Essay #1: Limitations on Freedom
What is so important about freedom? And how is freedom incorporated into my life? When I hear the word freedom, I often associate it with words such as decision, speech, free time, independence, and choice. These words lead me to believe that privileges are only granted through freedom. For example, in some countries, the dictator or the ruler makes the choices for their people on what profession they shall have or to what religion they shall worship. In America, people have the privilege to choose what religion they will worship and professions they will have. My United States citizenship is my passport to the freedom and privileges I have today. My degree of freedom, its value and function changed throughout my lifetime. However, through this lesson, I realized how freedom plays a crucial role in my life.
As a kid, I had less freedom because my parents made the decision for me. In class rooms, I had to listen to the teachers and follow the rules. Now that I’m older, I have the freedom to choose for myself to either follow the rules or go against it. Whether my decisions are right or wrong I have the freedom to choose for myself, which makes me more independent. I believe that in the future I'll have more freedom as well as responsibilities that carry along with freedom. For example, when I start a family, I’m going to have to take care of my kids and have a stable job to support them. Another example is when I’m at school, I have to follow teacher’s rules in order to pass the class with a good grade. I don’t have freedom to fight against the rule, unless the teacher breaks his or her own rule. From this, I learned that freedom is not really "free" but comes along with responsibilities. Freedom cannot be achieved because when you take away limitations, you take away freedoms.
Freedom was valuable to me even as a kid because I wanted to stay up and watch cartoons instead of going to bed at ten at night or eat more cookies and candies than my mom let me. Even as I grew older the value of freedom did not diminish. The value of freedom will always stay strong as long as I decide to choose for myself. For example, as we talked about freedom in class, about the freedom to choose cell phones. I have freedom of choice to choose a phone with camera, Bluetooth, or full mini-keyboard. However, if I don’t have the money to pay it off, my value of freedom is still the same.
Freedom also requires some sort of restrictions and limitations in order to maintain its freedom. This is because freedom and limitations on freedom are both needed to live peacefully. My knowledge is to gain freedom you need to sacrifice as well. Also, freedom cannot be achieved because if we were to gain more freedom, a consequence. For instance, every day I use an object that helps me get through my life safer and easier. I use my car to commute to school and work, or I use my computer to write this essay. However, who gives us these objects? We pay kids from third world countries to build our cars and computers. This means that I’m taking away the little kid’s precious time and freedom, so that I could live a better life than them.
Freedom has led me to become who I am today, that is the main function of freedom in my life. Freedom has allowed me to become the college student I am today, a responsible citizen of the United States who is capable of handling a job and stress. It has helped me stay above the influence and let me be who I am. For example, every day I wake up and think to myself, “today could be the last day of my life…” I try my best to live my life the fullest as I can. I grew up with many bad influences, such as drugs, alcohol, gang members, etc. Comparing to my childhood friends that have dropped out of school, went to jail or prison, or still getting caught up with troubles, I thank the people that had positive influence on me, for I could have been one of those childhood friends that were caught up with bad influences.
I will have to overcome more responsible in order to use "freedom". For example, if I want to buy a car, but I will have to be a responsible driver, pay off all my bills in time, and maintain the car in good condition so that I could use the car for a long time. Freedom will always be important to me because it will allow me to express myself and be who I am. If I want to be who I am, I'll have to make sure that my rights are guaranteed and I'll always have freedom.
One of the major reasons freedom is so wanted is because many of the limitations on freedom. . I was acknowledged control over our bodies is the only thing that we actually have power over freedom. A large number of the prohibited freedoms are crimes where you make yourself the victim. As I stated before, if you take away limitations such as rules and laws, you are taking away your freedom. Freedom and limitations has to be balanced to certain point. I realized that many of us fail to appreciate and value our granted freedom. The limitation and freedom becomes a part of who we are and who we will be, a part of the very core of the human experience, they shape our thoughts and emotions. These are something that we must accept to have our freedom.
