A Tree - Poetry Slam (PSP)

A Tree

Mighty giant fallen

            To the forest floor.

Thick gnarled roots

            Clutching at rocks

                        Holding them close, seeking

                                    Security from the earth;

                                                The earth from when its first food came.

Cradled in the bosom of loving Mother Earth.

Lying now its full length stretched,

In pain of death.

Sap, clear and fragrant,

Oozing from broken branches with piney needles,

                        Taking in the sun,

                        Towering over all other living things.

A resting place for birds,

A shelter for the deer.

The stories it could tell of the grass beyond the montains,

Of sparkling rivers coursing their riches to the sea.

And of the coming of progressive man.

In not so many years this mind excelled.

The building of machinery was but,

A simple task. 

Soon the creeping crawling monster,

Wended its way,

Heeding not where it trod,

Caring not for little things,

Making straight for the prize.

The heavenly, stately, irreplaceable tree.

Community Engagement Piece - Letter to the Editor (PSP)

Vancouver Observer: Letter to the Editor – Soft Plastics Recycling

Vancouver Greenest City 2020? Expand our recycling programs.

We all know the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. From an early age in Vancouver we are taught to put plastic bottles in the recycling bin and not in the garbage can. And yet, our ability to actually participate in such recycling programs when we enter the workplace, or the post secondary setting, or even  try to get involved at home, is limited by the availability and the accessibility of recycling programs and infrastructure for residents of this city. A huge part of being green, after all, is about convenience.

Currently, there are two types of recycling programs available for Vancouver city residents: the blue box recycling program and the apartment recycling program. Neither of these accepts plastic bags or plastic films which are also known as “soft plastics.” This is despite the fact that there are facilities which will recycle these products, such as West Coast Recycling located in Richmond.

Why not? Why are consumers who want to recycle these products required to hold onto them and then bring them to the available facilities, which are often out of the way? Is that feasible for the majority of Vancouver residents? Probably not.

What we need are available recycling programs for Vancouver city residents that are convenient. Until we create such programs, it is highly unlikely that the majority of Vancouver will keep, wash and drop off their soft plastics at depots completely out of their way. We should start by creating soft plastics recycling programs so families can get involved from their homes. From there, businesses and post-secondary institutions could get involved as well.

Is Vancouver going to be the greenest city by 2020? Only time will tell, but a good start is to make it more convenient for the people of this city to participate and get involved in reducing our foot print; start with our recycling programs.

Sincerely,

Jordan, Kristina and Nicole

Creative PSP Assignment #4 - Social Movement

In response to the YouTube video: "Counterfeit Gods" 

            The aim of this creative reflection is to raise awareness about how there is no political or social will in our society to generate effective change. The goal isn’t necessarily trying to rally all video gamers together to initiate that change but is a symbol of the problem itself.

           

            Personally, if I were to go about rallying a large group of people it would be difficult but possible. The key to gaining the support of others is to speak out for something that they believe is true and is worth fighting over. What I’m trying to say is that since people lack that willingness to initiate change, it is in the hands of those who contain that passion and eagerness to unite the people. This is illustrated in the last frame of the comic where Keller realizes that if he is to inspire a willingness to change, he must mobilize the people by giving them the tools necessary to carrying that change out.

            Ultimately, this can be done. Through community programs it happens all the time at a small level; now we have to look at the global. How can we inspire willingness in others to stand up with their neighbours and solve the Earth’s problems? It takes one person with a little bit of courage and heart. An example of someone that “rallied the masses” would be Craig Kielburger. When he was young he saw in the newspaper an article reporting how a child labourer stood up for himself and was killed because if it. Craig saw this as completely unfair and wrong so he talked about it in class that day and asked if any of his classmates would want to help make a difference. Several peers raised their hands and that was the birth of one of the largest youth movements in the world: Free the Children. This goes to show that through a small action and a lot of effort, one can have a large impact on those around them, creating change.

Creative PSP Assignment #3 - Shit: A Dramatic Realism

            The first time I watched the YouTube video about how so many people live in such unsanitary conditions my first response was to recoil in disgust. My second response was to empathize and imagine what it would be like to have to use the river or local fields as a place to “do my business”. But watching this video involved no use of euphemisms. None at all. These people are struggling to survive and are, in our Westernized eyes, sacrificing not only dignity but precious resources that could be utilized for water or food. The tragic piece of information that would contest my prior sentence would be to acknowledge the fact that these people DO utilize their fields and crops and rivers for food and water. They are literally eating out of their toilet.

