300 Movie

Prof. Marsh, in class yesterday you made a comment about the movie 300. At first, I thought it would be a very stupid violent movie with no plot or story just like the majority of other movies that are out today. It wasn’t until I saw with a friend, that I realized the great story it has along with the historical facts. The graphics and fighting scenes are done very tastefully and not just brutal bloodshed that will turn your stomach. Before seeing this movie, I sat with my father and watched the history channel’s depiction and background of the 300 story.

Along with seeing the movie with the graphics, it adds to the story. It brings depth to the historical facts. Instead of just showing violence, it adds a love story to show the emotional side of the citizens of Sparta. It gives the soldiers more to fight for. I really enjoyed the movie and I’m not a big fan of movies from that time period. I found the story very interesting. Not only is this story or these characters in history books, but one of the main characters, The Persian King Xeroxes, is found in the Bible. The strategy that the Spartan King Leonidas used was incredible. The courage he displayed to only take 300 soldiers (give or take a few thousand) to battle against the Persian empire with 10 nations which is equivalent to One hundred thousand soldiers.

King Leonidas’ plan was to force the Persian Army into a narrow passageway in which their enormous numbers will not be a factor because of the small space. His strategy was very clever and worked for the first 2 days of the battle. In the end, the Persian army did defeat the 300 Spartans but were conquered by the reinforcements of Spartan soldiers. Prof., I hope you decide to see the movie and enjoy not only its great graphics and action packed scenes, but for its wonderful plot intertwined with the historical facts.

300 Movie

Prof. Marsh, in class yesterday you made a comment about the movie 300. At first, I thought it would be a very stupid violent movie with no plot or story just like the majority of other movies that are out today. It wasn’t until I saw with a friend, that I realized the great story it has along with the historical facts. The graphics and fighting scenes are done very tastefully and not just brutal bloodshed that will turn your stomach. Before seeing this movie, I sat with my father and watched the history channel’s depiction and background of the 300 story.

Along with seeing the movie with the graphics, it adds to the story. It brings depth to the historical facts. Instead of just showing violence, it adds a love story to show the emotional side of the citizens of Sparta. It gives the soldiers more to fight for. I really enjoyed the movie and I’m not a big fan of movies from that time period. I found the story very interesting. Not only is this story or these characters in history books, but one of the main characters, The Persian King Xeroxes, is found in the Bible. The strategy that the Spartan King Leonidas used was incredible. The courage he displayed to only take 300 soldiers (give or take a few thousand) to battle against the Persian empire with 10 nations which is equivalent to One hundred thousand soldiers.

King Leonidas’ plan was to force the Persian Army into a narrow passageway in which their enormous numbers will not be a factor because of the small space. His strategy was very clever and worked for the first 2 days of the battle. In the end, the Persian army did defeat the 300 Spartans but were conquered by the reinforcements of Spartan soldiers. Prof., I hope you decide to see the movie and enjoy not only its great graphics and action packed scenes, but for its wonderful plot intertwined with the historical facts.

NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs begin on April 21^st. I’m a huge basketball fan so I can not wait for it to begin. I’m also a Kobe Bryant/ Lakers fan and since they are in the 7^th seed, (2^nd to last spot in their bracket) they are forced to go up against the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are one of the most dominant teams in the league right now so a victory for the Lakers will be very difficult to obtain. After each game, I get so much nonsense from my friends and family about how bad my favorite team is. Although my team does not play well as a whole, my favorite player is arguably one of the best, if not the best, player in the league right now. Kobe Bryant leads the NBA in scoring right now for the 2^nd year in a row. He also has recorded the 2^nd highest amount of points in a single game ever recorded (81 pts.). Bryant has pulled together ground breaking streaks 50 pt. games. For the entire month of March, he averaged 45 pts. per game.

Kobe Bryant has been a recipient of 3 NBA titles but has yet to record MVP honors. With Bryant sitting on top in the means of talent, he isn’t recognized to be the best by all because of his team’s poor record. He has been compared to Michael Jordan since his rookie year in the league but will not reach the plateau that Jordan is on until his team can finish the season with a strong record. I hope Kobe Bryant will eventually reach and later surpass Jordan’s legacy. I admire Bryant for his talent and athleticism. I believe that with the help of a few more decent players on his team, he will be able to restore the Lakers organization and return them to the power house status of their heyday.

Response to Amina's N.J. Richest state post

It's very ironic that our state is the richest state with two of the poorest cities. I actually find that a little humorous. When I first came to this school, I was around so many people from New York. Every time they heard I was from New Jersey, they would express to me how bad of a state I hail from. They would tell me how poor the state is, how boring it is, how small it is and etc. One of my suitemates always reminds me that a foreigner never comes from his home country to visit New Jersey because there’s nothing to do there. Instead, they come to New York because of all it has to offer. Everyone loves to go visit the city. New York has so much to offer tourists and even citizens of the state because of how elegant and interesting it is.

