muspell. He guards the land with a flaming sword and at the end of the world he will vanquish all the gods and burn the whole world with fire. Beyond Muspell is the great cataclysm named Ginnungagap, and beyond Ginnungagap laid the dark, cold realm of Niflheim. The cold from Niflheim and the hot air from Muspell met and then thawing drops appeared, and this created a giant frost ogre named Ymir.

Ymir slept, and under his left arm a man and woman were created from his sweat. And one of his legs begot a son with the other. Thawing frost then became a cow called Audhumla she fed Ymir her milk.  The cow licked salty ice blocks and freed the man. His name was Buri, and he was tall, strong, and handsome. Buri had a son named Bor, and Bor married Bestla, the daughter of a giant. Bor and Bestla had three sons: Odin was the first, Vili the second, and Vé the third. It is believed that Odin, in association with his brothers, is the ruler of heaven and earth. He is the greatest and most famous of all men. Odin, Vili, and Vé killed the giant Ymir.

When Ymir was killed, there was so much blood from his wounds, that all the frost ogres were drowned, except for the giant Bergelmir who escaped with his wife by climbing onto a lur [a hollowed-out tree trunk that could serve either as a boat or a coffin]. From them spring the families of frost ogres. The sons of Bor then carried Ymir to the center of Ginnungagap and made the world from him. From his blood they made the sea and the lakes; from his flesh the earth; from his hair the trees; and from his bones the mountains. They made rocks and pebbles from his teeth and jaws and those bones that were broken. From Ymir’s skull the sons of Bor made the sky and set it over the earth with its four sides. Under each section they put a dwarf, maggots that the gods gave human understanding and intelligence, whose names are East, West, North, and South. The sons of Bor flung Ymir’s brains into the air, and they became the clouds. Then they took the sparks and burning embers that were flying about after they had been blown out of Muspell, and placed them in the midst of Ginnungagap to give light to heaven above and earth beneath. To the stars they gave appointed places and paths. The earth was surrounded by a deep sea. The sons of Bor gave lands near the sea to the families of giants for their settlements. This is the story of what the Norse culture believed in during the time of their thriving.

Before there was the religion Christianity, Judaism; Christianities father religion, was persecuted by the Babylonian’s. They were from a region known now as Mesopotamia. They conquered the land of Israel and enslaved its people. They believed that there were various gods that represent aspects of the physical world. Apsu: the god of fresh water and thus male fertility, Tiamat: wife of Apsu, is the goddess of the sea and thus chaos and threat, Tiamat gaves birth to Anshar and Kishar, gods of the horizon. Anshar and Kishar bears Anu, god of sky, who in turn births Ea. These “sons of the gods” are so loud and unruly that Apsu wanted to destroy them. When Ea finds out, he kills Apsu and with his wife Damkina create their home above his body.

Damkina then gives birth to Marduk, the god of spring. He is symbolized both by the light of the sun and the lightning in storm and rain. He was also the patron god of the city of Babylon. Meanwhile Tiamat is enraged at the murder of her husband Apsu, and vows revenge. She creates eleven monsters to help her carry out her vengeance. Tiamat takes a new husband, Kingu, in place of the slain Apsu and puts him in charge of her newly assembled army. Tiamat represents the forces of disorder and chaos in the world. In the cycle of seasons, Tiamat is winter and barrenness. To avenge the murder of her husband Tiamat sets the stage to unleash on the other gods the destructive forces that she has assembled. Ea learns of her plan and attempts to confront Tiamat.

Ea fails to stop Tiamat, then Anu attempts to challenge her but fails as well. The gods become afraid that no one will be able to stop Taimat’s from fulfilling her revenge. Ea’s son Marduk, is willing to face Taimat and is tested by the other gods to see if he is ready, his test was to make a garment appear and disappear. After the test he was made High King and commissioned to fight Taimat. Marduk gathered his weapons, the four winds as well as the seven winds of destruction. Marduk trapped her in a net and unleashed the Evil Wind to stop Tiamat. When she is crippled by the wind, Marduk killed her with an arrow through her heart and enslaves all who were her allies. Marduk divided her corpse, to create the earth and sky complete with bars to keep the chaotic waters from escaping. Marduk built homes places for the other gods. As the gods settle in, they decide the days and months and seasons of the year. From the drool of Tiamat, Marduk creates rain for the earth. Marduk decides to create human beings, but needs blood and bone from which to fashion them. Lead by the advice of Ea, they decide that Kingu should be used as the materials to create humans. Marduk is the high god for killing Taimat and has a house constructed for him in Babylon. This is the creation story of the Babylonian culture.

