You Should Be Afraid Of Us!

      The movie "V For Vendetta" is a movie about a future society in totalitarian Britain. A reasonable comparison would be the to the totalitarian dictator of Benito Mussolini. Britain, as told in the movie, is ruled by a totalitarian dictatorship.  Government, ruling by creating fear, puts down anyone against the law.  The main character Evey joins V in his quest for revolution after being saved of police men getting to Evey after curfew. V and Evey fight the tyranny and oppression given by the British government, in while learning more of the two character's backgrounds.

        When I saw this movie for the first time, it clearly illustrated what it was like to be in tyrannical society. For example, the trailer shows Evey going to be beaten just for breaking some curfew of the night. It's not like the officer escorts to her home or interrogate her or just beats her so she can learn her lesson. Later in the movie, the viewer would find that the government conducted experiments on human being killing hundreds of thousands.Totalitarian government is always to basically most of the time corrupted. I wasn't shocked of this happenings. After learning about these types of governments in history, they always had a something to hide.

        The movie clearly depicts that civil disobedience is needed to change the ways of your government. For people to realized the ways of government, one must show the rest what is happenings. Without one standing up to the government, no one would try or even think they could revolt. There is always more people than government.As V said, that's why a government should be afraid of its people, not the other way around. Citizens dictate the life that goes on. 

Coach Potato?

       Although "Wall-E" is a family movie for for all ages, it has another meaning besides a fun filled Disney movie. "Wall-E" was suppose to be a movie about a robot, named Wall-E, who was suppose to take clean up where humans previously lived. However, Wall-E finds himself going on an adventure when he accidentally boards a ship to someplace else. Wall-E soon finds himself falling in love with another robot named Eve. When Eve gets kidnapped, Wall-E goes to save his love of his life.

       It's a nice story line, yet we see something we hope that won't happen in  the future. As Wall-E goes through a building we see the horrific scene with humans. Humans in the movie are fat slops. No longer does a person walk, but they sit in some sort of chair that floats. Human's don't talk to each other, but on holographic webcams. Even if the person was right next to you, the person still used the screen to talk to the person right next to them. People don't chew their food or anything. All foods are put into a drink. Robots give them and throw away the drink when the human is done. 

       The message here is obviously that technology has gone too far. People are so lazy. One the man fell off the chair, a service bot was automatically called to assist the man to get back in his chair. The man was rolling around on the floor like a ball.  At the end of the scene with the pool, I thought it didn't even matter. The lady can't even move on her own, let alone swim. It sounds mean, but it's true. I couldn't imagine a society that is fat. I mean be comfortable in your skin, but being fat or obese has health risks. In modern society, people are always trying to get abs or be lean. I couldn't imagine a society without exercise. I mean, my life is revolved around being active and doing sports. Sighs...

       

Will People Go Green?

      The picture might seem silly, but in reality it holds a true controversial statement. The idea of going green has been a long and debated issue in the United States. On such way that the country has suggested of going green is making hybrid cars, solar cars, or electrical cars. Notice in the picture that the "Oil" part of the car is sad, while the "electric" part is happy. It's quite obvious that the point of view of the author is bias against oil. The author for going to get more battery powered cars. However, is there more benefit to a battery-powered car? For most Americans, no. Battery-powered cars do not have a lot of mileage nor does it even have a great amount of speed. Also hybrid and battery-powered cars are often very expensive. Even if a person wanted to get a such car to help the environment, they would either have a long payment plan or not be able to afford one. The rich are going to have to be the ones and take the first step forward. 

       For a long time, people have tried making things better for our environment. However, most ideas are insufficient or have a lot of downfalls. Even though battery-powered cars are better for the environment, people are still burning coal to charge that battery. Is there anyway to escape this disaster? Hopefully there is. Without change to the way we are living, global warming could be a huge issue. Also eventually, we will run out of fossil fuels to burn because it's nonrenewable. I hope that someday that some country will make a breakthrough technology helping our environment. 

We won't stand for this!

Get up, Stand up by Bob Marley

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!

Preacherman, don't tell me,
Heaven is under the earth.
I know you don't know
What life is really worth.
It's not all that glitters is gold;
'Alf the story has never been told:
So now you see the light, eh!
Stand up for your rights. Come on!

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!

Most people think,
Great God will come from the skies,
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high.
But if you know what life is worth,
You will look for yours on earth:
And now you see the light,
You stand up for your rights. Jah!

