The Star Spangled Banner

'The Star Spangled Banner', now known as the famous USA national anthem, was actually a poem written during the American Revolution. This poem, originally "Defence of Fort McHenry", was written by Francis Scott Key. Key wrote it during the American Revolution, during the attack of Fort McHenry at Chesapeake Bay after witnessing the attack by the British Royal Navy. The poem reflects how he still sees how the flag is still standing, after all the bombardment and the fire blowing all around it. The most famous part of the song is the first stanza, which depicts the scene of the battle. "Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light (this shows the time of the day), What so proudly we hailed by the twilights last gleaming (this is referring to the flag which the "proudle" hailed) Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming (this describes the flag, and how it was still waving through all the bombing) And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air (these were the bombs that blew up in the field, giving off "red glares) Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there (so through the "red glare", people could see the flag still waving) Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? (this last line of the first stanza describes how the flag waves, as a symbol of freedom and bravery). This song is now a popular song of patriotism in the USA.

Class Assignment - Quickwrite - Duty or Friendship?

It is a difficult choice to choose between duty and friendship. Many movies have plots which depict conflicts that arouse when the character has to choose between either his friend, family, or lover, and his duty. Most of the plots go similarily, with them first obeying duties, then realizing how friends, families, and lovers are more important. In my opinion, I think it depends on the severity of either sides of the situation. In normal circumstances, I think a way to do it is to work out a compromise in which both wins and loses a little at the same time. However, I think the terms of betraying friends and betraying duties are slightly vague. When you betray your friends, it is directly affecting others, however, if you betray your duties, it could be betraying yourself, or betraying colleagues (which could also be friends), or even both. In this case, I think that deciding which is worse depends on the number of people affected (including yourself) and also the repruccusions of the betrayal. It could be either one. Ofcourse, you must also take in consideration the importance of a 'duty'. If it is an important job, like a US Coast Guard or an important official concerning a country's security, the wellbeing of the greater population most be taken into consideration. However, when in the midst of deciding which to care more about, I think it is nessecary to weigh out the options, and be prepared to take consequences.

Class Assignment - Quickwrite - Under Pressure

Pressure has both a positive and a negative side. The positive side is that it sparks something inside a being that makes it work at amazing speed or efficiency, etc. However, pressure can often cause people to break down, too. Especially in animals, many times small animals, extreme pressure can cause them to ahve a heart attack. But it could also make them run faster when facing life or death conditions such as being chased by a predator. For human beings, people cope with pressure in different ways. People take pressure in different ways. Ones who are more accustomed to pressure are often less worried and more organized, and has the ability to stay calm when under pressure. People like these are often adults, and children who have been through tough situations who learn to take the pressure. But for a lot of kids and lazy people, pressure can often be too much for them. Babies cry when they are under pressure from either too much noise or confusement. Lazy people just simply try to run away from pressure. These are the different ways people 'cope' and deal with pressure. For me personally, I can deal with quite a lot of pressure. I think this is from my habit of procrastinating. Everyday, I procrastinate, then when I realize I don't have a lot of time left, I am able to close off all forms of distractions and focus completely at my task at hand. Through years of this, I have perfected the art of doing homework under pressure and dealing with it. Furthermore, since I was young, my mom put me on stage for piano recitals or competions, so I have learned to deal with the pressure of an audience. But for some reason, I'm only not afraid when holding an instrument, etc, as opposed to if I'm just giving a speech to a lot of people. When one is under pressure, there is often a reason, for example, from time, etc. The fear of either running out of time or being punished can urge people to work better. However, it is not good to leave everything until you're under pressure, then rush through it all.

Class Assignment - Quickwrite - Vengeance

Vengeance is the seeking of revenge. I think what causes vengeance is normally when someone does something that insults you or gets you mad. Then you try to revenge in everyway possible to get the person into as much, or more, pain that you yourself had suffered through. However, vengeance can often lead to obsession, and eventual tragedy. People will often realize that after revenge is successfully carried out, what he/she had lost would not come back, and that inflicting pain on other people does not make them feel any better. I think this is part of the 'tragic' that comes with vengeance. A lot of times, when people are obssessed with revenging, they forget the real stuff around them, often neglecting the people around, and forgetting the more important things. Also, at times, while revenging, you hurt yourself more than your hurt the person you hate. Hate is also not a good thing to fill yourself with. For example, in the famous literary novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo' by Alexandre Dumas, Dantes sets to revenge, and ends up hurting more than he intended. Also, in the Shakespearan play 'Romeo and Juliet', the two feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets, plan revenges on eachother all the time, eventually leading to the death of their son and daughter. In Sherlock Holmes adventures, a lot of the criminals are killing for revenge, but their results are usually getting captured by Sherlock. I think vengeance is not a good motivation ( and excuse) for commiting crimes.

Class Assignment - Quickwrite - The grass is always greener on the other side

The grass is always greener on the other side. This saying refers to the way human beings think. Human beings are greedy by nature. They want the best, and when they do get it, they want more. So the saying is about how even if your grass is greener than green, you'll still think that the grass 'on the other side' is greener. This saying refers to the common emotion: envy. Envy is something we all feel, no matter how calm and nice we are on the outside. The most common form of envy is when someone gets a better test grade, or runs faster than you. When I feel envious, I feel a little anger, at both myself and at the person/thing. And then I wish and wish that the person actually made a mistake and that there's something wrong and that I am actually better. Envy is not a good feeling to have. No matter how much people say they are not jealous or envy, it is impossible for them to feel nothing. It is good at times to feel envious, but only when it is for a positive purpose, like if the envy encourages you to work harder. However, if the envy causes you to have negative thoughts and actions, then that is not good. I think envy could be used in a good way. Instead of just complaining all day, you could use the envy to fuel your energy in working harder. But sometimes, it would be good to feel just content with your current circumstances.