The Majestic

       Certain holidays hold a strong place place in my heart, bringing all the great things in my life to full circle. Christmas, New Years, and even the Fourth of July all have significance in my life for bringing my family together. However, as I reach the end of this crazy semester, one holiday in particular arrives sooner rather than later. This holiday is, in fact, Thanksgiving.

       Now, Thanksgiving has always been a special holiday for me, as it is built around the gathering of family. Aromas of turkey, stuffing, assorted vegetable, and pumpkin pies invade my thoughts when one mentions Thanksgiving. Such imaginations cause my heart to leap and my hopes to rise, as this is a holiday like no other. Every other year, I spend the most thankful holiday in Florida alongside many of my cordial and delighful relatives. This year happens to be one of those years where I get to take a trip down to the lovely gulf coast of Florida, and it only ignites great feelings in my heart. Knowing this, it becomes easy to understand that the most important part of Thanksgiving is not the food or the traditions, but the company of others.

       Indeed, it took a whole semester of college to make me realize the importance of family in my life. I would be a liar to say that I do not long for those back home. Thanksgiving will be the first time since July where I will see my father who I love so dearly. In fact, if I were to determine the main appeal of Thanksgiving this year, it would be that I will finally be in the company of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and, particularly, my father. Even as I sit here and think about it, I begin to long for their admirable company. Moreover, it makes me feel better about life in general, and a good morale makes every day that much easier. All in all, it is safe to say that Thanksgiving will be fantastic this year. Knowing that I will soon be in the presence of those I care most about sends great feelings through my mind and makes me appreciate the holiday for what it truly is: an assemblage of those you love most.

       In this editorial, Thomas Ricks argues the future inability of General David H. Petraeus of finding success in the Afghanistan War. Now, as an American citizen of a libertarian and perceptive mind, I am fully willing to denounce the idea that Petraeus would be ineffective in the Afghanistan War. After all, he was so effective in asserting military might in Iraq while Bush was in office, and there is no individual of higher authority in the entire military. So, if Petraeus has such phenomenal and undoubtable credentials, why does Ricks provide such streamlined doubt towards the future plans in Afghanistan? I mostly disagree with his position, but I fully understand his perspectives, given the argument he so adequately provides.

      After analyzing the article, Ricks certainly uses fantastic use of background, telling of the historical correlations between Petraeus’s performance on the frontlines of Iraq with the diplomatic maneuvers of President Bush over the past 10 years. Moreover, he successfully lays out an effective thesis at the beginning establishing the point of the editorial and going on to develop the idea throughout it. The argument he provides relies heavily on backstory, and this, if anything, is the primary flaw in the editorial. He uses most of his time to retell the happenings of the latter half of the Iraqi War and mentions certain events that seem like extra fluff in the end. Overall, however, the syntax is coherent and flows very well.

       Now, despite the fact that the argument is finely established, I must choose to disagree with certain aspects of it. Personally, I believe that Petraeus would be very effective if more confidence was put into his plans. President Bush was very involved in the decisions of the general, but the same can’t necessarily be said about Obama. However, with a steady rise Republican influence on the president and the Senate in recent years, I can certainly conclude that more Washington insiders are becoming more involved in the Afghanistan decisions that formulated by Petraeus. Therefore, I would say that, especially after the strategic experience of Iraq, General David H. Petraeus would be fully effective in all future Afghani operations

(Source: Washington Post)

       Since the Halloween weekend is coming to a close, I figured it would be a prime opportunity to talk about some of the scariest movies I’ve seen throughout my childhood and adolescence. After all, everyone grows up developing certain fears from media culture, whether it be the fear that something is under the bed or that that bump in the night was truly a haunting prescence. Indeed, the following movies have stuck with me throughout my childhood and have always kept me looking back and searching for the light switch when the chills begin to run down my spine.

       Alien was a movie that caused me much uneasiness during my childhood. I recall watching the film when i was just 7 years old in my cousins’ basement with the lights all switched off. The paranoia that sets in when the aliens begin to populate the ship was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and it didn’t help that the movie was quite gory as well. The scene where the alien bursts out of John Hurt’s chest gave me nightmares for months and really scared me more than anything I had ever seen up to that point. This movie has truly faced the test of time throughout my life, as I still find it entertaining and frightening.

       Alien, though it was extremely scarring, didn’t even compare in shock value to another movie I saw in my childhood. This notorious film was simply titled The Thing and it would encompass my nightmares for years as a child. This movie about a group of scientists on a base in Antarctica has a rapid-fire pace, and begins to frighten from the get-go. The main reason that this movie stands out so well in my mind, is because of how it never really had any downtime and insisted on being constantly terrifying as well as gory. This was by far the goriest movie I had ever seen by the time I was ten years old, and it still stands out among movies I have recently seen. A scene where a man gets morphed into a disgusting, messy abomination was absolutely shocking for me as a child. This film, indeed, did wonders on my imagination.

