Blog Five

1.) What does the Uncharted Forest symbolize in Anthem?

In my opinion, the Uncharted Forest symbolizes how the earth used to be. I guess you could say it symbolizes freedom too. In the forest, you don’t have to worry about being told what to do; while in the city, you are told everything that you are to do and how you are suppose to do it.

2.) Describe the house from Chapter X and its contents in your own words, and explain why Liberty and Equality find it so strange and unique.

The house was a home of someone during the Unmentionable times. The house is something that we live in now. It has electricity (although Equality needs to find out how to fix it), mirrors that they can see themselves in for the first time, bedrooms, colorful clothes, a kitchen, windows, and a fireplace. They find it so strange and unique because they aren’t used to it. They have never seen themselves in a mirror, so they don’t know what to think.

3.) Explain the following quotes from Chapter XI in your own words, and discuss how they can be applied to your life:


a) “Whatever road I take, the guiding star is within me.”
b) “For the word 'We' must never be spoken, save by one’s choice and as a second thought.”

A: This quote means, to me, that he will only follow the guiding star for now, and will never follow another man.
B: The quote is an extremely powerful one. When he said, “A second thought”, he meant that we will always remember his past, and what he was always told to do. But it is still one’s choice if he wants to use it or not, because in this new world, everyone is free.

Blog 4

1.) In a well-organized paragraph, describe the society in which Anthem is set. Some areas to consider are the political structure, degree of technology, social relationships, quality of life, and education. Would you want to live in this society? Explain why or why not.

The society in Anthem is an extremely different type of society then we are used to now. First, there is no technology that is described in Anthem. There are machines that the workers use, but there are really no computers, cellphones, or other electronics. Secondly, the social relationships are greatly separated. There are different social relationships for every job, and you aren’t allowed to communicate with any other job type. Lastly, the quality of life and education aren’t ideal. The quality of life is basically to just get by. There is food, water, and sleeping places, and that’s really all. And the education is really bad. If you are a street sweeper, you don’t get the same education of a Scholar. This isn’t really fair, but neither is anything in Anthem.

2.) When does this novel take place—in the past, the present, or the future? How do you know? Please provide specific clues from the text.

I feel that the novel takes place in the future. For some reason, I feel that the tunnel Equality finds is something created by our generation. Plus, Anthem is a good example of how society could become.

3.) What does Equality discover in this Chapter III? How important is this discovery? Describe 4–5 ways in which it would help society, and make life easier or more enjoyable.

Equality finds light. It is an extremely important discovery because it is the first time he has experienced something like this. It would help society to see better, some of the workers stay out latter, buildings would be lit, and it would be less of a fire risk using lights instead of burning candles.

6.) What is Equality experiencing for the first time in Chapter VIII, and what does he feel as a result? Also, explain why Equality laughs when he remembers that he is “the Damned.”

Equality is experiencing freedom. He has always be used to someone telling him what to do. And now that he is the only one, all along in the forest, he feels free. He can sleep in, eat what and when he wants, and do whatever he pleases. He laughs when he remembers he is “the Damned” because this was the first time this has happened to him or the society, and he feels glad to have gotten away, in my opinion.

Blog #3

1. A world with “selves” or “I” would be a true disaster. Everyone would be piled together in a single group and most depend on one another just to survive. No one would be truly happy because you’ll feel that you were working harder then everyone else. A life with “I” would be hell…enough said.
3. “Equality 7-2521”, “International 4-8818”, and “The Golden One” are very wise names used for the characters so far in the book. “The Golden One” is originally called “Liberty 5-3000” and was renamed by Equality 7-2521 because in his, or should I say We, eyes she is golden, pure, and the most amazing thing in the world. While I am not sure why International 4-8818 is called this, but I am guessing that name means that he can do anything, but was chosen to be a street sweeper. And finally Equality 7-2521’s name is this because everyone is equal in their society. He is just one out of many, hence the We.
4. What do I think that the Unspeakable word is? I honestly think that it is “I”. No one in the book talks about “self”, “me”, or “I”. So, when the transgressor spoke the Unspoken Word, he probably said “I” and was punished because of this. It would be Unspeakable in society because the world they are in is a “Society” and doesn’t belong to just one person, like it does today. And like it was said in the book, the Transgressor spoke this Unspoken word and had his tongue pulled out and was burned at the stake. People looked at him like he was a demon because he said this word.

