A Million Little Pieces 4 (Ethical)

James Frey in A Million Little Pieces is a drug addict, an alcoholic, a drug dealer, and a criminal. Recently in the memoir, James was sentenced to three years in jail. Although we aren't told much about what society thinks about James, I think it's safe to assume people would view him as a very ethically wrong person. However, I believe that people shouldn't judge until they've walked two moons in someone else's shoes. People who aren't addicted can't comprehend the mind of an addict. James knows that he's made bad decisions, and writes, "Don't...Need this bullshit to know i'm out of control" (200). His ability to be truthful with himself let's us know that he doesn't break the rules of society because he wants to, but rather because he must, due to the addiciton.
He writes about how his truly obsessed mind works, "The life of the Addict is always the same. THere is no excitement, no glamour, no fun. THere are no good times, there is no joy, there is no happiness. There is no future and no escape. THere is only an obsession. An all0encompassing, fully enveloping, completely overwhelming obsession" (178). He also describes himself, "In the terror of my addicted mind, all is Black" (200). James' illegal activity and bad decision making shouldn't be excused, but the reasons for his actions can be explained because of the way his mind works. People who are addicted can't stop themselves from doing everything and anything to get themselves drugs. Though it's ethically wrong, these people who that it's ethically wrong, and James getting himself on the right track and hopefully being able to resist the temptations will turn him into a morally correct citizen.

A Million Little Pieces 3

This week's reading from James Frey's memoir A Million Little Pieces told how James life was changing in rehab. Because James refuses the conventional treatments, we perceive his actions as "taking one step forward and two steps back." However, though he doesn't go along with the typical ways, I think he's making a lot of progress using his own tools. Though his counselors don't seem to be relating much to him, he's being impacted in less traditional ways, such as through a book called "Tao" and simply by other addicts in the center. James describes Tao, "These things, these poems, these words, these meanings, they make sense to me. They do no tell me to do anything or be antying or believe in anything or become anything. They don't jdge me or try to convince me..." (201). In the story of his life, James refuses to use the suggested "The Twelve Steps," and tells everyone he will do what he needs to. Though everyone is skeptical of him, his acceptance of the Tao gives us reason to believe he can change using his own way. The other main thing that makes us think James can stay sober by blazing his own trail is how he relates with the other addicts. This section of the book really heats up between James and a girl he met at the rehab center, Lily. During one of their secret late-night dates James writes about Lilly, "I stare at her, let my smile fad it won't fade inside. I have never felt so safe or calm. This hard, damaged, drug-Addicted Badass Girl sitting in front of me with her black hair and her braided pigtails and her clear water blue eyes and her scars her scars the scars on her wrist nakes beneath a plastic watch makes me feel safe and calm" (235). Though there is a rule about no dating in rehab, James' breaking of the rule is okay because he truly believes he needs her to help him do what he must do.
This section is also very important because James' parents come to the center. He dreads "the Family Program" because he's always hated his parents. James writes about this feeling, "I sit and I watch them. The Fury is in me nad has risen it is peaking. I don't understand why this happens, but every time I'm near them, it does happen. THey try to love me, I hurt them. They try to be decent and reasonable, I won't be decent or reasonable. They try to help me, I resent them for it. I don't understand why. They are my Parents. THey are doing the best they can do" (252). Despite how difficult is is to be around them, they make a lot of progress by sharing their feelings with each other, and ultimately by James' decision to sincerely try to be better to them. The meeting with his parents ends with a hug, "I step forward, put one of my arms around each of them, and they each put one of their arms around me. We pull each of us pulls and we hug each other...The Fury flares and i am momtarily uncomfortable, but the strength I am giving and the strength I am taking kills it" (308). James patching things up with his parents is important to the book because family is so important in life. I think that this will really help James to reach his goal, and he keeps tying the loose ends of his life, and putting things back together. His unconventional and independant ideas may seem wrong, but I think he's a strong and smart man who knows what he's doing, and will prove everyone wrong.

