Alaskans Speak (In a Frightened Whisper): Palin is "Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, and Mean"

Charley's James article, Alaskans Speak (In a Frightened Whisper): Palin is "Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, and Mean" disturbed me greatly the first time I read it. Even before I had read the article, the title attracted my attention. The fact that Charley James composed an article openly accusing Palin of being, "racist, sexist, vindictive, and mean" shocked me, and compelled me to read the rest of the article. Having said that, it wasn't as if I had had no idea about Palin's views before I read James' article. While following the recent American election, I observed Sarah Palin's behaviour and commentary closely. I wasn't overly impressed by her personality and even less so by her platforms. Numerous times during interviews I found myself shaking my head in disgust, wondering how it was possible for anyone, let alone John McCain, who nominated her as his vice-presidential nominee in the first place, to be stupid enough to vote for her.

My disgust, however, turned into outrage when I read some of Palin's past political experience (or lack thereof). It's beyond my comprehension of how a mayor of a town with a large oil surplus can leave it with more than $22 million in debt, and yet not have spent anything on the city's infrastructure. Even according to her own mother-in-law, Palin is probably one of the least qualified people in America to run for the office of vice-president. Not only that, but Palin is known by her colleages in Alaska for having a nasty temper. The last thing that America needs right now is a leader that evaluates ideas based on who proposes them, and not on their actual merit. It's also difficult to see how a politician who has a reputation for refusing to compromise managed to make it so far up the political ladder.

I've always suspected Sarah Palin of being a bit of a white supremacist, but I had never seen any hard evidence to suggest this until I read Charley James' article. In the face of testimony by several sources and the examination of Sarah Palin's past political career, I find myself even more elated and relieved that Americans had enough common sense to elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States. However, Sarah Palin has already voiced her intent to run for president in the next election. I hope for America's sake that she is never elected.

Obama & McCain's Speeches: Compare & Contrast

On November 4th, 2008, the first African-American was elected to the office of President of the United States of America. Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech just after the concession speech of John McCain. Despite the fact that McCain's speech was a concession speech and Obama's was an acceptance speech, the two speeches were both similar and different in a number of ways.
McCain's and Obama's speeches have a similar theme, which is to attempt to unite the American people and to heal the divides caused by the election. McCain called on his supporters to, "move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again." Obama makes a similar point, in which he entreated Americans to, "resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long." There are a couple of subtle rhetorical devices that are used to evoke a response from the audience. For example, when McCain said, "I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. " He is implying to his audience that he is ready to follow Obama's lead and that they should do likewise. Similarly, Obama makes subtle references to his campaign having been founded by normal people. He told America, "our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington." In this way he suggests that the American government is not removed from the people themselves, and that he understands the problems of individual Americans. Also, both McCain and Obama end their speeches in almost the exact same way, saying, "God bless the United States of America." To summarize, both speeches praised the greatness of the American nation and the achievement of its people in electing the first African-American president.
The speeches, however, do have their differences. We must remember when analyzing these two speeches that McCain's is a concession, while Obama's is an acceptance, so naturally there were differences between the two speeches. The focus of McCain's speech is directed towards thanking the American people for their support and offering his own support to President Obama. "I urge all Americans, " he told his audience, "who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him [Obama], but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences." While McCain's speech was very gracious, however, Obama's acceptance speech, delivered to almost a million people in Chicago, was a masterpiece of rhetorical devices. Obama made numerous references to the struggle of African-Americans to achieve equality in the United States. This he did by promising to rebuild the nation, "the only way it's been done in America for 221 years...calloused hand by calloused hand." Obama also quotes Martin Luther King Jr., calling him, "a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes, we can." Arguably the best example of rhetorical devices in Obama's speech is his use of repetition. While nearing the end of his speech, Obama continually repeats his famous catchphrase, "Yes, we can," while speaking of the accomplishments of America. This repetition builds tension and excitement in the audience, and makes Obama's speech more effective as a result.
In conclusion, McCain's and Obama's separate speeches both have their similarities and differences. Both speeches praise the United States and promise to heal the divides formed by the election. However, McCain's speech is geared towards encouraging the public to support Obama as the new president. Obama's speech, on the other hand, praises the progress of America and her people. It also promises change for a nation that is in dire need of new leadership. It is in these ways that these speeches are both similar and different.