       To finish up, I will conclude with what is another scary movie I have seen. No movie has ever frightened me in the same way that The Blair Witch Project did. This film was so morbid and chaotic, because I was envisioning the villian the whole movie. Now, one thing that really made this movie stand out was that nothing like it had ever been done before. The shaky first-person camera view increased the tension tenfold, and only served as a way to make me feel unbelievably unsafe. This film felt like reality, and, therefore, gave me that extra bit of horror that was never there. The ending of the movie, especially, was so disturbing and bizarre that I had to sleep with the lights on for several weeks afterwards. Unfortunately, I haven’t been truly scared by a movie in years, and this is the truth. Hopefully, something will be released in the next year or so that will reinstill those childhood memories of these films that chilled me to the bone.

       Globalization is a recurring philosophy that brings into question what represents true American values in the global setting. If one were to draw out a polarity of American involvement in the world, it would be between the concepts of globalization and isolationism. Now, as an American citizen of sound mind and body, it is to my interest that I support the continuation of American globalization for reasons pertaining to the advancement of our society.

       To address this opinion, i shall consult the current economic state of the union. It should come as no surprise to anyone that recession has hit the American economy with a resounding blow, and one must consider the possible procedures we can take as a nation to get out of such a dire situation. Globalization immediately comes to mind in this situation, and this is due to the fact that globalization, in my honest opinion, is a form of international diplomacy. What better way to further the status of the U.S. than to spread its arm of influence throughout the many nations of the world. Despite recent economic trends, such as China’s economic boom, there really hasn’t been much of a damper on American globalization efforts. If you were to travel to countries in Europe, Asia, or even Africa today, you wouldn’t be able to travel very far without seeing American businesses dominating the ssides of city streets. Whether it be fast food like Mcdonalds, or sports apparel outlets like Nike, there is abundant American influence in the world, and it only grows each day.

       Another shining example of this global influence can be seen in the growing number of English speakers in the world. Soon, in the next 10 years or so, the number of English-speakers in India will surpass that of the United States. Moreover, this abundance of English speakers represents only 24 percent of the entire Indian population, which means that India’s number of English-speakers will not only outgrow those in the United States, but will grow proportionally larger from then on out. This would result in unavoidable American influence on a large scale in India, as well as other countries falling into the same boat. Therefore, it can be said that American globalization is not losing its expansion, but, in actuality, is growing at an unfixed rate across continents.

       There is no doubt that the current government of the United States of America is a large, overwhelming beast of burden. Spending needs to stop, as well as overhiring. Our country’s government has taken it upon themselves to be involved with everybody’s economical situations, good or bad. The current economic situation shows that unemployment rates are high and on the rise, and this continuous increase in government shows that the Obama administration has achieved nothing in the way of what it originally set out to achieve: create more jobs. In truth, this large government situation has shown that there is a point where government goes from big to out of control. Indeed, these past two years have seen the institutions of large-scale plans such as the social health-care plan, as well as the stimulus packade. Now, a closer view shows that the stimulus package really wasn’t as big as the media made it out to be, and it almost seems like it only covered a tiny portion of an otherwise massive economy. What was achieved from this, one may ask? Its hard to tell, but it is not hard to tell that this looks very much like a considerable waste of government spending. Indeed, in my mind’s eye, I can clearly see that bigger government means bigger problems in the present, as well as the future.

       There are many places in America that serve as hot spots to those who enjoy a night out on the town. However, one place in particular recently struck me in a way no other has done before. This weekend, I had the pleasure of traveling to New Orleans and experiencing the celebratory atmosphere of Bourbon Strreet. Now, it goes without saying that the title of the street gives full credit to what occurs every night on it. Upon traveling to Bourbon Street, the first thing I would like to point out is the abundance of southern seafood restaraunts. As a curious visitor, I took the pleasure of sitting down in one of these eateries and exploring the illustrious menu of diverse cajun delicacies, eventually settling on the house gumbo. This actually turned out to be the finest gumbo I had ever tasted in my life, being spicy as all get out. However, looking around the table, I was able to lay my eyes on a wide variety of Louisiana dishes including fried shrimp, ochre, and a cooked fish that still retained its bones and eyeballs. Indeed, this dinner was quite intriguing and really drew me in to New Orleans and the entire Bourbon Street experience.