All My Sons

The characters choices and actions in All My Sons directly relate to whether they want to benefit their family, or benefit society.  The glaring example of a character whose purpose is to protect and benefit his family is Joe Keller.  He says "For you, a business for you!"  after his son confronts him about the crime he committed.  He thinks that because he was protecting and benefitting his family, it justifies his horrible actions.  Although he wants to support his family (with especially finance/keeping the business) his son disagrees and thinks the opposite: that one should follow the rules of society above anything else, including family.  Chris gets very upset with his father, and just the thought that his dad "killed hundreds of men" is repulsive.  The dynamic differences between the two bring about a very emotionally-charged conflict, and these conflicting views of what is important, family or society, is a center of discussion in today's society as well.

I think that the needs of society are almost always more important and should be obeyed most of the time.  Although family is above all for many people, hurting people for your family is across the line.  Major offenses against society are never justifiable, however doing something harmless against society in order to benefit family is sometimes okay.  Depending on the issue, Society should be, and normally is above all and should always be obeyed.

A Million Little Pieces 2

As I continued reading the autobiography A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, the changes in his behaviors and thoughts were remarkable. The first hundred pages vividly depicted James throwing up, having brutal surgeries and a horrible detox. This weeks reading was a change in pace, James wrote about himself aknowledging and appreciating other people, and becoming a slightly less negative and harsh person.
During this section, James tried to leave the rehab center to use drugs and alcohol until he dies. He's stopped by a man named Leonard, who convinces him to stay for just 24 more hours. This day that he promised to stay ended up being crucial to his development in rehab. During this day, he enjoys watching a football game with fellow patients, has positive interactions with many other patients, and things start looking up for him. Then, visitors come for him and he writes, "I do not look forward to seeing People from my past. They rarely have kind things to say to me and I have always done something to deserve their disdain" (125). His brother and two friends come to visit him, and are very positive, forgiving, hopeful, and sincerely glad to see him. After they voice their emotion-filled concerns and hope to James, he writes about his brother, "He starts to break and seeing him start to break makes me start to break and I don't want that. He steps forward and he puts his arms around me and he hugs me and I hug him and it feels good and strong and pure and real. This is my Brother, my Blood, the only thing in this World created from that which i was created from, the Person in this World who knows me best, the Person who would miss me most if I was gone. That he cared enough to come here and that he cares enough to nearly break in front of me means something" (133). Just knowing that someone cares for James gives him a reason to fight his disease and stay alive, and makes him appreciate something in life. Before he went to rehab, James wouldn't have accepted love from anyone, and his enjoyment from the visit shows us his growth in recognizing people and his effect on them. Also, because they forgot the problems in the past, James realizes that maybe he actually can start over.
James lets people impact him during this section. He listens to a fellow patient's story about when he hit bottom, and symathizes with him, "I wonder where he is and what he's thinking, and as I replay his story in my mind, it becomes more and more devastating. Although he wasn't on SSkid Row or in a Ghetto or in a Crackhouse, and although he still has a job and a Family and a life, he lost the most important thing a human being can lose, which was dignity" (156). Previously, James blocked out others stories or lectures, but when he finally allowed himself to listen, his feelings toward this man show his awareness of other people. James story and acceptance of other people tell us that he is a good man, who has just done bad things. Hope for James improves during this section, and reading this book makes me want him to succeed more and more.

A Million Little Pieces 1

For quarter 2, I'm reading A Million Little pieces, by James Frey.  This book is about James's six weeks in rehab.  This book was recommended to me by many people, and it's easy to see why because of the excitement and graphic descriptions.

The starting of the book sets the tone for a brutal story.  James allows us to see how severe his condition is.  When talking with a doctor at the center, this conversation with a doctor sets the stage for the story, "At fifteen I was drinking every day, at eighteen I was drinking and doing drugs every day.  It has gotten much much heavier since then" (28).  After reading about how usage, I became anxious and nervous.  James's honestly reveals to us that he's not in denial about needing help, and that he realizes how bad his problem is.  The first 100 pages include alot of descriptions about his detox and withdrawl, "I haven't had a drink in three days and I haven't done coke in five so the sickness isn't as bad as normal, but I'm starting to feel sick in other ways... I wonder what is hapenning to me" (33).  Also included in James withdrawl are dreams, "I had a dream, a bad dream, and it completely fucked me up.

