Opinion On Obama Speech

Chris Whalen
Obama Speech

Obama delivered a powerful yet deceptive speech to not only the American public but to the world. An escalating problem which he proclaimed to have under control yet he contradicts himself by perpetually doing what he says is wrong, that being killing those who innocently stand in the path of evil. All actions that the United States fore takes in foreign soil such as that of ISIS, more hate will sprout around the world potentially creating deeper roots of threats. Various sources state that Muslim individuals from foreign soils are pertaining to ISIS. This leads me to conclude that as easily as these individuals exited their home countries could they reenter causing collateral damage. This wouldn't just cause damage but a further expansion of the ISIS roots into further wealth and heavier influence. Obama's strategic plan may scratch the surface but in order to eliminate ISIS, issues must be tackled from inside. These strikes are going to trigger anger and simply cause more civilian death contradicting all said and believed in by Obama.

Trust and Responsibility

Chris Whalen

Mr. James

short story writing

Trust and Responsibility

Approaching ones insecurity can be a radical move, but in order to overcome stages of confusion or insecurity the fear must be confronted. Hemingway approaches this idea with a metaphor associated with a hidden message. An insecure situation which two confused lovers are confronted with, presented by the words “hills like white elephants”. The story is shaped around a dialogue in which results in a bickering of inconclusive thoughts as the girls desperately derails the content of the conversation. Although Hemingway illustrated the story in a very board like spectrum leaving gaps in the storyline for the reader to fill in as he pleases, many things were evident as to hint what the conflict was.

When we as people are placed outside of our comfort zone we tend to peak at the situation instead of looking straight on. This idea was hinted by placing the alcoholic drinks during their conversation. Alcohol is usually associated with the wanting to escape. We can view it as a motif to evade the reality of a situation replacing it with a fantasy. The reality of alcohol is that it allows for gaps that cause us fear to momentarily be filled. Jig, as mentioned once by the american emphasizes that they never do anything but go out and try new drinks promoting the fact that their relationship is taking place in the dark.

Hemingway portrays their discomfort by placing them in a tranquil yet awkward situation which both lack the answer to the situation. Not only does the american misinterpreted various phrases the girl says to him, but he refuses to understand them. There's a huge lack of cohesion between the couple which is what impedes them from truly trusting each other on their opinions which is what matters.

When discussing matters regarding trust, David Foster presents a story that revolves around the lack of responsibility and trust. A childs world works like a sponge, it absorbs any surrounding action, knowledge, ideas, in order to fill in the missing gaps. The fact that a child's world is abundant is space, in the process of being filled with various factors such as knowledge means that it is the babies parents responsibility to compensate for that missing knowledge while it learns. In “Incarnations of burned children”, a plot based on an accidental spill of a pot of hot water on a baby is presented. The story then goes on to express a moment of shock, negligence, and desperation. A moment in which the parents tried to react but the actions wouldn't follow through.

Although the cause of the horrific event was an “accident”, an accident is simply the lack of responsibility. A baby acts more as a material object than a mobile human, depending on its parents to watch out for it. An object won't move if the owner doesn't move it, which implies that a baby won't react if placed in a situation of which it may not know. It is a parents job to prevent a situation that may harm its child especially if the parents don't know how to react.

Both Hemingway and David Foster portray a plot that involves the lack of trust, responsibility, and confrontation. A couple with a relation that resides in the dark, and a baby that its relation with its mom is placed in the dark. Both the couple and the baby with the mom are looking at “hills with white elephants” because they are portrayed in situations that no one is secure in. They are confronted by something that makes them hide within their shells yet they don't wanna step out because they fear something is gonna eat them up. Trust, acceptance, responsibility and conquering ones hardest moments are what shape us as humans, and thats what these two story characters lack.

   

Long Form Piece

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I sat motionless, blankly staring down at the abyss. The sound that surrounded me echoed in my head, but nothing made sense to me. All this was the result of an unconscious decisions that had simply become the product of a strong friendship. A reaction that by nature lead me straight into the fight. The same decision that landed me into the chilean correctional facilities.

A type of question that when asked to many, answer with a fictitious lie. “Would you jump in front of car for a friend?”. Its easy to spit out words or a simple yes, as most of us do, but when put in the situation most of us just run away because its the easiest thing to do. Taking a blow for a friend is what separates those who you mean something to, with those who are just puppets in your everyday life.

