Summary

Piri has a elongated discussion with his friend Brew and his girlfriend Aalyce about culture, race and how it affects the respective indivuduals. Aalyce has an issue with Piri because she feels as if because he is Puerto
Rican he should not be hanging out with her boyfriend Brew because he is black. And according to her being black is something that is negative and undesirable.Brew goes on and convinces her that black is actually something that is beautiful and desirable, and even though he has been attacked frequently for being black he still stands up for his rights and fimrly believes that blacks are not the worst of all races. Piri then returns to New York where his aunt tells him that his mother is in the hospital. He visits his mom only to find out taht he is not allowed to stay very long. soon after she dies and he sees a picture fo his father’s mistress and tears it up eventually , he gets into a fight with his father who continuously yells at him and beats him and then Piri continues to ademantly deny that he took his father’s mistress’s picture which is the reason as to why they got into a fight to begin with. Piri makes his argument by incorporating the text that the given character’s use for example when he has the conversation with quotes between Brew and his girlfriend. He also vividly describes scenes and things of that nature citing the time and location specifically. Also he uses spanglish by incorporating spanish words along with english and that shows his cultural perspective and that shows how it affects his life. Piri also allows the reader to become involved emotionally with how he is feeling and what he is going through.

summary

Omar Salama

                Provide an outline of the major arguments in the novel. How are the arguments you have outlined are connected to one another? What is the evidence? Is the evidence convincing, or does the narrative seem one sided? What type of argument do you think Thomas is making?

Race:  An argument that Piri Thomas is making is that race played a factor in every aspect of his life. He is mistreated by his father and feels as if it is because he is the dark colored sibling in his family. He is mistaken for an African American and usually has to prove himself throughout the book amongst his “amigo” friends and others in the neighborhood. Race also plays a role regarding respect. When Piri first moved to Spanish Harlem he had to earn his respect and the transition would have been easier had he been like everyone in the neighborhood but Piri wasn’t like everyone in the neighborhood and got into a fight with Waneka the TNT gang member. Then his family moves to Babylon where again Race becomes a standard of judgment and the fact of the matter is that those judging Piri based on race are judging him inaccurately based on the color of his skin and not where he is from. So in Babylon, Piri asks a girl Marcia to dance and she refuses but at first Piri thinks it’s because of her boyfriend but he later finds out it Is because of his race and that is why Marcia didn’t dance with him. Overall throughout the book there has been a constant theme in which Piri is presumed to be completely African American because of his skin and even when people find put about his Latin descent, he is still judged differently relative to everyone else and that has also affected his mental well being.

Economic Status:

                Piri’s father has to work extensive hours to support his family and he still doesn’t manage to bring them out of poverty. Piri’s argument is that it’s very difficult to escape poverty and that poverty does affect a person’s well being. One has to wonder had Piri been in Babylon from the start if he would have to put up with the fighting and the beatings he experienced in Spanish Harlem and would he have been able to mold a bond between the people in Babylon where they would know about him personally because kids at a young age may have a better chance of understanding others. And finally Piri’s economic status forces him to live in poor neighborhoods and that leaves him subject to numerous conflicts. His poor economic status is evident in the book when his father needs Governmental aid to help support his family and this causes Piri to be a different person and live his life differently because money is a factor in his life.

Sex:

                Piri feels as if he has the right to women just because he is a man. In essence he treats them with a double standard because Piri, believes his the “hombre” and that he can control Lorry a 33 year old woman with two kids. The fact that he feels as if he can control a 33 year old woman when he is 16 is very disturbing. Piri;s argument is that there is a difference between a male and a female in a relationship, when actually there shouldn’t be it just so happens that Piri feels as if he can control Lorry when he is 16. In this case Thomas makes the argument that gender overcomes age in a relationship. That’s why a 16 year old male can be with a 33 year old woman with two kids.

