Don't you ever feel like that life has no meanings at times? The feeling of not accomplishing anything, it's all in the head...you have everything carefully thought out, but you’re not doing anything about it. You want to make a difference in the life of at least someone, but you know you are no way close to it. You want to try, but you would rather blame the society for not allowing you to do what you want, right? How we come up with excuses for not doing something that would eventually change our life. Not someone's life but OURS! Funny to see how life is, it’s like a circle of complaints…If you want change, then maybe first change yourself , then we can think about changing everything else…It’s a lesson I’m teaching myself…it’s always hard to make that first step!
Food for thought:” The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.”
Monday, February 22, 2010
I am a dreamer!
I know it's been long since I have posted anything... I guess I can finally say "procrastination" caught up with me. I have managed to not go on facebook for more than 2weeks and completely deleted it. WOW! How one's life changes without facebook...But, it's all for the better. I am listening to mad world while I write this, and I would like to quote from the song,
"I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying, Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World”
This song is beautifully written, but has such a negative effect. I kind of like it. I like it being negative (weird me!). I recently started watching American idol once a week for at least two hours…Not too much time taken in a very productive person’s life. Well what can I say; watching this show somehow gives me false hopes, or maybe thinks I can pursue my dream to become a singer someday. I want to sing, I want to spread my message through this magical world. But, again am I becoming a dreamer? I don’t know if I am trying to achieve my dreams and aspiration- I am a dreamer…I will try making this dream real, time will speak for itself…
"I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying, Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World”
This song is beautifully written, but has such a negative effect. I kind of like it. I like it being negative (weird me!). I recently started watching American idol once a week for at least two hours…Not too much time taken in a very productive person’s life. Well what can I say; watching this show somehow gives me false hopes, or maybe thinks I can pursue my dream to become a singer someday. I want to sing, I want to spread my message through this magical world. But, again am I becoming a dreamer? I don’t know if I am trying to achieve my dreams and aspiration- I am a dreamer…I will try making this dream real, time will speak for itself…
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Analysis of "A Road not taken"- Robert Frost!
The Road Not Taken is one of Frosts most appreciated poems. Robert Frost’s poems may appear simple, but he was a poet with deep thoughts, behind the descriptions of nature and everyday activities, one can find a deeper meaning. He was a poet of ironic insight, and his poems are profound in thought. Though Robert Frost was referred to as a nature poet, frost disliked this label because he usually included people in his poetry. Frost’s poetry is known for its pastoral setting. He hailed from New England, or aspects of New England environment feature in his poem. Yet, there is an edgy and critical commentary on human life lurking in many of his poems.
The poem The Road Not Taken is written by frost to question human minds, to regard their decisions and to realize the truth about life. How decision making affects ones lives… the “Yellow wood” shows us either the season- which would be autumn or the age of a person, graduating from middle age to old age...again the aspect of ambiguity is brought about. In this poem frost in a subtle way tells the reader, in life you will face many a time where you will have to come up with a decision, and at that when you are making this decision you will find yourself standing alone,” I took the road less travelled by-And that has made all the difference.” In this line he comments that he decided to choose a different path in life, not many had taken…it may have been a difficult path but he thought this was the path that would take him where he is, and he was different and by being different he says he has made a mark… this poem is trying to bring into the readers mind a change, it is playing human tendencies to follow the footsteps of the other, and the line “ and both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black” – this
Line tells us that on that day no was taking that road, as no leaves had been stepped upon. Frost leaves the reader to take the poem in their own personal way, by no laying any strict impositions.
The Road Not Taken- the title of the poem may suggests several interpretations, suggesting layers of ambiguity and irony. This title can mean “the road he took, which many people didn’t dare tread on”, or “the road he did not take.” This leave the readers mind in a doubtful state of mind, and Frost makes the reader to think leaving an open question, and not imposing any ideas. It questions the readers mind as to why did the person not take that road….what road is Frost talking about? Is it the journey in life? Or is just a road not taken by someone going on a journey, this is the literal interpretation. The irony in this, is that the road not taken is the very thing that bringing about the decision.
