STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS OF GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

State of the Nation Address of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo during the 3rd Regular Session of the 13th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines
July 24, 2006




Some things are so much a part of our lives that we don’t even become aware of them. For instance, most of us take breathing for granted but if you study singing you will learn the mechanics of breathing so you can become a better singer. Most of us take eating for granted, until we want to improve our diet. Like breathing and eating, what is happening in our government right now is an essential part of our daily lives, so significant that we shouldn’t miss the news about our government. We need to be updated of the latest comings and goings and issues in it taking into consideration the fact our parents are paying taxes and that it is our right to know whether or not their money is in good hands or in the pockets of our corrupt government officials. We cannot deny that we just take this thing for granted, but we never comprehend that there are so many people paying taxes and if we will sum it up that is when we realize that it is a big amount of money. On the other hand, there are also people who are concerned and they take this thing critically most of these people are seen in the streets, end up shouting because, they are against certain course of action of the government particularly when it comes to proposing a certain project, especially when it comes to the talk of the corresponding budget, in which they find it not agreeable or questionable if I may say so. If you will just envisage the scenario people in the streets with their banners, red t-shirts, and with matching mascot pictured as a certain government official, hoping that their sentiments will be sent out to the government officials. One of the best examples wherein you will see lots and lots of activist in the streets is when our president will give a state of the nation address.



 Last July 24, 2006 at Plenary Hall, Batasang Pambansa, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had her state of the nation address which has the following points; First, to unveil massive spending program to jumpstart economy, second, vows to establish economic “super regions” to spur development in countryside, third, it urges amendments of the constitution, fourth, pushes peace in Mindanao to promote development there, fifth, vows to end communist insurgency, sixth, condemns spate of “political killings” of left-leaning activists, seventh, the local governments praised for role in development and lastly, achievements of Filipinos in sports and other fields cited. However, I would just like to make comments on the five comprehensive strategies that she talked about in order for us to be world class and globally competitive.

 First, make food plentiful and affordable to keep our labor cost globally competitive she cited “ Mindanao is mostly fertile and largely typhoon-free; exporting coconut products and high value crops and from its waters came 40% of the country’s fish catch.” I strongly have the same opinion that they can really produce good and high-value crops, coconuts, considering the fact that they are typhoon-free and they are pollution free. On the other side, how can our nation produce plenty of food with in fact Luzon and Visayas are prone to typhoon and how can we produce plenty and high value sea foods the fact that we have polluted seas. She must have included the strategy for proper disposal of garbage to keep away from pollution which hinders the production of plenty foods. She also cited that “ Mindanao ’s number one export, coconuts has been growing continuously for the last three years, at that rate 10% a year. The coconut farmers deserve a portion of the peace dividend.” The farmers are really worthy for that because they helped boosting our economy.

 The second strategy is to “Reduce the cost of electricity to make our factories regionally competitive. President Arroyo said that “To lower power costs we introduced the wholesale electricity spot market last month. Let’s give it a chance to work. And we would like big consumers like electronics, our number one exports to avail of lower power rates from the national power corporation. On coco-biodiesel we now have enough capacity for the proposed 1% blend just waiting to be passed into law.” Good point with regards to lowering of the power expenses. All we have to do is to support the proposed 1% blend in order for it to become a law. Our president also emphasized that we have geothermal fields in Palimpinon Negros, ethanol projects in San Carlos City and Tumbang Valley , one the biofuel is passed.” Its good to hear those things but must need proper financial support from the government in order for the said projects be developed more so that we will attain the reduction of the electricity costs, because it would be of great help for us, and that is for our own good.


 Third strategy “Modernize infrastructure at least cost to efficiently transport goods and people.” The president made mention of so many proposed projects with regards to this strategy; we have “To bring the beltway to the west we will connect the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Road to Dingalan Port through Nueva Ecija, and the Marikina-Infanta road to the port of Real.” “Connect MRT and LRT from Monument to North EDSA .” “We will build a roll-on-roll-off port system to link Lucena, Quezon to Baac, Marinduque, like the Batangas-Mindoro RORO.” “We extend LRT to Southrail to Lucena and on to Bicol, and upgrade the link between them.” “Helping our infrastructure upgrading, is the fall in bribery for public sector contracts in Metro Cebu, from 62% of companies in 2004 to 47 today.” She made mention a lot more projects with regards to the strategy. I am glad and at the same time sad, happy because at least we can minimize the traffic problems which is one of the present problems we are facing and with the RORO port system, goods will be directly transported to a certain place to avoid spoilage and to boost economy in so many barangays and towns. I am on the other hand sad because if you will trace the proposed widening of infrastructures and with the expressway projects etc. you can observe that there are residents who will be affected in the said development. I have so many questions in mind; First and foremost are there relocation sites for these affected families? Second, is there any refund of the damages that the project would cause them? These are just some of the few questions I have in mind. And that these questions must be answered for the reason that in the SONA as I go over I did not read about these things, mentioning things about the relocation sites for the families affected. I am also doubtful if we can find the money for this kind of project considering the fact that we still have so many debts from other countries.


 Fourth strategy, “Mobilize, upgrade and disseminate knowledge and technologies for productivity.” Our president mention about “Cyber Corridor will boost Telecommunications, technology and education.” “The cities of Davao , Tagum and Samal Island Garden all operate electronic government accounting systems.” “In the cyber corridor, the English and Information and communication technology skills of the Youth give them a competitive edge in call centers and other business process outsourcing.” It is worth bearing in mind that we are not behind from other countries when it comes to technologies. But unfortunately, we have heard some news about cyber sex and that is due to the boosting of technologies which some people abused and the most horrible thing is most of them are minors I cannot picture out these young women posing nude in front of the webcam, but it’s a fact. I know our president is aware of this thing but why is it that she did not mention the disadvantages of having too latest technologies. What I am trying to insinuate is that she must to open to it and that she must give importance to this. The last strategy which is to reduce red tape in all agencies to cut business costs. It is also tiring on our part because we need to get done lots of requirements and that we need to go places so that following people can sign the fact that it is tiring we need also to invest our time money and effort to this. President Gloria really urges to amend the constitution because the most prohibitive red tape is in our outmoded constitution. We need constitutional change to bring our rules of investment into the new millennium. I agree with the purpose of the amendments of the constitution I myself really would have wanted to change the constitution. But, I was not happy with how Gloria manipulated the people with regards to the signature campaign to amend the constitution. I observed last summer when I was in our province there are some local government officials somewhat threatening people to sign the said signature campaign for the constitutional amendments they said to the people that if they will not sign their Philhealth ng Masa will not be renewed. And for the people who have no enough knowledge about what they are signing they just sign for the sake of their Philhealth ng Masa to be renewed. We are a democratic country in which the law resides for the people, by the people and of the people. We must practice our right to be free and that no one will command what we will do. In conclusion the idea of the state of the Nation Address with its strategy was good but let us remember what Sir Winstan Chuchchill said “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results”. The strategies were good but we people think and perceive things in a different way and for this reason we also make comment to other people differently. Let us just say for example our president so many people don’t like her as our president because for them she is a liar that she has nothing to do with our government and to our country. There are some people who like here and believe in her capabilities as a president. If I were to choose I will not go for the two options because I am open to the imperfections of a certain individual. I know our president just like our previous presidents has lapses and weaknesses in which we must not tend to contrast each of them because they do have different ways of running our government or country. I know our President Gloria just consider that what she is doing is for the goodness of our country and we people blame her if a certain project of her is not successful nor if it has questionable financial statement it seems that we, ourselves want to run a government, we want everything to be perfectly manage which we all know very impossible. Let us take for example SONA states so many proposed projects to name some we have the road project, the RORO projects, the reduction of the costs of electricity, the update on our technologies and a lot more. I am happy for the said projects for the reason that it can help boost our economy which is our number one problem. In contrast to that, I also want that our President must open to the possibilities whether it is positive or negative if she will pursue those projects. She must have open to all the advantages and disadvantages to those projects. We can level and that people can suggest that there will be more important to those projects, because if she had given us the disadvantages we can picture out what will happen in the near future to those projects. What our president did was that; she just presents all the positive side of the projects and we all know that it is important to see the both sides of the coin so that we will be open to some possibilities, and to avoid regrets in the future.

