The Fault In Our Stars Revised Post ***SPOILERS!

The book, The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green is about seventeen year old, cancer ridden teenager named Hazel. Hazel’s life has always had a clear ending to it. But with a new medicine buying her a few extra years, Hazel’s got chance to live a little bit more.  In spite of this, Hazel continues to sit in her room reading her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, because most of her friends have abandoned her. The friends she manages to keep, she distances from so as not to hurt them when the time does come… That is until she begrudgingly goes to one of her support group meetings. Enter Augustus Waters, the most gorgeous, compelling boy Hazel’s ever met. Something about him draws her in and makes her want to open up. Augustus teaches Hazel, as well as the readers, that life is short, so we should make it meaningful and live it to the fullest. Through Hazel and Augustus’s adventures we learn about the bond between leaving your mark and leaving scars, and just how impossibly intertwined the two ideas are.

 At the first meeting that Augustus goes to, having been dragged there by his friend Isaac who is blind in one eye, Augustus explains that he had osteosarcoma about a year and a half ago, but for now he’s in remission. Augustus or Gus is asked to share what he fears most to which he replies bluntly oblivion. When Augustus replies that he fears oblivion, the support group leader, Patrick asks if anyone else can relate to Gus’s fear. To which Hazel, who never raises her hand, says, “There will come a time, when all of us are dead. All of us. There will come a time when there are no human beings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that our species ever did anything. There will be no one left to remember Aristotle or Cleopatra, let alone you. Everything that we built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught. Maybe this time is coming soon, and maybe its millions of years away, but even if we survive the collapse of our sun, we will not survive forever. There was a time before organisms experienced consciousness, and there will be a time after. And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it. God knows everyone else does.” When I first read this monologue Hazel says to her support group, there was just something about it that hit home. If you just read it once through you might think, “Oh, its deep”. And it is deep, there’s something haunting about picturing a barren world, where our existence is gone. But as Hazel says, the inevitability of human oblivion will come, and at some point we have to just accept it. People, events, places, none of it matter in the end. Life will end; life will go on without you. And nobody dares to pay enough attention because they’re too self-involved or scared to face the reality.

 One of Hazel’s biggest fears in The Fault in Our Stars is that when she dies she’ll hurt everyone. Hazel refers to herself as a ticking bomb. She fears that when she dies she will go off like a bomb, and all that will be left are the shrapnel, and other little remains. And quite frankly, Hazel doesn’t think that her life is worth the hurt, so she’s reclusive. Hazel only has a certain number of friends she talks to, and tries to only limit her interactions to her family. While Hazel may think this is a good idea, I would have to disagree. I don’t think it’s worth it to limit your time with people because, as Gus says in his goodbye letter, “You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers.” We can’t limit ourselves to new experiences and new people because we’re afraid of the aftermath when we’re gone. We don’t get to choose if we die, when we die, or if we get hurt while living, but we can shape our lives to have the best possible people in them, and the best possible experiences. And Hazel may be a ticking bomb, and so may many other people, but we can choose to have them in our lives for the short time we get, because life wouldn’t be worth it without them.

Throughout the book, there’s this unspoken constant urgency to make their (Hazel and Augustus’s) short lives memorable. But at the same time, there is a constant debate between being memorable and “leaving a scar”. You see, I suppose the biggest questions of the book are is it worth it to be remembered, if the memories are fake? Or is it worth it to be remembered it all that memories do are leave painful scars? During the development of The Fault in Our Stars there seems to be a fine line you can dance between, scaring people, and leaving a mark. Augustus is a perfect example. While Augustus wants to be remembered, (as I said before his biggest fear is oblivion) he also admires the heroicness of leaving people alone the way Hazel tries to. In Augustus’s death letter he asks his former favorite author to write Hazel a eulogy because Van Houten can actually put thoughts together successfully. “Here’s the one thing about Hazel: Almost everyone is obsessed with leaving a mark upon the world. Bequeathing a legacy. Outlasting death. We all want to be remembered. I do, too. That’s what bothers me most, is being another unremembered casualty in the ancient and inglorious war against disease. I want to leave a mark.” “Hazel is different. She walk’s lightly, old man. She walks lightly upon the earth. Hazel knows the truth: We’re as likely to hurt the universe as we are to help it, and we’re not likely to do either. People will say it’s sad that she leaves a lesser scar, that fewer remember her, that she was loved deeply but not widely. But it’s not sad, Van Houten. It’s triumphant. It’s heroic. Isn’t that real heroism?”  Even at the end of Gus’s life he hasn’t fully crossed onto either lines side. No matter how great a person we are, there’s still something so appealing about being remembered. But at the same time, there’s something so heartbreaking at leaving people behind. For some people the line that Hazel and Gus dance between is simple, but for many, especially Gus, it’s hard.

