Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is one of the most significant works of literature in history. This relatively short pamphlet was one of the greatest arguments for the independence of the American colonies from British control. It inspired a revolution over three hundred years ago in the East. Now it is about to inspire a revolution in the Gweeblet Kingdom.
In Common Sense, Paine explains the evil nature of monarchy in the simplest wording of the time period. He says that while society is a blessing, government is a necessary evil. In an absolute monarchy, the thirst for absolute power is a natural disease. The most natural form of government is one that is entirely under the control of the people. Paine says, “However prejudice may warp our wills, the simple voice of reason will say it is right.”
Paine provided a strong argument for democracy, and pointed out the flaws of the British government. He also provided a structure for a successful representative democracy with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one person from having too much control.
In For the Gweeblets, my tale of a dystopian society set in the middle ages, a man (ironically named Paine) will create a book similar to Common Sense. He will reveal the evils of the omnipotent King, but at the price of his life. During his execution, a small child will recover the book, unaware of its treasonous contents.
The King, who has already proven ruthless and efficient, will stop at nothing to recover the novel and destroy it. As the book is passed amongst members of the community, the perspective will change, and the story will be told from their point of view. As the book is passed along, the knowledge within will spread like an infection, infuriating the King of the Gweeblets. His actions become frantic and irrational, strengthening the desire for independence. Even the growing demand for independence is not enough to defeat the mighty King and the brainwashed society. Soldiers will be on high alert. Spies will infiltrate into the highest ranks of the revolution. Punishment will become a daily occurrence.
Although resistance seems futile, there is a small sliver of hope that lies within the power of the written word. Perhaps one book can change history.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Week 6 Comments
To Ms. Kennett:
I like your plan to have the hermit return home and realize it is what she has been searching for the whole time. I think this will send a great message to the children. In the story, are you planning on referencing the other novels you mentioned, or are you going to make allusions to them without a direct reference?
To Chris:
It seems you have planned your story very well so far Chris. I look forward to reading the final version. The Librarium seems to be a lot like the government in 1984. I definitely recommend 1984 to you for more research, as the Wings of Justice serves a very similar function to the Thought Police.
To Tucker:
I liked the video you linked to the post. I also thought your comparison between the Garden and a house of worship was awesome. You did a great job of showing how passionate you are for our team. Good post Tucker!
To Tyler:
I know the cause for all this anger you have built up. Cam Thissel and I have constructed a voodoo doll with locks of your hair. Every Tuesday, during our study, we insert a needle into the anger part of your voodoo doll head. By the properties of science, you get angrier every week. In all seriousness though, I can relate with you. The stress that seniors accumulate is crazy. You should see me when I'm driving, I get furious if someone goes any less than five over the speed limit. So most of my anger is directed to elders that probably don't deserve it.
To I agree that music is simply awesome. I enjoy almost all types of music with few exceptions. (country being the only type I can't stand)I think that even today's music has a lot to teach and inspire, but sometimes it is more difficult to find under the image that most artists hide behind. Being a musician, I really enjoy hearing that people appreciate the art and can relate to music. I also liked that one song was able to change your entire life. That is the kind of effect that I love seeing come out of music.
Responses:
My kingdom is going to be low-tech, even before the printing press. I plan on having one copy of a book known as "The Truth" being passed among the major characters of the story. Perhaps the greatest victory in the story will be creating more copies of "The Truth" and spreading its influence. The King will ruthlessly pursue this book to prevent an uprising. I think instead of technology, I am going to use elements of magic to control the citizens.
Oh yes Tucker, there will be exile...
I like your plan to have the hermit return home and realize it is what she has been searching for the whole time. I think this will send a great message to the children. In the story, are you planning on referencing the other novels you mentioned, or are you going to make allusions to them without a direct reference?
To Chris:
It seems you have planned your story very well so far Chris. I look forward to reading the final version. The Librarium seems to be a lot like the government in 1984. I definitely recommend 1984 to you for more research, as the Wings of Justice serves a very similar function to the Thought Police.
To Tucker:
I liked the video you linked to the post. I also thought your comparison between the Garden and a house of worship was awesome. You did a great job of showing how passionate you are for our team. Good post Tucker!