The poem The Road Not Taken is written by frost to question human minds, to regard their decisions and to realize the truth about life. How decision making affects ones lives… the “Yellow wood” shows us either the season- which would be autumn or the age of a person, graduating from middle age to old age...again the aspect of ambiguity is brought about. In this poem frost in a subtle way tells the reader, in life you will face many a time where you will have to come up with a decision, and at that when you are making this decision you will find yourself standing alone,” I took the road less travelled by-And that has made all the difference.” In this line he comments that he decided to choose a different path in life, not many had taken…it may have been a difficult path but he thought this was the path that would take him where he is, and he was different and by being different he says he has made a mark… this poem is trying to bring into the readers mind a change, it is playing human tendencies to follow the footsteps of the other, and the line “ and both that morning equally lay in leaves no step had trodden black” – this
Line tells us that on that day no was taking that road, as no leaves had been stepped upon. Frost leaves the reader to take the poem in their own personal way, by no laying any strict impositions.
The Road Not Taken- the title of the poem may suggests several interpretations, suggesting layers of ambiguity and irony. This title can mean “the road he took, which many people didn’t dare tread on”, or “the road he did not take.” This leave the readers mind in a doubtful state of mind, and Frost makes the reader to think leaving an open question, and not imposing any ideas. It questions the readers mind as to why did the person not take that road….what road is Frost talking about? Is it the journey in life? Or is just a road not taken by someone going on a journey, this is the literal interpretation. The irony in this, is that the road not taken is the very thing that bringing about the decision.
“To understand something you need to rely on your own experience and culture.” Does this mean that it is impossible to have objective knowledge?
Our lives are entwined with myths, traditions, and above all by values. When, we lose the capacity to interpret myths and traditions to imaginative criticism, it sometimes leads to the crumbling of a society. This statement suggests that to have objective knowledge, both culture and experience play a major role.
In order to answer the question “to understand something you need to rely on your own experience and culture.” Does this mean that it is impossible to have objective knowledge?” one has to understand what ‘objective knowledge’ means, in my opinion objective knowledge is independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers, this is knowledge which is not invented but it is discovered.
There are two types of knowledge: objective and subjective
Knowledge gained through external resources, which we acquire through reading ideas such as, proven historical facts, and data related to the study of science can be classified as objective knowledge. Knowledge acquired through our personal experience, interaction with others and the cultural ethos that governs us can be classified as subjective knowledge. When one achieves knowledge through subjective means, in some cases it can usually be long lasting and unquestioned.
In my Hindu culture nearly every action or event particularly those that are social are governed by the cultural ethos.
For example, when a child dies unexpectedly, the society relates the death to some evil cause. In a western reality it may be due to a medical reason, but for thousands of years explanantions including evil influence hase provided some explanations to people who have no access to medicine.
In a similar manner, when my sister was named ‘Shruthi’, numerogically in the Hindu culture this name suggested a lack of prosperity in life, so when my parents consulted an astrologer he proposed a different spelling ‘shruti’, in which he claimed many prosperities in my sister’s life. My parents accepted it even though they had an advantage of the objective knowledge which told them that ‘Shruthi’ with an ‘H’, would sound phonetically correct.
In both these examples one sees that cultural beliefs play a strong role in many peoples lives, but there are no substantial evidence to say that the cultural practices are wrong, but ethically it is also not wrong to say many people have several different ways of practicing many beliefs, and cultural morals. Here we can see the predominance of subjective knowledge over objective knowledge.
One may say is it possible to perceive the world without the imposition of one’s cultural biases based on personal experience? Usually we place great trust in our personal experiences, as it is from actual occurrence, whereas when one is taught by or follows his cultural way of thinking, he may feel that the experience is not first hand, and there is usually a blind belief. Some may question why do we follow this? What makes us do what we are doing? Through experience there are answers to some of the questions if not all.
From birth, man learns many things through a ‘trial and error’ method. For example, a child tries to take its first steps, it falls down. Yet, it strives to master walking and learns from its experience. The child practices the physical motions of walking until they are perfected-this is objective knowledge.
