Reaction to Tim Seibel's Presentation

Earlier I thought some of his poems reflected negative emotions except those love poems which were descriptive and nostalgic, but when I listened to the poet I could understand what his view to the world was at least briefly. Although some Tim Seibel’s poems discusses about discrimination, wrong worldwide policies, suffering of human beings, and rejection, he is optimist and also as he wrote in my book “You must have hope. There is the chance always for change”. Human beings suffer in some way, so they ended physically and emotionally damaged. The first time they could get a “wound” inside them, but next time they will be aware of who or what cause the harm. In like manner, a previously wounded animal will be aware of its predator and act quickly as a “fast animal”. I like a few of his poems because they reflect intense, real, and current issues. However, I dislike that he focused too much in the past remembering his platonic loves. Additionally, he recognizes that America should encourage education or celebrate our progress than live always in conflict.

Reaction to Fast Animal poems by Tim Seibles

            A few time ago, I used to read poems in Spanish. Therefore, I notice a different form and rhythm in English poems. However, I found the same intensity, fiction, and reality in poems written by Tim Seibles. I will say that he is focused in themes, such as, love, passion, and social political concerns. For instance, young relationships, discrimination, injustice, and loneliness were some subjects that he wrote about. In addition, he mentions few contemporary films along with his experiences creating imaginary stories which discuss the previous themes in his poems. Some of these movies were V for Vendetta, Blade, and the Last Dragon. My favorite poems were Born, Wound and The last poem about race which deals with the acceptance of others as equal. I think that the author basically wrote his own love experiences within affection, sensation in a descriptive way; he also cited quotations and film titles to give emphasis to his poems, and expressed his unconformity or acceptance to others.

Reaction to Night and Fog by Alain Resnais

After almost 80 years, each January 27^th people in Israel, Europe and North America remember the appalling genocide in history during the Second World War. In 1955 a French filmmaker Alain Resnais released a documentary “Night and Fog” about the concentration camps created by the Nazi Germany which killed prisoners of war, soviets and Jew citizens, or people who Nazis thought did not share his religious, social, and political ideas. The documentary is settled in an apparent peaceful camp in Auschwitz- Birkenau in Poland which entrance said, “Work will set you free”.  This phrase could imply that a severe and exhausted work was leading you soon free of life. The old and well structured buildings appeared to be hospitals, but they were labs where people suffered in merciless ways. There were also narrow rows of mattress made of hair of prisoners, as well as socks and rugs. Death bodies or parts of them were used to make soap after burned them. The SS agents and Germans were identified by their green clean uniforms. In contrast, hostages wore identical uniforms which bear identification numbers or some symbols that indicated if you were criminal or not. Most of the victims were submitted to the criminals, starvation, sterilization, punishment, etc. Overall each of them could see their own brother dying in gas chambers or dying slowly and painfully without unable to say nothing. Future generations should never forget the actions of “human beings” as an example of inhumanity, persecution, corruption, and discrimination against their own self. Therefore, new generations will be aware and prevent or protect any demonstration of genocide in future time. God help us to understand our own and recognize evil from good.

Reaction of the Story: "Ladies and Gentlemen to the Gas Chamber"

                  One of the worst genocides occurred during World War II shows the atrocity and believing of how human beings could be if their purpose is impious. If not, people could live in the best righteous way as God taught us. Because humans are weak physically and sometimes spiritually, we could not face such utter abuse with the same attitudes and actions that we had, on behalf of ourselves, families, and brothers. Because they did not have the choice and feel fear from death, they took some small advantages of those who were not alive or weaker than they were. Nazi Germany leaders who believed that they are the best “breed” and need to slaughter close to 6 million Jews in those evil ways showed me that human beings lost more than their human nature and became “beasts”. The story definitely indicates what could be the main purpose of war even now nobody will know how much pain a human being can cause another one.  Although the reality was cruel outrageous, I hope those who were saved maintained their faith in God and get some consolation and understanding of why their families pass through that fate.

"The Guest"- Questions 1-4

1.       Why do you think the story set in a remote location?  What does the setting tell the reader about the main character?