As we watch Hazel and Augustus suffer through their last days, we get to experience the way each character deals with what the aftermath of what their deaths will be. Hazel tries to limit the amount of people she spends time with; therefor limiting the amount of people she hurts. Augustus searches for ways to find himself worthy of the life he’s lived, and leave his mark as someone other than the cancer ride teen who lived a ‘heroic’ life. Watching both characters suffer through the possibilities makes me wonder if there can be a happy middle. Can we leave our mark without hurting people? Is it worth it to hurt people? Before I read The Fault in Our Stars, in all honesty, I felt the same way Gus did. Now afterwards, I’m confused. Maybe it’s good to be confused; it means I’ll go more into depth about it. I don’t know. I’m only thirteen; I still have time to think.  One thing’s for sure, I’m really glad I read The Fault in Our Stars, on top of it being humorous, and compelling, depressing, and even sometimes gut wrenching, it also made me stop and think for a couple minutes.

 My Original Blog Post

Why Russia's Sochi Olympics Are a Battle Ground for Gay Rights

Why Russia’s Sochi Olympics Are a Battle Ground for Gay Rights by Laura Smith-Spark discusses the unfairness of Russia’s ban on gay rights in light of the Sochi Olympics. Ms. Smith-Spark brings up some very valid points protesting the ban of gay rights in Russia, and even goes so far as to compare it to the Nazi like era in Germany. While I wouldn’t go as far as her, I have to agree that Russia’s ban on gay rights is restricting, and offensive to many people around the world.

            Before Ms. Smith-Spark starts in on reprimanding Russian Policy, she reminds us that in Russia, people are not educated about what gay and lesbian people really are. Boris Dittrich, a Human Rights Watch’s advocate said, quote, “they mix it up with pedophilia, bestiality or even think it has something to do with the devil." Many of these beliefs sprout from the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church and the government spread misinformation about what being part of the LBGT community really is. And the Russian government isn’t looking to shed any truths on the matter any time soon, instead the Anti-gay Propaganda Law passed by parliament and signed by Putin banned the discussion of gay rights and LBGT relationships anywhere children can hear, and educate themselves. And if you are found to have talked about it, you can be fined or deported if you’re foreign. These misconceptions have leaded almost three quarters of Russia to think homosexuality shouldn’t be accepted by society. “While just 16% of Russians said it should be accepted, a recent Pew Research Center survey of global attitudes revealed.

By comparison, 33% of people surveyed in the United States said homosexuality should not be accepted by society, while 60% said it should. In Britain, only 18% did not favor accepting homosexuality, with 76% saying it should be accepted.” Perhaps even more horrific is that Russia says that its law against “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors” is to protect children. What are we protecting them from, the truth? By not exposing Russian minors to the truth, Russian government shapes the minds of young men and women who could have one day grown up to protest these wrong doing. Instead they restrict their knowledge on world issues.