            Why do these people have to go in the rivers and fields? It just makes me think about how upsidedown and backwards our world really is (as Kurt elaborately and passionately made clear to us) and ultimately inspires me to raise awareness about issues like these. But honestly what else can I do? Does raising awareness genuinely create change in these foreign countries? Does our knowledge of the issue really give these people a toilet? Fundamentally, awareness comes with action but in our society, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. How can we change this mentality? How can we see these tragic and backwards issues as if it were happening to us? Can we honestly absorb passion through a television or computer screen or do we actually have to see what’s happening for ourselves to ultimately pursuade ourselves something needs to be done? Just some thoughts.

            In our Westernized society, we are blessed with a sewage system but is it really something we should be continuing to be thankful for or should we step up and critically analyze what we're doing. Right now, we're defecating in our water. How can we change that? One option that comes to my mind is in the application of compostable toilets. If our society initiated the transition to an infrastructure that houses compostable toilets, it would be easier to take that application and use it in places that lack a toilet system. Overall, we need to look at the issues in the world and use them to create a system that works for everyone. Using a cyclical process that harnesses human waste would be most efficient. The best way to come up with an idea for this would be to look at nature and figure out a way to copy it; it's simply bio-mimicry. The ultimate result would be a system that requires little labour or perhaps is self-maintained.

Creative PSP Assignment #2 - Shipbreaking in Bangladesh

        This picture is in response to the pictures of the shipbreaking practices in Bangladesh. To me, it represents quite a few things. First of all, the line of Bangladeshi people hauling a rope, pulling a ship on to shore. This line not only represents the perverse levels of hard labour that these people continually suffer through but also the fact that they have banded together to aid one another. This idea reflects that the world can work in harmony with one another, despite the hardships we face.

        This ties into the next aim of my drawing which is in relation to the smudging. I smudged the graphite to acknowledge the dirty and harsh conditions that the Bangladeshi people work and live in. It is a muddy, cruel and environmentally unstable community exposing toxic chemicals such as arsenic into not only the physical environment but into the physical systems of each person working on these sites.

        Finally, this ties into my last goal for the drawing. I intentionally crumpled part of the paper to represent political corruption. Most of the ships that are dumped on the beaches of Bangladesh originate from Western societies, particularly the United States. How can the US allow their ships to be deconstructed in this manner? There is a point where politics have to step in and stand up for the good of the people and the environment rather than for the good of the economy. It is hypocritical to allow such practices to occur elsewhere in the world when it is not permitted in the host's country. Just because it is out of sight, does not mean that it can or should be out of mind.

Food Systems Mind Map - Big Industrial Buyers (PSP)

Technology Mindmap - A Generation of the iPhone (PSP)

Food Concept Map - Growth of an Organic Tomato (PSP)

My Personal Sustainability Pathway (PSP)

My Carbon Footprint (PSP)

1)      My areas where my carbon footprint is the largest is in the ‘Secondary’ calculator which is a collective total of food preferences, fashion choices, packaging, furniture and electronics, recycling recreation, car manufacture, finance and other services. My personal footprint for this section was 1.60 metric tons of CO2 where my overall personal footprint is 1.87 metric tons. That means that my secondary contributors account for 86% of my carbon footprint. I learned that purchasing foods closer to home and seasonally grown foods are a key contributor to my carbon footprint which surprised me.

2)      In many cases, a lot of the activities we carry out in our lives can be significantly regulated simply by being more aware of other options. Since I live on campus, I don’t need a car and rarely use the transit systems unless it’s for an outing of some kind. People can organize themselves to be more efficient even when it comes to travelling. There are other options people can use to reduce transit carbon footprints such as hybrid vehicles or electric. Overall, it’s important to understand that we don’t need a lot of things and that is definitely the main contributor to our carbon footprint in general, the fact that we are a society of leisure and convenience. We have a choice to eat local, walk/bike to work or school, save energy by using less power, buy products that have less packaging, recycle everything we use as well as many other factors.