WAG THE DOG : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

WAG THE DOG
“Political campaigns are designedly made into emotional orgies which endeavor to distract attention from the real issues involved, and they actually paralyze what slight powers of cerebration man can normally muster”. James Harvey Robinson, The Human Comedy, 1937 Cable television, Video news releases, Databases, E-mail, Fax machines, Satellites, Websites, Cellular phones, Networks, Internet. What else? Technology continues to create a multitude of new ways to send and get information. We are truly in an information age. Although many audiences still rely on newspapers and television, they are drawn to a dazzling array of faster electronic sources of information and entertainment. Wave after wave of invention invites attention, analysis, and adoption. Developments seem to appear faster than they can be mastered technology has enabled communicators to produce more efficiently and quickly, just as it has allowed users to access information faster and in greater quantities. Technology also has broadened the field for communicators. That is why News is now accessible, but is everything that we hear from News true? Do you believe in everything that you see o television? It is now your responsibility to answer these questions. I have seen the movie Wag the Dog which made me realizes that it is not that good to believe in everything that is being feed to us because all can be manipulated especially now that we are a technologically driven age. The film Wag the Dog goes that, the president of the United States has a political trouble, which is a sexual misconduct with a teenage girl. The presidents political rival, take it as an advantage that is why it was it was aired 11 days before the election. To be safe and to be sure that he will be elected again as president his press secretary who is Winifred Ames together with Conan Obream, the spin doctor created a distraction so that voters will forget about the sexual misconduct of their president and will focus to that said diversion. They think of so many diversions and they come up to have a war. The problem there is that it is very costly, and lack of worthwhile enemy. Their solution was to create a believable illusion with the help of the best producer in town Stanley Motss. They managed to convince the public, using media manipulation techniques that America is at war with Albania . The “fake war” is an instant ratings success which is now the talk of town and not the presidents alleged sexual misconduct with a teenage girl. They created a perfect war with footage of bombed-out city. The problem was the president stages a war without any consent from congress. As a result, the CIA agent Charles Young sets an appointment with the press secretary Winifred Ames and also with Conan Obrean. They thought that the CIA agent was convinced with their arguments but they were wrong instead, the CIA agent ended the “fake war” the fact that Albania has no nuclear capacity. They make another diversion they made a meaningful song and a heartbreaking hero with the help of Fad King and Johnny Dean. Nevertheless, it takes all their energy and intelligence to stay on top of the secret. Especially, when Sergean William Schumann gets into the scene, he was the guy that they thought from Special Forces but unfortunately he’s not instead he came from special prisons. William a drugged-out, psychotic, and was once raped a nun. Schumann will supposedly play as their war hero, the corporal shoe man. The film takes a harsh and unlikely turn. They need to let William take medicine for him to calm down and the worst thing is that as they were going back to their place their airplane crushed in the middle of the farthest state they luckily survived. The day after, they have nothing to do but to look for a house. When they found a house they sat down for a while watching the News on television about what is happening in their state without knowing that William was roaming around an unfortunately saw an old woman picking something in the garden he finds the old woman sexy taking into consideration that she haven’t seen women’s for quite a long time. He attempted to rape the old woman wherein he was caught by the husband and unluckily he was killed. There is no more reason to make their hero a reality, especially since he ends up dead. Furthermore, their hero was buried with the military honors and during his burial he was abided with a dog. Stanley Motss on the other hand got mad since the victory of the president was accordingly because of the Advertisement campaign but he insisted that it is not true instead he was the reason why the president won because of the line that he used to say “Do not change horses in the Midstream” that is why he was caught and was killed and said to be died in a massive heart attack. The setting of the movie was crystal clear that it happens in the United States in which they will once more elect a president. The setting speaks of what the story is all about when it comes to politics or election; imagining the scenario especially during campaign in the US though they only have two political parties the two parties will really do anything just to persuade and do everything to please everybody, and to win the trust the trust of the people, so that they will soon be installed as president. A particular film needs to have very convincing characters because they are the so called “tellers” of the story. In the film Wag the Dog they have the following competent characters:Conan Obrean- portrayed as the spin doctor working for the Presidential re-election campaign.Stanley Motss- portrayed the best producer in town who was the main manipulator of the “fake war” using media manipulation techniques.Winfred Ames- portrayed as the press secretary of the president and was also one of the people behind the diversion.Tracy Lime- portrayed as the Albanian refugee in the so called “fake war” with the white kitten.Johnny Dean- portrayed as the one who unite the saccharine war songs. They are really good when it comes to singing there voice are convincing and emotional.Fad King- portrayed as the old man singer of the war song and is has also a convincing voice as if it the song was really old.CIA agent Charles Young- he was the CIA agent who set a meeting with the press secretary and the one responsible for the ending of the diversion which is the “fake war”.Sergean William Shumann- who was supposedly their war hero, but unfortunately he came from special prisons because he raped a nun. He died at the end because he was killed by the husband of the old woman whom he attempted to rape.Old Woman- she was the one who was attempted to be raped by Shumann as she was picking something in the garden.Store Owner (Old man) – he was the one who shot Shumann for attempting to rape his wife. Their house was where the place the “Diversion manipulators” arrived after their plane crushed.Senator Neal- portrayed as the political rival of the president.Liz Butzky- portrayed as the personal assistant of Stanley Motss. President- he was the one who was actually the main character in the story because he must be re-elected after his term, but he had a trouble because he was accused to have a sexual misconduct. The characters really did a spectacular performance in the movie. I can say that they really gave their best performance. Though some of them have small roles but they did it excellently as if true to life drama. I would just like also to commend the musical director with its background music, taking into consideration the fact that it is rare for me to notice the music in a certain film, but as I am watching the movie I was totally caught by the subtle guitar background especially during the beginning. The most breathtaking or thrilling part in the movie for me was when it was aired on the television that the president has a sexual misconduct it was the most thrilling for me the reality that there are only eleven days left before the election day and that issue was published. Moreover, they really need to make diversion so that people’s attention will not fall into the sexual misconduct of their president instead to another story. That is why they make a diversion which was actually a sure hit to the masses. Though it was not a good diversion but for them, they have to do it so that it can grab hold of the attention of the people and for them it