Get up, stand up! (Jah, Jah!)
Stand up for your rights! (Oh-hoo!)
Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!)
Don't give up the fight! (Life is your right!)
Get up, stand up! (So we can't give up the fight!)
Stand up for your rights! (Lord, Lord!)
Get up, stand up! (Keep on struggling on!)
Don't give up the fight! (Yeah!)

We sick an' tired of-a your ism-skism game -
Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord.
We know when we understand:
Almighty God is a living man.
You can fool some people sometimes,
But you can't fool all the people all the time.
So now we see the light (What you gonna do?),
We gonna stand up for our rights! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)

So you better:
Get up, stand up! (In the morning! Git it up!)
Stand up for your rights! (Stand up for our rights!)
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight! (Don't give it up, don't give it up!)
Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!)
Stand up for your rights! (Get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Don't give up the fight! (Get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight! /fadeout/

       Bob Marley was a very very famous singer during mid 1900s to late 1900s. Marley was a artist of reggae, who specialized in his area of music. Bob Marley is widely known for his songs in social issues, but more importantly oppression. I first heard of Bob Marley on the radio when I tuned in to Magic 106.7. It was then when the station played "One Love," that I discovered a new artist that I liked. It wasn't until later on in high school that I looked into his songs. "Get up, Stand Up" was a classic hit talking about people standing up for their rights. The song a has a nice groove that a person can easily get lost into, if there don't listen to the lyrics. The message is quite clear that there is inequality of some sort is going on. This could still pertain to slavery, but more likely the rights of Blacks in America. Remember African Americans were still oppressed even if the population of the African Americans exceeded the population of the whites in some states. 

       There is also an underlining message about religion. Bob Marley talks about religion, most likely Catholicism, and how it is now helping the situation on Earth. The song speaks of how people are tired of the story of people going to heaven, when their oppress on Earth. People are waiting for God to save them on Earth, but nothing is happening. As a result, Bob Marley speaks in the song that although people might go to heaven, you must also live your actually life on Earth and not just the afterlife. That is why Marley tells people to stand up for their rights because you do not just have one life to live.

We're all beautiful...

       Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a book based upon a futuristic society. In our normal society people who turn sixteen usually have a big party to celebrate since it's consider a big occasion. The same holds out for the people in Uglies. However, instead of throwing a big party, you get a surgery. That's right a surgery. Have you ever dreamed of looking like a super model or actor/actress? Well, now you can! Not only will this surgery allow you to become pretty, you are allowed to do much more fun activities. For example, you are allowed to jump off super bouncy trampolines and para chute of buildings. Pretty much, you party/ have fun until you become an adult. Once a adult, you will go find a job. The message of the book is the idea of biotechnology. What happen if everyone looked like a super model? Every one would look the same. Everyone would have the same facial structure and pretty much the same face. However, what really happens during the surgery? The reader finds out that during the surgery that some sort of lesion is inserted into the brain. The behavior of the person changes as well as their physical appearance. Why would the surgeons insert something into your brain? Can you think on your own anymore? How does one actually get their job if a person has fun after the surgery?  All questions that are hopefully answered throughout the rest of the series. No one questions the surgery, but that it is just better for them. I would totally annoyed if everyone looked the same. Oh wait that wouldn't matter, because my brain is changed to.  People of modern day has the idea of being comfortable in one's skin. Hopefully that message sticks throughout society. Just because one is not "pretty" doe not mean that their "ugly" at all. Been proud of the way you look and confident of the way you approach things.

                                                                                                     

Yes We Can!

       The song shown above was created by Will.i.am. The song was a singing narration by various artists and actors of Barrack Obama's speech of "Yes We Can" during his campaign to becoming president. The speech is certainly very inspiring to the people of America. The president uses pathos to unite the crowd and people as one. I actually never even heard this speech until a couple days ago because I thought it wouldn't pertain to me because I couldn't vote. I was wrong. The message is beyond the talk of politics and the nation as a whole. It is about believing in yourself and having the confidence of doing what is right when society looks down upon you. Have the confidence to said and do whatever you can.

       The message of this speech/song is clearly the rise through inequality. The simple words of "Yes We Can" tells the stories of millions of people. Barrack Obama uses various moments of history to give the impact that Americans can achieve  their goal if you just believe. On such example would be the freedom of slavery. Slaves and abolitionists fought and escape the injustice given by society. Another example is when Obama talks of women reaching for ballots. Women protested on and on again just to vote. "Yes We Can" are more than words for a person. It is a message of a lifetime. 