3)      My footprint in comparison to Canada’s average is significantly lower but that is strictly because of my situation of living. I’m living on residence with no need to move around. I admit that if I were at home (my house in the Okanagan) I would have a higher carbon footprint. But even looking at the global goal’s footprint, it’s hard to realistically imagine a world that can live up to that. I believe that it’s not feasible first of all because of infrastructure and population density. We need to be mobile to live and to be mobile, we use energy. The global target is lower than my footprint, which is pretty significant judging by the fact that I don’t have a car or anything that contributes majorly to the carbon footprint. If the world wants to fulfill its millennium goal for a low carbon footprint, people will have to re-establish their values and ultimately their entire ways of living. It’s not possible in the near future, in North America anyways. As for actions that would reduce my individual footprint, I’m interested in completely avoiding packaging as well as moving towards buying locally grown and organic foods since the alternatives otherwise increase the carbon footprint significantly.

4)      Some of the challenges are simply due to the fact that we can’t avoid certain things that contribute to our carbon footprint such as plastic packaging or heating our homes and using electricity. If the action for reduction is to stop using a CO2 emitting vehicle, the initial costs are high and some people can’t afford it but it will pay off in the long run. For example, if one were to purchase a green energy vehicle, there would be no emissions but the cost to buy a green energy car is very expensive. Also, a lot of green initiatives that are being used today are simply inconvenient. Recycling is a process that takes labour and effort. In our society, we are not enabled or educated on ways we can recycle all of our waste because of the fact that we are so used to a different system. The key point is that infrastructure needs to change and to do that, there needs to be a pivot in political will as well as societal will.

5)      Some ways to address these challenges would be to educate others on the issue and provide a means of solving the problem that works. The problem is inspiring enough people to make it happen. Once something is rolling, it’s easy to establish infrastructure because if the people want it, the government will look into it. Ultimately, people need to address their own lives. Collaboratively, everyone who alters themselves a little bit by doing little things that are more ecologically friendly, the trends will catch on. A collective action that a small community could make would be to establish programs that house sustainability initiatives and start the process of building a system that can become reliable and convenient. One example of this could be setting up a recycling program that one hundred percent recycles all waste. To have a program like this, you need waste that can be recycled and that’s a whole different action in general but it all ties together. On a global scale this would be ideal because it would greatly reduce waste, even cutting it out completely. This would have major benefits to the health of our global ecosystems as well as our own. It would also reduce GHG emissions because it would cut down the amount of energy we would need to process and treat our waste.

6)      In my opinion, the carbon-footprint calculator is effective in analyzing ecological change but is hard to assess the effects of it on behaviour. The process of becoming an activist for change is not an easy one. To assess one’s carbon footprint is very useful to getting a head start on what can be reduced and improved in individual lives but overall change relies on motivation. If someone doesn’t see a point to changing, why would they?

Peer Feedback (Prior to final copy)

·         “Good clarification/examination of WHAT contributed to your main carbon footprint factor.”

·         “Focus on awareness and thoughts of increasing awareness leading to change were great, and totally spot-on (in my opinion). There was a lot of great thoughtful insight in your reflection, evident that you explored WHAT the main carbon contributors were. All points in criteria were addressed well. Great job!”

·         “Submission meets word criteria. The carbon footprint calculator was used and ideas were separated into sections but flowed smoothly.”

·         “Possible solutions to reducing carbon footprint are identified and suggestions of how others can carry out lifestyle changes are also discussed.”

·         “The problems/difficulties with carrying out this planned action (individual and collective) are also discussed.”

·         “Impressively low carbon footprint. No suggestions. Good stuff!”

·         “In section 3, clarify where is ‘home’. Also I feel like you should expand on the fact you think the ideal GHG target is unfeasible.”

·         “You provide some great insight on behavioural and infrastructural change, but I’m not sure you directly address the one action you are going to take, and one action you would like at the collective level, nor how this affects global health. Since these are key objectives for the assignment…”

·         “1^st paragraph is great, very clear.”

·         “Maybe you can concentrate on your food choices? Or, you mention education, so maybe leverage that discussion point?”

·         “You have it at 717 words.”

Personal Sustainability Action and Reflection (PSP)

          As a firm believer and advocate for a global revolution that is fighting to reduce the planet’s plastic footprint, I took it upon myself to invest in a set of reusable soap containers from the Soap Dispensary on 3623 Main Street to reduce the amount of plastic I consume through the use of toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner bottles. 

