David Foster Wallace- The Human Person

 

I believe that David Foster Wallace is correct in the idea that life consists of fundamental choices that lie entirely within the human person, and that allow them to engage the world differently.  In his speech, he mentions that we “tend to over- intellectualize stuff, to get lost in abstract arguments inside [our] heads, instead of simply paying attention to what’s going on right in front of [us].”. This is a credible idea, because sometimes given the fact that we are so blinded by our own problems, it is very hard for us to see everyone else’s.

 In my own life, I can see this with my cousins, who are five and eight years old. While I am babysitting them, they can sometimes surprise me by being so hyper, and out of control. I sometimes wonder how my uncle and aunt can allow them to be so undisciplined and misbehaved at times, but then I realized how it must be from their perspective. They have to deal with very demanding jobs and kid’s activities afterschool.
They have to race around to attend to the schedules of their kids, and themselves, make dinner at home every night and deal with a hyperactive 1- year old dog, who is even bigger than your average grizzly cub. They also have to deal with the drama- filled stories of both a third and  a first grader’s day (which is always entertaining), and handle homework, baths, and bedtime stories, all in less than three hours after they got home. It is hard for me to understand this however, due to the fact that I do not have kids of my own, and I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of work it actually takes.  

Another point that he makes, is also that “‘teaching you how to think’, is actually short for a much deeper more serious idea: ‘Learning how to think.’ This really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to, and to choose how you conduct meaning from experience.”
We usually engage this choice by realizing that “the really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.” At the end of David Foster Wallace’s speech, people are clapping even if he is, in a way, insulting them, because they still understand the importance of what he is saying to them, and that they understand that it is important for them to live life as he has described. “It is about simple awareness – awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us. That we have to keep reminding ourselves.”.

 

Chaotic Chatter

When we choose not to descend into a state of chaotic chatter, we are showing the person that is talking, that we are attentive and open minded to their conversation, and presentation, and that we value the information that they are willing to share with us. Every person deserves our respect and attentiveness, regardless of whether or not we personally agree with the information that are providing to us. When we are not attentive to the person who is presenting, we are not only disrespecting the presenter, by not listening, but we are also effecting ourselves, as we will not be receiving the necessary information that is being given to us by the speaker.

Another important fact is that when we are not attentive, we are missing necessary information that can affect us in the future. If we decide to ignore the presenter, we can also be acting negatively toward them. By disregarding their own presentations, we are telling them, through our actions, that they are not worth our attention, or our time. Even if sometimes their information does not directly concern us, we will still affected by the outcome. If we fail to treat other presenters the same, then we will not have the same respect from them, when we are presenting our own material.

Another reason is that “Respect has great importance in everyday life”. It is so important for us to respect each other, because we would all like to have the same amount of respect shown to us, in return. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states, “We come to value respect for such things; when we're older, we may shake our heads (or fists) at people who seem not to have learned to respect them.” This statement means that although today, we can sometimes forget to respect others, now, we will eventually grow to become people who respect individuals for who they are.

Many people do not realize that the other factor that affects this is the fact that most people are hearing the person, but are not truly listening to the words that they are saying. They are too absorbed in their own lives to worry about anyone else’s. When someone is speaking, most of the time, people actually take in only 25% of what they are actually hearing. A person, while they might try to listen to everyone, they will still end up disregarding about 75% of the conversation.

“We may also come to believe that, at some level, all people are worthy of respect.” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 1. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/respect/ ). No matter who we are, or what we may believe in, we all deserve the same amount of respect. Regardless of whether or not we  have the same views, it is important for people to listen to what others have to say, mainly because it also allows them to change their perspective on certain issues as well. It allows us to think more about our own views, and it can even give us a new perspective on some of those same issues.

 “We may learn both that our lives together go better when we respect the things that deserve to be respected and that we should respect some things independently of considerations of how our lives would go.” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,1). This particular quote demonstrates that not only should we “respect the things that deserve to be respected”, but also that we also have to respect the things that can ultimately control the outcome of the rest of our lives. It is so important for us to remember this part, in particular, because we also have to, at times “respect things independently of considerations”, of how the rest of our lives could unfold.