As the Babylonians after them, the Egyptians were once lords over the Jews. They held the Jews for 400 years, after which they were freed by Moses and left off to create there own nation. The Egyptians believed that in the beginning there was only water, a boiling and churning mass of water. The Egyptians called this Nu or Nun. It was out of Nu that everything began, each year there was a flood eventually the floods would recede and out of the water would a small hill emerged. On this first dry hilltop, on the first day came the first sunrise. So that is how the Egyptians explain the beginning of all things.

. . . . . As the rising sun his name was Khepri, the great scarab beetle. As the sun climbed toward noon it was called Ra, great and strong. When the sun set in the west it was known as Atum the old man, or Horus on the horizon. As a solar-disk he was known as Aten. The sun was also said to be an egg laid daily by Geb, the ‘Great Cackler’ when he took the form of a goose.

. . . . . As an attribute of the god Horus the moon represented his left eye while his right was the sun. Seth was a lunar god, in his struggles with the solar god Horus, Seth is seen as a god of darkness doing constant battle with the god of light. We often find the ibis-headed god Thoth wearing a lunar creseant on his head.

Egyptians the sky was a goddess called Nut. She was often shown as a cow standing over the earth her eyes being the sun and the moon. She is kept from falling to earth by Shu, who was the god of air and wind, or by a circle of high mountains. As this heavenly cow, she gave birth to the sun daily. The sun would ride in the ‘Solar Barque’ across Nut’s star covered belly, which was a great cosmic ocean. Then as evening fell, Nut would swallow the sun creating darkness. She is also pictured as a giant sow, suckling many piglets. These piglets represented the stars, which she swallowed each morning before dawn.Nut was also represented as an elongated woman bending over the earth and touching the horizons with her toes and finger tips. Beneath her stretched the ocean, in the center of which lay her husband Geb, the earth-god. He is often seen leaning on one elbow, with a knee bent toward the sky, this is representive of the mountains and valleys of the earth. Green vegetation would sprout from Geb’s brown or red body. Sadly, due to the lack of information I was unable to find information on how people were created. But it is safe to assume, like many cultures, the lead god created the humans because he wanted them to do his bidding whist worshipping him. It is said that Ra took the form of a human and was the first Pharaoh of Egypt, it is a common saying that when things were good the people would say “In the time of Ra”.

This was a more in-depth and worldly continuation of my previous creation stories post. I hope that this helped feed your mind, and I challenge my reader to go and find more cultures to study. May your mind broaden and your knowledge never cease in growth.

What’s happening in the story here:

She is reading the letter from the philosopher.

My thoughts / advice about this:

I totally agree.

1. p. 14 “P.S. As far as the white rabbit is concerned, it might be better to compare it to the whole universe. We who live here are microscopic insects existing deep down in the rabbit’s fur. But philosophers are always trying to climb up the fine hairs of the fur in order to stare right into the magicians eyes.”

What’s happening in the story here:

He is bringing the story to a conclusion

My thoughts / advice about this:

I think it is an amazing and creative comparison to the world.

1. p. 15 “THE ONLY THING WE RQUIRE TO BE GOOD PHILOSOPHERS IS THE FACULTY OF WONDER.

Baby’s have this faculty. That is not surprising. After a few short months in the womb they slip out into a brand new reality. But as they grow up the faculty of wonder seems to diminish. Why is this? Do you know?”

What’s happening in the story here:

He is explaing what makes a good philosopher.

My thoughts / advice about this:

You have to wonder to ask questions.

1. p. 16  “…you might stumble upon yourself one day. You might suddenly see yourself in a completely new light…I am an extraordinary being, you think. I am a mysterious creature…You know that you are stumbling around on a planet in the universe. But what is the universe?”

What’s happening in the story here:

He is explaining about finding your self. And what might happen.

My thoughts / advice about this:

I enjoy his symbolism

1. p. 17 “The world itself becomes a habit in no time at all. It seems as if in the process of growing up we lose the ability to wonder about the world. And in doing so, we lose something central—something philosophers try to restore. For somewhere inside ourselves, something tells us that life is a huge mystery. This is something we once experienced, long before we learned to think the thought.”

What’s happening in the story here:

He is explaining how people become dull to the world.

My thoughts / advice about this:

I totally agree.

1. p. 18 “ A philosopher never gets quite used to the world. To him or her the world continues to seem a bit unrealistic—bewildering, even enigmatic…You might say that throughout his life a philosopher remains as thin-skinned as a child.”

What’s happening in the story here:

He is explaining how a philosopher sees the world different from other people.

My thoughts / advice about this:

Amazing symbolism.