is of great help for the president. I considered the last part of the movie as the denouement when Sergean William Shumann was buried and that Stanley Motss was killed. It is the denouement for me because it marks the ending of all the falsehood and that what they were planning vanished away the plan of bringing Shumann as the war hero. It will help us become conscious that whether we like it or not everything has to end. In addition to that anything bad will not last for a long time. In the beginning of the movie there was this very comprehensive line: “Why does the dog wag its tail? Because a dog is smarter than its tail. If the tail was smarter the tail would have wag the dog. We might ask why is it that the movie is entitled “Wag the Dog”? Actually, as I go over the movie I come to realize how easy it is to whip up the American populace into an emotion using patriotism. Every event conjured up by Conan Obream such as; the “fake war”, the war hero who was Sergean William Shumann, the theme song songs which are carefully crafted to incite the populace. And the fact of the matter is that the general populace follows the media, even the tabloid kind. The “tail” symbolizes those who control the media and the “dog” which lets itself to be wagged by its own tail is represented by the American people or the public. What Wag the Dog doesn’t show, but what we should become conscious is that real life events can be staged more easily than the tricks in the movie. That is the reason why the movie is entitled “Wag the Dog”. The media portrayed in the movie was not good and I think they are not commendable to be called media. In the movie they are manipulators in which they are feeding the American populace with “false alarming news”. I do not agree with their portrayal because they are not doing there duties and obligations instead its of big twist, they put News in their hands, they are giving wrong information’s to the public and that it must not happen because they are leading their audiences to the wrong side. The real essence of being a media is not anymore their but totally gone. Wag the dog succeeds in letting us know that the media is in the business of making money, and they will report whatever sells the most. That is why we need to examine before believing or agreeing with the news being fed to us. I would just like to make a comment on the media’s conspiracy in the movie that their manipulation of the news is both convincing and scary. It makes us doubt what disturbing pieces of information are being manufactured to us to swallow or what the government was trying to keep secret from us. So we must learn to investigate what we are reading because that might seriously mislead us. We cannot deny that we have journalist whom they will keep secret or they can protect some officials because that particular official is their friend or does something good for them. A useful approach for gaining and understanding of the situation is facing at a particular time called SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats. It is important to assist the movie Wag the Dog for its SWOT analysis. If given a chance I can assist the situation describe in the situations of movie through SWOT analysis first with its Internal analysis through its strengths and weaknesses we have the following strengths in the situations of the movie: the two political rivals in the movie have good competitive skills, the media manages to convince the public with the “fake war”, the media was good upon turning out a messy situation disappear for the goodness of the election when they created a situation that will distract the public from the Presidents scandalous affair. With the weaknesses we have the following: the media have no clear “fake war” direction, they lack of managerial depth with regards to the hero man, that is why they end up having a hero from a special prison, unable to cope up with the disadvantages of having their diversion, plagued with panicky, ridiculous excuses when they met the CIA agent, no proper planning of the diversion. Let us now go to the External analysis which comprises the opportunities and threats. Here are the following Opportunities in situations of the film: ability to move to a better diversion, determining their advantages from their political rival, evaluating alternatives except diversion, consideration of a certain proven and tested diversion, setting objective to a certain diversion, getting feedback from the people what they think of the sexual misconduct with their president before making an action. Here are the following threats of the situations in the film: no enough time to have other alternatives so they had a “fake war” as their diversion, changing of the audience perception on the president’s credibility, and the political rival pressure. The solutions or alternatives I can give on the weaknesses identified are; first, having a proper management when making a big diversion because there are instances that you will not be successful because, there might be some people who are knowledgeable with regards to your diversion that is why they will of course make a comment. Second, proper identification of the advantages and the disadvantages of a certain diversion so that they can level it and that will help them whether to pursue or not to pursue the plan diversion. The three scenes in the movie that epitomizes the agenda-setting role of the media; first, we have the scene when Winifred Ames the press secretary with Conan Obren the spin doctor and with the help of Stanley Motss made a diversion which is they managed to convince the public, using media manipulation techniques, that America is at War with Albania but it was just a “fake war” I can relate it to Agenda- Setting role of the mass media because in the given situation the media people don’t tell people what to think, but what to think about. They made a diversion so that the people will think about it and not the alleged misconduct of their president. They are giving the people idea what to think. Second, scene was when the talk of the whole town was about the war and they seem to forget the sexual misconduct of their president, so with the matching NEWS on TV all about their politics. Under the Agenda- Setting theory we have the vividness of presentation and under it is a staple of contemporary television news might focus too much attention on the specific situation/individual rather an issue at hand. In the movie the media focuses all about politics and not to the more important issues about their country for instance the economy stability of their country etc. The Last but not the least scene which I can relate to the agenda-setting is when the people accepted the so called “war hero” which was William Shumann they all believe in it which was not good because according to the agenda-setting theory, people accepted the news programs implicit designation of a lead story as most news worthy, in this matter the public really believe to the “war hero” and they accepted it but they did not come to realize that it was just a mere lies. In my perception I can apply the said responsibility theory in the movie with the following reasons; first, accepting and fulfilling certain obligations to society, the media must feed the people with pure news and not with lies or bias news. In the movie it was clearly elaborated how the media works and how they twist their duties and obligations. Second, feeding information’s to the people accurately, objectively, balance and must be true. Third, the media in the movie should avoid whatever might lead them to crime, violence because of their “fake war” they are leading their audiences to the wrong tract. They must prioritize cultural pluralism; they must not focus on the elite groups and in the person of the politics. They did not mind how the people are affected with what is happening to there country. Lastly, they must preserve the democracy in the world because with what is happening they are not preserving the democracy they do not respect the right of the people especially the right to choose who is to vote they only leading the people to focus only to the one side and that the people have no more freedom to choose because their minds are already set. In conclusion, no matter how believable the news that you’ve seen on television it is still not good to believe in it, because everything now can be manipulated by technology.

