Ahhhh!! My Brain.

First of all let me start with what a headache this all is! It takes a lot of concentration to understand everything and then link it together. I think there is a point at which are just thinking too much. I don't believe that we're ever going to have all the answers nor are we supposed to. Anyway, I think that this whole postmodern/BNW thing might be reaching that point soon.

However, I think that I have a good explanation as to why the postmodern condition doesn't incorporate faith in the grand narrative. And for that matter, the lack of a grand narrative. I think that it got to the point where people didn't think that we could have one belief for everyone because there was always someone who didn't agree with the majority. But this doesn't mean that the grand narrative should just disappear. Postmodernists view this new era as "..see[ing] no reason for a center. Instead they favor a decentering-a play of chance, antiform, and surface." (18). They don't see the need for one view or belief. Even though it seems like it would be easier this way. Just because there are people in a country, let's say, that disagree doesn't mean that they should change the whole nation for those few people. Different countries are founded on different religions and beliefs and if you don't believe in the religion or the culture in your country you can move. I'm not saying it's bad to have a melting pot or anything I just think that people need to realize some places are more Christian than others, or Muslim just for example.

I think that wars have led to this belief in postmodernists. They probably feel that by simply letting everyone have their own belief without having to force something else down their throats would be peaceful even when people with opposing views are living together.

All of this doesn't mean that disagreement is a bad thing. In fact, it's necessary. Think about if there wasn't opposition there would be no point! If everyone was the same it would be really boring and pointless. No one would ever learn anything.

I'm sorry that this blog is so jumbled. I'm trying t0 get my ideas down as best as I can but this topic is so controversial and crazy!

People Are Nothing

In Brave New World Huxley presents a world where humans are of no real value. They are genetically engineered and produced in different ranks just to keep the world in some sort of order. They don't have families, parents, homes, or any of the traditional human values. They are taught just to do their jobs and enjoy them. The world as we know it is completely ridiculous in their eyes.

The motto that is used a lot in this scary world is "Every one belongs to every one else." It's normal for them to be with multiple people at the same time. In fact, if you stay to long with one person that is considered dangerous because you might actually build up feelings for that single person. A person is not valuable in this culture. No one is saved only for one other person, but everyone is shared.

I think that this world is completely sick. People are important and human relationships should be treasured. I also think it's stupid and disgusting to engineer people. So far I'm just really irritated and disgusted with this book.

Does It Really Matter?

What do we put in history books? What do we leave out? What IS history? There are so many things that have influenced our country, but not everything is able to be written down in a collected source. There comes a point when you have to pick and choose what goes in the books to be studied. There will always be a discrepancy between publishers but nothing will ever satisfy everyone.

During the high school years students are taught to learn all about the subject they are studying, memorize it, and then regurgitate it for the tests. This does not allow for true learning. So, in that case what does it matter what is put in the books if it is just being used to pass a test? If someone is really passionate about a subject they will research it further. This would be knowledge for the sake of knowledge. Because everyone has a specific area that they flourish in everyone will have knowledge of different things and together we can learn a lot more than we ever could on our own.

But if it does not matter what we put in history books is it even important that we know our history? The answer to this question is yes, of course. If we don't know what has happened in the past how can we prevent it from happening again? It is important to know our nation's history even if we don't know every single event that has happened.

So my overall point is that it is impossible to include everything in history books. The things that cannot be included are still out there and odds are that someone knows enough about them to share their wealth of information with you.