A Change in Attitude

women protesting in Egypt

In class we commonly discuss stereotypes, in fact just this past week we listed all the stereotypes we see in the media of African-Americans. There are many other stereotypes then just that of the black people, but also of the studious asian, the nerdy jew, the non-english speaking latino, and worse of all the terrorist arab. 


The american view of the arabic people is that they are extremely sexist, extremely religious and extremely violent. When many americans picture the middle east they see car bombs, roadside bombs, people throwing grenade bombs or with bombs strapped on to them. So, if the american stereotype is correct, where were these bombs during the Egyptian protests? 


The fact is, the  Egyptian revolution was peaceful. The protestors were non-violent and just standing up against a government. What the Egyptians did went against the american stereotype. Our own revolution in the 18th century was a lot bloodier than in Egypt, so why aren't we seen as the violent ones (with how we deal with gun control our stereotype may just change).


Hopefully the Egyptian protests will change the american attitude toward Arabic countries and see that they are not violent terrorists, but just people.    

I Can't Finish

Today in AS we talked about why Mark Twain took a muli-year hiatus from writing the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because he was not quite certain how to finish the book. I praise Mr. Twain for having enough willpower and gumption to finish his masterpiece of literature, because when it comes down to it, it's very hard to complete things. 


Why is it hard to finish? In Twain's case it was because he had so many different ending options to choose from. But let's say, for example, you were making a scrapbook. Seriously just go with me here. And let's say it's been roughly five years since you actually glued and pasted in there. Why is it that I- I mean you- can't seem to finish? Is it because of lack interest and importance, or is it just a pure absence of ambition? 


Not only are nonsignificant memorabilia projects hard to complete, so are other creative works. The Famous Composer Franz Schubert had trouble finishing his 8th symphony, otherwise known as the "Unfinished Symphony". Although he lived a few more years after writing the first two movements, he never seemed to be able to conclude it. Orson Welles  too left some of his films unfinished and Leonardo DaVinci's The Last Supper has some latin scripture on it that is incomplete. Finishing just seems like an hard