MAD CITY : A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Mad City
It is worth bearing in mind the way journalists work on a daily basis. Many work under intense pressure in noisy and overcrowded conditions. Contrary to the popular image of the old Fleet Street hack, most journalist work long hours, often for only modest salaries, and are generally very dedicated. They believe that they fulfill an important role in society, and take their responsibilities toward their readers and their media very seriously.Journalism is a tough, competitive profession that attracts some highly ambitious and intelligent people. In spite of this, there is rather an odd camaraderie among journalists. This is partly because the media, and journalists is general, are so often criticized that they feed a need to stick together.Curiously, journalists are rarely praised for their work, except by their fellow professionals. They have their own rules and conventions, such as protecting there sourced, which are often not fully appreciated or understood by the outside world. Journalism is indeed a very serious job. It is a job which you neither will nor know or even idea of the time and place you will be working on, and who are the people you will be dealing with when you are going to cover news about a certain issue. No one knows about it, but for sure when there is news, there are also journalists trying to do anything just to cover the event that’s happening. A life of a journalist is very pressure, the journalist cannot turn there back if ever there is news no matter how important there appointment is if there is a very important news to be cover they have to cover it whether they like it or not. Christmas, holy weeks, occasions, holidays is not an excuse for them, as we can see on the television in the midst of Christmas for example, still journalist are working, covering how many people were injured and also died because of explosives and so on it is a part of there life to bring news to the people . If you want to become a journalist, you must think a couple of times before deciding whether to pursue that profession or not. If you will enter the media industry you will face a lot of consequences of life, but if you are a dedicated journalist you will not mind how risky your work is but you will think of the people you are serving. You as a journalist will think of the people who need the news everyday because as a public servant you must do your duties and responsibilities even if you take a risk that lie ahead of you. We cannot deny the fact that there are lots of problems our media industry are facing the major problem right now is the nonstop killing of our media men. It greatly affect the industry because of the problem there are lots of our future men right now are worried which lead them to find another career in which there life will be in good hands. Still there are lots of aspiring media men who really want to pursue there career without a doubt because they have the principle in life that if its your time God want to get you even if you are in a very safe place still you have no escape from death if its your time. Journalism has a great impact in people’s life because of journalism or media, people are now well informed and aware of what is happening in our country today not just in our country but around the globe. Sometimes we just read an article without giving a salute to the writer, because of the writer you were able to know or you were able to inform by the help of the writer.As what had observed right now many parents blamed media because according to them media influences there children with the fact I heard a song entitled “Where is the love?” that was popularized by the Black Eyed Peas there is a line there that states “Wrong information always shown by the media”, it is a challenge for the media men and for the people the what is stated in that song is not true. That media is not a bad influence, etc. Media also right now is competing for the sake of rating and fame because of those companies or networks argue to each other where there is now job? There job is to protect people but why is it happening right now?I can relate a story about journalism; the movie is entitled “ Mad City ” starring John Travolta and Dustin Hoffman. The story is all about media which I don’t like the style of the media industry who have an exaggerate attitude. Networks in the movie are competing for the sake of fame and rating. They will do everything just to persuade viewers. They really don’t care about anything or something. They don’t care whether or not they already hurt others because of what they are reporting. As if they have no conscience, because of what they report about, they make the people panic more. They just put another problem to the people. What is important for them is to have the most updated news.The story started when the two journalists namely Max Brakett and Kevin Hollander was given a task by the famous and the big network station in their country they are working. The story or the news that they are going to cover is about the airplane crush in the sea. It so happen that Kevin Hollander made the story or covered the story as if no one will survive. He’s trying to conclude that it is impossible for the people inside the plane to survive, which makes the people or the family of the victim, panic.On the other hand Max Brakett covers the story or the news truthfully, he try to let the people especially the family of the victims in the plane crush to keep calm. He’s trying to say that everything would be alright at the end that everything is under control. Until it reached at the point that the two of them, Max and Kevin were great rivals in the network ever since.After what had happened, Max decided to cover news about a museum, especially the Museum of Natural History . He will cover the reason why the museum is presently facing a financial crisis with in fact the museum has only one security guard in person of Cliff which only proves that the museum is really facing financial crisis. Supposedly there were two security guards but because the owner of the museum who is Mrs. Banks cannot afford to pay for the salary, she decided to terminate the other guard who is Sam Bailey. He becomes problematic after he was terminated because he has no income anymore and he has a family which needs money to survive. Sam Bailey talked to Mrs. Banks, the worse is that Sam brought with him a shotgun and explosives and it is so harmful to bring those things inside because there are children inside.Sam bailey brought those things with him because according to him, he wants Mrs. Banks to listen to him. He wanted Mrs. Banks to let him work again because he badly needs the money for he has a family. Fortunately, Max Brakett was still inside the museum specifically in a certain room where he was lucky because there was a telephone inside the room. Max saw what Sam was doing, that Mrs. Banks and Sam were arguing and it reached to the point that Sam closed all the windows even the doors in the museum. In which it means no one can go outside the museum at that time. Lorrie connected Max on the live coverage news on the television. It was televised and the only source of the information by the people who are watching the television was Max because Max gave details to the viewers what is happening inside the museum.On the other hand Sam still argues with Mrs. Banks. He’s trying to convince Mrs. Banks to have his work again because he has a family who depends on him. Sam did not control hid emotions, he shot the gun and unfortunately he wounded Cliff, his partner in work but he did not mean to shot him, it just so happen that he did not control his emotions. The policemen were alarmed of what had happened so they decided to go to the museum and they make sure that everything will be controlled by them. Lorrie helped Cliff and Cliff was directly run to the hospital. Sam looked at the window and outside, he saw that there was a media van. He directly opened the television and there he saw on the television that what is happening inside was covered. Max still on going, giving the people information what is happening inside. Sam went to the room where Max is and there he caught Max. He let Max out of the room. Sam was out of his mind, he argued with Max. Then, Max keeps Sam to calm down.Max manipulated everything; he proposed an agreement to Sam. Max said to Sam that everything will be alright if he will just listen to him. So, Sam did so. The story was the most talked in the country. With in fact other people make it as a business. Max interviewed Sam’s close friend and Sam’s friend claimed that he was indeed a good man. Sam has now the good name in public. But the authority still insisted that Sam violated a policy and Sam must be in imprisoned. The authority made a negotiation with Sam’s wife. They let her wife call Sam and let Sam go outside and let the children free. Max did not know about what had happened. Sam looked at the television and there he saw his wife on television. When it comes to his wife, he is very sensitive. He refused to do what his wife is asking him. The wife still keep on asking him because Sam really did not like what had happened, he went up to the window with is gun and he shot and shot. The people panicked, so Max get inside the museum and he let Sam stop what he was doing. Sam is now again bad in he eyes of the public.Kevin Hollander on the other hand, went to Madeline, because he heard about the story of max and Sam. He wanted to report the story by himself. He was really insecure of Max, he do not want that Max will over power him. Kevin offered Max a show, magazine and etc., but failed to do so.Cliff was very pity because even if he is struggling to survive but there are media men who really insist to take him a video. The media men went to the hospital wearing nurses and doctor’s attire just to interview and just to take Cliff a video. Even the window in the hospital was opened by the media men just to cover him a video photage. This made his test not well. There came a time that the media really interviewed him despite the fact that Cliff is not capable of doing so, according to the doctor, he still needs more strength.Max again manipulated everything. He interviewed Sam on television just to let the people know that he is a good man. After that, Sam told a story to the children. As he was telling a story to the children inside the museum, the FBI was very unfortunate that they did not shot Sam instead, they shot the statue inside. Sam called the FBI and scolded them because according to Sam there are children inside, they might get hurt.When Sam and Max opened the television, they saw that the media was interviewing the wife of Cliff. The wife of Cliff did cry when she was interviewed and proclaimed that her husband Cliff died. He died after his interview because of cardiac arrest. After what they had seen on the television, Sam decided to let the children and Mrs. Banks out of the museum. Max insisted not to go out yet, but Sam commanded him to do so. So Max followed him. When Max is outside and when he was trying to convince the authority not to do anything. Max heard that Sam closed everything in the museum. Max told Sam to open but the museum blasted. Max survived and Lorrie approached him, after what had happened. She interviewed Max, she changed a lot from her shy world, and she turned out to be loose. The phrase that Max answered was that “We killed Him!” That was the ending of the story Max was being surrounded by so many reporters because he is now the center of the press. He is the very good target by them because he survived in the said blast and was the person who was with Sam at Sam’s very last minute.In a particular movie it is important to have a very nice character so that the audience will focus on the movie. The important also in a movie is the star that will play the role. The movie, Mad City did a great job upon looking for the characters and also for the one who will play the role of the character. The actors and actresses tried their very best just to make the movie nice and yet very exciting.The characters in the Movie are:Max Brackett – The role of Max Brackett in the movie is that he was a journalist. He was a calm type of journalist. He take things seriously, he was indeed a great man to his audience. I can say that he was nice to his audience because he always cover certain news with