Five Reasons Why Louis Zamperini is an Epic Hero
Everyone's seen the trailer for the upcoming movie Unbroken, but do they know the struggle that has been burned into Louie's past? Louie was cast to sea when his plane crashed, but he fought through abusive commanders, harsh winter conditions, bitter punishments, and the unforgettable sight of watching a friend die in the hands of someone that you can't do anything to. However, he is a hero, an epic hero, one that someone doesn't just forget about.
1) He survived a plane crash~ When Louie was in the war as an airman, he was shot down in his plane. He was in the Pacific Ocean drifting on a raft from Hawaii to Japan, where he was taken harshly into a concentration camp for American P.O.W.s. An epic hero is defined as someone who participates in a cyclical quest, and being taken prisoner in Japan after forty two weeks without food is a pretty amazing journey.
2) He survived both Ofuna and Omori~ Ofuna and Omori are extremely strict concentration camps where a man, nicknamed The Bird, tortures and harasses inmates, and that supposedly "filled his sexual desires". Louie was one of his main targets because Louie was successful, like Bird wanted to be. Ofuna and Omori were camps known to kill in large masses, and Louie was one of thousands to survive, and that is important to the overcoming of obstacles.
3) He changed when he came home~ Another characteristic of an epic hero is being significantly changed or transformed when returned. Louie came home to see his mother and father and two sisters, and they thought it would be a good idea to play him the forced telegram the Japanese made him send home. The plan backfired when Louie heard it: he burst into a fit of hysterical screaming, ear-shattering screaming, enough to make you know the horrors he's been through. It shows how different you can be when you hear someone say, "I love you, Mom. I'm safe in Japan and they're treating me great."
4) There was someone who helps him along the way~ Louie was a part of the Superman crew in the air force, where he was a bombardier, but his pilot, Phil, was a fighter and survivor as well. The Omori guards even decided that Phil wouldn't be killed, otherwise Louie would refuse cooperation with them furthermore. Phil was another firm believer that they would survive the plane wreck, after all, he was on the plane with Louie when they crashed.
5) Courage~ It's as simple as the word. Louie was a courageous man. He pushed his captors so far as to making them threaten to shoot him if he dropped a heavy wooden plank on his starved body. They gave up when he wouldn't drop it, clocking him at 37 minutes. If that's not enough, as he was beaten, he begged the guards to hit him harder to prove he wouldn't fall at the commander's feet, which could have gotten him killed. Louie was a symbol of hope for all who were still alive in these camps, pushing them to save themselves when they needed it most.
So, sure there were times when Louie wasn't exactly a hero, like the thefts as a young teenager, but past behind him, he was a very respectful person. He will go down in history, not only as the great Olympian he was, but the strong idol, the amazing hero he was. Louie Zamperini is a hero beyond definition. Beyond words, his heart shows what heroes truly are.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Blog Post #10: Reading Wishlist
2) Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien would be a good book because it is a fantasy book, and I am very interested in that genre, and people tell me it would best compare to Harry Potter, which I obsess over.
Blog Post: Good Reads
Jill's books
I love this book, especially how the author uses flashbacks to trigger certain feelings in the novel. If you like romance, tragedy, and even a touch of humor, you will love this book.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Blog Post #6: 5 Reasons...
Five Reasons Why Jackie Robinson Was An Extraordinary Hero.
Jackie Robinson is an inspirational leader to people all over the world, as well as a genuine civil rights activist. He was well-respected, I mean, if you were the first black man to play in a professional baseball league, you'd be respected too. He played in the major leagues as a Brooklyn Dodger to start, but was traded to many different teams. He shoed many white, racist baseball players that race doesn't impact the ability of a person, but discriminating on a race defines the player themselves.
Jackie had such a movement among blacks, whites, and even children at the time. He had always cared a lot about the progress of blacks in baseball, and overall general welfare. He played the sport as if racism wasn't raging across the country and that he isn't treated like he was nothing. He played like he didm't care, hitting 40 home runs in the course of three years, and stealing 22 bases in that time as well. For major leaguers, this was almost as good as you can get, respectable especially with the stress of feeling like you have to win for future generations. So what makes Jackie so special versus other professional players today?