To Tyler:
I know the cause for all this anger you have built up. Cam Thissel and I have constructed a voodoo doll with locks of your hair. Every Tuesday, during our study, we insert a needle into the anger part of your voodoo doll head. By the properties of science, you get angrier every week. In all seriousness though, I can relate with you. The stress that seniors accumulate is crazy. You should see me when I'm driving, I get furious if someone goes any less than five over the speed limit. So most of my anger is directed to elders that probably don't deserve it.
To I agree that music is simply awesome. I enjoy almost all types of music with few exceptions. (country being the only type I can't stand)I think that even today's music has a lot to teach and inspire, but sometimes it is more difficult to find under the image that most artists hide behind. Being a musician, I really enjoy hearing that people appreciate the art and can relate to music. I also liked that one song was able to change your entire life. That is the kind of effect that I love seeing come out of music.
Responses:
My kingdom is going to be low-tech, even before the printing press. I plan on having one copy of a book known as "The Truth" being passed among the major characters of the story. Perhaps the greatest victory in the story will be creating more copies of "The Truth" and spreading its influence. The King will ruthlessly pursue this book to prevent an uprising. I think instead of technology, I am going to use elements of magic to control the citizens.
Oh yes Tucker, there will be exile...
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Land of the Gweeblets: Prologue
No one is aware of the date in the Kingdom. The Great King has ruled for somewhere between forty five and fifty years. His father, King Gwenitine VII, reigned over the Gweeblets before him. Before VII, came VI, then V, and so on. No one can remember a time when they weren’t under the control of the Gwenitine family. All knowledge of the past was destroyed as far back as Gwenitine III. The original language of the Gweeblets, an elegant and descriptive dialect, was replaced with the Gwentinese under the rule of IV.
The Gwentinese language is very basic. It was created for the sake of communicating ideas in their simplest form: most thoughts are single words. There are no descriptive words. From a young age, the Gweeblets are taught only to serve the King. They have been programmed to fear the world outside of the Kingdom beyond rationality.
Each member of society serves one specific function and nothing more. They wear color coordinated jumpsuits that represent this function. Each Gweeblet is given a number at birth that will represent them for the rest of their lives. Although they may respond to names given by their parents, these names will mean nothing to the government. The number is each Gweeblets’ official name. This number will be significant in many ways, but it is most important in the raffle. This raffle enlists young Gweeblets into the King’s personal army, selects annual Birthgivers, and “rewards” a few lucky families each year.
Every Gweeblet serves a specific purpose, but each purpose serves a common goal; to benefit the King. Men are workers. They provide the labor in exchange for Duplings, the only currency in the Kingdom. The only place that accepts Duplings is the market. All the profits from the market go directly to the King. Therefore, the King gains from both the labor and the spending of pay. Women are Birthgivers. They have children when they are told to. After the child is born, the King chooses the fate of the child. He may allow the family to raise the child, a great privilege, or he may sell them to a far off kingdom.
Starvation is a huge problem in the Kingdom, as the King sells the majority of the food to the outside world. He pays workers too little to afford the overpriced market food. Thievery is strictly prohibited, resulting in immediate exile to the outside world. This is the average Gweeblet’s greatest fear. The King has numerous ways of watching for crime, and his punishments are extremely strict. No Gweeblet has ever gone unpunished for a misdemeanor. Perhaps none will.
The Gwentinese language is very basic. It was created for the sake of communicating ideas in their simplest form: most thoughts are single words. There are no descriptive words. From a young age, the Gweeblets are taught only to serve the King. They have been programmed to fear the world outside of the Kingdom beyond rationality.
Each member of society serves one specific function and nothing more. They wear color coordinated jumpsuits that represent this function. Each Gweeblet is given a number at birth that will represent them for the rest of their lives. Although they may respond to names given by their parents, these names will mean nothing to the government. The number is each Gweeblets’ official name. This number will be significant in many ways, but it is most important in the raffle. This raffle enlists young Gweeblets into the King’s personal army, selects annual Birthgivers, and “rewards” a few lucky families each year.
Every Gweeblet serves a specific purpose, but each purpose serves a common goal; to benefit the King. Men are workers. They provide the labor in exchange for Duplings, the only currency in the Kingdom. The only place that accepts Duplings is the market. All the profits from the market go directly to the King. Therefore, the King gains from both the labor and the spending of pay. Women are Birthgivers. They have children when they are told to. After the child is born, the King chooses the fate of the child. He may allow the family to raise the child, a great privilege, or he may sell them to a far off kingdom.