..

My hands cuffed behind me as i restlessly tried to calm myself and sit still. I looked down at my light blue shirt recreating patterns with the blood stains that had dripped down from my broken nose. I had been stripped of all my rights and placed in a situation that i had never been in. My heart beat was irregular and my eyesight blurry. A room filled with juvenile delinquents that screamed out helpless words slowly accumulating the guards anger as if every word they spat out was just another mosquito flying by their ear. I tried to camouflage myself but my American heritage shot right back at me. I stood out like a tall man in a short croud.

The cell door opened as another juvenile was thrown in. I quickly glanced up from the corner trying to avoid eye contact. A bulky but short teenager furiously stared at two of the guards that had just thrown him in. “Fat Fu@#,” he blurted out. The cell door was slammed open as the two guards stomped inside. “Everyone up and against the wall!” My heart started pounding on my chest. I quickly moved to the wall. I pressed my jaw tightly, laid my head against the wall and closed my eyes. Behind me, screams that one would only recognize from a horror movie flew out of the teenagers mouth as the corrupt guards relentlessly beat him.

It took me a while to realize it was all over. My mind and body had gone out of synchronization as i could not think nor move. The teenager had no marks on his face but it was clear that the beating they had given him was only done in hidden spots. “You fine?” i heard a voice call from a distance which seemed familiar but couldn't figure it out. “Yeah, im fine” i replied emotionless. Time paused and i simply was no longer thinking. I had become a statue with no emotion.

…

Change and understanding only occurs when an individual goes to one end and back. When one is presented and placed in a hard situation and takes the step forward to face it. This is what builds us as people and enables us to see the deeper meanings to things.

I was placed in a situation were defending my friends stood in front of all the outcomes that resulted from the incident. I went through a day that felt like a year and all through that, i was suffering. Put at my limits and tested for my weaknesses but in the end, i came out stronger and with a deeper meaning to friendship and life. The best way to learn, is the hard way, because any other way is only scratching the surface. Loyalty to one another is the key to success and if it requires you to fall for someone, fall, but stand back up and do it better the second time.     

Mission Statement

Mission Statement

Loyalty. An invisible bond that distinguishes real relationships with those that are fictitious. On a day to day basis, we as humans are presented with decisions that demonstrate our feelings for one another, constantly taking sides. With some we latch like two opposing magnets while with others we automatically can not bond. We by nature and instinct are biased to one another and unconsciously will bond with some better than others, but ultimately the whole matter revolves around one simple but complex subject, that being; loyalty and its outcomes.  

Like a mother protects her child, a true friend protects his friends. When someone who you care or love is placed in a situation that places them at risk, it is your right to stand by them and take as many blows as the situation presents in order to defend or protect that individual.

It is a simple task to act and state that someone is a good friend but the only way these things can be determined is when a situation that puts yourself at risk occurs. In a situation where your friend is at risk, would you stand in front of him, or would you throw him in front of you?

Loyalty is the invisible bond that connects us, but without it, it would be like two positively charged magnets forcible tapped together.

The article will include my experience through a hard decision that was taken in order to protect my friends and the reality and outcomes that are produced with every decision that is taken.   

Pitch Letter

Mr. Editor,

Any spontaneous reaction is the product of a bewildered situation. A decision that is taken with no prior judgement of the consequences. Ultimately, these decisions result in life changing experiences that unfortunately many times alters how one behaves and thinks. These are the elements in peoples lives that build up to create a difference. The moments that shape and create our understanding of the real meaning of life and the value behind it. In order to see the light you must first live in the darkness and suffer the reality that surrounds it.

As a result of my experience, I present Change and Loyalty, an article projecting the reality that confronted me on the late morning of January 2nd, revealing the oblivious consequences that identify themselves in moments of despair. I will tell the story from my perspective and how every action i proceeded to take resulted against me. How loyal can you be? Would you take a bullet for a friend? I plan on interviewing my lawyer with the purpose of answering what the true consequences are of taking such actions and risks, alongside what could ultimately be the result of a spontaneous reaction without thinking.

As a victim of spontaneous reactions, i express the true consequences and define what the real meaning of friendship is through the telling of my experience. We are surrounded by a pessimistic world where loyalty towards your loved ones may be the only thing protecting you.

Thanks you.

sincerely,

Christopher Whalen