Here are five reasons to show that Robinson used his skills to become a legendary icon to many generations:
1.) He didn't argue~ Jackie had many misfortunes within the sport and one of which was white players nationwide believed it okay to harass Jackie, but as he stated, "They could have blown the whole bit to hell by acting belligerently and touching off of a race riot. That would have been all the bigots needed to set back the cause of progress of black men in sports another hundred years." (Robinson, 23*) This really shows that he is willing to take the pain of harassment over setting back blacks.
2.) He kept playing~ In a scene of the book, Jackie is hit in the head purposefully by another player acting unprofessionally. Jackie was down for a few moments, and he could have easily called it, thrown in the towel and quit, but after a coach started arguing, he told him it was okay and jogged down to first base, not looking at the upset pitcher.
3.) He attempted to be friends with other white players~ Jackie was especially known for his cooperation with the white players. In one scene, Jackie is showering and nobody would get in the water at the same time as he, but Jackie still tried to mingle with them. Eventually, Jackie had a friend on the team, Pee Wee Reese who stated, "You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them." This sparked the cooperation of Jackie's teammates with him, and next, the cooperation of mostly all whites and blacks.
4.) He had the support of fellow teammates~ Jackie had many friends later on in his career, and he even had the help of his manager, stating, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded." Even though he may not have been appreciated in the right ways, he was still an icon.
Jackie Robinson is an inspirational leader to people all over the world, as well as a genuine civil rights activist. He was well-respected, I mean, if you were the first black man to play in a professional baseball league, you'd be respected too. He played in the major leagues as a Brooklyn Dodger to start, but was traded to many different teams. He shoed many white, racist baseball players that race doesn't impact the ability of a person, but discriminating on a race defines the player themselves.
Jackie had such a movement among blacks, whites, and even children at the time. He had always cared a lot about the progress of blacks in baseball, and overall general welfare. He played the sport as if racism wasn't raging across the country and that he isn't treated like he was nothing. He played like he didm't care, hitting 40 home runs in the course of three years, and stealing 22 bases in that time as well. For major leaguers, this was almost as good as you can get, respectable especially with the stress of feeling like you have to win for future generations. So what makes Jackie so special versus other professional players today?
Here are five reasons to show that Robinson used his skills to become a legendary icon to many generations:
1.) He didn't argue~ Jackie had many misfortunes within the sport and one of which was white players nationwide believed it okay to harass Jackie, but as he stated, "They could have blown the whole bit to hell by acting belligerently and touching off of a race riot. That would have been all the bigots needed to set back the cause of progress of black men in sports another hundred years." (Robinson, 23*) This really shows that he is willing to take the pain of harassment over setting back blacks.
2.) He kept playing~ In a scene of the book, Jackie is hit in the head purposefully by another player acting unprofessionally. Jackie was down for a few moments, and he could have easily called it, thrown in the towel and quit, but after a coach started arguing, he told him it was okay and jogged down to first base, not looking at the upset pitcher.
3.) He attempted to be friends with other white players~ Jackie was especially known for his cooperation with the white players. In one scene, Jackie is showering and nobody would get in the water at the same time as he, but Jackie still tried to mingle with them. Eventually, Jackie had a friend on the team, Pee Wee Reese who stated, "You can hate a man for many reasons. Color is not one of them." This sparked the cooperation of Jackie's teammates with him, and next, the cooperation of mostly all whites and blacks.
4.) He had the support of fellow teammates~ Jackie had many friends later on in his career, and he even had the help of his manager, stating, "I do not care if the guy is yellow or black, or if he has stripes like a fuckin' zebra. I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays. What's more, I say he can make us all rich. And if any of you cannot use the money, I will see that you are all traded." Even though he may not have been appreciated in the right ways, he was still an icon.
5.) Jackie was devoted to his fans~ As he describes his experience, he also describes that while he heard hundreds of white and black children yelling and cheering for him and he told himself he had to win. He also played for the blacks in the stands who may have been mistreated and played so they could have a good time with out the vulgar speech of hating whites people
So is Jackie a hero, or is he just the first black baseball player? Many disagree with each other, but, hero or not, he is one to be remembered for his great accomplishments.
*book pages are referenced to iBooks.
So is Jackie a hero, or is he just the first black baseball player? Many disagree with each other, but, hero or not, he is one to be remembered for his great accomplishments.