 

                After reading this article, I realized that I take advantage of living in a first world country. With all of America’s flaws, it’s sometimes hard to see that we have more freedoms than others. I find it comforting to know that no matter what the government’s opinion on an issue, they’re not supposed to withhold the information from us and leave us in the dark, uneducated. I’ve always been in support of the LGBT community, and it’s ongoing community of acceptance, but I don’t usually stop and think about how bad it can be in other countries.

the Titan's Curse

The third installment of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the Titan’s Curse, by Rick Riordan, follows Percy as he hunts for the trapped goddess Artemis, as well as his best friend Annabeth Chase. In the Titan’s Curse many characters try to search for freedom, and escape responsibilities, which sometimes may seem selfish.

                One example of this is Bianca di Angelo, a young girl brought into the world from another time period. Bianca is a sweet young girl, who has spent her life caring for her younger brother Nico, a task that has become a burden to her. While Bianca loves Nico, it is hard for her to continually protect him because it restricts her from having her own life. When Bianca is offered a spot in the elite group, the Hunters of Artemis, she gleefully accepts, leaving her brother and responsibilities behind. “I wanted my own life and friends. I love Nico- don’t get me wrong- I just needed to find out what it would be like not to be a big sister 24 hours a day”. While I know she is doing this for her own good, something I greatly admire, it strikes me as selfish. She really hurts Nico when she leaves him behind, and doesn’t leave much of an explanation as to why. By escaping her responsibilities she shows a more selfish side of her, which eventually eats her up with guilt and, SPOILER ALERT, (if you haven’t already read the book, which I highly doubt, because it’s one of the most awesome series ever!!!) she dies trying to rectify her guilt.

                An example of a good cause to escape responsibilities is Thalia. Thalia is the daughter of Zeus, and being fifteen, almost sixteen, the Great Prophecy could very well be about her. However, Thalia doesn’t want that responsibility on her shoulders, because she’s afraid she could go rogue and turn on the gods if such power were to be put in her hands. Thalia instead, lets the prophecy fall on her close friend, and main character of the book, Percy. “I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. I will never turn sixteen. I won’t let this prophecy be mine.” While I think this is a very brave and sensible thing to do, I think she does not think about how much this will affect Percy. The prophecy being put on him, puts him in even more danger than he already is, and trust me, it’s A LOT. By basically giving up the prophecy and dumping the problem on Percy, Thalia forces something major and life altering on him. (And yes, I realize this was just a clever plot decoy to get Thalia out of the way. Smart one, Mr. Riordan. May I call you Rick?) Thalia shows that she can escape responsibility by pinning it on someone else.

                In the Titan’s Curse, characters desperately try to find their destiny, pushing away the responsibilities destiny may carry. Sometimes, like in Bianca’s case, it can be a bit selfish. Or like Thalia, it’s a noble cause, but it still does not bode well for someone else. Both ways, responsibilities are escaped, and there is always a negative side, whether it’s for the character who tries to escape them or not. Personally, I think that you should accept responsibility head on, because I find it’s easier to deal with problems when you have fully accepted that they are yours. You shouldn’t escape responsibility but face it head on.

Lillian Cheever, The Fault in Our Stars

Lillian's amazing blog post!

                After skimming through numerous blog posts, I managed to find one exceptionally great. This post was by Lillian Cheever, and I believe it was titled, “The Fault in Our Stars.” Now, a couple months back, I had read The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green as my YA book for the beginning of the year, and had absolutely loved it, so I was interested to see what someone else’s opinions on the book were.

                Lillian’s views on The Fault in Our Stars broadened my mind to idea’s I had thought about, but hadn’t really taken much time to think about. One idea focused on the book inside The Fault in Our Stars, An Imperial Affliction, which focuses on a cancer ridden teen like Hazel, Anna. “Although she never mentions feeling close to Anna, you can tell by the way she talks about the book and its characters that she does feel close to her. Most importantly, you can tell that she does care, mostly about the people around her.” Lillian says that she knows Hazel cares about her friends and family because, “she is so obsessed with figuring out what happens to Anna’s parents after she dies.” I hadn’t thought about it in those terms.  In my mind, they had kind of been two separate things that joined at a different point. An Imperial Affliction, or AIA as it is sometimes known, helped Hazel see that not all cancer kids had to do the typical ‘help me raise funds for cancer research’ thing, but instead could look at cancer in a more sadistic humor the way Hazel did.  I never really viewed it as a way Hazel could feel validation for leaving her family and friends behind. However, Lillian changed my insight on this point, and it made more sense to me afterwards. “She claims she did this because she really likes the book, but I think she made this effort because (since she connected with Anna so deeply) she thinks that figuring out what happens to Anna’s family will tell her what will happen to hers.”