Summary

A young boy named John Thomas also known as Piri Thomas is growing up in the mean streets of New York. He is also growing up during the Great Depression. He comes from a very diverse background. His mother is Puerto Rican and his dad is African American. Piri attributes his skin color to his father and it is interesting to note that his father uses Piri as a scapegoat, usually beating him up for things that he doesn’t do. Piri has numerous brothers and sisters, all of whom are not blamed as much as he is. Hs dad barely talks to him and usually beats him. Piri also has problems with people in his neighborhood, mainly rocky and the killers who threaten him and gang up on him, but for the mosty part Piri is string willed and defiant in situations like that. Piri talked about how he has “amigos” who would be willing to help him if Rcoky and his killers went to school. The “amigos” are too afraid to go to Rocky’s part of town. At home Piri’s dad lost his night job which meant that they were now poor enough to be recieving WPA.His mother always talked about how even though they were poor back in her contry that they were still happy and that is what mattered most to her. Also Piri continuously has to deal with his ethnic background because there are many threats to Piri based on his background. He usually has to explain how and why he is dark. One day along with his friends Piri played a baseball game against another team wagering money, they wound up losing that money and disregarding it even though there was a huge sense of anguish over the loss and considering Piri’s econimic well-being it was a questionable decision to do so.

Summary

The author begins to talk about logical arguments, saying that they are usually objective and that people agree or disagree depending on their original preferences, the author also talks about how logic alone can’t win an argument but can be very effective in an argument. Then the author shifts to reasoning inductively which is basically the main person creating conclusions based on specific evidence, this concept usually deals with scientific theory but when an argument falls under a fundamental truth or value it then becomes deductive reasoning. Then the author goes into explain some concepts relating to this and it is syllogism which is having a major premise, a minor premise and connecting them to form a conclusion. Then the author briefly states the issues with cultural differences and how people who argue have different cultures at times and their views may intervene with the views of others. Then there is the toumlin argument where there is a claim, evidence and finally a warrant. The claim is the most important of the three because that is the basis of the argument. The data is the evidence and the warrant establishes a relationship between the claim and the evidence. Claims and warrants must be understood in a rhetorical respect. The author goes on to discuss fallacies and the extent to which they are so prevalent citing that fallacies are usually found in logical arguments. The author goes on to discuss how a person making an argument may try and appeal to a person from an emotional, prejudice, traditional and analogical respect in order to make an argument but that does not further the argument because these are fallacies in the argument. A few other arguments later described are attacking a person’s character by citing flaws n their behavior or by attributing false causes by assuming that something occurred because of previous events. This happens when an author attempts to prove conspiracy theories. The author then cites different examples about argument, expressing how to alter information and move around words to make a case that might seem accurate. The talking about how the person making an argument could just simply ignore the question or jump to conclusions.

                The author then shifts his focus to emotional arguments,  emotional arguments connect to a reader by relating to their emotional appeal, these arguments can be very powerful because they are easy to relate to. Then character based arguments are discussed and they simply are about looking for different fallacies in a person’s character to make an argument. They usually rely on a person’s past and their previous experiences to explain what they would do later on. This argument deals with how a person is evaluated and how that evaluation affects the way people perceive them and make conclusions about them and their potential actions.

Summary

Everything can be argued but not everything should be argued. There are four broad purposes for argument and they are to assert, to inquire, to dominate, and to negotiate differences. Each of which is used in a different manner and strengthens arguentation. By asserting an argument, one can gain credibility and strengthen their stance in an argument to better develop a certain stance on a specific issue. When inquiring, there may not be a provacative stance in the presentation in the argument because inquiring allows for the opposition to present their case and inform the inquirer. What inquiring may do is that it may allow teh inquiree to see a different perspective because they are trying to understand and take in what they are saying while the inquirer is paying attention. Arguing to dominate is one-sided. A person or a group dominates teh argument and for teh most part  does not allow the opposition to speak and/or present their side of the argument .A dominant argument is controlling and over-bearing and is not open for interpretation. Negotiation is the best form because it allows for both argument to be presented and both sides are open to both issues and at the same time, both sides are allowed to have their prespectives altered via access to more knowledge.

Different Ends of the Spectrum

What patterns do you think exist between Modalities in Spanglish and The Hispanic Challenge?

            The obvious answer would be clearly none because in the Modalities in Spanglish, there is a perspective presented from a person who has basically through his writing denounced and disproved the points made in The Hispanic Challenge. If there ever was a case about limiting the abilities of the press, it should present The Hispanic Challenge as a prime example. Now there is a pattern between these two articles and that is that they both look at the impact of Latinos, and people of Hispanic descent and their abilities to assimilate to American or any other cultures. They both use parts of the same argument to present different points, in the Modalities in Spanglish, Armado Rodriguez  presents that fact that at “the root of Spanglish is a very universal state of being. It is a displacement from one place, home, to another place, home, in which one feels at home in both places, yet at home in neither place.” Rodriguez notes that the ability of people with Spanglish descent to adapt allows for them to be able to unify their cultures with any other cultures and develop a “universal state of being”.