Bruce Barton states that “Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand.” Even though this quote does not show how the opportunity is developed, it still emphasizes that experience is key to everyt action. They feel that a lesson learnt from a single experience is worthier that the same fact gained through hours of study (acquired objective knowledge). Using the same analogy that has been used before in this essay it should be pointed that realising the mistakes alone are not enough, one should tear to correct the mistakes that is where objective knowledge comes.
“I know that for sure, because of experience we know that we exist- Descartes Theory” there is one school of thought which states that knowledge gained through experience and culture alone is the best as it will be effective.
Lou Holtz says “I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.”
A child tries to walk and falls down again the child is on the move. The child has realised its mistake when the child falls down over and over again. With the help of the walker (objective knowledge) the child is on its feet again. Thus, it is seen that if learning from falling down is half the knowledge gained through experience (subjective knowledge) then learning to walk with the help of the walker (knowledge gained through objective means).
In many African countries and also in the Irish and Jewish community it is part of their culturally accepted to have young boys circumcised ,and generally people accept these kinds of cultural traditions without much ado. In modern times people have started to question practices such as these, and seek scientific medical opinions instead some say it is good for personal hygiene and others that it is completely necessary and traumatic for the child. There is no right or wrong answer to this decision, it is a personal choice, and a family may decide to rely on cultural or medical opinions in different circumstances.
It is known that both Muslims and Hindus are taught that it is against their religion to eat ‘Red Meat (Cows meat) – it is so staunchly followed, that only a few may even wonder the real reason of why it is said not to consume this meat. However, if one looks this issue from an objective point of view, it is proven that the more red meat you eat increases various risks such as cancer, loss of blood etc. On the other hand, most Hindhus will not see this objectively, but as a religious obligation. .
If you’re travelling on a bus and the person sitting next to you starts having a fit, what do you do? It maybe your first encounter with this issue, so you have no help from your previous experience, your culture might say something else, for example in India if you come from the Hindu culture and especially if you are from the ‘Brahmin’( the superior caste in the Hindu culture) , you are taught not to help any person if they belong to a lower caste, but if you had read a first aid book you could be in a position to aid that person, and make use of your objectivity knowledge, rather than being subjective to what your culture says.
However, there are times in one’s life which show that a lesson learnt through experience is well learnt, for instance you may tell a child Don’t touch the fire. As we know curiosity kills the cat and occasionally, the child does exactly the opposite. When the child touches the fire and in the process gets burnt, then the child realizes and feels the physical implication of fire. Objective knowledge did not help the child as their curiosity overcame this.
It is apt here to recall, the story of six blind men and the elephant (Aesop’s Fable) a book well read in my childhood. The six blind did not know how an elephant looked. The only other means that were available to them understand what an elephant looked like was their personal sensory experience of touching the elephant. Each man touched a different part of the elephant and thought the elephant was so. The man who felt the body for example thought the elephant to be like a wall. He who touched the tail thought the elephant was thin and bushy and so on…in reality is impossible! However, the story illustrates how experimental knowledge os skewed by a sensory deception. The same way I think that knowledge gained through experience and culture is not enough alone. Only when we can use objective knowledge as well do we get a full understanding in a variety of different circumstances.
In conclusion, to think that knowledge acquired through personal experience and culture alone is enough to have a narrow minded view of knowledge. For a person to have holistic knowledge he accepts objective knowledge too in many learning experiences. In life we need both of these types of knowledge in varying degrees.
In order to answer the question “to understand something you need to rely on your own experience and culture.” Does this mean that it is impossible to have objective knowledge?” one has to understand what ‘objective knowledge’ means, in my opinion objective knowledge is independent of individual thought and perceptible by all observers, this is knowledge which is not invented but it is discovered.
There are two types of knowledge: objective and subjective
Knowledge gained through external resources, which we acquire through reading ideas such as, proven historical facts, and data related to the study of science can be classified as objective knowledge. Knowledge acquired through our personal experience, interaction with others and the cultural ethos that governs us can be classified as subjective knowledge. When one achieves knowledge through subjective means, in some cases it can usually be long lasting and unquestioned.