The value of learning to control our own emotions and impulses is one that is necessary in our daily lives. This particular value is especially important, because in order for us to succeed, we have to be able to control our own impulses, and emotions. By doing this, we will be able to gain the respect of not only the people who will be directly affected by this, but also by the people around us. If we are able to control our own emotions, and impulses, then it will be much easier for us to recognize the true value of respect. By not being rude or distracting, during a presentation, we also show our respect the person speaking, and how we respect the amount of time and effort it took the person to prepare for, and to present the information to us.    

Caligula's Heart

In the play Caligula, the playwright Albert Camus demonstrates Caligula's heart, by his discriptions of Caligula's feelings. He demonstrates that Caligula, in the eyes of the patricians, seemed distraught, and when left he had "a queer look in his eyes.". The patricians view Caligula, as "a mere boy", and while he is missing, they do not seem too upset with the fact that he is gone. They just assume that "he'll return as abruptly as he left". They believe that when he comes back, they can make him see reason. Personally, I believe that while he hold the high position of Emperor, he still has the impulses that cause him to make childish decisions.

Our Front Door

Our front door has seen so much of our life. It has seen snowy boots, clomping through the doorway, as the cold winter air from outside blows in. All of us racing outside in sweatshirts and tennis shoes, to jump into the leaves that we had just raked into a massive pile in our front yard. It has witnessed hundreds of water balloon fights in the hot summer heat and the baseball and soccer games in the fall and spring. It has white paint, nine little square windows, with a white curtain, and brass door knocker embelished with our name, but it also has finger smudges on the windows, where we watched the snow fall in the street, lit up by the streetlight outside, and the staples on the top of the doorframe, where we hang the greenery at Christmas. It has seen us bring in every tree at Christmas, and every wreath that we hang on it, when we take out out Christmas decorations. It is not just a front door to us, it is the door that leads into our life, and demonstrates so much about our family and our relationships with each other.    

Happiness

Personally, my happiness consists of several factors that are the most important to me, in my life. One of these factors is my family. For example, my family is so important to me, because they are always supporting, and encouraging me in all of my endeavors. They have given me so much and I am so grateful for all of the sacrifices that they make, in order for me to be able to continue living with the luxuries that I have in my life, today. They sacrifice so much to send my entire family, including (my four other sibilings), to a private school, and I am so happy to be able to afford this luxury, as so many other people cannot. Also, the experiences, and memories that I share with my family are also very important, to me, in my life. The memories, and experiences that we all share together play such an important role in my life.    

My friends are another important factor. My friends are also a major part of my happiness, because they are so supportive, and understanding. I am so lucky to have friends that care about who I am, and if I did not have those people in my life, then I would not be the same person that I am today.

Another important factor is the fact that I have been going to a Catholic school for 13 years. I have always been surrounded by people who are encouraging me to try new things, and by people who truly care about other's happiness. I am so thankful that I am able to attend a private school, especially for this matter.

It consists of just the "smaller things" in life, things that other people usually don't take the time to look at, because they are just too busy with other things, but I love to look at nature, and just to be outside. It is so peaceful, and it keeps me calm, if, (and when) I am stressed out.

Finally, my happiness also consists of the health and well- being of everyone that I love, and care about. This includes my family, friends, and other people that support and encourage me, such as my teachers, and my parents. I am so blessed that my family and friends, are happy, and healthy.  

Intro!!!!

 My name is Anna, and I am a senior in High School. My family, friends, and the experiences that we have together, are the most valuable to me. My family and I are practicing Catholics. My faith is very important to me, because it is a part of who I am. It is also important to me, because it it something that I truly believe in. I am American, and I grew up with American culture and customs. My cultural background is important to me, because it represents the person that I am, today. In life, I hope that I succeed in my endeavors, and I also hope for people throughout the world to treat each other fairly, regardless of race, custom, religion, or ethnicity.