*book pages are referenced to iBooks.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Blog Post #5: The Truth in Non-Fiction
If a book is considered non-fiction, it would need to be 100% factual or true. When I read all the amazing adventures and endurance of an author, or maybe it's there amazing story, I want to know that the story is all true, and if I find out that some of it is false, it's more of a let-down than an angering topic. I think half-truths are great as long as the story line is good, but in this case, we wouldn't use the term non-fiction, we would say realistic fiction or something of the sort. However, I think that there needs to be a clear, distinct line between genres mostly because people need to know: 1) what they're reading
2) if they're going to enjoy it and
3) if it pertains to personal preferences.
2) if they're going to enjoy it and
3) if it pertains to personal preferences.
Using different genre labels makes it so much easier to see if the book itself will be an interesting book to you personally and if you will even like it. If you hate thriller, sand a book incorporates thriller into their book but it also has mystery and that's what you like, then there needs to be a clear distinction of whether or not it's thriller or not, making you more or less likely to read it. If there isn't that fine line, Then the two genres will be mixed masking a book's true identity.
That is my take on book genres and the truth in non-fiction, by saying that non-fiction needs to truly be non-fiction, not an exaggerated version of the author's or someone else's life, and genre needs a fine line of distinction.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Blog Post #4: The Blind Side
Adaptations for "The Blind Side"
For my adaption book, I read "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis, about an exceptionally large black boy named Michael Oher who, despite his color, makes it into an all-white Catholic School, Briarcrest. I think that the adaptation already made for the heart-felt novel is great. The things they incorporated that really needed to be in the movie were the scenes where: Michael gets his first bed when he was a sophomore, the teacher gives him a practice test to show his deep knowledge, and finally the scene of the football game against Munford where Michael picked up a racist defensive end and carried him only to slam him into the fence.
I chose the scene for Michael getting his first bed because this is a crucial moment in Michael's life to show what his past was like, how he was treated, what he even had as a kid, and it really speaks to Leigh Anne, and it would speak to any audience, giving it significance. I chose the scene where Michael takes the tests because it shows the doubt that everyone had in him slowly dissolve away after his results came back that he knew everything they were talking about. This shows a glimpse of Michael's past, to show that he never had proper schooling to learn in a real school. I finally chose the moment where Michael picked up the offensive kid who was making racial slurs against Michael, so Michael picked him up and carried him almost straight through the fence. I chose this because it shows that Michael wasn't completely submissive to all the hate he got from everyone that thought they would get away with it, that he had a pent up anger inside of him that he could only contain for so long. As quoted in the book, he wanted to take him to the bus, "'I got tired of him talking,' said Michael. 'It was time for him to go home." (Lewis 138). However, with all of the amazing moments in the novel, there were many that should have been left out.
Two things that the producers would have to cut would be the parts when: they were talking about the history of come teams, and also the part about the death of a lineman. For the part of the descriptions of the teams, they are either other schools like colleges or high schools, or they were pro-league, making them unnecessary to the plot of the book, because they aren't playing any of them nor does Michael play on any of the pro teams described. If anything, the team he does play on, the Ravens, and recently changed to the Titans. Also the death of a lineman wasn't completely unimportant, but it was, however, one of the more unimportant ones to Michael's timeline of football
For my adaption book, I read "The Blind Side" by Michael Lewis, about an exceptionally large black boy named Michael Oher who, despite his color, makes it into an all-white Catholic School, Briarcrest. I think that the adaptation already made for the heart-felt novel is great. The things they incorporated that really needed to be in the movie were the scenes where: Michael gets his first bed when he was a sophomore, the teacher gives him a practice test to show his deep knowledge, and finally the scene of the football game against Munford where Michael picked up a racist defensive end and carried him only to slam him into the fence.
I chose the scene for Michael getting his first bed because this is a crucial moment in Michael's life to show what his past was like, how he was treated, what he even had as a kid, and it really speaks to Leigh Anne, and it would speak to any audience, giving it significance. I chose the scene where Michael takes the tests because it shows the doubt that everyone had in him slowly dissolve away after his results came back that he knew everything they were talking about. This shows a glimpse of Michael's past, to show that he never had proper schooling to learn in a real school. I finally chose the moment where Michael picked up the offensive kid who was making racial slurs against Michael, so Michael picked him up and carried him almost straight through the fence. I chose this because it shows that Michael wasn't completely submissive to all the hate he got from everyone that thought they would get away with it, that he had a pent up anger inside of him that he could only contain for so long. As quoted in the book, he wanted to take him to the bus, "'I got tired of him talking,' said Michael. 'It was time for him to go home." (Lewis 138). However, with all of the amazing moments in the novel, there were many that should have been left out.