Essay #2: Language and I
Culture is part of everyone’s life, whether we choose to express it in our everyday lives or not. A major part of culture is a language. The topic of language, identity, and power could relate to culture in America, and even more specifically to the power of language in American culture. Since language is the foundation of communication I agree that all foreigners must understand to a certain degree by speaking and learning English. Language is a very powerful tool, language is the way, truth, and light that people communicate with each other. For a foreigner living in America, this is important. The background culture of a person and language could define who we are, shape connection to others, and sometimes it can cut others off.
It sure is interesting how we can convert our thoughts into words. Since language lets us express our feelings, I think learning a second language gives us valuable life skills, as well as, a wider vision of today’s world. Whenever we use language, we are expressing our intelligence through words. It impresses what the power of words can do and it can break or make a person. Once people realize the power they hold in their hands, they tend to use language to persuade the opinions of others. As a result, a single word can affect a person’s behavior, as well as, life. For instance, I think having a second language gives us priceless life abilities. Being bilingual myself, I think it is an advantage to know a second language because it gives me a larger access of information, and a larger area to find jobs and cultural enhancement. Therefore, I think language plays a major role in my life and it also gives me the chance to have a more general vision of the world.
Language is the only way in which meanings can be effectively exchanged between different people, as people within the same culture are able to interpret the sign of language in the same manner. Orwell states, “I have not here been considering the literary use of language, but merely language as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought.” For example, the word “white” in United States represents a color of purity. However, in China it is the color of death. Also, the world “love”, Americans uses this word to express in many different things. However, in Korea, “love” is used for only one expression, a romantic one. This shows that different cultures have different ways to express word meanings. As meaning change rapidly throughout cultures, to understand another culture a person must live there and speak the language to understand.
In today’s society, different cultures and colors could cause segregation. For instance, being a multicultural, bilingual, and a second generation, I always had a question that was never answered, which is what is my true nationality, ‘American’ or ‘Korean’? I have been categorized myself as a Korean American, but I do not know my true identity or which culture I belong. As a child my parents taught me about my culture and true identity as a Korean. They spoke to me in Korean ever since I was born. Also, after I was born in United States, two years later, my family moved to Korea and lived there for about seven years. However, after living in United States for about nine years, in my opinion, I have taken in to the American lifestyle. I have adapted more to Korean culture than American culture. For example, from my own experience, if a person stays mostly with his or her own culture, for me, Koreans, it may be very hard for that person to adapt to the new culture because he or she would not learn the new culture by staying with people from American culture. In contrast, he or she can easily retain to their original culture identity because they would not know much about the new culture. For example, there are many Asians living in this county, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale. But some of them don’t even know how to speak English. They don’t know how to speak English because they stay mostly with people from the same culture, speak the same language and do not communicate much with American people.
Language can build a connection with other culture in future. Tan states that “But I do think that the language spoken in the family, especially in immigrant families which are more insular, plays a large role in shaping the language of child.” she explains how important is the language spoken at home and how language can help growing up. I agree with Tan because I can say many things about language mainly because it is important and it allows us to not only express ourselves clearly, but to influence the way other people think. For example, I could use Kong-lish which is using Korean and English put together while expressing or talking to one or another. For this reason, I think knowing a second language improves the quality of life. Not only do we gain a better understanding of who we are, but we also have a broader access to other cultures. Due to many experiences I have had with language, I have learned to appreciate the fact that I can speak, read, and write in English and also Korean.
In conclusion, it is harder for me to adapt to American culture because I love m background culture as Korean, and I want to be part of the culture as I grow up. Also, it is hard for me to adapt to American culture because I do not stay much with American people. Even though I tried at the beginning when I first came from Korea and went to public school, I could not get along with others. Finally, it is because I have learned many things back in Korea that I do not want to lose because I believe that what I have learned are the right things. Therefore, background culture of a person and language could gain power over others, gain connection to others, and sometimes it can cut others off for adapting a new culture or environment that depend on how language is used.
Essay #3: 1984 All Over Again?