                Another point that Lillian made, was in her conclusion. The whole concept of The Fault in Our Stars centers on what happens after you die, and living life to the fullest. B.A. or before Augustus (her amazing friend who opens her eyes to a whole new way of living life) Hazel tried to distance herself from everyone and everything, so as not to hurt as many people when she “kicks the bucket”. Lillian’s point on this is, “I believe that when you pass, people are glad to have known you, and yes, they will be sad, but it is part of human nature is to miss people or things, without that we would be much more heartless and careless.” While I think this is a valid point, part of me wants to disagree. And it’s the stubborn part that wants to block out feelings. I’m one of those people who are absolutely terrified by death, and when I was eight I watched my Grandpa die. I watch my mom sometimes, still be sad, and this big part of me wishes he hadn’t died just so that she wouldn’t be sad. I see Hazel’s point for secluding yourself so you don’t hurt many others, because I don’t want someone walking around for the rest of their lives with the weight of my death on their shoulders.

                I really enjoyed reading Lillian’s blog post, it helped me expand on my ideas on The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green. Rereading this article made me remember how much I loved it, and I think I’d like to reread it again with this new perspective.

Emma by Jane Austen

                The novel Emma, by Jane Austen tells the tale of a young woman, Emma Woodhouse, as she finds her way through maidenhood in the early eighteen hundreds.  Much of this book centers around assumptions, and most of them are quick jump to conclusion moments. All of these showing that while Emma may think she knows everything, she isn’t always right, and her first intuition on the subject may not always be the correct one.

                One of the best examples of this is towards the beginning of the book. Emma befriends a young lady named Harriet. Her parents were never known to her, and she was raised in a boarding school where she was taught to be ladylike. Emma decides to take Harriet under her wing and teach her to be the very example of a proper young woman. Emma wants to first, heighten Harriet’s ways of life, by raising them to the standards of Emma’s. And secondly, the more important part of the plot, find Harriet a suitable husband. Emma settles for Mr. Elton, a man of high standing, though Emma thinks he is not high enough quality to turn down Harriet. Emma invites him over to her abode many days, making sure Harriet spends as much time with Mr. Elton as she can. She pushes Harriet on him so hard, that she does not realize that Mr. Elton does not find Harriet at all an interesting suitor, and instead Mr. Elton tried to pursue Emma.  When Emma realized her mistake she did not blame it on herself, but Mr. Elton for not realizing, “Encouragement! I give you encouragement! Sir, you have been entirely mistaken in supposing it. I have seen you only as the admirer of my friend. In no other light could you have been more to me than a common acquaintance.”

                Emma never seems to really grasp how bad her assumptions hurt not just herself but others as well. When pushing Harriet on Mr. Elton, she pushes Harriet away from another suitor. A kind young man who seems to be very taken with Harriet, and whom Harriet seems to be very fond of herself. But Emma pushes these thoughts away from Harriet, and makes Harriet fixate on a man who will never love her.

                Emma’s quick assumptions not only harm herself, but her friends as well. She hurt Mr. Elton in her rejections, Harriet in Harriet’s rejection as well as the fact that Harriet lost a man that she wanted to marry. Emma’s thoughts of trying to help others blindsides her from people’s true wants. Sometimes seeing things for what you want, and convincing others of it isn’t the right thing to do because it can hurt people in the end. Emma’s selfish wants prevailed in this situation, and instead of helping people as she intended, she ended up hurting them.

the Deception of ADHD

            “The Selling of Attention Deficit Disorder” by Alan Schwartz exposes the use of media and advertisements to sell products, and promote disorders to get more money.

