Short note

I don't know if people read this stuff, but I have got quite a few visits on this blog, even since May when I published my last post. This blog was originally a school project. More accurately, it was something I was forced to do with no particular enthusiasm, but as I kept publishing new entries it became kinda "fun." I stopped because I wasn't really sure if its a good idea to continue it, especially when you don't know if someone is reading it.

I will give it a thought and I'll see whether its worth it.

An Object Representing... Me

Metaphor is one of the ways modern artists and writers get across some of there strongest and most potent points. To represent one thing with something else is an art form that takes much time and consideration. Self representation is a difficult subject to deal with. Does representing one's self with something great make you conceited? Does representing one’s self with something low make you a pessimist? What defines me? What can give a vivid description of who I really am? My kitchen consists of many objects I use every day. However I had to look past the most commonly used commodities and focus my attention on one thing. Right next to my counter there is a kitchen table that we always eat dinner at. When I saw the table I immediately knew what represented me. My kitchen table as simple as is it represents unity, security, and happiness. These three qualities are the things that describe who I am best.

Granted a table is an inanimate object that just sits there all day, it can really mean something if you look at it in the right way. To be united is what life is all about. Being united with family and friends is basically what we are constantly striving for. I know in my life I always look to be with the people who I care most about, and care most about me. My kitchen table represents all the meals that me and my family have enjoyed together through the years. No matter what the situation we always sit at the table, enjoy our food, and talk. After 9-11 we sat at that table and ate our dinner discussing life’s true simplicity and how we take things for granted. The kitchen table always brings me back to the times when my brother and sister lived home and we all prepared to eat together. The unity shared at this table is definitely a perpetual symbol of me. I always am and always will be striving for the unity that this one simple table grants to me.

Furthermore that table also represents strength and sturdiness. It is a funny thing. We have so much faith in that table that we don’t realize. We have faith that it will hold up our food and support us. We don’t even realize how much trust we put into something as simple as a table. Anyone who knows me knows how trustworthy and faithful I am. No matter what the situation calls for I will always stand up for a friend or “hold up” a load he has to carry, but can’t handle. Exactly like the table does with the food me and my family eat. Also, the table has served us loyally for years without ever collapsing or falling down. This is a pure and udder representation of sturdiness and power. I also feel I possess some of those qualities. I am usually always sturdy and never fold under pressure.

Moreover my table is a definitive representation of joy and happiness. The table itself has never brought me true happiness. Still it has been a faithful witness to an abundance of happiness created by me and my family for over five years. I’ll always remember the thanksgiving meals we had. Me my brother and sister along with my parents all had such a good time. We knew we were going to have a tough road ahead of us, but as a family we could face any challenge thrown in our direction. We ate our thanksgiving meal and talked afterward. I’ll always remember how great thanksgiving is. The feeling of invincibility and invulnerableness I feel sitting there with my family is enormous. The table represents that happiness I feel because it is right there sitting in the middle of that very Thanksgiving dinner.

Indeed my kitchen table is a fantastic metaphor for me. It represents happiness, security, and unity, but most importantly represents all of the features I am constantly striving for. There is a possibility I’ll only be in my house for a few more years, however the table will still be there when I leave. The kitchen table will be a good representation for me for a long time. As I said metaphor is a great way to portray someone or something. After thinking about this I realized that I can be portrayed by many different objects in many different ways.

Socialization Process in Humanity

Human beings are social creatures. Through socializing with other humans we learn and acquire very important ideas and we discover how to incorporate them into our social interaction with others. The process of Socialization is the acquisition and learning that shapes our personality and molds our individuality early on in life. It is the most important social process. It begins at birth and continues throughout lifetime.

Socialization addresses many aspects of life in a society. It establishes our self-esteem. How much do we value ourselves? Through socialization we learn certain behaviors for a position in society; it is what allows us to function in the world. The process teaches us how to function in the world that we live in; it helps us fit into our society. It is crucial for us to realize that what makes us different from everybody else on this planet is our “self.” It is not the way we look, it is in our actions, values, personality – it is everything that makes up you.

Many theorists have described the early child development process, Socialization, and all of them agree that our interaction with others is what shapes and develops the “self.” According to Charles Cooley, “self” is a product of social interactions with others. We view ourselves based on what impressions we get from other people. We try to imagine how we present ourselves to other people. A philosopher George Herbert Mead also believed that “self” is connected to others. He spoke of three stages of development. Beginning with Preparatory Stage (birth – 2 years old), where children begin to understand the use of symbols, gestures, and language; followed by the Play Stage (age 3-7), where children pretend to be other people and they imitate adults; and ending with the Game Stage (age 8-9), where children actually begin to understand social positions and relationship position in society. Mead also adds that the crucial role in this
process is played by the “Significant Others” which includes adults closest to the child (parents, teachers, and friends) who have influence on shaping the self of the young person. Another group referred to as “Generalized Others” is the rest of society. The group teaches kids to shift the focus from them (or the “I”). Another theorist, Sigmund Freud tells us that personality develops by the age of five. He divides personality into three categories: the ID, the unconscious part that contains our sexual and aggressive urges; the Ego, which is the conscious part; and finally, the Super Ego, which is our social conscience. Freud explains that all three of them work together and they cannot operate separately. We make a decision depending how strong our Ego and Super Ego, they are what keeps in check our “ID.” Again, Freud says that it is the family that shapes the personality of a person.