“In 2019, when most of the outside world has been contaminated, communities of people, rescued from the toxic environment, live by utopian standards in an isolated colony. The rules of living are selected for them; clothing, meals, leisure, and jobs are all structured and controlled. Everyone in the community anticipates a special event - the lottery - in which one person wins a chance to move to a tropical paradise, the only uncontaminated area left on Earth, known as "The Island".” (Wikipedia). Sound familiar? In 2005, the movie called “The Island” was directed by Michael Bay, we could see that this movie and “1984” by George Orwell has very similar story plots. The book, “1984” by George Orwell, is about the external conflict between Winston Smith and Big Brother; and the internal conflict between the two ideas, democracy and totalitarianism. It is amazing to see that the book that was written in 1940s could be related to events going on today.
One of the major themes in the novel is the brainwashing and mind controlling people of Oceania, so that the Big Brother has control over everyone that’s living in Oceania. Today, the advertisements has somewhat “brainwashing”, for the advertising controls our mind by making us think a product is better than another. For example, over the weekend, I went to the new Cupertino AMC theatre. As I was waiting for the movie to start, there were many different commercials playing. One commercial I remember is the “Sprite” commercial, which very colorful and quick flashes. Although I don’t normally drink soda, this commercial had made me want to buy Sprite because the commercial kept me thinking of soda. Overall, this proves that the modern society mind controls and brainwashes by using advertisement of product, and in the novel the party control the reality.
Another example is the telescreen. A telescreen is a technological advancement, allowing "Big Brother" to peer into the homes of those who have them. The telescreen watches, day and night, and can never be shut off, and can also communicate back. Sam from the English class told me that, in United Kingdom, cameras are everywhere around the public. The government could see every little thing that people do in streets. It is impossible to avoid the camera in public unless it’s a private place. I’ve heard that citizens get fines from spitting, littering to any crimes that lead to illegal act. These events of today show how it’s related to the novel.
As the story progress, one of the theme Winston states doublethink, which is the act of holding two contradictory beliefs simultaneously, fervently believing both. One example of doublethink could be pornography. I, myself, believed that pornography will cause the crime rate to go up. However, I’ve found out that the pornography has kept rate of rape by fifty percent every year. I still think that pornography is a bad idea, but at same time, it’s a good idea for reducing the crime rate of rape by fifty percent.
The conflict between Winston and Big Brother reaches its climax when Winston is caught and taken to a place "where there is no darkness", which are brought bright underground rooms where criminals are taken to be interrogated. Winston gets tortured mentally so badly that by the end of the novel he loves Big Brother, and cannot think a single thought without the permission of the party. O'Brien is called 'teacher' and responsible for Winston's reform. The torturing 'lecture' by O'Brien is long and slowly kills Winston's spirit. From then, Winston has no liberty and freedom in his mind, and also he exists for the party, not himself: he just becomes one of Big Brother's victorious reforms.
In conclusion, the people of 1984 have lost their free thinking and individuality. “1984” is the story of our world gone wrong. George Orwell did not write it as a prediction, but rather as a warning about our present situation. Our perception of reality is affected by many things and it is important to recognize this and realize that many factors go into our thoughts. Society could possibly be monitored as closely today as in 1984 I think that the novel 1984 and the modern society are very similar factors. Would you like to be mind controlled or brainwashed? Will you like to be watched by someone twenty-four-seven? I’m sure that I would not like that at all.
Essay #4: To Some Extent: Brainwashed
Some people might say that while people think that it is our innate and "inalienable rights" as humans to think for ourselves, truth reveals that one’s actual thoughts and actions are directly and indirectly influenced by the media, government, and ones cultural identity. Many brilliant thinking may say that their thoughts and creativity comes from their original self. They may even claim that their thoughts and ideas were never, in anyway, influenced by the outside environment. In my point-of-view, truly, we cannot think all for ourselves, in my defense, there are so many things that are changing our thoughts and ideas from our surrounding environment, every single moment in our lives. Take few incidents for example, cultural identity, morals, and education.