Narrative Drive

Narrative drive, when used correctly, can encourage a reader to continue reading in order to discover what happens next in a story. Two stories which make excellent use of narrative drive are Home by Russel Smith, and A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J.D. Salinger. First, let's begin with Home. Smith has written this novel in the 2nd person narrative mode. The frequent use of personal pronouns such as "you" help the reader relate to the story. By never specifying the identity of the protagonist, Smith has created a situation where each individual reader can create a protagonist for the story in their own mind. This is an effective form of narrative drive because it makes a connection between the reader and the character(s) in the story, which encourages the reader to continue reading. Smith's use of descriptive and sensory detail also create narrative drive. By adding detail to his story, Smith creates a visceral world in which the reader can get lost. For example, instead of Smith writing that the protagonist simply entered a room, he goes on to describe the room as, "...brightly lit, low ceilinged, furnished with long trestle tables scarred with initials."
J.D. Salinger's short story, A Perfect Day for Bananafish also uses narrative drive to great effect. One of the ways in which Salinger does this is by foreshadowing the later events of the story. At the beginning of the story, Muriel's mother tells her that, "...there's a chance - a very great chance, he said - that Seymour may completely lose control of himself." The reader is told very early in the narrative of the story that it's likely that Seymour will lose control of himself due to his shell shock. This probability of an outburst of insanity keeps the reader interested throughout the story, wondering when and where Seymour will finally lose control. It is only right at the end of the story that Seymour finally shoots himself, which forces readers to read through the whole story until they are finally rewarded with Seymour's death. Another example of narrative drive is how Seymour interacts with Sybil. In order to lull Sybil into a false sense of security, Seymour appeals to her imagination by telling her stories. While completely false, these stories serve to entertain the reader, encouraging them to continue onwards. In this way, Salinger ensures that the reader continues to read his story right to the end.

Why Crime Fiction is Good for You

In the essay Why Crime Fiction is Good for You, crime novelist Ian Rankin describes to us the elements of crime fiction and how they appeal to readers. The first thing that Rankin does is address the long-standing view that crime fiction is not a "true" form of fiction. Rankin argues that any type of fiction carries elements such as violence, mystery, deception, plot twists, and moral dilemmas, which are all found in crime fiction. Rankin simplifies this argument even further by stating that any novel must create suspense in order to make a reader curious, which encourages the reader to continue reading. The first relevant point that Rankin makes about crime fiction is that, "death never happens without a reason and the causes of death never go unpunished." However, this convention applies more to the traditional types of crime fiction, namely the whodunnit. As the genre of crime fiction has developed, authors have moved away from the tidy endings of this type of story, claiming that it is not reminiscent of the real world. This is especially true of the last chapter in the crime novel, in which the true culprit is discovered and all the pieces of the puzzle are put together. Rankin tells us that more modern crime fiction is more true of the real world, where crime cannot always be rationalized or brought to justice. This new form of crime fiction, Rankin says, provides, "a perfect tool for the dissection of society." Crime fiction is by nature satirical, and this can be seen in the traditionel whodunnit plot line of a peaceful village shocked and disrupted by a violent and unexpected crime. Finally, Rankin points out the last important aspect of crime fiction, which are the emotions evoked by the story. As Rankin says, "A well-executed narrative description can make us feel the pain of the sufferer." This is partly what makes crime fiction such a popular genre. Many people want to experience emotions such as anger, fear, and jealousy. However, the only way to experience a mix of these emotions without causing harm to others is by reading crime fiction.