Starvation is a huge problem in the Kingdom, as the King sells the majority of the food to the outside world. He pays workers too little to afford the overpriced market food. Thievery is strictly prohibited, resulting in immediate exile to the outside world. This is the average Gweeblet’s greatest fear. The King has numerous ways of watching for crime, and his punishments are extremely strict. No Gweeblet has ever gone unpunished for a misdemeanor. Perhaps none will.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Week 5 Comments
Responses:
To Will: Yeah Will that would be awesome and yes I jam with the entire band every day at school. I will turn to my right and talk to you about it.
To Tucker: I totally agree with you Tucker I think when you are passionate about something and practice a lot, it is the best feeling in the world to do it for real. All the practice pays off for those moments.
Kailey: I'm not really sure how exactly I was inspired, I just have been doing it for years and have just loved doing it the entire time.
Mr. Stanton: Thank you for your input I wil definitely consider that when I send this to colleges.
Comments:
To Chris: I really liked your belief about looking past the rough edges in people. Overall, you did a good job writing and reading. I definitely feel sympathy for your uncle and I agree that no one should have to go through what he does. You did a good job of making the reader feel sympathetic. Great post!
To Nate:That was very moving Nate. You did a very good job expressing the feelings you felt during that difficult period in your life. You also read at a very good pace and recorded your voice flawlessly. Great job!
To Cody: Cody, that was a great post. You did an excellent job describing the scene of you as a child in tears. You also showed how strongly you care about earning your education. I think colleges will really look for this in a student. Were you punished for cheating, or was getting caught enough punishment in itself?
To Chandler: You did a great job reading and writing this. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so sorry for what you have had to endure, but I am glad that you have been able to learn from these experiences and become a better person in spite of them. I liked the way you ended each paragraph in a way that made the reader want to keep reading. Awesome job!
To Tucker: I agree this post is like woaaah. I completely agree with you that exercise is very important to success. As a musician, I know that routine and practice are things that can improve your technique and skill. This goes for all sports, hobbies, and activities. I liked that you mentioned many successful figures and their daily workout routines to show the importance of working out. This was a very well written essay, but I think you could have done a better job recording it. I ended up having to record mine a few times. Practice makes perfect, right?
To Will: Yeah Will that would be awesome and yes I jam with the entire band every day at school. I will turn to my right and talk to you about it.
To Tucker: I totally agree with you Tucker I think when you are passionate about something and practice a lot, it is the best feeling in the world to do it for real. All the practice pays off for those moments.
Kailey: I'm not really sure how exactly I was inspired, I just have been doing it for years and have just loved doing it the entire time.
Mr. Stanton: Thank you for your input I wil definitely consider that when I send this to colleges.
Comments:
To Chris: I really liked your belief about looking past the rough edges in people. Overall, you did a good job writing and reading. I definitely feel sympathy for your uncle and I agree that no one should have to go through what he does. You did a good job of making the reader feel sympathetic. Great post!
To Nate:That was very moving Nate. You did a very good job expressing the feelings you felt during that difficult period in your life. You also read at a very good pace and recorded your voice flawlessly. Great job!
To Cody: Cody, that was a great post. You did an excellent job describing the scene of you as a child in tears. You also showed how strongly you care about earning your education. I think colleges will really look for this in a student. Were you punished for cheating, or was getting caught enough punishment in itself?
To Chandler: You did a great job reading and writing this. I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so sorry for what you have had to endure, but I am glad that you have been able to learn from these experiences and become a better person in spite of them. I liked the way you ended each paragraph in a way that made the reader want to keep reading. Awesome job!
To Tucker: I agree this post is like woaaah. I completely agree with you that exercise is very important to success. As a musician, I know that routine and practice are things that can improve your technique and skill. This goes for all sports, hobbies, and activities. I liked that you mentioned many successful figures and their daily workout routines to show the importance of working out. This was a very well written essay, but I think you could have done a better job recording it. I ended up having to record mine a few times. Practice makes perfect, right?
Thursday, October 6, 2011
1984 Influences the Gweeblet Kingdom
In the George Orwell’s chilling novel 1984, he shows the overwhelming power of a socialist government. Big Brother watches over the streets observing all his citizens. Anyone who holds any resentment toward the government is certain to vanish without a trace. Any knowledge of their existence is annihilated with them. The government forces the people to live in ignorance. They have no knowledge of the past, but are certain that it was worse than the present. The language is eliminated and replaced with a much simpler one. Everyone loves Big Brother. Anyone who doesn’t is a threat to peace. Perhaps the most terrifying thing of all is the danger of the Thought Police, who can read the minds of anyone suspected of thoughtcrime.