       

 

No more knowlege

       In our English class, we have just recently read the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The plot of the story tells of a man Guy Montag, of which he is a fireman. Notice how the word is fireman and not firefighter. In our society, both words have the same meaning. Yet, in the society of Guy Montag it doesn't. To be a fireman, in this society, means for the man of the job to burn books. Yes, BURN BOOKS! Fireman of the society do not prevent fires or save people from fires, but to start them by burning books. Why books? Books are illegal for anyone to have. If caught or seen, most people call the fire station to have the fireman go to the person's house to burn them. By the way, in school nobody has to ask questions. The answers are given to you. What a relief huh? WRONG! The society doesn't want anyone to think, so they spoon feed you knowledge. Schools have condensed books and focus more on physical activity.  Homes have T.V. walls, so people are always entertained. The basis of human life is to have fun.

       Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury addresses the idea of censorship by government. The government is restricting any kind of knowledge, such as books, to the people. The only knowledge the people have is what they learned to school which is little to none. As mention earlier, the basis of the human life now is to have fun. From T.V. walls to speeding over 100 mph, people find their own way to get a thrill. With all this going on, no one has the time to think or question anything. It's kind of sad really. Knowledge and discovering things allows someone to feel refined. Yes people might argue over facts and  other sorts of details, but its nice to know a random things. It's what sparks conversion. What we have of basic knowledge is more compared to the book in the book. In the section of the "Hearth and the Salamander," Montag questions the role of a fireman starting fires compare to preventing them in the past. Immediately, the other firemen pull out their handbook. It states that Benjamin Franklin was the first fireman. People in our society obviously know Benjamin Franklin was a inventor and a scientist. I'm very glad that I'm allow to any knowledge I want because I can be any thing I want to be.

War, huh, yeah What is it good for?

Edwin Starr- War (Lyrics)

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Uh-huh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all

War, huh, good God
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

Ohhh, war, I despise
Because it means destruction
Of innocent lives
War means tears
To thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
And lose their lives

I said, war, huh
Good God, y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing
But a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Ooooh, war

It's an enemy to all mankind
The point of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die

Aaaaah, war-huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away

Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me

War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way

Ooooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for?
You tell me
Say it, say it, say it, say it
War, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it
Nothing

       When I first heard of this song, I didn't think much of it. I heard this song on Rush Hour starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. At first I thought it was first due to the way both the actors were singing and also of course it was a comedic film. So, I just laughed about the movie. I was about only 6-8 when I saw this movie, so I probably knew what war was, but not to the fullest extent. I didn't know about the people who lost their lives, so we can live peacefully. I didn't know the turmoil and stress of a soldier's family. Nor did I know the gore and the gruesomeness of a battle field. However, as a young adult, I now understand the full extent of war.

       The song was written during the period of the Vietnam war. The message and meaning of the song is clear. War is something to avoid and be weary of. War causes great distress to many families especially of those serving. "War means tears To thousands of mothers eyes When their sons go to fight," (Stanza 3).  War "has caused unrest" (Stanza 6) to younger generations of people. This is true especially during the time of the Vietnam War because there is a draft.  One of the biggest meanings  conveyed by repetition is that war does not solve and problems. In stanza 10, the lines of "They say we must fight to keep our freedom But Lord knows there's got to be a better way," convey that there could be other ways to negotiate besides fighting. In conclusion, war is nothing but evil.

"Ooooh, war, has shattered

Many a young mans dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days"

       The last message I will said concerning the song would be men would join the war have no life after. As a the song suggests, war can make people "disabled, bitter and mean." Although joining the army has helped people, it could destroy someone's future. 

Live Life to the Fullest

       In a new movie, In Time, where in the near future, humans only given a certain amount time to live on the face of the Earth. From a child is born, is it marked with a timer on its arm. Most people, in this society, don't live to be past the age of twenty-five. "Where time is money - literally," the wealthy can live on forever as they buy themselves life. People who are poor have to work, beg, or steal time just so they can live. Starring singer and actor Justin Timberlake, he plays the role of Will Salas. Will Salas is an ordinary person, just like anyone else, until a man gives him his time and lots of it. Will Salas being falsely accused of murder, is chased by the law due to the previous meeting with the man. Will Salas, tired of the law, looks for a way to crack the injustice of limited life.

