Winter Poem

Winter
The coldest of all seasons
Dark, grey, dreary, depressing
Chills your soul
Keeps you locked inside your thoughts
Of solitude
Neverending days of despair
First snowfall
Sunshine, brightness, peace
White wonderland
Children playing, happiness
Warmth by the fireplace
Hope of Spring in the air

J.D. Salinger and The Catcher in the Rye

J.D. Salinger seems like a very typical celebrity who was overwhelmed with the paparazzi and their numbers.  The escape from the loud and hectic life of a celebrity was as a result of the incredible fame of his novel, "The Catcher in the Rye."  However, he did not completely retreat from all society; he chose instead to live a quiet and peaceful rural life in a small town (1).  In addition, he liked to write books for his own enjoyment, not the enjoyment of fans, as he still loved to write (2).  "The Catcher in the Rye" was a very well received book initially (5), but unfortunately ended up on some banned lists for its very controversial topics about girls, sexuality, sex, drugs, and no rock 'n' roll (too early for Elvis, even).  In addition to it being well recieved, it also affected pop culture very adversely.  The killer of John Lennon, Mark David Chapman, was found with a copy of the book after shooting Lennon (4).  He had written in the cover, "This is my statement.-Holden Caulfield" and he "killed Lennon to gain prominence to promote the reading of The Catcher in the Rye," (3).  The world famous book had some positive consequences, but with those positives, the negatives also took place.

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/us/01salinger.html
2. http://www.zombieworldwide.com/2010/02/j-d-salingers-last-interview/
3. http://www.john-lennon.net/whoauthorizedtheassassinationofjohnlennon.htm
4. http://www.salon.com/2003/12/15/books_kill/
5. http://www.startribune.com/blogs/82988647.html

Holden

Being a teenager, I can relate very well to how Holden is feeling and the hardships he has to endure.  He seems like a very typical teenager and is no different from many modern teenagers in that he gets depressed, has high school drama that effects his moods, and often feels lonely and isolated.  He also has a hard time relating to his peers, which can be typical of some teenagers.  However, he has many issues that are not as typical of teenagers.  For example, he has a tendency to be hypocritical in that sense that he's hunting phonies, yet he is one himself.  In addition, he has a tendency to lie quite often, making him a less trustworthy person.  Therefore, even though I can relate to him, he is not a very trustworthy person and it would be hard to be his friend.

The Hunting Hat

Like Holden is hunting for phonies, I am hunting for inspiration.  Being a songwriter, I regularly write songs similar to whatever music I've been listening to.  However, sometimes I run out of ideas and try to listen to more music to hopefully come up with more inspiration.  Writing the music generally comes easier to me than writing the lyrics, although recently, I've had a writer's block for both.  Perhaps I need a collaborator to help me.  Some of the best bands including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John wrote, etc. worked together to write some of the best songs in music history.  I guess I'll keep hunting.

What I am Thankful For

Today I am thankful for my very large family and by that I mean there's a lot of people.  My dad has 6 siblings with about 2 to 3 kids each, so I have lots of cousins, aunts and uncles.  I am also thankful for rock and metal music, for shaping my life and allowing me to express myself.  I am thankful for my musical talents (piano, electric guitar, bass and drums) which gives me purpose in life.  I am also thankful for my family who supports me in everything I do.

Outline

1. The Lincoln Park Riots and the violent police crackdown during the 1968 Democratic National Convention shined a spotlight on the growing anti-Vietnam War sentiment, and negatively affected the public perception of Chicago.

2. The late 1960s was a period of civil and social unrest in the United States. 

a. A small group of young rebels who garnered a lot of media attention wanted to overthrow the American establishment and change American democracy.

b. These rebels strongly protested America's involvement in the Vietnam War, and viewed it as a loss of control of the political system in the United States.

c. These groups of radicals chose Chicago as the perfect place to protest the war and bring their message to the American public.  Chicago hosted the 1968 Democratic National Convention as it had many times in the past, and these rebels knew there would be a lot of media coverage, and their protests could potentially be broadcast across the country.

3. During the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, anti-war protesters and police interferences dominated the city.

a. Mayor Richard J. Daley took a lot of pride in holding the convention in Chicago, and did everything in his power to make sure the protests did not disturb the peace.

b. The police used excessive force to stop the protest from ruining the Democratic National Convention, and suppress the demonstration.  They were given permission to use violent force if necessary to calm the streets of Chicago.

c. The riots had become so out of hand the Chicago Police Department called the National Guard.  Many protesters were worried they may start shooting protesters and starting an all-out war with the protest.

4. The police riots damaged Chicago's reputation and disrupted the Convention much more than if the protesters had actually been allowed to march to the convention center.

a. In the immediate aftermath of the riots, people in the U.S. and around the world were shocked and dismayed by the police's violent reaction to the demonstrators. 

b. The broad media attention paid to the bloody events of the convention prompted the U.S. government to commission a study, led by Illinois businessman Daniel Walker, to analyze the cause of the riots.

c. After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Chicago was so embarrassed; the next convention wasn't until 1996.

5. The Lincoln Park Riots and the violent police crackdown during the 1968 Democratic National Convention shined a spotlight on the growing anti-Vietnam War sentiment, and negatively affected the public perception of Chicago.

Research Paper Introduction

In 1968, 18-year-old Lee Edmundson, a supporter of then-senator Eugene McCarthy, traveled to Chicago to work for the senator during the Democratic National Convention.  On the first day of the convention, he ignorantly joined a march in Lincoln Park heading toward downtown.  When the march arrived at the Hilton Hotel, he joined a large demonstration protesting the Vietnam War, which quickly got out of control.  He was swept up in the pandemonium and excitement without realized the significance of the situation.  When he attempted to tie a Viet Cong flag to the head of the General Logan statue, he was beaten severely by the police, and the images and footage of that scene were shown across the country.  Millions of Americans observed the brutality of the police force against the anti-war demonstrators as footage was broadcast on television.  The Lincoln Park Riots and the violent police crackdown during the 1968 Democratic National Convention shined a spotlight on the growing anti-Vietnam War sentiment, and negatively affected the public perception of Chicago.