sympathy and compassion. He is friendly to the public. I cannot say that he was to become famous. All he is looking forward for is that he can protect people. He is a kind hearted man. He was the focus in the story because he was able to cover news or a hostage drama inside museum. He managed to interview the subject of the drama inside the museum. He manipulated everything in the story. He instructed the suspect to make friends with the public so that the public will have good perspectives on him despite the fact that he wounded his partner. It was really not his intention to shot the victim. It just happen that he accidentally shot the gun. He was indeed a nice person. Unlike the other by the suspect did not hurt anyone. He knows how to deal with a person, unlike other journalist. Sam Bailly – He was the security guard in the museum that was terminated by Mrs. Banks because she cannot anymore afford to have two security guards. He was the man who accidentally shot Cliff, the other security guard in the museum. He was the man who talked Mrs. Banks to convince her to let him have his job again as a security guard. When he talked with Mrs. Banks, he brought with him a shotgun and explosives because he wanted her to listen to him. Cliff – The security guard who was accidentally shot by Sam Bailey, when Sam argued with Mrs. Banks. Cliff was a good man; even if he was shot by Sam he is not angry with Sam at all. Cliff died because when he was yet in the hospital media men interviewed him which is not advisable because he needed more strength. He was not yet capable of having an interview. Laurie Callahan – She was the partner of Max Brackett who was once a conservative type but at the end she changed her personality or character, she wore her hair loosely and she is an intern. She was also like other reporter. Kevin Hollander – He was the rival of Max Brackett in the media industry. He was the one whom Max argued with. He was insecure with Max because Max has the very nice story which was the story of Sam Bailey at the museum of Natural History . He is not a good anchor because when he reports he is not humane and he insinuates something that people may lead to confusion. Mrs. Banks – She was the owner of the museum of Natural History . She was the one who was interviewed by Max because of the financial crisis issue that the museum is facing. She was the one whom Sam argued with because she terminated Sam Bailey for she cannot afford to pay for Sam’s salary.Jenny – she is Sam’s wife, she was not an understanding wife towards Sam because she let Sam out of the museum, and she should not suppose to do it because she knows that her husband is so sensitive to her. Of what he had done, her husband again made another violation. Cliff’s wife – She’s irresponsible, it is because she let the media men have an interview with her husband with in fact she was advised by the doctor of Cliff that he is not capable of having an interview yet because he still needs strength, but still his wife allowed the media men to have an interview with him. Sam’s mother – She’s a loving mother towards her son who is Sam. We can see in her face when she was interviewed by Lorrie. We can see the deepest sympathy he felt for her son. Children – They were the hostages in the story, but we cannot say that they were really hostages because they were treated by the suspect who was Sam well inside the museum, with in fact we can see the faces of the children there was no mark of sadness. They already felt good and comfortable being with Sam because they were treated nicely by him. Policemen/NBI/FBI – They were making the story more complicated. They made Sam more harass. They must listen to him first before doing anything that might lead the suspect to kill the hostages inside. The setting in the story focuses inside and outside the museum, also in the hospital. The setting was well chosen. The place speaks of what the story is all about unlike other movies which usually take place in the house. It was also nice that as communication major students, we can now see our future. We can now really think of what kind of journalist us maybe in the future. I think there are no problem with the setting and so with the characters because they are all familiar to us unlike other movies that were choosing a character and setting that not everyone cannot relate. At least the Mad City movie characters and setting is familiar which all of us can relate. The most exciting and thrilling moment in the story for me is when Sam’s wife was asking him to go out from the museum and let the children out. Sam is not mentally normal as we all know and he is very sensitive when it comes to his wife. He was a friend of the public before that event happened but because he was very sensitive to his wife. It was also because he saw his wife on the television; he cannot accept it that’s why he went up in the window and kept on shooting. After, that event the public did not like him again. His bad image in public was back because of what he did. It was the most exciting because if he did not do it there is a tendency that the authority will not give him a punishment, instead they will give him freedom. The denouement in the story is that when the wife of Cliff was interviewed and she was crying at the same time proclaiming that her husband died and after that said event, Sam let the children out in the museum. He also let Max out of the museum after that he closed the museum and the explosives that he brought, he let it explode inside the museum and after that said blast, Max was the center of the issue and he was the target of the media at that time because he was the last person whom Sam talked with and after Sam lat the explosives explode inside the said museum. He knows everything about Sam, if what is the reason why Sam exploded the museum. When Max was interviewed the only phrase he answered was “We killed him!” The portrayal of Max as a journalist in the story or movie was good. It was not an easy portrayal especially when he was inside the museum, when Sam caught him that he was the one who covers what is happening inside the museum. Still Max had a great job as a journalist. He was able to deal with a person who is not mentally normal who was Sam Bailey. After a simple talk by Max Brackett to Sam Bailey, they became good friends and Sam listened to what Max will let him do so. The qualities that I like in him are the being humane, soul and ethical when reporting. He is a journalist in which many people would listen to him for he is full of gentleness. He is not just working as a journalist alone but also as a friend to many people who are in need, people who needs sympathy. He does not accept offers that will lead him to become famous and rich. He is contented of what he has for a long as he can help others. He has no bad motives when covering a certain issue just like the Museum of Natural History , hostage drama. The arguments of mass media influenced Sam Bailey greatly because, of them Sam cannot think well of what he would do. He can see on the television, different Medias with different reports. He cannot understand what is happening and the worst is that he had a mental illness; the viewers really cannot judge him actually for his mental thinking is not normal. The media’s influenced was not positive on his perception because of those influences his mind is always in doubt. If I was given a chance to become Max Brackett in the film, without any doubt I will surely do what he had done in the film. As a journalist and as a profession, I must and should take the risk because I was the one who chose to become a journalist in which I knew what are the consequences when I enter to he said profession. I’m doing my job. It is said that if there is news where it may be a journalist must be there to cover what is happening. Just like what had happen in the film when Max covered the hostage drama inside the museum, it was not easy. It was very risky on his part, he did not know who the person behind the hostage drama is but because it was his duty and obligation t, he did mind it; the important for him is he did his job as a journalist. When he manipulated everything, he was not doing it for his career, he was doing it for the goodness of Sam and for Sam’s Family and also for the people so that they will understand Sam’s situation despite the fact that he violated the law. Kevin Hollander had a different treatment on the news about Sam Bailey as a hostage taker in them movie. He was also like the other journalist in the story, they reported unethically. They just made focus in the negative side of the story. He just made Sam’s image to be bad in the public, unlike Max, he was very humane, ethical and soul. When he will report, he was more positive when reporting. If he had a chance, he will be the one to answer the questions that was thrown to Sam when Sam had a one on one interview because it might be misinterpreted by the public which will affect greatly Sam’s image to the public. The media’s impact on Cliff was not good because of the media, Cliff died early. It is because when Cliff was in the hospital, he cannot rest well because media will really find a way just to reach him. H was bothered by the media. The fact is he was struggling to be back to normal but media really affecting him greatly. Media men will disguise as a doctor or nurse just to have an interview to Cliff and that is something that ca really bother Cliff. The change of Lorrie’s personality or character was very amazing. She turn out to become a loosely hair woman from a simple Lorrie to a wild and strange Lorrie, she’s an intern. She really changed a lot not just in the way she carries her body but also the way she deal with anybody. She can now also be compared to the media in the movie. “We killed Him” was the phrase said by Max, Probably to the media after the museum collapsed because it was exploded by Sam after he had seen the television that Cliff died. Max survived to the blast and because he survived, he was the center of the media and at the same time the target of them. Hence, he was the last person whom Sam talked with and because of that he was expected to have known everything why did Sam decided to let the dynamite explode inside the museum and the worse, Sam was inside the museum. “We Killed Him phrase was indeed a true statement. It was because of the media men why Sam Bailey died. They were the reason behind the context because as we all know Sam is ignorant. Sam did not know what he's going to do after he had seen on the television the wife of Cliff proclaiming that Cliff died. The reason that lie behind the death of Cliff was because of the media of course who else. The doctor of Cliff told Cliff's wife that Cliff was not capable of having an interview but the wife still let the media interview her husband because the media was also keep on insisting to have an interview with Cliff. After the interview Cliff died because of Cardiac arrest. Just to be direct, the phrase “We Killed Him” means that the media is the main reason why Sam died. Supposedly the role of the media is to protect and conserve the people but in the movie it was very opposite I am just hoping that the movie will serve as a reflection to us aspiring media men. We are hoping that it will not happen in our country. It is a very big question mark for us aspiring media men. Mad City film was not really as terrible as it was just plain boring. The film goes on for a little under two hours, with nothing new to add to the dozens of hostage films that Hollywood has spewed out over the years. Yes, it does attempt to show us how destructive the media can be in many such situations, but then again, don't we hear about that crap on the nightly news every other evening? The umpteen shots of a "rush" of reporters/cameramen leaping onto innocent victims of news story also got boring quick I got the point of the director why he decided to come up with the very nice film as Mad City .We have to bear always in our mind what St. Ignatius of Loyola summarized perfectly in his first Principle and Foundation that: “Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul. The other things on the face of the earth are created for man to help him in attaining the end for which he is created. Hence, man is to make use of them in as far as they help him in the attainment of his end, and he must rid himself of them in as far as they prove a hindrance to him”...

