Death At A Funeral In A Mall

This past friday, Mr. Ronald Brown II, Griffin Davis, Fred Hannah, and myself indulged ourselves in a very humorous film by the name of Death at a Funeral. Little did we know, our experience was about to turn from a dinner and a movie into a mystery. This adventure began at 3:30 at Hammond School. Whilst we were waiting patiently out side for Mr. Griffin Davis' father to pick us five gentlemen up, Mr. Evan Charles gave us this statement: "Excuse me gentlemen, I must reap some money from mother's wallet". As he approached the car, the back door was thrusted ajar. Mr. Charles was then seemingly consumed by the car's open door when a hand reached out and grabbed him. This left Mr. Davis, Mr. Hannah, Mr. Brown, and I in shock and awe, for we did not know if he was kidnapped by Mexican drug lords or merely by his own mother. As Mr. Charles' kidnapper quickly departed from the parking lot, Mr. Davis pulled out his cellular device and began to call Mr. Charles. After six attempts to reach the other line, his phone had gone silent, and we lost all contact. We decided to venture to the theater despite the disappearance of Mr. Charles, in hopes of finding him there. Alas, when we arrived he was no where to be found. Riddled with grief and confusion, the three remaining gentlemen and I decided that we would bear through the movie without Mr. Charles; we knew it was what he would have wanted. Half way through the film, Mr. Ron Brown had an epiphany: "I have reached a conclusion gentlemen! The movie is titled Death at a Funeral because that man died AT THE FUNERAL!". It was a stroke of genius to say the least. I could not believe that I did not gather this obvious conclusion as Mr. Ron Brown did so rapidly. Soon the word obvious began to play constantly in my head. It was my turn to have an epiphany! If the conclusion of the movie was so obvious...perhaps the conclusion of our own mystery was obvious! I then realized that Mr. Charles wasn't kidnapped by Mexican drug lords...he WAS the Mexican drug lord! It had all made sense, until I remembered that he wasn't Mexican. I reluctantly spoke to Mr. Charles over the phone later that night and was informed that he had simply chosen to see the movie with his own mother; in the back of my mind I still knew that Evan was really helping smuggle illegal goods over the U.S.-Mexico border. However, it was good to know that Mr. Charles was in the hands of his mother and not Interpol.

Religion, Zoos, and Prison

I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.

Religion and zoos are so frequently compared because of one keyword... freedom. Many peoples detest zoos now-a-days because they are under the impression that the animals are trapped, and that their wild-at-heart spirits are hindered by iron bars and stone walls. Many different peoples also say that the problem with religion is the moral restraints; the dividing line between wright and wrong. Well... that and the constant threat of eternal damnation spent in a dark flaming pit fondly known as hell. I believe that there is no true or false answer here because it is purely an opinion. However, i do agree to a certain extent that they are prisons (both literally and metaphorically) in a sense.
While zoos do resemble prisons with their large bars and walls, it is easy to argue the complete opposite; that many animals are content, and better off with these restraints because they provide shelter and guidance. Religion does the same exact thing. While many people see religion as a metaphorical prison with morals as it's bars and walls, and God as its warden, I view it as a safe path to a good, morally-balanced life. Most all religions have a general if not specific moral code. In Christianity, the moral code is the ten commandments. These commandments along with man-made laws and legal codes are what keep many christians on the right path. Sure these commandments can keep some from their dreams and guilty pleasures, but all-in-all they are for the better of the human civilization.
So, if these metaphorical bars and walls that are metaphorically found in religion and zoos keep us humans and animals safe....maybe it's more like a metaphorical insane asylum than a metaphorical prison. And, if this is true...then maybe we're all just metaphorically insane. And I'm okay with that.