       Walking into the depths of Bourbon Street, I can’t help but notice the varieties of shops that surround me and beg for my attention. So, out of pure curiosity, I took the time to visit many of these odd, but unique establishments. One of these was a voodoo shop that doubled as a gift shop, and an antique shop for all things of primitive, voodoo culture. I was almost tempted to buy one of the didgeridoos that were on sale, but eventually left the store to explore further. I soon found a cigar shop, which piqued my interest, as cajun cigar shops are well-known for the gamut of various cigars they provide. Seeking a fine souvenir, I purchased a couple Humidors and was on my way to other endeavors. I would soon approach a Mardi Gras shop which housed a wide variety of items that celebrated the Mardi Gras spirit of New Orleans. Whether it was a masquerade mask, a shot glass, or a strand of purplish beads, the store supplied it in abundance. Therefore, in light of the large selection, I settled on buying a ceramic masquerade mask that glistened with shades of green and purple. Upon completing all of the outstanding purchases, I waded back into the crowds of Bourbon Street and, from there, would go on to enjoy one of the greatest night-life experiences that America has to offer.

       Here, in Knoxville, I am miles and miles away from home, which causes me to slightly long for those I care most about: my family back home. As I transition into the life of an independent, I must constantly look back to those who truly influenced me the most and taught me right from wrong. If I were to pick one specific person as the greatest influence in my life, it would be my grandfather, Kurt Gustafson. There are very few people in this world like him, for he is the kind of person that is always there for you in a time of need, whether or not it puts him at trouble. Indeed, the list of good traits that my grandfather exhibits is one of endless magnitude.

       My grandfather is the smartest person I know. He graduated from MIT with an engineering degree and went on to serve an entire career in the United States Navy, rising through the ranks and becoming a captain. He has always been a fantastic problem solver, resolving all sorts of issues in my life, as well as those of my brothers and parents. Indeed, there are a plethora of things I have learned in life that stemmed from things he taught me.

       When I was growing up, he would always tell me and my brothers stories of his time in the Navy and the trials and tribulations of his own life. Even today, he still tells of parts of his life that I have never heard before, which is always a treat. Because of him, I have a deeper respect for the men and women who have to serve this country overseas each and every day and it makes me feel undoubtedly grateful to be where I am today. This sense of wanting to give back has always inspired me to want to succeed in life. Therefore, I hope to one day be able to tell my own grandchildren of my own life experiences and that the only limits to what you can do in life are the ones you create yourself.

       As a child of the 90’s, I have thoroughly enjoyed growing up in an era of economical and technological superiority. Indeed, there are other time periods I could see myself enjoying childhood as much, but, if I would have to pick one, it would definitely be the 50’s. This is an era typically known as the growth of the Baby Boomer generation and the beginning of the Cold War.

       Looking back at this time period, I can see that it was soon after World War II, and a time of American prosperity. Suburbian life was coming to fruition, and middle-class families were taking prominence. Growing up, I lived the middle-class life to its fullest and i honestly couldn’t see myself being brought up any other way. Therefore, this ideal setting of the 50’s seems like the perfect fit for a young soul such as myself. Another appeal of this decade was the birth of the rock n’ roll scene, an event that would define the music business for years to come. Being able to witness the growth of this genre of music would be absolutely amazing, especially if I were to meet the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Miles Davis. Growing up in Memphis, I always found it intriguing to visit places like Graceland and Sun Studios, two locations that defined the original rock n’ roll scene. If I were to live in the 50’s, I would most definitely want to live in Memphis again, because, when you’ve lived in a certain city for so long and no matter how much you might think you want to leave, there is always a certain inner bond that ties you to that place, a bond that never breaks. I guess what I am trying to say is that if I were to do it all over again in a different time, it would be the 50’s and only in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.

       Life took a turn for me when I arrived at college this past month, and it really took me by storm. Gone are the days of waking up at 5:30 in the morning to eat a routine breakfast and make the 20 minute drive to my high school. Now, with my classes literally 5 minutes from the front door of the dorm building, I can wake up at more reasonable hours and live less sleep-deprived. If anyone were to question whether or not college offered more freedom to the individual, I would have to answer with a resounding yes, but not without mentioning a few drawbacks.

       Oh do I miss the easiness of high school work! Every night is a race against the clock to finish my homework on a time slot assigned by my illustrious professors. Indeed, it definitely feels like I’m getting my moneys-worth when it comes to fulfilling each day and being truly accomplished at day’s end. It’s only a month into the semester, and I am already being confronted by my first exams. If high school, taught me anything, its that cramming the night before is no way to prepare for such tests. Indeed, as I skim over the material I’ve learned in the past month, I am overcome by anxiety as to what the exam will be like. Will it be long? Did I study the right material? Did I study hard enough? These questions are what I, a current freshman, ask in this intensive situation. As a warning to those thinking of attending college: Learn to manage your time!