MLK: The Real Batman

Many people complain about the injustices in our world today. We look around and say things like, "What has the world come to?" But we are forgetting how messed up the world has always been. Our history is filled with shameful acts and events. The very men we give praise to for creating history are also the men who were holding society back.

One of the Jim Crow laws is about forbidding the promotion of equality. Martin Luther King Jr., among many other African Americans, wanted to be free from the many injustices of the time. In Letters From Birmingham Jail he explains that he is in Birmingham because of the injustice in Birmingham. Most people would readily flee Birmingham for that very reason. MLK says, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." This is a very compelling part of his argument because it says a lot about the issue in a direct way. It is a concise, yet powerful statement.

The Jim Crow laws are the epitome of the ludicrous judgement our glorious leaders have used to "better" society for hundreds of years. From laws about textbooks to nurses to even lunch counters, they are all making the same argument: white people and black people should be completely separate. By this they also mean white people are superior to black people. Without the influential leaders, such as MLK, progress would have been nearly unattainable. They are the men and women that saved us from ourselves.

Our world is far from problem free, but looking back not only reminds of us what we have done in the past but encourages us to move forward. History holds the memories of many great men and women that have changed the world for the better. They are the real heroes in our story. There will always be people with the same mentality as those who created the Jim Crow laws. But there is promise in the fact that there will always be people like Martin Luther King Jr. to save us from those people.

Eggs

I hate scrammbled eggs.When William Kennedy started talking about his first story about eggs I thought, This story has to be as bland as scrammbled eggs are. There is nothing exciting about scrammbled eggs. I was hoping for a turn around about how his story turned out to be incredible. But considering it was about eggs that was not likely.

His father's reaction to his story was harsh, but he was being honest. Obviously it was what Kennedy needed to hear. I like that he realized it was a stepping stone in his career. Even though "Eggs" was a complete failure, it was a failure that needed to be made. Kennedy needed to fall on his butt before he could pick himself up to be something great.

Kennedy also mentioned Eudoa Welty. He says she once wrote that a writer should write not about what he knows but what he doesn't know about what he knows. I found this interesting because I have always heard that you should write about what you know. Kennedy wrote about eggs because he knew eggs and he knew that everyone else knew about eggs. But he didn't know that he should have included more of a mystery. He said, "The only mystery about 'Eggs' is why I didn't know it was awful." I can relate to that statement. Looking back on some of my earlier writing, I almost feel embarrassed. I wonder how I could have written something so terrible. Now I know that before one can write something worth reading, he has write something worth throwing away.

I used to think that great writers sat down and poured their thoughts onto paper with ease. After two short weeks of reading essays about writing, I have realized that isn't the case. From "Shitty First Drafts" to William Kennedy's essay about eggs, I have learned writing isn't about finding the perfect words from the beginning. Writing is about failing. It is about writing something so bad that it can only better from there. Writing isn't easy and it isn't something any sane person chooses to do on purpose. It is a collection of words pounding on the door inside of you, waiting to be let out and rearranged.

Why I Write

Since I was in third grade, I have had a love for writing. There is nothing that can keep me from doing it. I find time to write whenever possible and jot things down on a regular basis. It is the one thing that keeps me sane but also the one thing that can drive me crazy. I love the way getting everything out there makes me feel. All of my thoughts are suddenly in front of me. It makes it easier to process what I am really thinking.

At times I am driven crazy by my writing. Sometimes I sit there waiting for the right thing to say or the right words to use. Most of the time I realize there are often no perfect words to start with. I throw out whatever I am thinking and in return I get something I am either satisfied with or I ignore it. Usually I do not delete the documents I write, in case I have a sudden realization or inspiration. Looking back on some of my bad writing can help me to improve my writing. I like to look back on what I have written in the past. Whether it is bad or good, it helps me decide where I want to go with my writing.

I write because it keeps me sane. With a busy life and insane amount of homework, I often do not get to stop and actually think about what I am thinking. It sounds funny but so many thoughts pass through my brain, it can often be hard to keep them all straight. I am a hard, dedicated worker, but sometimes that can cause insanity. When I am writing, I am one hundred percent myself and open to my thoughts. Writing is what I turn to, when my mind is too busy to listen.

First Day of School

I wasn't sure what to expect going into the first day of school. While I was excited to get back, I was sad to see summer end. I worked at Rainbow Foods for the first two months of summer. So I only got to relax about the last three weeks. Labor day was definitely the best day of my summer, but I was anxious to see how the first day would go.

I got to stand on Target Field and watch my dad throw out the first pitch of the Twins game on Monday. We even got a picture with T.C. Then we headed straight to the State Fair. My dad's girlfriend got us a backstage tour and free tickets to Maroon 5 and Train from her sister. Maroon 5 is definitely my favorite band. It was unbelievable to Adam Levine just a matter of rows away from me.

While I was trying to fall asleep Monday night, all I could think about was how lucky I was to have such an incredible summer. I hated my job, but everything after it made it worth it. In three weeks, I created memories I will never forget. When I woke up, I was ready to start junior year.