That being said in The Hispanic Challenge, Samuel Huntington feels as if people of Spanglish descent will never be able to assimilate to other cultures and therefore in the Unites States will force the presence of two languages and two different cultures and create division. He also feels that people of Spanglish Descent do not belong in essence because they do not take into account the views of our founding fathers, but what he does not note is the view by our founding fathers that furthers the equality of opportunity and although he mentions that they are predominantly white he fails to mention that this was not an issue with our finding fathers, instead he feels as if people of Spanglish descent are here to take over the country.

Huntington on The Hispanic Challenge makes a brief point acknowledging the fact that people of Spanish descent have enriched the Anglo Protestant way of life but he quickly refutes that statement by noting that had America been settled by the French or the Spaniards that it would be Mexico or Quebec, therefore proving that Mexico and Quebec are not at the same level or pedestal at the United States but never mentions the fact that the French or the Spaniards were never given the resources that were given to the British settlers in the United States and that his grounds on this specific point are not based on equal merit but an end result. Again both authors use the same factual base to present completely different arguments.

Where do these patterns appear?

Throughout the text the usage of history is presented to show the impact these two different cultural perspectives have. Huntington uses provocative statements to sink the reader into the text and if you can relate to Huntington and if there is a moment where the ability to use previous experiences in order to be judgmental is presented then the reader becomes immune to the ideal social constructs of the world and in essence develops a perspective that furthers that presented by Samuel Huntington. Huntington also cites historical context and that in itself is not refutable to say the least. Instead he presents this historical context in a way that allows for the reader to excuse or justify certain thoughts mainly because of the unprecedented success of our history. Huntington refers back to the Anglo-Protestant culture and the premises that were held by our founding fathers. Huntington in essence places people with Spanglish descent in the stereotypical identity as a major threat to the well being and future progress of our society. He quickly cites accomplishments by people of Spanglish descent and then refutes them with the amount and degree of success our founding fathers have had and in essence places people of Spanglish descent into an unambiguous corner.

As the article progresses Huntington cites factual evidence in the increase of Mexican immigrants attempting to prove that the quantity of Mexican immigrants takes precedence over the quality of Mexican immigrants and instead of Mexican immigrants being allowed to provide a profound influence on American culture he furthers the idea of them being a dominant presence over today’s society. Now one can revert back to earlier passages and note a certain quotation “the cultural division between Hispanics and Anglos could replace the racial division between Blacks and Whites as the most serious cleavage in U.S Society.” This happens to be a very interesting statement because it presupposes that there still is a division between Blacks and Whites and that there isn’t any sort of assimilation between those cultures. A statement like that is so profound and fails to have any historical context because nothing can relate to the experiences blacks have had and that at the root of all of these issues is the Anglo-Protestant culture. One can easily make an argument against what Huntington is saying because the Anglo-Protestant culture is at the root of both racial divisions. Lastly Huntington furthers his point by saying that “there is no “Americano dream. “There is only the American dream created by the Anglo-Protestant society.”

On the other hand the view presented by Rodriguez is more effective and simplistic. Rodriguez notes the ability of Spanglish culture to assimilate with any other culture because it has the ability to adapt and accept the beliefs of others. The ability of Spanglish people to survive in the United States is a living and self evident example that the Spanglish culture can assimilate. One of the more interesting tactics used by Rodriguez is his ability to suspend judgment and he shows that ability in his “Check Miscellaneous” section where he uses sources such as Thomas Paine, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Pico Iyer to parlay the importance of being able to comprehend and fathom the immense difficulty that resides in the daunting task of “forming a sense of commitment” as noted by Iyer. Rodriguez then sets a stage where he can emphasize his point. Now he uses Iyers’ example for his book citing that a half-English, half-Japanese, Malaysian man who said that “One Country is not good enough” at first and then Rodriguez takes this opportunity to expand by saying that “one race is not enough. One ethnicity is not enough. One culture is not enough. One cosmology is not enough. One religion is not enough. One language is not enough. One sexuality is not enough.” Rodriguez does not use a comma to combine this statement instead he gives each distinction its own sentence, furthering its emphasis and its each own individual characteristic. Rodriguez then answers questions by the public in essence, the issue of how do I identify myself and his answer is simply why should that matter? He also answers critics who speculate that Spanglish is nothing but a mere language and instead furthers his emphasis on why it is and should be a culture. Rodriguez then concludes by citing a source that details the potential deficiencies of Spanglish but also notes that there is a certain perspective that is not accurately detailed.