The story was setting in Algeria where the author was born a disrupted life before and during the Algerian War. I believed that the story was based in the author’s life in reference to his location and the permanent positive and negative emotions during war. During arduous circumstances, emotions are easily viewed among human beings who share common life conditions and support one another. Daru lived in a deserted rocky plateau in the mountains of Algeria where the climate could be extremely sunny or dry, and windy, snowy, or cold during some nights or mornings. There was not any fertile land or people around high and low slopes following by a desolated expanse. Like the setting, Daru was isolated from the cities and businesses. He was susceptible, fair, and, aware of the misery and tragedy of the citizens. However, he was controlled by the French government and did not have a choice. In the same way, the climate was sometimes “unfair” because it was caused by the unstable atmosphere’s conditions and human actions.

2.   Why does Daru give the Arab the opportunity to escape?  Why doesn’t he escape? Why does he take the road to the Arab lands at the end of the story?

During that time French and Arabs were subordinated by the government’s laws and duties during the war, so the French gendarme and the rest of citizens did not have choice of freedom. Taking responsibility of other life did not belong to anyone and it was unethical. Therefore, Daru gave the opportunity to the Arab. He did not escape because he felt secure and trustworthy about Daru who fed and cared him until the end. It was well humanly treated. Daru was always honest with him, and so the Arab. As a result, the Arab accepted his fate and made his own choice.

3.     In what ways is the Arab treated as a guest by Daru?  In what ways is Daru a guest in Algeria?

The Arab was depending of Daru who treated him in a good manner, made him dinner, and gave him a place to sleep. Because the Arab did not have any possessions, Daru provided him with enough food and money for the journey.  

Daru was born in Algeria from French parents. He was depending of the French’s government, who conquered Algeria, supplied and managed all the resources which Daru made use for poor people. During the story, Daru was an accurate host, but not France. A precise host will not request something in exchange.

4.    Albert Camus once wrote, “No great work has ever been based on hatred or contempt.  On the contrary, there is not a single true work of art that has not in the end added to the inner freedom of each person who has known and loved it.” Evaluate “The Guest” in light of this statement by Camus.

Although “The Guest” mentions about violence, misery, and death, it keeps and defines well what is moral, love, and justice. A great story always keeps balance between evil and good over the life of the characters. The reader will be able to recognize clearly what differences are among human actions for a particular setting and character. After Daru asked himself so many times, if the Arab could do something against him, he decided to let him choose about his individual freedom. The Arab learned to be loved and treated with respect by Daru, thus the future prisoner did the same as he did. If we receive love by someone or through an experience, we will able to give it back even if we find ourselves with limited choices.

"We only know of one duty, and that is to love"

 

Albert Camus
French existentialist author & philosopher (1913 - 1960)

The Widow of Ephesus- Homework/ Questions 3-4

3. The widow’s main virtue was being faithful to her husband within after his death. She was so loyal that she almost spent more than five days in starvation until death. While she cried in the tomb, a handsome soldier came to her and convinced her to eat again. She was so weak and starved after those days that she gave up her duty. She could not oppose against her human needs and woman emotions.

4. This story is a satire, but not a joke. It tries to ridicule the attitudes of women who were not as virtuous as the narrator said. The story seems a joke because the widow loved her husband so much that she let her husband’s body stayed onto the cross. Therefore, people asked how a dead man could climb there. It had an unexpected end for, such as “virtuous” widow. On the other hand, the story was serious because the widow arranged his funeral and burial by herself and neither her relatives nor authorities could change her choice. Although the story mistreated women in some way, I cannot deny that the story is fruitful because it involves many themes, such as loyalty, sacrifice, love, moral, desires or needs of human beings. Unfortunately, some women look like the widow because they could be interested in money or other affairs. However, there are truly faithful women who could respect their marriage during some time, and then get married again by love.

 

1st comment - Appointment in Samarra

As was told in the story, the servant let his emotions, such as fear and anxiety took him control. He did not have time to think or make a righteous choice, so he escaped from his fate. I think that our emotions sometimes make us choose in a wrong way because we could not tackle our problems. Not always an accurate choice has the easiest approach. However, if we choose the difficult way, it will demand the best of an individual.