Message to All...

MY MESSAGE TO ALL:

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough and know
better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate.

Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr/Mrs Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won. Only a price to be paid for some
of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions and be the best of what
you can be. Simplify your life. Take away the clutter. Get rid of
destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous
liaisons. Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on
duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you. You
light up your life. You drive yourself to your destination. No one
completes you - except YOU.

It is true that life does not get easier with age. It only gets more
challenging. Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love. Pursue
your passions.

Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in your God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!


Myspace Emo Comments

ALL ABOUT ME!!!

NAME: JOHN NAYVE SALAMANCA
HEIGHT: 5'11






A )ccepts you as you are
( B )elieves in "you"
( C )alls you just to say "HI"
( D )oesn't give up on you
( E )nvisions the whole of you
( F )orgives your mistakes
( G )ives unconditionally
( H )elps you
( I )nvites you over
( J )ust "be" with you
( K )eeps you close at heart
( L )oves you for who you are
( M )akes a difference in your life
( N )ever Judges
( O )ffers support
( P )icks you up
( Q )uiets your fears
( R )aises your spirits
( S )ays nice things about you
( T )ells you the truth when you need to hear it
( U )nderstands you
( V )alues you
( W )alks beside you
( X )- plain things you don't understand
( Y )ells when you won't listen and....
( Z )aps you back to reality...

Jonathan Livingston Seagull---My NOVEL REVIEW

Jonathan Livingston Seagull a novel written by Richard Bach

Introduction:

“The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose”

-Rick Warren, The Purpose of Driven Life

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is a story of knowing one’s purpose because there’s nothing more important in this world than knowing one’s purpose. Every activity is motivated by a purpose, every action is prompted by a stimulant or anything that provokes it. Such is the law of nature and it applies not only to the rest of the cosmic world but to man him self. Sadly many of us do not know what we are here for. We go around in circles but we don’t seem to cover the ground. We lived in this fast-paced world hurrying and scurrying about like little children lost in a spinning merry-go-round. We must remember that life here on earth is not forever. We are just passing through; our life is only temporary. The simplest we can say about one’s purpose here on earth is to live life to the fullest, doing good things that lead us astray.

We must not stop believing, learning, dreaming and of course the most important we will have to survive. We must enjoy our life here on earth because this will only come once in our life. Once we are through we cannot absolutely come back. We must see to it that at this very moment of our life we already know what is our purpose in life because, “Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty and pointless.”

A “terrific “ story Jonathan Livingston Seagull was. It was basically, an animal fantasy story of a seagull named Jonathan Livingston who loved to fly. It all started when Jonathan always isolated by himself far out of the sea hungry, happy, but learning. He was not accepted in his flock. His flock always mock at him for he is bone and feathers especially his concern mother who always kept on reminding him to eat rather than flying. He was then outcast from the flock for his reckless irresponsibility because he always find reason to life, lift himself out of ignorance and find himself as creature of excellence, intelligence, and skill. He wanted to share his learning to his fellow seagulls but he failed because his fellow seagulls ignored him. Until one time he reached the green sky planet and he found out that there are other seagulls that are also outcast just like him. He initiated leadership among these seagulls. He confirmed himself as their teacher and taught them techniques how to fly at higher speed. He also taught them other means of getting food not only on the sea but also in land. He was happy at that time because, at last he was then finally feel that he was not just only seagull who wants to fly at a very high speed.

His enthusiasm increased as he continued his teaching and he is more optimistic to go back to earth regardless of the seagull law that stated that “Once you are outcast you were never allowed to return” this law was not yet been broken once ten thousand years. Then he led the flock back to earth. Which means he broke the law. Then he had begun his critique of the flight, but the flocks seemed confused and wondered why they returned. But the younger gulls wondered how they learned to fly like that. They became interested to fly with a very high speed. The number of students who wanted to fly increased and Jonathan considered it as a self-fulfillment to earn more students who he wanted to share his abilities and learning. He left from earth but after going to another place he created a new instructor in the person of his successful student named Fletcher Llynd, same values, abilities and learning’s were transmitted to the student of the new instructor Fletcher Llynd. And Fletcher had made it. He already had a new flock, a flock of determined gulls.