What are they focused on? What goes with what? Where do they disagree? 

                Both Authors want to present their side of the story and inform the reader enough so that they can make conclusions on a very important and relevant topic, in this case Huntington tries to prove that Spanglish culture is a threat to what the Anglo-Protestant society has already established and that in some way shape or form, Americans must maintain their aspirations without being driven by the Spanglish culture through language or beliefs. Rodriguez notes that the Spanglish culture encloses other beliefs, languages, religions, etc. and in essence can help establish a more unified and more complete sense of unity and well being.

What goes with Huntington’s statement is that he believes that the Spanglish culture will hinder our society and his statistical proof based on population presupposes a need to limit the continuous growth, he also presupposes the negative impact of more people of Spanglish Culture and that they cannot have had the same impact that furthers the progress of the Anglo-Protestant society. The fact of the matter is that the Anglo-Protestant society would not be where it is today if it were not for the positive influences of Spanglish Culture. Now with Rodriguez, his statements entail that a Spanglish culture has no limits, that it is universal and that its progress is unlimited and vast. Also that because the Spanglish culture envelops all of these different cultural, religious, and socioeconomic ideals therefore in essence a Spanglish culture is more closely knit and unified.

Their disagreements are on what Spanglish culture is and what its potential impact may be. Whether or not the definition presented by Rodriguez will have a different reaction from Huntington remains to be seen if ever. So the question does remain, if the Rodriguez definition of Spanglish culture is indeed accurate than what is the stance held by Huntington and vice versa? Rodriguez refers to the Spanglish culture as that of an all encompassing and free culture that does not derail anyone’s beliefs or ambitions, etc. On the other hand Huntington refers to Spanglish culture as that of which is harmful and requires some sort of reform in order to maintain the presence of the everlasting Anglo-Protestant society. Therefore their views can be easily seen as on opposite sides of the spectrum but they cannot in any way, shape, or form denounce the impact of the Spanglish culture, most of which is positive on not only the Anglo-Protestant society but many others.

What would these authors say to one another about ethnicity, culture and language?

Rodriguez would say that in a Spanglish culture, ethnicity and language as well as religion and other aspects of human behavior and characteristics are all included in one culture and that is the Spanglish culture. Huntington would beg to differ because he feels as if the culture in the United States, the ethnic and linguistic backgrounds in the United States are based on the Anglo-Protestant society and therefore are being hindered by the effects of the Spanglish culture.

Rodriguez would then cite the impact the Spanglish culture has already had and that ethnicity has no bearing on human behavior and things of that nature because it would not matter where someone is from. Huntington presumably would refer to statistical information which has no premise in this context and in essence note that because of the amount of people within the Spanglish culture that there is a sense of domination being developed failing to understand that the Spanglish culture is not limited to a certain distinct set of views and values.

Finally the fact of the matter still remains that one man’s views cannot derail the underlying importance of the Spanglish culture in the future of not only the United States of America but the rest of the world. Rodriguez on the other hand can refer to potential unity and desirable coordination between cultures in order to create a single culture is the past, present, and future of the United States and the rest of the world.

Paraphrase times 3

Original:

In the final decades of the 20^th century, however, the United States’ Anglo-Protestant culture and the creed that it produced came under assault by the popularity in intellectual and political circles of the doctrines of multiculturalism and diversity; the rise of group identities based on race, ethnicity, and gender over national identity; the impact of transnational cultural diasporas; the expanding number of immigrants with dual nationalities and dual loyalties; and the growing salience of U.S. intellectual, business, and political elites of cosmopolitan and transnational identities. -The cultural division between Hispanics and Anglos could replace the racial division between black and whites as the most serious cleavage in U.S. society.- like that of other nation-states, is challenged by the forces of globalization as well as the needs that globalization produces among people for smaller and more meaningful “blood and belief” identities.