One of Ian Rankin's own short stories, called A Deep Hole, is a good example of his important points about crime fiction. The main antagonist of the story is Daintry, a sort of low-level money-lender, who has a tendency to become violent when his loans are not paid back. Daintry is eventually knifed by a thug who is suspected to have been in the pay of Mr McAndrew, a former gangster who owed Daintry money. All of the deaths in A Deep Hole occur for a reason. People die as a direct result of not paying Daintry back, and Daintry himself dies as a result of beating up Mr McAndrew. In this way, death always occurs for a reason, and the cause of death is always punished. Daintry lives in a stereotypical housing project where violence and crime are a reality of everyday life. This leads into Ian Rankin's second point, that crime fiction can be used to show a cross-section of society. The world that Ian Rankin has created shows the violent and rough nature of a community plagued by corrupt individuals. This sort of world is a very real problem in reality, and steps must be taken to prevent these sorts of misfortunes from happening. The last important aspect of crime fiction is that it evokes emotions in the reader. This is certainly true in A Deep Hole. We can feel the tension when Daintry asks the protagonist to dispose of a body in a hole dug for a new highway. Readers are then led through the turmoil of emotions that the protagonist feels while he attempts to get rid of the body. These emotions oscillate between anger, fear, and panic. When mixed together, they provide an emotional roller-coaster which compels the reader to continue reading. When used together, all of these elements blend together to create a driving storyline and interesting characters, all of which pique the curiosity of the reader and encourage them to finish the story.

On Writing Ch. 32 - 38

It is often thought that substance abuse is directly linked to creative endeavours. Among these creative endeavours is writing. This statement is a common misconception among the general public. Substance abuse is damaging to both a person's physical and mental state, and does not help in the creative process. Steven King argues that substance abuse has no place in writing. In his memoir On Writing, King tells the reader, "Substance abusing writers are just substance abusers-common garden variety drunks and druggies, in other words." One of the writers who is primarily responsible for this misconception is Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was an alcoholic that defended his drinking habits by saying that he needed the alcohol because he was such a sensitive person, yet he could also handle it because he was a man. This became known, according to Steven King, as the Hemingway Defense. King also dispels this claim, saying, "Hemingway and Fitzgerald didn't drink because they were creative, alienated, or morally weak. They drank because it's what alkies are wired up to do"
King should know this. He himself had a problem with substance abuse during his writing career. This problem even went as far as King consuming Scope mouthwash in order to get drunk. King defended his substance abuse problems with all manner of crazy claims, until he finally came to his senses, thanks to his wife. According to King, "It doesn't matter if you're James Jones, John Cheever, or a stewbum snoozing in Penn Station; for an addict, the right to the drink or drug of choice must be preserved at all costs." King doesn't also doesn't like the claim that writers are a special kind of drug addict. He says, "Substance-abusing writers are just substance abusers - common garden-variety drunks and druggies, in other words. Any claims that the drugs and alcohol are necessary to dull a finer sensibility are just the usual self-serving bullshit." King addiction made him believe that he needed drugs and alcohol in order to write. In his own words, "I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to work anymore if I quit drinking and drugging." However, King's wife finally managed to persuade him to kick his habit. King made the decision that given the choice between writing and his family that he would pick his family. This decision to quit is very difficult for drug addicts, but it proves that substance abuse is not necessary for creative writing.