It was clearly stated in the story that, it happened in the sea, the earthly blue sky, the planet with green sky, and so with in land and higher cliffs. The setting was seemed so very confusing because of the switching of the place. I enjoy reading the story because, of the way the author describes the setting. Even if it was very confusing but if you will just really read and comprehend it very will you will absolutely enjoy and internalize the story.

The story can never be meaningful and extra ordinary if there is no nice characters who give life in the story. How nice the author presented the characters and the most interesting is that he represents seagulls as the characters, which is very amazing, and very interesting to tackle. The story Jonathan Livingston Seagull had these following characters namely;

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

He was the main character in the story, he was a seagull, a type of seagull who loves flying. He was an adventurer, learner, and determined but he was disobedient towards his family. I like his attitude but he must also listen to the opinion of his family. It is a way also. He was the gull who was looking for heaven and found out that heaven is not a place and time but heaven is perfection. He was the gull who was become the instructor and the one who give the idea of truth being a son of a great gull. Each individual have an unlimited idea of freedom and precision flying is a step towards expressing their real nature according to him everything that limits them they have to put a sight.

Mother of Jonathan

She was a loving and concern mother of Jonathan who convince Jonathan to deal with the rest of the flock and eat instead of learning because her sons image who is Jonathan appears to be bone and feathers. She is not a supportive mother to Jonathan. She used to scold Jonathan because Jonathan disobeyed her. Even though she was not supportive she was just doing his part as a mother.

Father of Jonathan

He was a kind father and he was also concerned to Jonathan. He always kept on reminding Jonathan that “Jonathan study food and how to get it instead of flying.”

Elder Seagull

Not kind, and a very strict kind of leader. He was the one who let Jonathan stand at the center of the flock for shamed in sight of his fellow seagulls because of Jonathan’s reckless irresponsibility, violating the dignity and tradition of the gull family. And said that Jonathan will learn out from that irresponsibility, that life is the unknown and unknowable, except that they are put in this world to eat, to stay alive as long as they possibly can. He was indeed not a good leader to the flock because if you are a good leader you must not discourage your members, instead you must encourage them in order for them to develop. He did not listen to Jonathan’s opinion.

The gulls

They were the two gulls who appeared as Jonathan was gliding peacefully and alone through his beloved sky. They were gentle and friendly and initiated the ability and capability of Jonathan. The two of them told Jonathan that they were there to take him home.

Sullivan

A companion and instructor who told Jonathan that he learned so much at one time for Jonathan is a fast learner. He always encouraged Jonathan to try and try again until he succeeds. He was a good instructor indeed!

Chiang

The one who brought Jonathan to the planet with green sky he gave the idea of heaven to Jonathan and said to Jonathan “Since you are a great flyer you will begin to touch heaven in the moment you will touch perfect speed. Without giving any number because any number is a limit and perfection doesn’t have limits.” He served as the second instructor of Jonathan. He said to Jonathan to forget about faith, because, Jonathan didn’t need faith to fly, instead he needed to understand flying. He was nice to Jonathan and he serves as the idol of Jonathan. He also served as the model to Jonathan upon attaining Jonathan’s dream.

Fletcher Llynd Seagull

He was a determined and open-minded seagull just like Jonathan, and he was the first student of Jonathan Livingston and eventually, become a plight instructor of Jonathan. Jonathan introduced to him the truth behind the idea of being the son of the great seagull who has an unlimited idea of freedom. Moreover, Jonathan said to him that flying is a step towards expressing their real nature. He was the one who had been the new instructor. He was then formed a new flock as Jonathan said goodbye to him. He taught his members, as the way Jonathan teaches him. He implies same values.

Henry Calvin Gull

The one who hesitate to go back to earth, because, they were not welcome. They were outcast. He said that they couldn’t force themselves to go where they were not welcome.

Martin Gull

The gull who appreciates the way Jonathan and his companions fly. A young seagull, who Jonathan had shouted across the sky and convinced him to fly. He started to fly with a low speed. He was also a determined gull.

Charles Roland Gull

A student of Jonathan flew the great mountain wind to 24 thousand feet. He was amazed and happy and still determined to fly higher. He loves the way Jonathan teaches him for Jonathan was a great instructor to him.

Kirk Maynard Gull

A cute little gull, whom collapsed at Jonathan’s feet and ask for help for help. He begged Jonathan to teach him to fly more than anything else in the world and he complained that he can’t spread his wings because he is that young. He was the one wherein Jonathan said that he have the freedom to be himself true to himself and can stand to his own way.

The most exciting part in the story was when the Elder’s let Jonathan stand in front of the flock. Standing in front or at the center meant only great shame or great honor. Jonathan explained that he do not want honors, he told them that he do not wish to become a leader he said to them that all he wants is to share what he had found, he want to show horizons out ahead for the gulls. So, the elder commanded Jonathan to stand at the center for shame in the sight of his fellow gulls. Jonathan at that very moment felt being hit with a board, his knees went weak, his feathers sagged, there was roaring in his ears.

Suddenly a solemn voice intoned and let the flock knows that because of Jonathan’s reckless irresponsibility and because he violates the dignity and tradition of the gull family. Being at the center for shame meant that he would be cast out of the gull society, he would be banished to a solitary life in the far cliffs. Jonathan cried because for him he was not irresponsible, all he is trying to say that his purpose is to find the meaning of life. This part of the story was really a very exciting. Because as we all know being outcast is hard, you will be alone and you have nothing to be with but Jonathan did not find it difficult instead he takes it as a challenge he was able to discover a lot of things. He discovered also that boredom and fear so with anger are the reasons why gulls life is so short. Jonathan lived a long life indeed because, he was not boring kind of seagull.

The denouement in the story Jonathan Livingston Seagull was when he returns to earth with proud. Together with his companions, they are finally ready to face the flock, he was finally being able to reached his ambition in life and proved to the flock that it is not eating that matters but also flying. Even though he was outcast it was not a hindrance for him in attaining his dreams in life. And the young gull appreciates the way they fly, and they were determined to fly just like the way Jonathan and his companions fly. And so they ask Jonathan to teach them that way of flying.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull’s determination to fly was indeed not an easy decision to make. His determination led him to face many consequences in his life. He was outcast by his family because, his family does not like the way he acted because Jonathan just keep on flying and practicing without eating. His family was worried because he was already bone and feathers. His flock doesn’t like him also because Jonathan was irresponsible, he violates the dignity and tradition of the gull family his flock sees him as ambitious. His flock sees him also as a gull that wants to become a leader. They feel that Jonathan wants to be the highest. A gull who wants to be the best among the rest of the flock those are the perspectives of the other gulls to him. But the flock was wrong because Jonathan just wants to prove to them that they are not limited, a seagull is not limited. Jonathan’s determination to fly led him to great struggle because of his ambition to fly, most of his loved one’s disowned him. If I was in his case I will also do the same, because, I know very well that we are all looking forward for the goodness of ourselves. I will not care what other people would say about me because I know myself well I know what is right or wrong for me. All I am trying to do is just to prove that what they are saying was wrong I will just consider them as a part nor a trial or obstacle upon attaining my ambition in life.