ANTHEM (BLOG #2)

A.
Leonard Peikoff wrote in the Introduction of Anthem, "But reason is a property of the individual. There is no such thing as a collective brain." I completely agree with what Peikoff was saying. You, as an individual, were born with the skill of reasoning and solving problems independently. And since you were born with reasoning, there should be no one who can tell you what to do and how to do it. That is what collectism is. Other people tell you what you should believe and how you should believe it. You can't make decisions for yourself, even though they make hurt or destory you as a human being. That is why, as an individual, you are to believe what you want, when you want, how you want.
As for the super-computer theory, I agree with that. I feel that in the future, a computer will make major decisions for you. Do I think that this is a good think? No! Possibly because that computer doesn't weigh out all of the options of how that decision will effect you in life. Whether that decision will make you sick, make you dispressed, or even worse, kill you in the end. A super-computer, with even more brain power then the smartest person on Earth, will make these decisions, and we will be so depended on them that we fully give up on our own thoughts of reasoning.
So, in conclusion, I completely agree with the statement that Peikoff made.

B.
When Ayn Rand said "I worship individuals for their highest possibilities as individuals , and I loathe humanity, for its failure to live up to these possibilities.", she meant, in my opinion, that those who make decisions for themselves as an individual, she worships. However, those who depend on the opinons of others and what they find is right or wrong, she feels are not on the same level as those who make decisions as an individual. You can live up to these possibilites because you are your own person, with your own brain, and your own well.

D.

I feel that America gives us the chance to be individualist, but we take it for granted. We given the right to vote, but we don't because we are infunced by others, and just because they don't vote, you don't. Or you go to the movies with your friends, and you watch the movie they want to watch because they are watching it and you don't want to voice your opinion. These examples, are in a way, that of a collective society, and not an individual society. America isn't like China though. China's whole culture is collective. The Ruler tells you when to pray, and who to pray to, and what to do. If he says "JUMP", you had better say "HOW HIGH?" or you are done with. I don't think that America will ever get like this. I feel that there will always be those who believe that a collective society would help America become stronger, and grow, but these people are uneducated and extremely lazy individuals who are not only a disgrace to their country, but to the world. A country of individualism means that everyone makes the decisions for themselves, and no one person, makes a decision for everyone, i.e. CHINA. Individualism is freedom, it is what America should be based on. Individualism is life; it is how you should live your life every moment of every day.

AYN RAND

1. READ THE BIO

2. Collectivism-people in all make the decisions
Individualism-making decisions by ones self
Socialism-making decisions with a society
Capitalism-the government or a country makes decisions
Communism-making decisions by communicating.

3. I will place my idea about what I've read so far about the essays. Ayn Rand
was a very radical capitalist from the Soviet Union. Her concepts are still controversial today, some fifty years after completing her major works. College classes are dedicated to understanding what she is saying. For us, as high school students, to be required to comprehend something that is so dense that college professionals devote years to conceptualizing, is derogatory. So, to impose a collective train of thought on an idea such as individualism is an insult to her and her books. I feel like we should not read it as a class because it undermines her own teachings, and therefore is contradictory to Rand's whole philosophy, something that she fought aggressively to live by. I don't know if we are going to read the book as a class, but if you want to offend her by reading collectively, please be my guest. However, I would prefer not to be apart of it.

Fast-Foward

Why can't life be like movies?
Alternate endings, life lessons, and even story book romances
Instead, I'm in this life that is sometimes unfair

I look at what this world is coming to
People killing someone for money
Or a mother killing her child because she wants to be young again

Why can't life be like TiVo?
Pause at the good moments, and fast-foward through the bad
Laugh at the funny moments, and cry at the sad

I think about the day I die
And I shiver with chill bumps
A life without smiling, or tears for every lesson that I've learned

Sometimes I wish I could fast-foward through my life
Just like TiVo, I could see what my future holds
Will I be success, and accomplish everything I dream of?
Will I find that special someone who completes me as much as I complete them?

Only life can tell what your future holds
You can't fast-foward through your life, as much as you wish you could
You must live life and learn from your mistakes instead of giving up, and just fast-fowarding your life away

"WHY"

Some people ask the question "WHY?"
Others might response "Why not?"
Why is the world round, or Why is the sky blue
I have no idea, and neither do you

Why do some see just black and white
When the world is made of people, not blobs

Why can't we just all get along
Some response "They just don't belong"

Why do people cry in the rain
Some response "Just to hide the pain"

Why do dreams rarely come true
Some might response "It's just not in you"

I've seen these people that often ask "WHY" or "WHY NOT"
And I response "Because, the world is too big for some many WHYS"