Kids with A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. were once known as disruptive kids in the classroom, and were often punished for their disorder, but fifty years later teachers are extremely excepting of the once called ‘problem’ children, and instead help attend to their needs. And teacher’s attitudes aren’t the only thing that has improved; medicine to help the neurological problem has become more advanced as well. Pills such as Concerta and Adderall are commonly given to children to temper the traits of A.D.H.D.

Although the awareness of A.D.H.D has gone up, scientists aren’t as ecstatic as they should be, tests from the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, show that patients diagnosed with A.D.H.D. “had been made in 15 percent of high school-age children, and that the number of children on medication for the disorder had soared to 3.5 million from 600,000 in 1990. He questioned the rising rates of diagnosis and called them “a national disaster of dangerous proportions.” Dr. Conner’s, of Duke University added, “The numbers make it look like an epidemic. Well it’s not. It’s preposterous. This is a concoction to justify the giving of medication and unjustifiable levels.”

The rise of A.D.H.D. and prescription drugs have risen as doctors and pharmaceutical companies promote pills to parents, kids, and their educators. Companies use normal childlike behavior, such as carelessness, impatience, etc. to diagnose unwitting children.

This is a perfect example of America exploiting innocent people just for profit. This is similar to smoking e-cigarettes, in the sense that companies say it’s what’s needed or good for you but that’s just a cover up. E-cigarettes may be better than cigarettes but they’re still bad for you. It’s the same way with A.D.H.D advertisers. They tell you that you have it because of symptoms most restless children have at a young age, convince you to get their product, and continue buying it for a long time –to the rest of your life.

Catching Fire

                In honor of the movie release of Catching Fire I decided to reread one of my favorite series. Specifically the middle book, Catching Fire. After Katniss Everdeen came back from the Hunger Games with fellow victor Peeta, life has changed back in district twelve. For starters she’s living in the Victors Village, instead of the Seam, Gale’s relationship with Katniss has become cold, and there have been reported uprisings in the other Districts. But at least she herself won’t be competing in the games anymore. Wrong. In honor of the 75^th Quarter Quell Katniss, and 23 other tributes from the existing pool of Victors from each district, will be returning to the games to fight to the death. The games aren’t over, they’ve just begun.

          The annual Hunger Games requires 24 tributes, 2 from each of the twelve districts, to fight to the death in a bloody battle. There can only be one victor. And despite all odds not one, but two victors made it home from measly, little District Twelve. And all of this because Katniss held out night lock berries, so that instead of one victor the Capitol would have none.  Her punishment, going back into the games she was promised she wouldn’t have to relive. This is unjust to the other victors, who played the brutal games as they were meant to be played. And because of Katniss they are all back in.

          However the Victors don’t blame Katniss, instead they blame their real punisher, the Capitol. To be more specific, President Snow. “Up and down the row, the victor’s hands begin to join. Some right away, like the morphing’s, or Wiress and Betee. Others unsure but caught up in the demands of those around them, like Brutus and Enobaria. By the time the anthem plays its final strains, all twenty-four of us stand in one unbroken line in what must be the first public show of unity among the districts since the Dark Days.” The unity between the Victors represents the victors unwillingness to go back into the games without a fight.

          Unfortunately they are still forced back to play the games. In one heart wrenching scene, after Katniss has just heard everyone she loves screaming for her in the arena, Johanna Mason speaks out, “They can’t hurt me. I’m not like the rest of you. There’s no one else I love.” This shows that the capitol has ruined all their lives, and they can’t do anything about it. As much as Katniss has made it worse for their lives, they see her act of giving out the berries as hope and rebellion. They put aside their feelings for her, and focus on the main enemy Snow and the capitol.

          Catching Fire is about a nation on the edge of rebellion, finally ready to break through the chains of injustice that have been going on for the past 75 years. The only way to stop the injustice is to rebel and to finally stop the games, the death, and get the nation to a state of peace where everyone is not in a state of poverty. Catching Fire is a perfect example of looking past differences and uniting to stop one injustice.