Public Writing Project

People that need validation and a place to belong usually join cults. They are usually outcast and introverted and a charismatic individual will befriend them and lure them into the cult without them knowing that they joined.  Cults are similar to extremist because they will do what is necessary to achieve their goal. They use gas, violence, bombings to terrorize society for either religious beliefs or for a better world.

Underground

Up to this point in the book, we have only read interviews w/ victims. The rest of the book will be interviews w/ Aum cult members. Before you read these sections, I'd like you to speculate about what makes an Aum cult member. Although the interview subjects are not the terrorists who released the gas, they could have been had they been ordered. What do you think Aum's motivation was in attacking subway commuters? Do you know the term "doomsday cult"? They're cults that believe that the end of the world is not only coming, but that it's imminent. They've existed in every country at different times, but they seem to have proliferated near the end of the last millennium. Sometimes they simply barricade themselves and wait for the end of the world. Sometimes, they bring about their own destruction w/ mass suicide rites. And sometimes, like in Aum, they kill others. What makes them different than us? What type of person is drawn to these kinds of cults? In what ways do you think they're similar to other violent extremists (white nationalists or Muslim terrorist organizations) and in what ways are they different?

Beauty and Insecurity

I preach self confidence 24/7 so I thought it would would a little challenge for myself to write in the point of view of someone I used to be.

Beauty and Insecurity

I don’t feel beautiful

No matter the compliment

I only see flaws

Do they pretend not to see?

Tell me I’m not beautiful

I don’t want the lies

Don’t sugarcoat it

I can take it 

  But what if...

Just maybe by chance

I’m lying to myself

Because being Insecure

Is what I do best 

poem written by E.E. Cummings

 "next to of course god america i"
                                                   
next to of course god america i
love you land of the pilgrims' and so forth oh
say can you see by the dawn's early my
country 'tis of centuries come and go
and are no more what of it we should worry
in every language even deafanddumb
thy sons acclaim your glorious name by gorry
by jingo by gee by gosh by gum
why talk of beauty what could be more beaut-
iful than these heroic happy dead
who rushed like lions to the roaring slaughter
they did not stop to think they died instead
then shall the voice of liberty be mute?
He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water

                By: E.E. Cummings

    The poem "next to of course god america i" alludes to the patriotism of a nation, namely the United States. It brings up the issues of what's a patriot and what is actually the norm of the average American citizen's response to war and fighting? The writing style displays sort of a mocking tone of the patriotism of the United States because while we all rally against a common foe it becomes the minimal population that's doing all fighting. Through my interpretation I saw this work as a member of U.S. Congress who act as if they are the biggest patriot who ever lived in this country, although they can talk the talk they will surely not walk the walk of the paths of war. It's a matter of who can spew the biggest patriotic speech and act as if they care when in fact they'll be doing none of the fighting as in most times of our nation.

comment on the poem, what is friendship?

the poem has it's strong meaning, its also a repetition because it uses "friendship" more than once. I liked the meaning of what friendshiep is for you, also explaining hwat a friendship is for you is important. I agree with what Gabriela said about expanding more the poem. great job.

Underground 3

Underground 3

One story from Underground really stood out to me. It's the one with the paralyzed girl Shizuko, who had the amazing support of her brother Tatsuo. They have such a bond that he would visit her everyday after work. The author definitely made it his business to interview her even though she was not fully self mobile and her speech was off. Even though someone who didn't personally know her as a vegetable, she was human. Murakami saw a light in her eyes which represented hope. She didn't remember anything prior to the accident, but for some reason, she dreamed of going to Disneyland in Tokyo with her family. She was so sweet and joyful. That touched my heart!