                                                 

          The Dispensary itself is an amazing store established by a local couple who have designed it specifically to provide consumers who wish to reduce their plastic footprints with reusable glass bottles that have a cork as a stopper rather than a plastic one. They also allow consumers to refill their bottles using one of their many bulk soap dispensers. The Dispensary has an astonishing collection of soaps and bathroom lotions, ranging from dish and laundry soap to face moisturizers. Overall, the Dispensary has provided consumers with an option of plastic reduction that was not available prior to its establishment, in Vancouver anyways.        

            

          Not only is the Dispensary sustainable in its promise to reduce plastic from the use of everyday, household cleaners and personal care products but in its promotion of environmentally friendly products. All the soaps sold at the Dispensary are biodegradable and are safe for children and pet use as well as for people with sensitive skin. Some of the products are even vegan certified not to mention the fact that they are all supplied by multiple companies across Canada. Ultimately, the Soap Dispensary has lived by the commonly revered concept: the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle and also a fourth R that I try to abide by: Refuse) and plans on continuing to help create a more sustainable world.         

                                  

          Personally, it has been incredibly rewarding to use these reusable glass bottles in my life. I have taken it upon myself to purchase other products that help reduce my plastic footprint prior to the purchase of these soap bottles such as reusable bamboo utensils which help reduce the dependency on disposable plastic cutlery. I honestly never thought of a method in which to target my toiletries but now that I think about it, the amount of plastic that goes into the production of personal care products and household cleaning products is significant. Why haven’t I taken notice to this earlier? The Soap Dispensary has opened my eyes to target every aspect of my life in the fight against plastic consumption.  

                                                                     

          I also find it really cool to be able to say that I have these new bottles. I have them neatly organized and labeled in my cupboard. I know that I will continue to use these. It is kind of funny because I can foresee myself becoming attached to the bottles because I won’t have the displeasure of having to throw them away every couple of months or so. That’s definitely a benefit: the sentimental attachment to my shampoo and conditioner. I personally haven’t had the opportunity to refill my bottles at the Dispensary yet but I’m sure that when I do, it will be an enlightening experience not to mention socially rewarding. I’m sure that I will become close to the couple that run the store because they can bet that they will be seeing me more often.      

              

          Our global community faces a plastic crisis. The amount of plastic pollution in the world is contaminating the environment’s many ecosystems at an exponential rate. Our hydrological systems, geological zones and air spaces alike are all being affected by the consumption of plastic and if we do not cease the flows of this garbage into our world, our home, by changing our individual lives through simple actions such as the choice to reuse products, we will suffocate in a poison soup of polypropylene, polyethylene and many other “poly-plastics”. To take action is to make a decision on what we believe is right. Together, let’s work towards a plastic-free future; we just need to revaluate our own lives and apply what we learn from that.

Environmental Autobiography (PSP)

            My name is Jordan Pryce. I am a first year student at the University of British Columbia and I plan on pursuing a future in physical geography and sustainability. Ever since I was little, I have had an admiration for my physical environment. I have always loved the trees and the streams and creeks that flow peacefully over rocks. Ultimately, nature has had an instrumental influence on what I am passionate about.

            Although I have a strong personal interest in nature and on the way it works in harmony with humans, I have many role models that have shaped my passion and helped me understand our environment for its beauty, serenity and key role in our society. Both my parents work in environmental sectors. My father works for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations in Water Allocation. His job is to make sustainable water land use decisions. My mother works for the Nature Conservancy of Canada and she works to conserve and protect private land through the outright purchase, receipt of donated lands, or by placing conservation covenants on certain properties. Since 2008, she has worked to conserve 9250 acres of natural habitat for plants and animals. Through their work and passions, I have gained an appreciation for how our world is changing in terms of new technology and sustainable practices and that as humans we need to understand that to be forever fruitful we must attain a sustainable way of living. I also look up to Mark and Craig Kielburger who are the founders of Free the Children, an organization designed to end child labour. Through their work I have come to realize that anyone can make a difference in the global community and be a leader, even at a young age.