In my Hindu culture nearly every action or event particularly those that are social are governed by the cultural ethos.
For example, when a child dies unexpectedly, the society relates the death to some evil cause. In a western reality it may be due to a medical reason, but for thousands of years explanantions including evil influence hase provided some explanations to people who have no access to medicine.
In a similar manner, when my sister was named ‘Shruthi’, numerogically in the Hindu culture this name suggested a lack of prosperity in life, so when my parents consulted an astrologer he proposed a different spelling ‘shruti’, in which he claimed many prosperities in my sister’s life. My parents accepted it even though they had an advantage of the objective knowledge which told them that ‘Shruthi’ with an ‘H’, would sound phonetically correct.
In both these examples one sees that cultural beliefs play a strong role in many peoples lives, but there are no substantial evidence to say that the cultural practices are wrong, but ethically it is also not wrong to say many people have several different ways of practicing many beliefs, and cultural morals. Here we can see the predominance of subjective knowledge over objective knowledge.
One may say is it possible to perceive the world without the imposition of one’s cultural biases based on personal experience? Usually we place great trust in our personal experiences, as it is from actual occurrence, whereas when one is taught by or follows his cultural way of thinking, he may feel that the experience is not first hand, and there is usually a blind belief. Some may question why do we follow this? What makes us do what we are doing? Through experience there are answers to some of the questions if not all.
From birth, man learns many things through a ‘trial and error’ method. For example, a child tries to take its first steps, it falls down. Yet, it strives to master walking and learns from its experience. The child practices the physical motions of walking until they are perfected-this is objective knowledge.
Bruce Barton states that “Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand.” Even though this quote does not show how the opportunity is developed, it still emphasizes that experience is key to everyt action. They feel that a lesson learnt from a single experience is worthier that the same fact gained through hours of study (acquired objective knowledge). Using the same analogy that has been used before in this essay it should be pointed that realising the mistakes alone are not enough, one should tear to correct the mistakes that is where objective knowledge comes.
“I know that for sure, because of experience we know that we exist- Descartes Theory” there is one school of thought which states that knowledge gained through experience and culture alone is the best as it will be effective.
Lou Holtz says “I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.”
A child tries to walk and falls down again the child is on the move. The child has realised its mistake when the child falls down over and over again. With the help of the walker (objective knowledge) the child is on its feet again. Thus, it is seen that if learning from falling down is half the knowledge gained through experience (subjective knowledge) then learning to walk with the help of the walker (knowledge gained through objective means).
In many African countries and also in the Irish and Jewish community it is part of their culturally accepted to have young boys circumcised ,and generally people accept these kinds of cultural traditions without much ado. In modern times people have started to question practices such as these, and seek scientific medical opinions instead some say it is good for personal hygiene and others that it is completely necessary and traumatic for the child. There is no right or wrong answer to this decision, it is a personal choice, and a family may decide to rely on cultural or medical opinions in different circumstances.
It is known that both Muslims and Hindus are taught that it is against their religion to eat ‘Red Meat (Cows meat) – it is so staunchly followed, that only a few may even wonder the real reason of why it is said not to consume this meat. However, if one looks this issue from an objective point of view, it is proven that the more red meat you eat increases various risks such as cancer, loss of blood etc. On the other hand, most Hindhus will not see this objectively, but as a religious obligation. .
If you’re travelling on a bus and the person sitting next to you starts having a fit, what do you do? It maybe your first encounter with this issue, so you have no help from your previous experience, your culture might say something else, for example in India if you come from the Hindu culture and especially if you are from the ‘Brahmin’( the superior caste in the Hindu culture) , you are taught not to help any person if they belong to a lower caste, but if you had read a first aid book you could be in a position to aid that person, and make use of your objectivity knowledge, rather than being subjective to what your culture says.
However, there are times in one’s life which show that a lesson learnt through experience is well learnt, for instance you may tell a child Don’t touch the fire. As we know curiosity kills the cat and occasionally, the child does exactly the opposite. When the child touches the fire and in the process gets burnt, then the child realizes and feels the physical implication of fire. Objective knowledge did not help the child as their curiosity overcame this.