When Alcoholics and Addicts stop drinking and using drugs, their subconsvious minds still crave them.  That craving is sometimes manifested in dreams that can seem startlingly real and, in a sense, are real" (53).  These quotes give us insight on how long and hard Jame's journey will be, and it makes me question whether or not he'll be able to handle the recovery. 

In A Million Little Pieces, James continually shows us how tough he is.  James has an accident at the beginning of the book, and it misplaces his teeth.  He has a procedure to cap teeth, replace them, and have root canals.  The doctor says right before the procedure, "This is going to be incredibly painful.  Because your'e currently a Patient at a Drug Treatment Center, we can't use any anesthesia, local or general, and when we're done, we can't give you any painkillers" (64).  During the procedure, James explains his feelings, "The sander vounces slightly and white electric pain hits my mouth and the sander comes bakcn and holds and pain spreads through my body from the top down and every muscle in my body flexes and I squeeze the balls and my eyes start to tear and the hair on the back of my neck stands straight and my tooth fucking hurts like the point of a bayonet is being driven through it" (65).  The procedure ends and James paints because of the pain.  His willingness to continue with the extremely painful surgery tells us that he's perseverant, and i think this trait will get him through rehab.  The book is sickening and interesting, and it makes me want to keep reading in hopes that James will Recover.

A Million Little Pieces #1

The economy and starbucks

Because my mom is an investor for companies in distressed debt, our house has been filled with talk about the economic crisis.  So this week I read an article entitled, "Starbucks' business may have bottomed in Q4."  The article is about how the bad economy is affecting their sales.  The crisis has made the company's reputation go sour, and people are starting to really recognize how expensive their coffee is.  They're refusing to cut their prices, and in stead they've closed 600 starbucks stores and are laying off many workers.  Although the economic crisis is horrible and is making life harder for some people, I think that there is a positive side to it.  Just like people are recognizing how expensive starbucks really is, we'll start to see what is necessary and what is outrageous.  

Homer, an old-fashioned sexist.

Homer is a plain old-fashioned sexist.  He is constantly depicting women as stay at home, good for the sole purpose of seduction, his characters pass judgement based on beauty, and believes men are superior to women.  One very evident example of Homer's sexism is proved through Odysseus, women should stay at home, and take care of the house and their kids.  While Odysseus is on his fascinating journey home, Penelope is at home all the while weaving, and waiting.  Although Penelope is puts together a cunning plot to hold off the suitors, she does so by a very stereotypical activity of a woman--weaving.  If Homer was an early feminist, he would have written about Penelope heroically rescuing her husband, and her own brave adventures instead of waiting at the loom.  

Another reason that Homer should be considered sexist is because of his opinion that woman are mainly good for sex.  Odysseus' stops in the Odyssey involve sex with a woman and then a departure.  In modern day, this would be viewed as very sexist, as it should be even thousands of years ago.  Homer's characters base many things on beauty alone.  The suitors are willing to stay at Penelope's house to gain her approval because of their desire to be with a women as beautiful as her.  Most of the time that woman are in The Odyssey and The Iliad, they are being seduced, or being judged on their beauty.  Also, Homer's descriptions of women are normally only about appearance, and don't involve any attention to intelligence or strength.

The most clear way that Homer is proved to be a sexist is because of his on-going illustrations of men being superior to women.  Homer's plots are all about men and their heroic stories. The Odyssey is about one man's journey home.  He makes this man very exciting, wise, strong, shrewd, and all-around amazing.  The Iliad is about men gaining glory and fighting manly battles.  Nowhere in these stories are there women suiting up for battle, although it's proven that women can be spectacular in war from other accounts.  Men's superiority is also seen in Olympus.  One could argue that Athena and other goddesses are good at hunting, wise, strong, and intelligent.  However, these skills and attributes are never used fully to their potential because they always need to check in with Zeus, and are always punished by Zeus for their actions.  For example, Hera can't help in the battle, she has to go through Poseidon, and outflank Zeus to get her way.  Athena and Hera are punished brutally because of their failure to be on Zeus' side.  

