Running Brave

The first week of our advanced English course, we watched the movie "Running Brave". This movie is about the true story of Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills. We got to see how this man, Mills, overcame various obstacles during the pursuit of his dream: becoming a great runner.
Now, before he became an Olympic gold medalist, Mills went through various hardships in his life. Mills is a Native American, this means that he was often discriminated in places outside the reservation he grew up in. As I watched how Mills often felt out of place in the college he went to, I felt upset at how people treated him differently; he was even told he couldn't join a certain fraternity because of his ethnicity. Nevertheless, Billy kept on improving in his running.
Billy's passion was running. the movie shows how he felt free when he was running, he loved doing it. This to me is very inspirational, and I can identify myself with him because I also have a passion: music. When I play, I feel free like Billy did when he was running; nothing else really matters when I'm playing.
I think this story is a special one because it shows how if we really work hard, we can overcome the hardships that stand in the way of our dreams. At one point, Billy did quit running because he could never please the coach; the coach always wanted more and this made Billy's love for running fade. Nonetheless, after Billy's best friend took his own life (because he felt he lacked a purpose), Billy went back to running with a great fire burning inside him.
In the end, Billy marries the woman he loves, he joins the navy, trains harder than ever before, and wins the Olympic gold medal in the ten thousand meter race.
Before the movie ends, we see a tribal chief silently congratulating Billy. This is a symbol of Billy's roots. Even though Billy was racially discriminated more often than not, he never forgot his roots.
I learned that giving up is not an option, that our heritage is a part of us that we cannot be ashamed of, and that passion is something that should not be taken lightly.

Identity

It's weird describing who I am. I don't think I've ever written it down. Oh well, here we go. The first thing you should know about me is that I talk a lot. If you make conversation with me, we'll have a great conversation. I like to think I'm a funny guy. I have toned it down a bit lately, but my life is an open book. Even someone hasn't been my friend for too long, I can still share most of my experiences with that person. I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the way to eternal life. Now that's something I think is beautiful.

I am a hopeless romantic. I asked my girlfriend to go to the prom with me by writing the question in the sand when we were together one day in the beach on a class activity. Music is my passion. I am part of a band called "23rd Street". I love playing up on a stage. I love hearing people singing along with us. I have played the piano since I was eleven years old, and I have been passionate for music ever since. I am a person with some beliefs that modern society might deem medieval or just plain wrong. I'm am somewhat of an old fashioned person. I love writing music and listening to it. If someone I know is going through a tough situation, I listen to them and try to help them out. Ever since I was a young boy, I was good at befriending people; even those who didn't speak with anyone. I like getting to know people. I, like my father, am very punctual, and it drives me nuts when other people aren't. It's just rude. Movies and good TV shows are some of my favorite activities. I love astronomy, our universe is endlessly beautiful.

I believe that is a pretty accurate overview on who I am. There may be a lot of other things I'm not writing down, but we are all too special to describe ourselves in one page.
https://www.facebook.com/23rdstreeter?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Machiavellian

Gray areas. These have caused an enormous impact on human history. Machiavellian methods have been a great source of controversy for centuries: "the ends justify the means". In the short story "The Use of Force" we are presented with a situation that can be the cause of a heated debate. Was it acceptable for the doctor to force a medical examination on the young girl?
The argument arises because in the end, the doctor finds that the child has a terminal sickness that can also be spread to others. This means that he prevented potential collateral damage from ever taking place. So, was it okay for him to harm the girl in the manner that he did? The answer is no. there are several reasons why what he did was wrong.
 First of all, we are told in the story that he kept on doing the procedure even though she had hurt herself. This girl was bleeding and still the doctor kept on trying to open her mouth to investigate; he even had her father restraining her even though the father was near the point of fainting.
Second of all, the pain he caused this little girl was not only physical, but also emotional. This girl was receiving an experience that she would not soon forget. This man probably tarnished this child's view of men. He had recorded a memory of a violent man in this girl's mind. This would most likely amplify trust issues as she got older.
Lastly, we are told that this man was enjoying causing the child pain. He thought he could rip her apart and have no problem with it. This undeniably confirms the wrongness of his actions. He might have prevented other problems from arising, but he still hurt the child's soul, and that is a terrile thing for a man to do.