Blog #6: Responding to "Fire and Ice"

When I first read the poem "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost, I thought it was about the world being destroyed by either fire or ice. There is always a big debate on whether the world with be fired down or if we'll have an "ice age." However, after reading the background of the poem, I found that there was more meaning to it - fire represents desire and ice represents hate. After reading the poem again, it became more clear that Robert Frost is stating his opinion that desire could ruin the world, yet hatred could do the same amount of damage.  He doesn't necessarily pick a side, he just simply states his ideas that both can greatly ruin relationships and if the world is caught up in these negative traits, the world could be destroyed. I found that Robert Frost makes a very good point. I have seen relationships be destroyed by someone who puts their own desires before others,. On the other hand, I have also seen hatred consume a person, breaking the care and love that comes with relationships. This is a growing problem in our society. People are becoming more selfish, only focusing on what they want, and they are also becoming more bitter and hateful. If these traits keep consuming our society, an abundance of relationships would shatter and chaos would ensue, causing the world to be destroyed emotionally. Although this poem is concise, it is well written and portrays a larger meaning with such few words. I thought this poem was very effective and compelling, making me wonder if desire and hate could consume our society to the point of destruction.

Blog #5: Responding to the "Journal" Assignment

     Living with two older brothers, I have heard an abundance of racial, sexist, or ethnic jokes that have gone too far. When the jokes started to become more frequent, I would get upset and yell at them to stop making such detrimental jokes. However, whenever I would yell and get upset, they would just laugh and the jokes would become more frequent. Overtime, I have learned that if I don't say anything at all, it doesn't challenge them to bother me with more jokes and they stop at only a few. Their jokes continue today and I have learned to push them aside and ignore them. However, after reading "Don't Just Stand There" by Diane Cole, I have learned that I could have handled the situation more effectively and ended the problem years ago. In the essay, she discusses how getting angry doesn't solve the problem and can sometimes make it worse. Instead of yelling at my brothers, I now know that it would be more effective to talk to each of them in private and explain how the jokes are hurtful to me and make me feel uncomfortable. Even though my brothers act tough, I know each of them are quite sensitive and if I approach them in this way, they will take what I say to heart and stop the jokes. I wish I would have known this when the jokes started to happen; I could have stopped the many hurtful jokes that have been said over many years.

     I feel that many people in today's society are placed in the same situation I was in with my brothers. When first hearing a racial, sexist, or ethnic joke, it can take someone off guard and they'll take offense, but after a while, society becomes immune to the hurtful jokes said. They tend to ignore the jokes, and some may even give in to the jokes because they think it is the "norm." This essay put into perspective how hurtful and demeaning these jokes, or slurs, can be and I feel it is important for society to realize this growing problem. Diane explains how to handle this clearly and everyone should read and understand her essay, for the world would be a better place if they did.