Homer's writing and characters always argue that men are better than women.  This is disappointing that there aren't more accounts of women in ancient Greece, because of Homer's dominant epic poetry about men and their superiority.  

Weekend Glory

Weekend Glory

Some clitchy folks

don't know the facts,

posin' and preenin'

and puttin' on acts,

stretchin' their backs.

They move into condos 

up over the ranks,

pawn their souls 

to the local banks.

Buying big cars

they can't afford,

ridin' around town

actin' bored.

If they want to learn how to live life right

they ought to study me on Saturday night.

My job at the plant 

ain't the biggest bet,

but i pay my bills

and stay out of debt.

I get my hair done

for my own self's sake,

so i don't have to pick

and I don't have to rake.

Take the church money out

and head cross town

to my friend girl's house

where we plan our round.

We meet our men and go to a joint

where the music is blue

and to the point.

Folks write about me.

They just can't see

how i work all week

at the factory.

Then get spruced up 

and laugh and dance

And turn away from worry 

with sassy glance.

They accuse me of livin'

from day to day,

but who aret hey kiddin'?

So are they.

My life ain't heaven

but it sure ain't hell.

I'm not on top 

but i call it swell

if I'm able to work

and get paid right

and have the luck to be Black

on a Saturday Night.

This poem is by my favorite poet, Maya Angelou.  I see Maya Angelou as a very bold, confident, and down to earth woman.  The poem starts off by her criticizing the "upper class," but then she goes on to say that she's glad to be how she and that she'd rather haver her ways than theirs, "but if they want to learn to live life right, they ought to study me on a saturday night."  She then continues on to describe her not very rewarding job but not in a way of complaint or disappointment, "my job at the plant ain't the biggest bet, but i pay my bills and stay out of debt."  Then she paints a picture of her fun weekend life after her week at the factory, and that people might not understand how she works so hard and plays so hard, but that she loves her life and maybe even feels superior to the "upper class" because she's so content and happy with the life she leads, and doesn't need all the fancy stuff to have fun.  This poem summarizes and exemplifies her attributes in a beautiful way.  I wish that I could be more like Maya by being so content and happy with what I have.  Society could be greatly benefited in many ways if we were to share Maya's views on life.  This poem actually reminds me of weekend life in Edina.  However, our weekends are more like the people's that she criticizes, "ridin' around town, actin' bored."  I'm jealous that she can let loose in such a simple way, when a lot of people in our area are bored with whatever they do during the weekends.  Maya Angelou is an inspiration, and this poem summarizes her content and confident life.

Angelou, Maya. "Weekend Glory." Poem Hunter.  2 October 2008.  

Bill Gates new program to feed the hungry

The endless and increasing problem of poverty is an issue that I deeply care about and am interested in.  I read an article about Bill Gates' new program to relieve poverty in Africa by focusing on helping small farmers in Africa.  Bill Gates and Howard Buffett are giving over 75 million dollars to African farmers, in hopes that they will use this money to grow crops for the U.N.'s World Food Program, thereby feeding their starving neighbors.  The money given by Gates and Buffett won't necessarily just be used to buy crops.  The money will be used to educate these farmers so they can get off to a better start, and maintain their success.  This is a brand new idea on how to solve hunger.  This article was very interesting and relieving to read.  The idea that the richest man in America is still down to earth enough to put so much time and money into this worth while cause is refreshing.  It's so easy to only think about yourself sometimes, which is why Bill Gates should be looked up to and applauded for his example of selflessness.  Another reason that this is relieving to me is because Bill Gates is obviously a very smart and successful man, and I have confidence that he can innovate a program that could be revolutionary.  I believe that Bill Gates combination of money, humbleness, intelligence will create a very high impact program.

Walt, Vivienne. "Can Bill Gates Help Africa Feed Itself?" Time world. 24 September. 2008. Time. 25 Sept. 2008.

http://msfroehlich.blogspot.com/

Welcome to my blog!:)

Hello, welcome to my blog! This will be a fun way to learn about all of your opinions and thoughts! I hope my posts will interest you. Let's have a fun and enriching time this year in English!
Enjoy!:)