First attempt:

In the last decades of the 20^th century, however, the United States’ Anglo-Protestant way of life and the belief that it functioned came under attack by the popularity, in thinking and educated groups of the doctrines of multiple beliefs and variety; the rise of group character based on race, ethnicity, and gender over national character; the impact of multiple belief diasporas; the expanding number of immigrants with two nationalities and two duties; and the growing salience of U.S. thinking, economic, and educated groups of international and transnational character. -The divisions in the way of life between Hispanics and Anglos could replace the racial split between black and whites as the most serious cleavage in U.S. society.- like that of other nation-states, is confronted by the forces of globalization as well as the needs that globalization produces among people for smaller and more meaningful “blood and belief” characters.

Second attempt

In the last decades of the 20^th century, however, the United States’ Anglo-Protestant ethnicity and the idea that it worked came under aggression by the popularity, in ideas and knowledgeable factions of the doctrines of multiple values and mixture; the rise of group personality based on race, ethnicity, and gender over national personality; the impact of multiple values diasporas; the expanding number of immigrants with multiple nationalities and multiple obligations; and the growing salience of U.S. ideas, monetary, and knowledgeable groups of worldwide and transnational character. -The divisions in ethnicity between Hispanics and Anglos could replace the racial opening between black and whites as the most serious cleavage in U.S. society.- like that of other nation-states, is dealt with by the forces of globalization as well as the needs that globalization produces among people for smaller and more meaningful “blood and belief” personalities.

Third Attempt

In the last decades of the 20^th century, however, the United States’ Anglo-Protestant backgrounds and the principle that it succeeded came with hostility by the popularity, in principle and informed parties of the doctrines of multiple morals and multiplicity; the rise of group qualities based on race, ethnicity, and gender over national qualities; the impact of multiple moral diasporas; the expanding number of immigrants with numerous nationalities and numerous responsibilities; and the growing salience of U.S. principle, fiscal, and informed groups of global and transnational character. -The divisions in backgrounds between Hispanics and Anglos could replace the racial breach between black and whites as the most serious cleavage in U.S. society.- like that of other nation-states, is dealt with by the forces of globalization as well as the needs that globalization produces among people for smaller and more meaningful “blood and belief” qualities.

By repeating the statement, I have increased the usage of my vocabulary and at the same time at this point I understand this short passage a lot better. The realization that groups with multiple nationalities also happen to have multiple responsibilities which unfortunately conflict with one or the other of their responsibilities simple because it is very difficult to find two cultures that share equality in their set of responsibilities. Also the impact of certain things such as business, economic growth and certain factions also affect the people and their responsibilities or duties to their nationalities.

Summary on Fan Chen -The Classroom and the Wider Culture: Identity as a Key to Learning English Composition

Fan Shen begins with the main issue that his Chinese background conflicts with the requirements in English composition. He attempts to figure out how this new form of communication affects his set of values from his cultural background. He states that his writing had to be “modified or redefined in learning English composition.” He then goes on to note that writing in English is not a secluded activity but rather an enlightening social experience.

Early on Fan Shen had to adapt to the use of words in his writings due to the fact that he is accustomed to writing in a specific manner that entails unity and productivity juxtaposed to the style of the English composition which allows the writer to express whatever feelings he/she may have on paper, therefore expressing individualism. In China Fan Shen was not allowed to express his individualism as it implied selfishness. This was not the case in the United States where individualism allowed for the expression of brilliant and unique ideas.  Fan Shen then goes on to discuss the impact of his usage of the word “I” meanwhile using it quite frequently in the reading. And in order for Shen to express himself the way his English composition teachers wanted him to, he had to abandon his Chinese way of writing which meant letting go of the Marxist doctrines and the ways of Mao which were forcibly influencing his writing in China. And in order for Shen to be himself and express himself, he had to create an entirely new embodiment of Fan Shen which was an individualistic, self expressing and English version of himself. He cites that through language he notices how there are different interpretations of the same words, at first he has much difficulty adapting to English literature and how one’s conscious believes that the human mind is the primary world and that materialistic gains are the secondary world. So he develops a way in which he can derive some of his values and create an English “self” that contradicts his Chinese “self”.

He even goes on to discuss how the style of writing is much different because in English, the writer goes directly into the topic and does not build the essay towards the topic. He also mentions that he is not affected by, mainstream and cultural discourse as he was fully his Chinese “self” when he became indulged into English composition. And at this point in the reading, Shen introduces the impact of his unconscious which he discovered later on by rereading his previous works of literature. He discovers the use of yijing in his essays which is the impact of consciousness and the environment in his works. He concludes by noting that the process of learning to write in English requires for the development of a new identity while balancing it with the previous identity.  