My Views on Creationism/Evolution

I believe there are many man made ways to explain the origin of life. The truth is NONE OF THEM ARE FACT. Many believe they have the definite explanation of life but know one knows for certain. Many if not a majority of South Carolinians believe in creationism; whether it be Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, so on and so forth. I consider myself to be a Christian. This is partly because it is the way I was raised, which is the number one reason why most people, especially children, believe what they believe. It is also because it is what I CHOOSE to believe, it just makes sense to me. I personally don't think it matters what belief or religion a person belongs to. I have witnessed many people completely shut them selves off to the possibility of evolution during the few weeks we have studied it. I think that this is plain ignorant. Just because you believe in a god, does not mean you cannot or should not learn about other people's beliefs. Not only is it ignorant for that reason, but, you must know about evolution to make it through school. The same principle applies to those who believe in evolution; just because you take science's approach, doesn't mean you shouldn't learn another's beliefs. It helps you understand the person on a different level. While I consider myself a christian (and this may sound a bit self-contradictory), I believe religion is a major problem not only in our society, but in the planet as a whole. This is for one reason only...war. A majority of wars that have happened on this planet for thousands of years have been caused by religion. It is an 'I'm right, you're wrong' approach. Why do you think we are staged in Iraq RIGHT now? primarily because of religion. The "bad guys" want to eradicate us (who are known to them as the 'infidels') because we believe the wrong thing, and we want to shove democracy down there throats and bring the feuding countries to peace...with fighting? Now while democracy is a form of government and not religion, it is the same principle, we are right and you are wrong. This is when most people ask themselves who the "bad guys" really are. The answer is neither parties. They view us as we view them. It is merely a fight for survival now. I think the only way these problems can be solved is when our planet is destroyed by a massive implosion in the year 2012 (this would be the humorous part of the blog). In all seriousness, I just believe that we are a misguided race, and that world peace won't be achieved anytime soon. This is why we must enjoy all the small things in life, instead of spending all of our time frowning upon the big things that trouble us.

Nantahala Trip

My kayak spun side-ways, reeling out of control, speedily approaching the next set of rapids. I paddled as furiously as my aching arms would allow me, but despite my best efforts I knew what my inevitable fate was. I then spotted the largest rock of all of them rising half way out of the water. My kayak took a final blow and then I was breathing water for air. The next thing I saw was the shimmering sky eclipsed by the side of my boat. I began to panic, looking all over for my skirt pull. I couldn't find it! I soon learned that it is hard to focus while flying upside down, backwards, in a kayak underwater, while being pummeled by large stones. Then I realized that my skirt wasn't even attached any more... I was stuck. I began to push the sides of the kayak as hard as I could, my arms still aching. I was underwater for what felt to be ten minutes at least, but in reality was mearly 20 seconds. I felt an enormous bump then the next thing I knew the sky was right-side up and I was gasping for air. I began to float down-stream, catching my breath, and thanking God I was fine. I saw the first face that I had seen in what felt to be a life-time; it was the instructor's. This at first was calming - seeing another person I mean. At least it was until I felt the annoying buzz of his lecturing. "Ok Pierce so this is what you did wrong.". This was some what muffled by the sound of my own heavy breathing. My only rebuttal was, "Sir, shut your mouth.". I didn't happen to notice the expression on his face after my comment, but I'm sure his jaw was on the river bed. I then grabbed the back of his boat and kicked onto shore. It was a quiet end to a terrifying moment.

Jem and Scout's Snowman Passage

In this passage of To Kill a Mockingbird, an allegory can be found. When it snows in Maycomb county for the first time in many years, Jem and Scout decide to make an attempt at a snow-man. To their dismay, they discover that there is not enough snow on the ground to make a full sized snow-man, so they begin gathering snow from their neighbor's yard. Jem decides to make the snowman out of dirt, and cover it with snow. At first, it seems that the allegory that is found here represents the caucasian dominance in Maycomb county. But once the snow and dirt mix, it is a clear allegory representing both races of white and black, and how they can mix and be at peace with one another. This passage can also be seen as forshadowing, showing that one day whites and blacks will be looked upon as equal.