Propaganda of 2011

Prior to this post, I had no idea what propaganda is. But after a few visits to Dictionary.com and a few google searches, I have some what of an idea of what it is. So a propaganda is when information is intentionally spread to promote or demote someone, something, or belief (in a nutshell). One of the propagandas' of 2011 was the installation of Tvs around the US for the military to enjoy the Super Bowl game. Some were saying "The military is there to "protect" us, but how can they protect us if they too busy watching the Super Bowl?" Also, some people were saying that the military did certain unnecessary thing to make it seem like they were doing all they can to protect our country. I'm not really sure if this is true but, after watching Nikita for sometime now, I won't be surprised if the Government had a secret agent department that kept certain things to themselves and not let it leak out to the public.

Free Response to Black Boy

Black Boy was the most interesting book we've read in American Lit. so far. Unlike all the other books we've read, this one is very hard to put down. The others were just very hard to pick up... Richard had dealt with/ experienced a lot of things when he was at an age that we consider now as a young age. Just in 9 years of this life he has became an alcholic and then quit, moved several times, lived in an orphanage and was abandon by his father. How can someone so young accept all these changes and not go insane? Maybe he was too young to understand why any these things happen. I've realized later in the story that even thought he might not understand why his father left, he understood that his family needs to him to provide food or he'll starve. One thing I don't understand is why does his mother beat him whenever he asks a question? He's young and he's suppose to be curious and nosey about all the things around him. Beating him like telling him he's not allowed to learn. If I could ever interview him, I would ask him if his mother's beating affected him at all. Because in the story, he was unhappy and in pain when his mother beat him, but he never seemed to resent her for it. It could be because he's so used to being beat that he just don't feel like it's anything different. Also, I thought it was really weird how he didn't know how to count at age 6. I can't remember when I wasn't able to count. Counting felt like something I was born able to do. It was weird when he couldn't stop counting or when he said he didn't know how to. I've never seen a child who couldn't count.... Overall, I can't wait to finish this book. His life is so interesting. Reading his biography is like walking in his shoes except I wouldn't feel the pain of the rocks that he steps on.  

Hungry for Attention

Hmmm is everyone hungry for attention or is it just Richard? No. I can honestly say there are times when I just really need someone's attention or care. However, Richard isn't just hungry for attention, he's greedy when it comes to attention. Not only does he set the house on fire for his parents paying more attention to his sickly grandmother, he also becomes and alcholic. He said that the reason why he was/ is an Alcholic was because the lack of attention from his parents. There are different types of "hungry for attention", one might need the attention or just want the attention. Richard wanted everyone's undivided attention to himself. I would understand why he would be that way if he was an only child, because those who are the only child in the family tend to receive more attention from their parents than those who have other siblings. One concept I don't understand is that why he would need so much attention even though he grew up with another brother. He always had to share the attention with his brother. It could've contribute to his attention "needs" now that he has grown up. Being one of four siblings in my family, I've never got all the attention. It seems sort of impossible to have my parents undivided attention, when one lives with 3 other siblings that want their attention just as much as I do. Also, my parents never really gave attention to me unless it was totally necessary. So while growing up, I received most of my attention from my siblings. We all gave one another attention, it compensated for the attention that are parents never gave us.