It’s Time to Barack the Vote!!!

Here we go, I’m just going to touch on a few things and then get to what’s important because I think it’s time to Barack the Vote! The Yankees won today but that does not matter because they probably will not make the playoffs this year and I wish I could eat my words later and Mr. Joe Girardi is not a smart man. Today he tried to have Cano bunt when he has only one sacrifice this whole season and yesterday he said Alex has been hitting in the clutch his whole career. Not a smart thing to say and by the way Alex went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts but god bless the Giambi moustache. (I know that this paragraph made little sense but I tend to say senseless thing when I am frustrated which I will leave for another blog entry).

                Now to what’s most important, Presidential candidate of the Democratic Party Barack Obama, I’m not here to talk about what Bubba (Bill Clinton has done) or what Bubba’s wife has done. I am just going to try and take some of the things that I have learned and make one coherent thought hopefully by the end of this entry. Let me state what I have learned first , a College Football Hall of Fame Quarterback turned feminist Don McPherson came to Syracuse University and talked about how Men’s violence against women is a male issue and it certainly is because there would not be an issue if it were not for what males have done. Also I am enrolled in Professor Laurence Thomas’s political theory class where I have been learning mainly about human behavior, things like being just or unjust etc. But here I am writing about our issue and I think it’s time for us to put this issue to bed.

African Americans were enslaved for about 400 years, with reports saying up to 465 years and others saying around 300 years either way my upcoming point will not be deterred by that discrepancy. I am from Egypt and I do not consider myself to be African American, I do not have any ancestry that was enslaved or even witnessed the Civil rights movement led by Sir Martin Luther King Jr. that being said why am I bringing this up? Simply because Slavery was a White person’s issue (mainly male back then women unfortunately did not have any rights.) and white people had to come together even though it took a while and eventually release African Americans out of the treachery of slavery. Now it did not benefit whites in the south to release slave because they simply provided free labor. And there rebellions were easily put down so in essence farmers in the south were receiving output without input. They ended Slavery because it was for the greater good.

It is up to us as voters to end 232 years in which we have failed to elect an African American as President and it is safe to say that this should be the end. I am a Democrat even though my religious views should suggest that I am a republican but that does not matter I am assessing Barack Obama and I see that he is a visionary but his intellect and his use of speech are critical in the next four  years. It is safe to say that in a minute way we have begun to panic a little bit, with some saying that we are in a recession others saying we are near the end and others saying we have not seen the beginning. Today the unemployment rate is around 5 % a small number that represents millions of people and in 1929 we happened to be around 4 % but in 1933, four years later the unemployment rate reached a magnanimous 24%. Sorry to point out the similarities but you clearly get my point , I’m not saying we are going to be in a depression but I’m saying that in office we need someone that is calm, collected, poised and always seems to have a plan. Someone that will turn the corner and make the right turn at the same time.  Now the antithesis to this is well he is inexperienced, excuse me for going way off topic but back to A-Rod, how many times has that man been in a difficult situation? Actually I don’t think that there is a player in the league that has had the same amount of experience as A-rod. Being calm and poised is something that is innate. Barack Obama has the ability to not overreact and stay collected and that’s why he has what it takes to stabilize this country.

                Now onto this being a race issue, personally I don’t think it’s a race issue at the moment. I think we have made enough progress as a Country to be conscious enough to understand that as important as John McCain has been to this country, at the moment he does not have what it takes to fill this current Presidential seat, maybe four years ago after Bill “Bubba” Clinton but not now.  Not at this moment because when you walk into that booth, it’s up to you to decide and understand that  there is no social pressure because you walk into that booth alone and now it’s time to decide on your own and I hope you understand the importance of Baracking the Vote! Don’t let your subconscious interfere with any decision you make as difficult as it may sound because it takes an immense amount of courage that you have, but have trouble expressing.  So just remember that it was not just those kids in Little Rock Arkansas that were courageous but those white soldiers who walked in front of white people and escorted them to College and remember  that it was not just MLK Jr. who was courageous but instead it was everyone else that carried out his dream.

 

Lets Just Get To It

            Welcome to my new blogging site yougottafocus.wordpress.com. To be honest I have never really thought about blogging but I do happen to have a friend Sportsbrotha.wordpress.com who does blog and is really good at it but seriously let’s just get to it. I will be blogging about everything important and it’s safe to say that what is important to me might not always be important to you.