Leadership itself is a paramount concept in my life. It has led to the funneling of my interest into the vast field of sustainability. In high school, I was involved with many activities that allowed me to carry out my role as a leader. From the end of grade 10 to grade 12, I had been involved with Amnesty Global Awareness, a group that works to create awareness of poverty and social injustices in our school. Amnesty helped me establish my talents in organization and as a public speaker. I helped organize coffeehouse fundraisers which funded certain Amnesty initiatives such as our school’s orphanage in Vietnam. I also hosted these events as a master of ceremonies allowing me to publically reflect on the specific issue that was being fundraised for. I was also involved in Link Crew which is a program established by our school to provide guidance and interaction with new students transitioning from middle school to ensure their success. In Link Crew, I conducted team building activities with a small group of students giving them the opportunity to get to know one another. This builds trust and allows new students to adapt quickly into the high school system. Ultimately, this program increases the relationship between students and I am proud to say that I contributed to our positive school spirit. I also was involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters which is designed to give younger students who are falling through the cracks a mentor and a confidant that can relate to their experiences. Every week I went over to the middle school and met up with my ‘Little’ to help him with certain academic struggles he was going through at the time. Together, we came up with goals and strategies for the future. I was also a volunteer in my school leadership program. Over the course of 2 years I recorded over 200 hours of volunteer work. I undertook many activities such as picking up garbage on the beach or simply organizing school events such as setting up for an assembly or going door to door for 10,000 Tonight which is an annual food drive.

            Being a leader in my school has led to my open-mindedness as being an active advocate of environmental sustainability. In grade 12 I took a social justice course and instead of an exam at the end, our class had to come up with individual projects that related to an issue in our world that we could present to the class. Using my open-minded leadership skills and passion for the environment, I developed my own environmental initiative by creating a series of video journals that are focused on environmental and ecological sustainability. In the journals I focus on a particular issue that is locally and globally relevant and change my life to show that doing the little things does make a difference to reducing our environmental and ecological footprint. In one of the journals I created, I specifically tackle one of my biggest concerns: the Midway Island Crisis. I explained how the North Pacific Albatross, the world’s largest sea bird, is dying because of the increasing amount of plastic in the North Pacific Gyre, the location where all the ocean currents meet. The birds are eating the plastic, mistaking it for squid, their natural food, and regurgitating it to their young. Environmental atrocities like these are widespread throughout the world and need to be addressed.

            Through inspiration and leadership I hope to bring a sense of passion to Sustainability 101. I want to demonstrate to people that I do care and that I want to learn and make a significant difference in my local and global community. I also hope to obtain new knowledge of sustainability and gain a sense of logic that I can use to support arguments that I believe in. I am just another person who walks and talks, but I am driven, and I will actively participate in every aspect of the course and ultimately, be active in teaching and learning sustainability for the rest of my life. 

Pre-Course: Personal Definition of Sustainability (PSP)

Sustainability: A local and global idea of being able to be accountable and make logical decisions that benefit the 'genuine' wealth of society but is economically and ecologically beneficial or neutral as well. It is a strategy to be dynamic in a world that has to accommodate the environment, social justice endeavors, the economy and spiritual well-being.

Creative PSP Assignment #1 - Sonnet

14 Lines

Iambic Pentameter (10 syllables/line)

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB-CDCD-EFEF-GG

In Response to Geoffrey West's: "The Surprising Math of Cities and Corporations"

To Think About It

We are addicted to technology,

With all its awesome gadgets and gizmos.

This isn't a meaningless elegy,

A plight to the journey of the cosmos.

If we increase man-made innovation,

What will happen to our society?

What will happen to our population?

We will be praying to our deity.

When our world plunges into a collapse,

No birds singing in the trees anymore.

Won't be any time to think or relapse,

Mindless destruction, we're shutting the door.

We only have one planet, only one,

Why would we develop it 'till it's gone?

My aim with this sonnet is to address not only globalization but urbanization and commercialism. In my eyes, our world is being exploited and damaged for the benefit of a selfish and careless human race. I'm not saying all humans are selfish and careless but I am saying that selfishness exists and that it is prominent in not only the world through environmental degradation but through social justice and equity issues. I'm trying to address how people take what they have for granted and see directly through individual commodities and "mundane" items in our everyday lives instead of realizing and appreciating the complex number of geographies that go into the production, transport and sale of that individual product. We need to see the value in what we consume, and start applying the concept of sustainability to each geographical area we may end up disturbing, corrupting, tainting or utilizing.