Memoir Reading Blog #10

In their last month in Nairobi, Scott and Krystyne spend most of their time wrapping up loose ends for their departure to Canada. Krystyne plans to spend a week in Paris with a friend, then meet Scott in Tangier. Scott plans to fly across the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains into Morocco, which will allow him to fulfill his planned circumnavigation of Africa. Despite the political instability of West Africa, Scott decides to take the risk and leaves Nairobi, after many heartfelt goodbyes, and heads for Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. As Scott touches down at Entebbe, his tailwheel blows out, leaving his plane stranded at the airport. Eventually, Scott manages to get Jim Heather Hayes to fly down another tail wheel, which is then attached to Scott's plane. Now three days behind schedule, Scott continues onwards, only to run into a violent thunderstorm above the Ruwenzori Mountains. Scott manages to punch through the center of the thunderstorm after being thrown around inside the cockpit like a ragdoll. Once he arrives at the city of Doula in Cameroon, Scott is presented with another problem. The airport has run out of fuel and a new shipment is not expected anytime soon. Already behind schedule, Scott finally manages to find fuel on Malabo Island, and is almost attacked by an angry mob until an airport representative diffuses the situation. Scott also flies over the Sahara Desert without any electrical systems when his plane suffers an electrical failure and starts to drain the power from his single battery, barely making it to Dakar by the skin of his teeth. Finally making it to Tangier, Scott is reunited with Krystyne and begins to prepare to fly the final leg of his voyage back across the Atlantic. Flying back via Greenland and the Canadian north, Scott finally lands in Toronto after flying over twenty three thousand miles.

Their shared experience has changed Scott and Krystyne's view of Africa. While reflecting on his two and a half year stay in Africa, Scott mentions that his longing to return to Africa has never really left him. However, he also expressed joy at finally landing on Canadian soil. Life returns largely to its regular routine for Scott, but he never forgets his experience. He writes beautifully about his experience in Africa when a woman asks him at a dinner party, "Tell me about Africa." Scott simply cannot find the words to describe to her the geographical beauty, the corruption, crime, and poverty of African society, and the steadfast dedication of many of the aid workers stationed there. Finally, he manages to blurt out the words, "My heart is Africa...It's over there in Africa." This simple statement sums up all of the changes that Africa made in Scott's life. Africa captured his imagination, his mind, and his heart in such a way that it made him inseparable from it. This bond between Scott and Africa is expressed several times throughout My Heart is Africa and is arguably the main theme of the novel. More than anything else, Scott wrote the book with the intention of expressing the changes that Africa made in him, and how they've made him a better person.

Memoir Reading Blog #9

Scott and Krystyne finally catch up with Serge again in Windhoek, and the three of them make a short flight to Sossusvlei. Sossusvlei is the site of the largest sand dunes in the world. An Italian couple run a tiny ecological guest lodge there called Kala Kuena. After a few days in the desert, the three of them return to Windhoek and depart for Swankamund. From there, they continue North, passing up the East Coast of Africa. Time becomes important here, as it becomes increasingly difficult for Scott to find fuel to supply their plane. Serveral problems develop along the course of Scott's search for fuel, as he is detained at one airport and forced to buy fuel at roughly triple the average price. His flight path also deviates considerably from his planned route, as he is forced to hop from one airport to another in search of fuel which, when acquired, has to be filtered and hand-pumped into the plane, a laborious and exhausting task. In total, Scott and Krystyne's trip took almost a month and had allowed Scott to almost completely completely circumnavigate Africa in his little Cessna. As they land, they realize that this was their last flight together in Africa, since there was less than a month left in their stay. The realization is hard for them both to take in, and adds a sense of melancholy to the landing.

Scott's near circumnavigation of Africa has allowed him to observe almost all of the differences in African culture. Africa is an extremely diverse continent with many different cultures. These cultures vary from country to country and can sometimes be in complete opposition in countries that share borders. This diversity is one of the difining qualities of Africa and is what makes it worth saving. Human civilization began in Africa, yet most of the countries in the world ignores their heritage and see Africa as a continent to take advantage of for their own personal gain. This attitude has to be stopped in order to stop Africa from tearing itself apart through poverty and intolerance. I think that too many people see Africa simply as a neverending drain of resources from their developed countries. However, it isn't simply the economy of these underdeveloped countries that we're trying to save, it is their people and their way of life that are truly important to save.