Two things that the producers would have to cut would be the parts when: they were talking about the history of come teams, and also the part about the death of a lineman. For the part of the descriptions of the teams, they are either other schools like colleges or high schools, or they were pro-league, making them unnecessary to the plot of the book, because they aren't playing any of them nor does Michael play on any of the pro teams described. If anything, the team he does play on, the Ravens, and recently changed to the Titans. Also the death of a lineman wasn't completely unimportant, but it was, however, one of the more unimportant ones to Michael's timeline of football
Monday, September 15, 2014
Blog Post #3: Book One Project
Don't you just adore public pranks?
Have you ever seen the Carrie prank? If not, now's the time to watch it, because it includes a dynamic public prank that scares the unsuspecting customers to death.
This puts an old twist on that prank, by introducing a comatose girl into a cello studio, where she once played before her accident. The actress will be wandering aimlessly around the studio as players continue to play, not giving her any attention, keeping in mind that these other cello players are actors as well. The only people unaware of the scenario are the cello players who are actually in the studio to play the cello.
As the victim sits in place and wait for the teacher, the actors make their way into their seating. After around ten minutes into the lesson, an actress wanders in, wondering around looking worried. She starts to scream, "Where am I?!" and starts to look delusional.
"WHY CAN'T ANYONE HEAR ME?!" As the victim starts to understand her and approach her, the actress starts to freak out, claiming that they must be dead. The victim is lead to an identical version of the lost girl, supposedly dead, and is tricked into believing that the girl is dead.
"You're the only one that can hear me" or "I thought I was alone" or something along those lines to make it seem lime the victim is dead. This is repeated several times with several victims, all of the reactions being secretly recorded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The idea comes from the book where Mia is a cello player who is in a near-fatal car accident with her family and is in a comatose state as she witnesses many things that change her life forever, but nobody knows that she is there, so she is suffering but she doesn't have someone to help her. The choice of her living or dying is completely up to her, like if she is confident she wants to live, then she will, but if she wants to let go, she will.
The cello studio is reflected on her playing habits, as she is going to Julliard for her cello playing. The ignoring of everyone is from her being completely ignored by everyone surrounding her just like in the hospital, and the woman who can hear her (the victim) slowly realizes that she might be dead or comatose.
"No! Stop! Please stop. Please... wake up." (Forman 18) Mia refuses to accept the idea, but she is in a comatose state and that nobody can really hear her, but she just wants to wake up.
"Am I dead? I actually have to ask myself this. Am I dead?" (Forman 19) She's starting to believe that she isn't who she was looking at in the car, that she was in a state where nobody knew she was there.
"I see the glint of silver of my cello charms. Adam gave it to me... It's my bracelet." (Forman 17) She starts to realize that she is in a bad state, but is still confused over why she can see herself in two places.
Mia is starting to realize that nobody can see or hear her, as well as in the prank where nobody except the victim can hear her and it starts to scare the victim even more when the prankee sees the body. Its is almost implied that the actress is seeing her body for the first time as well, and starts to freak out about that.
Have you ever seen the Carrie prank? If not, now's the time to watch it, because it includes a dynamic public prank that scares the unsuspecting customers to death.
(Carrie prank)
As the victim sits in place and wait for the teacher, the actors make their way into their seating. After around ten minutes into the lesson, an actress wanders in, wondering around looking worried. She starts to scream, "Where am I?!" and starts to look delusional.
"WHY CAN'T ANYONE HEAR ME?!" As the victim starts to understand her and approach her, the actress starts to freak out, claiming that they must be dead. The victim is lead to an identical version of the lost girl, supposedly dead, and is tricked into believing that the girl is dead.