Honestly, I look at our world and see a lot of good, and that's what should stand out but in my eyes, our society highlights the disgraceful, demeaning and ugly events and happenings. Of course this important but this constant propaganda of negativity and cruelty only inspires fear, hatred and pity in people. Is this the way we want to live? Our lifestyle reflects who we are and I want to live an optimistic life where I take nothing for granted.

123 Main StreetSportstown
British Columbia
V2A 1W3

May 16,

2011

Mr. Kleats
Basketball Coach
123 Main Street,Sportstown, British Columbia
V2A 1W3

Dear Mr. Kleats,

I am the father of Joey Joyce, one of your players on your basketball team. First of all, I would like to thank you for putting the time in to be these boys’ coach. I know that I cannot set a lot of time away from my work to be with the team so I fully appreciate your role as their coach.

Unfortunately, this does not express the meaning of this letter. As a relatively frequent attendee of your team’s games and practices, I have noticed some concerns that relate to the performance and attitude of your team.

I realize that you have other responsibilities outside of basketball, but I have noticed that you are often late for games and practices. The concern I am voicing is the fact that this doesn’t encourage integrity and responsibility in the young players. I have also noticed that practices are fairly unorganized and don’t focus on the players’ technique. I’m sure that this is just because of the lack of time to set up constructive drills. Perhaps you could find an assistant coach to help you with time management and help organize practices. This would help relieve the stress of having to rush other responsibilities you may have.

Another concern that has brought itself to my attention is the way in which you address the aspect of winning. Do you think since these kids are only grade 7 that it is important to set them up for the future with a positive outlook on not only the objective of the game, but of the fluidity of a team environment? These kids need to learn about sportsmanship and gain a healthy competitive attitude. Also, I have seen that certain members of your team play more frequently than others. As grade 7 players, it's important that they grasp the concept of integration and a humble sense of pride for their potential future athletic careers in high school. I recommend that you ask the players how they feel about sports and work to build their genuine spirit of the game by establishing all the players as equals. They all deserve a chance. 

As a father yourself, I’m sure you understand these concepts. I just wanted to let you know that these concerns need to be addressed.

I look forward to speaking with you in the future and continuing to assist you in any way I can.

Regards,

Joel Joyce    

An Illusion of Success - A Corrupt Education System

Every year, grade 12 students are embraced by post secondary opportunities. Every student waits in silent anticipation for this glorious moment for it indicates their readiness and maturation as adults in a vast world. Through rigorous academic trials, lessons on life skills and global perspective, senior students are pounded with the abilities and knowledge to thrive and prosper in the distant future.

Senior students at Princess Margaret Secondary are so well prepared for their upcoming university and college challenges they need not to pay attention in class. For many, indulgence in their doodled and drool covered papers is a vivid sanctuary of their lives to come. Everyone is just so intelligent. Give them a due date and they’ll hand in their cunning reports of having a doctor’s appointment, having to drive a younger sibling to school to make sure they excel as they have, or perhaps that they needed to finish a level on they’re latest video game to maintain the functionality of their reflex arcs. All in all, these seniors are ready. They are above trivial high school politics. They think, no, they know that the ludicrous attempts teachers make to discipline students are futile. For what do they need to be disciplined for? They obviously don’t need to be, they’re almost adults! They can take care of themselves. If they can convince liquor store clerks that they’re 19, they can convince the education system that they’re ready to graduate.

On the other hand, to test this theory is a different story. The vision of graduation is an illusion. That’s the point of school deadlines really. Fundamentally, that’s what they’re doing, creating a mirage of educational success whereas it’s actually a barren desert with absolutely nothing but cold sand blowing over the horizon. Teachers create this hallucination by creating loose deadlines where students can easily get away with not doing their work and put it away for another day. This course of action ultimately sets universities up perfectly financially and students up emotionally. Students pay thousands and thousands of dollars to further build up their ridiculous egos only to flunk out in their first semester. This process is effective because it allows graduates to see the world for what it really is in an abrupt fashion, quite like a punch to the stomach; they’re not going to forget it.

Corruption in the education system is working. Students are raised and educated inefficiently because of mainly, lack of discipline. This allows post-secondary institutions to open graduates' eyes leaving a lasting scar that will teach them a lesson. This is what young adults are emptying their wallets for, life lessons. Money well spent.

Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd


So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Pink Floyd is a highly acclaimed English band known worldwide for their "progressive and 
psychedelic" rock music. The song "Wish You Were Here", written for Pink Floyd's 1975 album "Wish You Were Here" is about Roger Waters' (one of the band's original members) uses imagery and allusion to convey his feelings of alienation from others. As expressed in the quote, "so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell, blue skies from a pain", Waters is questioning people to make them realize what their problems are and tries to stimulate them to have a good look on how they should lead their lives. In the next few lines, Waters alludes to the present war going on as he asks the question "And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?". This is significant because it refers to the "heroes" who are the soldiers who are traded into "ghosts" which means that they are being killed, but who is trading them? This question is targeted at authority or the present government since they have control over sending the soldiers into battle. The next questions in the song, "Hot ashes for trees?", "Hot air for a cool breeze?" and "Cold comfort for change?" express Waters' feelings through imagery about the industrial change in society and how the environment is being affected by human actions. This leads to the last major question of the song, "And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?". Waters not only voices the fact that people are now starting to be controlled by escalating capitalism and commercialism but foreshadows what is happening today regarding consumerism. To tie Waters' personal experience into the theme of the song, he makes reference to his relationship with his ex-wife by stating that "[they're] just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground." This quote reflects on the fact that the couple were never meant for each other and that they continually faced the same problems. The connection with this line and the next is important because of the fact that "the same old fears" symbolize the fear that Waters had surrounding the idea that at any moment the relationship would collapse. The point Waters makes is that even in innocent relationships, people are manipulated to be people who they are not. Pink Floyd will live on through their use of poetic devices and sheer talent as international icons of music and rock that affected many just as the song "Wish You Were Here" reflects on the idea that people are alienated by others and people should find out who they are by staying true to their values.   

A Domestic Conundrum

     Mrs. Wells slumped on to the couch next to her husband. "Where have you been all day?" uttered Mrs. Wells anxiously.

     "I had to stay at work a little later today," exclaimed Mr. Wells. "There is an issue with the photocopying machine so I wasn't able to send out my report."

    Mrs. Wells replied, "What was so important about having to send your report today? I've been sitting here watching your roast chicken that I so tirelessly prepared for you get cold! Not to mention thinking about whether you got yourself wrapped around a telephone pole. I know how you like to drive that new convertible."

     “I’m sorry! I…I…” stuttered Mr. Wells, “Listen, the copying machine wasn’t actually broken.”

     "What are you on about?"

     "I...I..." Mr. Wells trailed off and stared blankly at the newspaper in his hands avoiding what he had to explain.

    "What is it Bill?"

   Mr. Wells sighed, "I got laid off today. The company couldn't afford to pay my salary. This damn economic crisis has ruined me!" Mrs. Wells sat speechless and emotionless, simply stunned at her husbands words. "What did I ever do to deserve this? What did I ever do?" preached Mr. Wells. "I was a good worker!"

     "What are we going to do Bill? I don't have a job to help pay for food!" spat Mrs. Wells. "What about the electricity bills? What about our mortgage? About...about...I can't live on the street!"

     "Listen Pam, if we’re going to get through this, I need you to be on my side." Mrs. Wells grabbed her hair with both hands and started to sob. "We need to stay calm. Let's just think this through, okay?" stammered Mr. Wells.

    Mrs. Wells choked, "How can I stay calm? How can I? What are we going to do?" She trailed off and suddenly stopped crying. "I have an idea." stated Mrs. Wells suddenly. "We can leave here. Never come back. The border is only 36 miles south of us!"

     "And we can start a new life!"

     "Exactly!" answered Mrs. Wells enthusiastically. "We'll live on the beach in Guaymas!"

     "That’s a great idea! Let's pack up right now! We can leave for the bus station in an hour!"

     In the distance a sound of multiple sirens echoed and drew closer. Mr. Wells looked up from his paper which he was pretending to read. "There's one thing I forgot to say."

     "What's that?" muttered Mrs. Wells.

     Mr. Wells looked down at the floor and pulled a matte black Heckler and Koch from his waist belt and held it loosely out in front of him. "I shot my boss." Mrs. Wells stood up with a new calm demeanor and cool headedness.

     "Let's go.”

     Mr. and Mrs. Wells quietly slipped out the back door moments before the tactical enforcement team broke down the front door.