In my own opinion Jonathan Livingston’s flock is a boring type of flock in the sense that they are just in the same place everyday they are not interested to go in other places. They are easy go lucky not looking forward to their future. Not even knowing what will come tomorrow, or the next day. There daily routine are just the same. They are really boring, and being boring will lead them to have a shorter life. They are equipped for versatility rather than specialization. Because, their wings are good for soaring as well as for strong and agile powered flight, for them cannot use air currents as efficiently as albatrosses or fly as fast as falcons. The foraging of gulls is fishing. Those are the things they usually do. They stick there self in other one place. They limit their capacity to their beliefs. They are contented of what they are they don’t have any time to discover things. They are pessimistic individuals. They are afraid of a change that is why they are not interested to learn they are contented in their ordinary ways of living.

I can relate their attitude in my life because, as we all know we are only humans we also have our weaknesses in life. I have this weakness in life, which I am trying to overcome, and that is being a negative thinker. I am afraid every time I had something to do just like for example; joining a certain competition I always think that I cannot win. I also think that “What if I will be rejected? What if I will forget my piece? What if I will forget my steps?” Those are only few of the questions my mind always keeps on asking which I know it is not good. I can also relate my attitudes to them, because most of the time I limit my capacity of learning. And now I realize that is not good we do need to develop fully. We need to have time to develop our self we must not be pessimistic individuals. Because being pessimistic, it will not help us to grow. We must satisfy our desires in life.

The best way to deal with them is to let them know and let them understand what on earth we are here for and that is because of we are here struggling for the better and not for worst. We must see to it that what we need we must get it. We must not limit our capacity upon learning we must be satisfied with our lives.

If I were Jonathan Livingston Seagull maybe I will also leave my family in the search for the fulfillment of my dreams, even though they are the one who had been a part of my life it is not the reason why I will always stay with them. I need also to be with my own, I need to search also for the fulfillment of my dreams. Because, it is a fact that sooner or later our family will be no longer with us so the early the better to practice being with our own we must practice ourselves because we cannot do anything with our lives if we will always depend in them. The better the family can give to me is their support of what I am doing because this is for my future, this is my dream and I need to fulfill or reach that dream of mine in order for me to have a better and yet brighter future.

When I read the story, something I realized the concept of freedom to learn and the search for one self. It talked about life of human being as a whole. Our struggles in order to survive, and purpose. It makes me asked the same question I heard sometime ago, “What on earth am I here for?”

Freedom is used to be unlimited. Jonathan Seagull symbolizes human being. Human freedom can be observed to the various activities of one’s life. It is present to the extent that a person takes control of his life, makes decisions and lives that life in a way that he has chosen. Human freedom refers to the mere absence of restrictions. Jonathan Seagull is some kind of a man who is not controlled by family, society and nature. He takes advantage of this opportunity given him to fly and actively determines his life that freedom is present.

The story talks about freedom. It makes me contemplate that freedom is a precious thing to be able to live as free individual. What is the ultimate purpose of freedom? The ultimate purpose of freedom is ultimately to satisfy my desires. Freedom is equated to responsibility. There was something that man was meant to achieve through his freedom, a fullness of human life.

Human freedom enables me to become myself. Through freedom I choose my values, those things that are really important for me, and I center my life on those values. Freedom is the primary factor for me to choose my basic goals and organize my energies to work toward those goals. Like all other people, I may come out into a mature decision for my career or work to fulfill my life. Freedom pushes me toward the basic meaning. The meaning of life will depend on man’s decision.

Another purpose of human freedom is meant to function in human’s life is the choice of one’s attitudes. With my freedom I am able to decide how I will face the selection that I am in. I can’t ignore the power that I am in for my attitudes. Like for instance, I can choose to give is to discouragement or I can choose to live with hope. I can choose to accept my situation as a wonderful opportunity or I can choose to regret it and hate it. I can choose to live my life as a gift and to be grateful for it or I can choose to see my life as a curse and punishment. In million different ways I am able to decide how I will respond to life because I choose my basic attitudes. Although as an individual I have little control of the major events of human history, I still have the efforts to avoid failure in my life I am able to choose how I will face those failures that arises. I can either choose to collapsed and give up or I can choose to be hopeful, to struggle on and to overcome failure like Jonathan Livingston did.

In other perspectives freedom describes this possibility of freedom as the "Power of positive thinking”. It urges us to adopt a positive rather than a negative attitude toward the situations that we are in. Instead of concentrating on the bad things that we meet in life we are to look at the possibilities that the situation offers us to assert ourselves and grow. Any difficult situation is a challenge and test for us, moment that gives us the opportunity to be brave to be wise and to be love. By thus, looking at life positively and controlling the attitude we take toward a situation that arises, we control that situation.

I learned also from the story that a person must not stay rooted to one spot. We need to go out from there and look for our life, look for our future because we cannot do anything with our lives if we will treat our self as what we are right now, we will absolutely remain as what we are. So, we must be like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, who is not tired and who treated his self as an individual who is not limited. Because as we all know a seagull is a low flying bird and for them what matters most is not flying but eating but for him it is not true. He really tried his very best to reach that ambition without shame, he didn’t mind if he is bone and feathers but what he is trying to prove is that a seagull can also fly-high. And fortunately he proved it to other gulls. I like the way Jonathan treated him self. I am trying also to be like him for it is good to become ambitious you will really try your very best to reach that ambition. You will really aim high to hit the mark.

To be perfectly honest, it’s pretty demanding to come up with new ideas to feed readers all the time. This is also my attitude I am a type of reader who is very demanding. I want the author to present the story like this and like that and so on… but as I read the story Jonathan Livingston Seagull I am glad because my demands in reading are all present in the book. I had fun reading the book. And so if I will be given a chance to rate the story with the scale of 1-10 with 1 is the lowest and 10 is the highest I will choose the highest rate which is 10. I chose 10 because the story was extraordinary. I considered the story as one of the best stories I had read, because it talks about life. The story was very meaningful. After I had read the story I learned so many things about life. That I must be true to myself, I must follow what I think right for me. I must not care what other people will say about me because I know what is right and what is wrong for me. The story was really nice no exact word I can best describe to the story for it was absolutely meaningful and yet extraordinary. You will really appreciate the way the author presented the story. The author was really true that the real Jonathan Livingston Seagull lives within us!

In life it is really very important to live freely because it is everyone’s right. It is important to be free but we have also to face many consequences if ever we will not be going to the right path. So, we have to think couple of time before we will decide whether to pursue or not. Because it is really true that regrets is too late. In this world it is a fact that we will learn a lesson from our faults. It is not late yet, if you think it is good for you then go…if not, then don’t pursue. Take time…


I INSERTED A VIDEO, A tribute song to the NOVEL...