Socialization is what determines and shapes our personality early on in life. It is the important process that consists of many steps. It is crucial to give kids the attention that they need, allow them to socialize with their peers and make sure that they have contact with the surrounding at all times. A member of a society that knows how the society functions is a success to both the parents as well as the society in general.

Shakespeare: The Tempest

Before reading “The Tempest,” I knew I should be expecting two things: language that would be difficult to understand and a plot that would be original. My past experiences with Shakespeare assured me that after I'm done with the last act in the play I'll feel like I've just returned from an incredible journey. I was right. The play was special in many ways, one of them being the fact that it was one of the last plays Shakespeare wrote, another – the multiple parallels between the master himself and a character in the book – Prospero. Prospero's character early on in the story is pictured as a villan, towards the end the perception changes and Prospero, through his noble remarks, earns the status of a hero. Prospero began as a villan, killing many people by causing the Tempest, on the other hand, at the end of the play by forgiving his brother Antonio he earned a lot of respect in the eyes of the audience.

Prospero is perceived as a villan early on because with the help of his magic he caused the Tempest that sank the ship killing many innocent people and 'enslaving' the royalty on an island. The former Duke of Milan did it for two reasons. First, he wanted revenge on his brother, Antonio. Prospero couldn't accept the fact that he lost his dukedom, he felt betrayed by someone he loved. He expresses his emotions in the following statement:

“Being once perfected how to grant suits, how to deny them, who t' advance, and who to trash for overtopping, new created the creatures that were mine, I say, or changed 'em, Or else new formed 'em, having both the key of officer and office, set all hearts i' th' state to what tune pleased his ear, that now he was the ivy which had hid my princely trunk and sucked my verdure out on 't. Thou attend'st not.”

Prospero clearly hasn't forgiven his brother. He lost everything he had and had to change his life completely. He was forced to move and was denied all that he once had. He was used to high standards and he always had everything given to him. On the island he had to adopt a completely new lifestyle, especially in the beginning where he didn't know where to gather necessities required to make a living. He decided to make use of his magic when he saw an occasion. With the help of Ariel (a spirit he enslaved) he created a Tempest in order to bring his brother on his island.

Towards the end of the play, Prospero came to the realization that revenge is not a way to solve his internal conflict. He decided to forgive his brother for what he had done to him. He decided to put it all behind them and promises to put an end to his magic in the following lines:

“You, brother mine, that entertained ambition, expelled remorse and nature, whom, with Sebastian, whose inward pinches therefore are most strong, would here have killed your king, I do forgive thee, unnatural though thou art. - Their understanding beings to swell, and the approaching tide will shortly fill the reasonable shore that now lies foul and muddy. Not one of them that yet looks on me, or would know me.”

Basically what Prospero announces here is that he knows about every single thing that took place on the island and that he forgives his brother. He doesn't want revenge, he seeks peace. It was a very interesting reaction from Prospero because earlier on in the play there was no forshadowing of the actual ending. Nonetheless, Prospero showed a lot of rationality in his decision to forgive his brother, something he lacked earlier.

Prospero, through his heroic remark towards the end of the play changed his perception, that was very negative in the beginning. The play sends a very clear message to the audience: revenge is an automatic human reaction to unfair treatment and injustice, but by giving in we 'lose' our humanity and we no longer can act rationally. Before taking action in any situation, it is required to consider the potential consequences that we might be faced with.

Champions League: 1/2 Finals (Round 2)

After this week's Champions League Semi-Final round 2 games, we know who will play in the big final in Moscow in 3 weeks. Manchester United and Chelsea London will compete for the title of the best club in Europe this season. It will be the first English final in the history of Champions League.

After last week's tie in Barcelona, Manchester was the favorite for this week's game. There was no surprises, as Manchester took the lead early on in the game. In the 14th minute, Paul Scholes took a 30 yard shot and put his team to lead. Manchester players played comfortably as they knew that if the game ends in a 1-0 score they will be the ones that will go to Moscow. Barca played this game without their biggest star, Ronaldinho who was voted the best player on the globe in 2004, and it was clearly visible. The visitors tried, but could not score a goal, they have created a couple good opportunities, but Eto'o and Messi did not have a good day. Manchester concentrated on dominating possession and keeping Bracelona away from their goal. The score did not change and Manchester advanced to the big Final and Moscow where they will face either Chelsea or Liverpool.

Chelsea, who luckily tied in Liverpool last week, played at home against "The Reds." Both teams are known for their careful and patient style of playing. To our surprise Chelsea began very offensively, creating opportunities and taking shots at the visitor's goal. In 33rd minute, Didier Drogba, a star striker of the guests, put the ball in the net of their big rivals. We had to wait for another 30 minutes until liverpool equalized, in 64th minute Fernando Torres, also known as "El Ninio," scored for the Liverpool side. After that goal Liverpool slowed down the tempo and focused on defending their goal, sporadically counter-attacking. After 90minutes we had a tie, 1-1, and both teams were required to play in Over Time. In 98th minute Frank Lampard put the home team to lead once again and 7 minutes later Drogba scored his second goal. The score was 3-1, but liverpool still fought back. In 117th minute, Ryan Babel scored a goal for the visitors, but that was all Liverpool could manage to do on that day. The final score of 3-2 promotes Chelsea to the big final of the Champions League.

In 3 weeks, Manchester and Chelsea will play eachother in Moscow for the Champions League final. Manchester last won the trophy in 1998 and Chelsea has never played in the Final.