When I found out New Jersey was the richest state, I immediately ran to my suitemate to gloat in his face about my home state. He was in denial and actually had to see it for himself before he would even begin to believe it had any truth to it. The mystery question is why New Jersey is richer than New York. New Jersey is a smaller state in mass than New York. With all of New York’s tourist attractions and other economical means, it still does not measure up to the economy of New Jersey. This simple economical fact is a mystery to me and my suitemate as we continue to do research and to find out why “boring New Jersey” is richer than “the great and wonderful New York.”

Imus Comment

In recent news, as most people know, Imus, the radio talk show host, made degrading comments about the Women’s Basketball team of Rutgers University. On the air, he called the girls from the team “nappy-headed hoes.” The players as well as many others were highly offended by this. The entire NCAA Women’s basketball association took offense as well as other listeners to the show. Personally, I found the comment to be rude and uncalled for. Rutgers is a school that is located in New Jersey not far from where I live. I also know one of the players on the team. In today’s society, it is common for men to belittle women with snide remarks or comments about their work ethic or their performance in their perspective fields. My father taught me at a young age to be respectful to females by first honoring and respecting my mother. On top of that, I have 3 sisters, 5 nieces and I literally live across the street from my grandmother. All of my life, I have been surrounded by women so I have done my best to show the utmost respect and fairness towards them. I’m a firm believer that all people should be treated equally despite the differences in gender or race.

Many people believe that Imus’ comment “nappy-headed hoes” not only disrespected them as females but insulted their heritage as well. I just feel that his comment was not only unnecessary but cruel and harsh. It’s just mean to publicly humiliate people. The world would be a lot more civil if we tried to build each other up rather than tear each others down. Another thing I learned at a young age was to “Treat others the way you want them to treat you.” I’ve always tried to treat people with kindness and respect because I know that’s the way I want to be treated. My biggest thing is to really remain being kind to females because I would never want a guy to be disrespectful, mean or cruel to any of my sisters or any other females in my family. Imus original punishment was just a two week suspension which I think was just a slap on the wrist. Today, his punishment was increased and his show was revoked so now I feel his punishment for the public humiliation of the Rutgers’ girls is well deserved.

Response to my friends poem

I attended high school with the author of this poem. She was in a relationship for about 3 years with the guy in which the poem is inspired by and directed to. They claimed they were so in love with each other but to me it seemed as if it were extreme like. My father would always tell me that I'm young and shouldn't invest so much time and emotion into one girl. By saying this, he meant I should focus on my school work and not make a female my first priority. He would always say that at 17 or 18 years old, a person shouldn't be heart sick over the opposite sex because they are so young and have not yet matured emotionally to be able to handle a hurt or lose such as this one. Indeed my sympathy goes out to my friend and I wish her the best in all of her endeavors. I pray that her emotional pain doesn't stand as a stumbling block for her school work and other tasks at this point in her life. Being an 18 year old, I agree with my father's theory on feelings at a young age. There are some painful things throughout the course of life that are inevitable such as a death in the family which forces a young person to mature emotionally. Relationships can be avoided, so emotional pain that is received through this can also be avoided by abstaining from it; it is not necessary or unavoidable.

Many people believe that love has an age. A popular quote is, "You're too young for love." I disagree with the statement and do not believe that love has an age but I do believe that some people are not emotionally mature enough to handle a serious relationship. I'm only a freshman in college and have my entire life ahead of me so there’s no need for me to completely settle down right now. Doing this will involve me dealing with emotions of another and their life along with mine in addition to my school work. I'm having a hard enough time right now trying to stay on top of my school work as it is so I see a serious relationship right now as a hindrance to me. All in all, love is a beautiful thing when it's at the right time. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 which is entitled "A Time for Everything" or "For Everything, there is a Season."

Poem by a friend of mine from high school, "Untitled"

Why do these changes have to be part of life?
We had our future planned and I was set to be your wife.
But now its unsure if we will have a chance to give it another try.
So now I think about us and all that's happened and sometimes it causes me to cry.
You told me I would be your first your only and your last.
You told me you loved me and we'd be together forever but who would've known forever would end so suddenly.
Its so hard to deal with you possibly finding someone new to replace me.
I had that spot for five years and those memories just don't disappear quickly.
I hope its all worth it for you with this girl that has caught your eye.
I just wished you could have spared me from this hurt and pain that I'm feeling inside.
So since she's so smart and so different and all the things you say
I'm not so sure being your friend is going to be Okay.
How can you do this to me after everything we've been through?
I always knew that when you went to college this would happen to you.
Like you told me, you aren't the same person anymore
You chose to move on and have a new life and let me feel ignored.
We've just never been on the same page at the same time
And ill just have to accept it and let myself deal and be fine.
I won't lie and say I'm going to be over it right away
Its going to be a little while before I can again be okay.
I just wanted you to want me, only and all of me
So since that can't happen, I'm going to have to take as it's what is meant to be.
I'm not gonna lie, it hurts so much to have to admit all of it
And I know I'm going to cry and may never get over this.
It's just not what it used to be between us two
So as we go our separate ways, just know I truly love you.