"You're the only one that can hear me" or "I thought I was alone" or something along those lines to make it seem lime the victim is dead. This is repeated several times with several victims, all of the reactions being secretly recorded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The idea comes from the book where Mia is a cello player who is in a near-fatal car accident with her family and is in a comatose state as she witnesses many things that change her life forever, but nobody knows that she is there, so she is suffering but she doesn't have someone to help her. The choice of her living or dying is completely up to her, like if she is confident she wants to live, then she will, but if she wants to let go, she will.
The cello studio is reflected on her playing habits, as she is going to Julliard for her cello playing. The ignoring of everyone is from her being completely ignored by everyone surrounding her just like in the hospital, and the woman who can hear her (the victim) slowly realizes that she might be dead or comatose.
"No! Stop! Please stop. Please... wake up." (Forman 18) Mia refuses to accept the idea, but she is in a comatose state and that nobody can really hear her, but she just wants to wake up.
"Am I dead? I actually have to ask myself this. Am I dead?" (Forman 19) She's starting to believe that she isn't who she was looking at in the car, that she was in a state where nobody knew she was there.
"I see the glint of silver of my cello charms. Adam gave it to me... It's my bracelet." (Forman 17) She starts to realize that she is in a bad state, but is still confused over why she can see herself in two places.
Mia is starting to realize that nobody can see or hear her, as well as in the prank where nobody except the victim can hear her and it starts to scare the victim even more when the prankee sees the body. Its is almost implied that the actress is seeing her body for the first time as well, and starts to freak out about that.
I think this will work because the people being pranked will understand the feeling that Mia had when nobody could hear her, making them really feel the plot of the story. It will be an entertaining way to stimulate the reader's who know what the story line is about.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Blog Post #2: What is a Book?
WHAT IS A BOOK?
A book is a door to an alternate universe. It allows us to
really connect with the characters and truly experience their thoughts,
depending on the point of view in many cases. A book that can open a door is
often an escape, a way to release ourselves from the real world. We begin to
get a sense of fantasy, and hopefully of belonging. Sometimes, the real world
is boring and often hurtful, but books take all of that away. For me, it's the
smell, the papery, wooden smell. For others, it might be the connection to the
main characters that let them know that there are other people out there
experiencing that pain or pride or joy that they want to experience. A lot of
books are exciting to readers.
For example, "If I Stay" is a sad book that many
girls read in the fantasy of wanting a boyfriend like Adam who, even in their
disputes and arguments, still wants her to wake up and stay with him. He wants
her to follow her dreams of going to Julliard and is willing to give up
everything just to be with her in New York. I think a lot of girls want that in
a relationship but not too many get it, so it is kind of a fantasy to dream
about. There are also many more books, novels, short stories, and even movies
that make people feel this way, and it’s a special feeling to connect to literature.
In conclusion, I think books are an amazing escape for readers
who want something to connect or believe in. It should be an escape and not a
forced read, like many schools require, which is why I like independent reading
because I can choose a book that I really enjoy.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Blog Post #1: Why I Read
C I read because I think it's good for you to be able to take on a brand new perspective, to be transported to a new world where I can see the exact same situations, but through another's eyes. Or maybe it's almost the exact same perspective, and I can recognize and realize more things about the character that I wouldn't necessarily acknowledge in my own mind. I think it's the best thing ever to experience a world through another person or character's eyes.It opens a door to start something new in your own life, like noticing those small acts that occur right around you.
I don't think enough people read like they should, due to technology, but when they use that as an excuse, I just say, "There's an app for that.". If you are willing to spend hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars on technology, you could spend twenty on a good book or two. My all-time favorite book is "Paper Towns" because it shows you that you can be pretty and popular, but you can also run away with yourself, that it's okay to break down every once in a while, maybe even every day. I always use that in my daily life, because I'm not perfect, I can still break down, but that's okay.
I read for the moral support the story offers me, i just really like the valuable lessons.
I don't think enough people read like they should, due to technology, but when they use that as an excuse, I just say, "There's an app for that.". If you are willing to spend hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars on technology, you could spend twenty on a good book or two. My all-time favorite book is "Paper Towns" because it shows you that you can be pretty and popular, but you can also run away with yourself, that it's okay to break down every once in a while, maybe even every day. I always use that in my daily life, because I'm not perfect, I can still break down, but that's okay.
I read for the moral support the story offers me, i just really like the valuable lessons.
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