It is apt here to recall, the story of six blind men and the elephant (Aesop’s Fable) a book well read in my childhood. The six blind did not know how an elephant looked. The only other means that were available to them understand what an elephant looked like was their personal sensory experience of touching the elephant. Each man touched a different part of the elephant and thought the elephant was so. The man who felt the body for example thought the elephant to be like a wall. He who touched the tail thought the elephant was thin and bushy and so on…in reality is impossible! However, the story illustrates how experimental knowledge os skewed by a sensory deception. The same way I think that knowledge gained through experience and culture is not enough alone. Only when we can use objective knowledge as well do we get a full understanding in a variety of different circumstances.
In conclusion, to think that knowledge acquired through personal experience and culture alone is enough to have a narrow minded view of knowledge. For a person to have holistic knowledge he accepts objective knowledge too in many learning experiences. In life we need both of these types of knowledge in varying degrees.
IF...Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
My reason for existence...
Everyone has a role model to look up to in some way or the other. And, I didn’t have to scale mountains, or run across green pastures or seek in to the dreary deserts to find one. I found my role model in my father.
He is one person who is ever ready to burn the midnight oil with me be it meeting a school deadline or preparing for a French oral exam on the following day. He has always been my pillar of strength that I could lean on either when I was filling in my university applications or facing the many teenage blues. What I admire in him is his patience with me and my moods. He is very understanding and at times when I test his tolerance, he doesn’t lose his cool, but just says a word or two. Those couple of words will suffice to make me realize the significance of priorities and values in my life.
I am closer to my father more than my mother. It is not that I suffer from a case of Electra complex, but, I feel I can share anything and everything with my father more easily and I trust his guidance. Many a time, I have relied on his hunches and valued highly his opinions on various issues. It makes me wonder, when I see my father and my younger brother together, was my father ever like this? His maturity, trustworthiness and assurance even create a doubt in me whether my father was ever a young, playful, carefree child.
He has made me discover the real me, through many penetrating questions and heart to heart chats. His touch of elegance in all the tasks he takes up, his right sense of humor at just the right moment make me emulate him. When I myself become a parent in the years to come, I wish I could be like him.
I feel words are inadequate to explain his significance in my life. He is important to me because he makes me believe in myself that I can do it. He encourages me to go that extra mile. If I am what I am today I owe it all to my dad. He knows my limitations and he drives me to do my best in what I am good at.
I am sure his presence will always play a positive part in my life. He has made me perceive my strong and weak points, and shaped in molding my character accordingly. He is my lighthouse guiding me to the safe shores.
He is one person who is ever ready to burn the midnight oil with me be it meeting a school deadline or preparing for a French oral exam on the following day. He has always been my pillar of strength that I could lean on either when I was filling in my university applications or facing the many teenage blues. What I admire in him is his patience with me and my moods. He is very understanding and at times when I test his tolerance, he doesn’t lose his cool, but just says a word or two. Those couple of words will suffice to make me realize the significance of priorities and values in my life.
I am closer to my father more than my mother. It is not that I suffer from a case of Electra complex, but, I feel I can share anything and everything with my father more easily and I trust his guidance. Many a time, I have relied on his hunches and valued highly his opinions on various issues. It makes me wonder, when I see my father and my younger brother together, was my father ever like this? His maturity, trustworthiness and assurance even create a doubt in me whether my father was ever a young, playful, carefree child.
He has made me discover the real me, through many penetrating questions and heart to heart chats. His touch of elegance in all the tasks he takes up, his right sense of humor at just the right moment make me emulate him. When I myself become a parent in the years to come, I wish I could be like him.
I feel words are inadequate to explain his significance in my life. He is important to me because he makes me believe in myself that I can do it. He encourages me to go that extra mile. If I am what I am today I owe it all to my dad. He knows my limitations and he drives me to do my best in what I am good at.
I am sure his presence will always play a positive part in my life. He has made me perceive my strong and weak points, and shaped in molding my character accordingly. He is my lighthouse guiding me to the safe shores.
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