          Clearly in a national sense blogging about the presidential election would be of most importance but at the moment I have a certain itch to bash A-ROD and yes I am a huge Yankee fan, I spent a whopping 75 dollars on this man’s jersey. He is my favorite player and I do love watching him play………in APRIL, MAY, JUNE and sometimes July. Listen I know he is a human being but he isn’t a human being like you and I because as far as I know I’m not being paid 300 million dollars to perform for the New York Yankees. I’m going to stray off topic a little bit, today I walked by Johnny Flynn ( I am just as tall if not taller ) and Paul Harris which was probably the second coolest thing besides meeting all these new people everywhere including the Gym and heck even the Laundry room but I realized that I would do anything to be in the position Johnny Flynn is in so I hit the gym and I have played pretty good Basketball and have worked out, understandably so I probably won’t ever touch an official Syracuse University Basketball uniform. Some have god give talents that others simply do not have. In a Baseball sense Alex Rodriguez has god given talents that MLB players do not have. Every time he steps up to the plate he has the edge so to speak over the opposing pitcher and it’s safe to say that he does not always win the battle between himself and the opposing pitcher.

              So what should A-Rod be doing? What is his main objective? Is there statistically a way to prove that he has performed well? What I mean by well is have the New York Yankees received their money’s worth? Has George Michael Steinbrenner III invested properly in the third basemen for the New York Yankees? (Sorry but Hank and Hal are not smart enough to be taken seriously or mentioned in this discussion.) And the answer is that Alex Rodriguez has not given the New York Yankees their money’s worth, maybe he gave the Seattle Mariners their money’s worth because all they wanted was to get into the playoffs, there hasn’t been an underlying history with a Seattle Mariner’s uniform, if they wanted to, they could actually change their uniform design in which they take the field and no one would really care but people would are if the Yankees showed up in something other than pinstripes ( that is at home when they are playing, the Yankees wear grey on the road.)  A Yankee uniform is kind of a big deal. Alex Rodriguez even gave the Texas Rangers their money’s worth , all the Rangers wanted to do was have people show up and they got that. People came to the Rangers ballpark in Arlington to watch Mr. I like to have extramarital affairs (by the way I really don’t care about what he does off the field even though I find it repulsive and I do seriously fear that he might contract something like an STI which is the new official term not STD and it kind of impacts his playing performance……see what he did in the ALCS against the Red Sox in 2004 outside of playing) A.K.A Mr. Rodriguez has not given the Yankees their money’s worth. The sole purpose of bringing him to the Bronx was to win multiple World Series but instead he has provided Yankee Faithful with none so it is safe to say that he has not earned his pinstripes to date.

                 Clearly I’m a little upset at the fact that he went a whopping 0-5 with two GIDP ( grounded into a double play) not to mention one with the bases loaded, flew out to center with two men on and struck out to end the game. AND HE COMMITTED AN ERROR!!!!!! Now the Yankees are 6 games out of the Wild Card and in my estimation they would have to go 25-6 to make the postseason and oh wait don’t let me get started on Joe Girardi. How about the other Yankees? Should they be to blame? Well Jeter could just retire if he wants to, he gave Yankee faithful FOUR World Series wins and that was not even what he was supposed to do.

              In fact he was supposed to be a decent baseball player who at the time filled in for an injured teammate. Mussina was brought to sure up the staff and he’s done that, Andy has had a terrific record coming off of losses and has performed well even though he stunk last night but I’m sure he’s somewhere thanking God about the night A-rod had. No one has given the Yankees less bang for their buck so to speak but there have been those that have under achieved but none have the pedigree, the aura, the god given ability or nearly half the money that the chokester has. Well at least the chokester has something in common with another underachiever (DISH DVR commercials). Alex still has time to make this all up but he will have to do it when he is the focal point to cement his legacy, they can’t bring Albert Pujols in and win a World Series for his legacy as the greatest player of all time. One of these days he’s going to have to wake up and look in the mirror and dedicate a season to simply baseball which means no bar hopping for Muscular women and broaden his already wide shoulders to the extent that he carries the New York Yankees all the way to a World Series title, that being said it sickens me to not see Yankee stadium in its finest hour near the end. I know I could have blogged about this some other time, Alex tends to do these kinds of things around August, September and October, and He still hasn’t played into November as a Yankee. That will be all for the day but stop by often and no I will not be blogging about sports all the time but just in case I do, leave a comment telling me to stop.