I have a hard time myself whether I should follow more of my Korean cultural beliefs or my American cultural beliefs. I’ve tried in the past to even out the cultural values and expectations of my family but also with my friend’s American cultural activities. In a Korean culture, it is unwise of for anyone, young or old, to wandering around at night, partying or just hanging around. You are expected to just stay home, quietly enjoying the amenities of home-living. You can say that the Korean culture is more passive, then here in America. Here is where the free-thinking comes along. I want to say that I’m thinking for myself when I chose not to go out and party all night all with my friends, but really I am thinking for my family and what they would think. On the other hand, I also want to say that I’m thinking for myself when I’m going out with my friends late at night, but really, all I’m doing is going along with my friends expectations so they would not feel discouraged whenever I reject their invitation. But I don’t want to fully hold only one culture like the story, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Anzaldúa, “If you want to be American, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong” (Anzaldua, 2008). To me, its translated as, if you want to embrace the full American cultures, do whatever they do, and if I do not wish to, then I should go back to Korea. But no matter what other people say, I have to learn to think for myself, or they will for me.
Not only are the cultural values that inhibit my “freedom to think for myself”, but my morals are also challenged in my everyday life. My point of view leans more towards the old school side. This is what I think, I think that girls should wear piece of clothing that does not only cover your private areas but the whole body, I also think that the hard partying life is not for me, I also think that, technically, men have more responsibility over women. I have all these thoughts in my head, but sometimes these thought change into different forms of ideas, by hearing what other people has to say. I may be convinced pretty easily, but I’m not the only one that is. I think that in some way or another, people’s perspectives are changed simply by listening to other people speak, in a different sense of light. For example, I think that the hard partying life is not for me, and I try to stick to what I think and value. But there are so many friends out there that are telling me all these wondering and fun experiences they had, that I want to change more morals, so that I can party-hard sometimes with some exceptions.
Another example is when we had the debate about torture in class. I was pro torture, but ended up debating for anti-torture. The arguments on both sides were both very persuading. I was pro torture for a good cause and only if torture will help because I thought if using torture could save millions of lives, I thought it was worth it. However, when we were arguing for anti-torture, I ended up questioning myself. As Sherwin mentioned “When Han discussed about drug torture such as LSD, I thought to myself, that is part of drugging someone. When someone is drugged when person doesn't want to, I believe that is also torture. When secretively someone puts a drug in your drink and later on take you to spill out information, I do think that it is part of being torture” (Sherwin, 2007). I agree with his idea that when you’re doing something that forces him or her to do, which is still considered as torture. This is another reason why I think that we truly do not have the freedom to think for ourselves, because there are so many think that contradict or convince people otherwise.
Lastly, another example which proves that we cannot truly think for ourselves is in the education. I know you might think that this is ironic, because school is the place where they teach you to think on your own. But what I think is the way we think has been shaped from the teachers we had previously when we were younger. I once had this English teacher my senior year in high school, and I have to admit she is a very intelligent and brilliant human being. Everyone respected her for her intelligence, but there was one thing that really got to me, which was her view in religions. I am a strong believer in Jesus Christ and I have my own thought and beliefs about my religion. During my English class, we were learning about all the different kinds of religion in the world and while she was teaching us the religions, she talked particularly harsh with Christianity and seemed to favor of more of the eastern religions. All the things she was saying about Christianity really made me doubt my beliefs for that semester. I did not what her to influence how I knowledge of my beliefs, but she made God seem like a fearful and hateful God, with all the killings. I chose to keep faith in my religions, but this proves how easily you can have someone else could think for you by just making you think that they are the most intelligent person in the room.
My point is that we do not have total control over how we think, and we do not have all the freedom to think for ourselves. We can’t completely think for ourselves because there are so many factors in life that will want to make you change your mind. I guess in some point you can make decisions on your own, but there is a constant battle in determining whether your decision was really made by your own thought or by someone or something else that influenced your thoughts. I want to end with my favorite quote which doesn’t really apply to this essay, but it could be necessary for my third source. “Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win” (Devlin).
Works Cited
Anzaldua, G. (2008). How to Tame a Wild Tongue. In C. Anson, 75 Readings Across the Curriculum. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Devlin, B. (n.d.). Quotes. Retrieved from BrainyQuote: www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/bernadette_devlin.html
Sherwin. (2007, August 6). Blog. Retrieved from truepropaganda: http://yourpropaganda.blogspot.com/