       The movie trailer reminded me of the story we read in English, 2BR02B by Kurt Vonnegut.While the people in 2BR02B chose to die, the people in In Time, have a given death date. However, both have to deal with population control. If you give a person a limited amount of time to live, you are restricting their right to life. That is what the government is doing. Now not only do people have to worry about shelter and food, people have to find a way to get more time to live. Being human has a whole new meaning because you are actually looking to survive literally compare to among other things. The jump between each social class seems to have a huge gap seeing from the trailer. You either are living in the ghettos or you live the high life. 

       In Time ultimately deals with the idea of inequality. People are being oppressed because they have a limited time to live. Like I said earlier in the blog, people have to worry about living among other things. As a result, people are going to be concerned about living their life rather than rally to protest. Besides from the age of when your born to 25,  a person is usually still figuring out their life especially when you are a child. A child wouldn't even know understand what would be going on, because they are still learning to comprehend things. The government is smart to put the age limit at 25 because people are barely adults. It's clear that the government is corrupt or a dystopian society because they are violating the basic rule of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. I couldn't believe if a democratic society actually went ahead with this. It's obvious important figures would get to live forever. However, I doubt his was ever going to happen because would no doubt revolt because the government could slap timers on us.

A New Beginning

http://terra-nova-trailer.blogspot.com/

TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149, the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped and overcrowded, with the majority of plant and animal life extinct. The future of mankind is in jeopardy, and its only hope for survival is in the distant past.
When scientists unexpectedly discovered a fracture in time that made it possible to construct a portal into primeval history, the bold notion was born to resettle humanity in the past – a second chance to rebuild civilization and get it right this time.
http://www.fox.com/terranova/

When I first saw this show in commercial, I wasn't surprised if the
human race was actually going to head this way. As the years
progress, more and more human beings are being born onto this
planet. However that's not the problem. It's the space we take up. Many people, for example like my neighbors, like to excessively have more than two cars for no reason. Each individual human being on the planet is taking too much space than necessary. That's why the environment is going to be an issue because sooner or later we're going to chop down more of the environment so people can live. As humans take up more space, there is no room for other species, such as animals and plants. Without trees taking the carbon dioxide, humans cannot survive without the oxygen given by the carbon cycle. Yet, humans keep chopping tree so mindlessly. There is no balance.


The simple question is if the director predicts humanity to come down to it's last resort as this, what does it mean for humans now? Should people be allow to build large homes when there is only three people living in it? The director conveys that if nothing is done in the next couple of centuries humans might have to expand to another planet or go back into the past to save mankind. If everyone did the right thing and recycle or even just live in an apartment to get along with one another, then there wouldn't be issues. I hope mankind is smart enough to figure it out before its too late.

Traitor... Star Wars Part II

       If you're totally not familiar with the Star Wars story line, then you're going to need a little background information before I start my awesome connectivity with the FUTURE! The story goes that a long age war has been going on between the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi, being the good people, are fighting for democracy, while the Sith are trying to take over the world. The Jedi government is almost the same as ours, but it represents much more species. Chancellor Palpatine is basically the president of the system. (Some people are strong with the "force," meaning telekinetic powers. These people strong with the force, train and grow up to become Jedi Knights. However some may work for the side of evil.) 

           

       If you hadn't figure it out, the chancellor of the republic, is Darth Sidious, the leader of the Sith. Whoa! The person who leads the democracy is the same person who wants to take over the world! This totally surprised me because why would the leader of a free nation do such a thing? A leader is suppose to look out for the best of the nation not destroy it. To my dismay, I also found it hard to believe how long it took for the Jedi to realize that their leader was the traitor of the nation. The saddest part of it all was that he survived. This leads to the question of, how do we use language / images to manipulate people’s minds? By being the chancellor of the nation, Palpatine can easily look innocent because he is suppose to be a leader. As a result, no one would expect treason from him. Also earlier he had manipulated Anakin's mind by saying he can save the life of the ones he loved if he had join the dark side. As a figurehead, he led Anakin to believe the wrong thing, distrusting the Jedi. Anakin testing the values of the Jedi told Windu to bring him to court, however Anakin did not understand that Palpatine could of corrupt the people in the senate.

       The reason I chose this piece of work because it related to the topic of government. Our society, in the future, will be highly advanced. No doubt we need a leader to control the manufacturing and the advancement of complex technologies. Yet, it scares me that the very leader we look up to can eventually destroy us in the end. This means that no matter how far we advance in technology, the human mind still stays the same. The corruptness of political leaders will still stay with us as long as we exist. The power of controlling a nation can still get to a human's mind. Can there ever be peace in the world?