Yes, philosophy is important because other wise the big questions would not be answered.

2.      Are you a philosopher (are you curious about the world and how it works)?

I believe I think as a philosopher does. Yet, I’m still wrapped in the fur of the world.

3.      What is the most important thing in life? Why do you believe this?

Finding who you are.

4.      Why are we here (on earth)?

I believe we are here to find the questions to the big answer.

5.      Does life have a purpose or meaning? If so, what is it? Where does it come from? How do you know or why do you believe this?

I don’t know what the purpose is.

6.      Is it important to have a purpose or meaning in life? Explain your answer.

Yes, if you don’t find your purpose then are a stone.

7.      Is there a life after death? If so, what is that life like? How do you know or why do you believe this?

I believe that there is life after death. Heaven or hell. Again Faith is my foundation for why I believe this.

8.      Is it important to know if there is life after death? Explain your answer.

I believe it is important to know. Then you will know where you will go.

9.      Is there a “right” way to live your life? If so, what is it? How do you know how you should live?

Yes, I don’t know I am still searching.

10.  Do you live your life at the tip of the rabbit’s hair, or buried “deep down in the rabbit’s fur”? Explain what this metaphor means in your answer (What does the “top hat” represent? The “rabbit”? Who/what is the “magician”? etc.)

I like to think I travel back and forth.

The main character Sophie recieved two letters in the mail and was presented with questions that changed her thinking.

2.    What is a human being? What does it mean to be human?

A human is a person that is capable of deep concious thought.

3.    Would you be a different person if you had a different name? Explain.

Yes, becayse your name and how people refer to you shape who you are. It is a small part of your identity but it still shapes who you are. 

4.    Would you be a different person if you looked different? Explain.

Descartes: “I could, if it were possible, swap bodies entirely and still be me so long as my mind travels with me.”

5.    Is there life after death? How do you know you are right?

I believe there is a life after death. And the question about how I know… well that is where faith comes in.

6.    Do you agree with Sophie that “You can’t experience being alive without realizing that you have to die.” (p. 5) Do you live your life differently because you know you will die someday? Explain.

Death should not be something people fear. It is just another stage. 

7.    Where does the world come from? How do you know this?

I believe that God made the world. Again faith.

8.    Does it matter where the world comes from?

It’s doesn’t matter as a whole. We have bigger problems then were the world came from. It’s here thats what matters.

9.    Can anything “have always existed?” or must everything that exists “have a beginning?” Explain.

I believe that there are things that have always existed. I believe that there was always God.

Somethings that have gotten me through these tragedies are drawing, painting and playing my guitar. I’m in the art club at my school and I spend my time there to keep my spirits high. I’m in the Visual and Performing Arts Academy and the Academy of Information Technology at my school, to be in both is an opportunity that not many students get to enjoy. I have been in some art shows and I’m have made it to my senior year with out any physical scars, both are a great accomplishment to me.

In my life, my mentor was my mom. I’m proud to say that I have a parent that is a guardian, and a friend mixed in one. She is always looking out for the best for me and even when times were hard she did what ever we had to do to make sure that we had food on the table and a roof over our head, while makeing sure that I wasn’t plagued with the problems that pursued us both everyday. 

I don’t know how this is a personal statement. I see this as more of an opportunity to give you alittle insite to my life and who I am. I am still searching for that reflection in the mirror and honestly you will probably find my reflection long before I do, and I hope this helped you out with that search.

-Ben

 20 pages

Summary:

 Nick tried to get Sheeni expelled from her school so she could move back to Uriah. This did not work though because of Sheeni’s roommate convinceing Sheeni’s parents otherwise. But Nick is deviseing a plan with Burnice to still get Sheeni back home. Dwyane found out that Nick is not allergic to sleep and left him a note saying so. Also Nick was curious because when he woke up after wards he found that his pants were unzipped. Albert the ugly dog died of electricution. Nick is suffereing from denyal. He found some of Trent’s journals and read that alot of what Sheeni was saying was a lie, but despite that he believes that Sheeni was the one telling the truth and that Trent is a sick kid. Also, Apruva invited him to lunch.

My Questions:

1. Is Nick going to find out that Sheeni is lying?

2. Is Nick and Bernice going to hook up?

My Response :

1. No, I don’t think that Nick is going to find that Sheeni is lying at least not in this book because there is evidence that he is too wrapped up with her and that he is willing to believe everything that she says. I don’t think that he will find out atleast untill the next book.

2. No, I don’t think that Nick and Bernice are going to hook up. There is evidence that Bernice likes Nick but Nick shows no signs of having the same feeling back. He just uses her to get Sheeni to move back to Uriah.