This novel has given me several great ideas about the government I am creating in my children’s story For the Gweeblets. I wanted to create a dystopian government similar to what I had heard about this book. Unfortunately, I had not actually read it. When 1984 became my reading assignment, I was excited to finally read it. The book has already inspired my government in several different ways. I want the Gweeblets to be ignorant of the rest of the world. They know nothing about the outside world. In fact, they fear it. The government will threaten to exile anyone who desires to commit treason. This will be the greatest of fears for any of the Gweeblets.
The Gweeblet Kingdom will be ruled by a king. This is not going to be fascism or a monarchy. It will be a socialist government just like in Orwell’s novel. The king will simply be a representation of this government, just like Big Brother. Overall the people will be happy even though they are starving. They will all work and have responsibilities, but only the king receive the rewards. The people will be paid with a currency that can only be used at stores owned by the king. Similar situations really occurred during the industrial ages, but my make-believe kingdom is going to take place during the middle ages.
Similarly to 1984, my Kingdom is going to have the same theme “Big Brother is watching.” The king will have many ways of discovering treason in his kingdom, and the consequences will be dire. (Not too dire as this is a children’s book)
I am unsure of the fate for my main family right now. I may have them lead an uprising, or they may learn there is no way to face the government. The people may realize the evils of their government and resist, or perhaps they will remain ignorant. Right now, I will not decide.
This novel has given me several great ideas about the government I am creating in my children’s story For the Gweeblets. I wanted to create a dystopian government similar to what I had heard about this book. Unfortunately, I had not actually read it. When 1984 became my reading assignment, I was excited to finally read it. The book has already inspired my government in several different ways. I want the Gweeblets to be ignorant of the rest of the world. They know nothing about the outside world. In fact, they fear it. The government will threaten to exile anyone who desires to commit treason. This will be the greatest of fears for any of the Gweeblets.
The Gweeblet Kingdom will be ruled by a king. This is not going to be fascism or a monarchy. It will be a socialist government just like in Orwell’s novel. The king will simply be a representation of this government, just like Big Brother. Overall the people will be happy even though they are starving. They will all work and have responsibilities, but only the king receive the rewards. The people will be paid with a currency that can only be used at stores owned by the king. Similar situations really occurred during the industrial ages, but my make-believe kingdom is going to take place during the middle ages.
Similarly to 1984, my Kingdom is going to have the same theme “Big Brother is watching.” The king will have many ways of discovering treason in his kingdom, and the consequences will be dire. (Not too dire as this is a children’s book)
I am unsure of the fate for my main family right now. I may have them lead an uprising, or they may learn there is no way to face the government. The people may realize the evils of their government and resist, or perhaps they will remain ignorant. Right now, I will not decide.
I Believe Life is An Improvised Solo
This is the moment I live for. It is my purpose. It is the single reason why blood flows through my veins. In this moment, everything feels right. When I am assembled with a group of talented musicians I know my purpose. We all feel this sense of belonging, and together, we share it. We have become a single expression united by a rhythm and harmony.
Our feet rise and fall in perfect unison. One indistinctive tap is only slightly audible underneath the musical blend of instruments. For each of us, these instruments have become an extension of our very souls. We have crafted our skills to express our personalities and channel them into an audible form. Without a word, we experience every event, every examination, and every emotion of our lives together. We build off of one another’s feel. This is the creation of music.
I am seated in a circle with the rest of the musicians. My hand repositions itself along the neck of my guitar with grace. Experienced fingers move sensually along the fret board, finding precise notes with ease. Every part of me has become focused. My ears process the music, and my mind reacts. Playing the instrument is natural. It is effortless. Simply feeling, reading, and reacting. The saxophone begins to solo. I pay careful attention to everything else, following the form of the song exactly. The sax speaks in phrases. He tells a story, and the rest of us accompany him. My eyes meet the eyes of the soloist. Holding out a long note, he slightly nods his head toward me.
“It’s your turn next.” He’s telling me. “Play your heart out.” I wait for him to reach the end of the progression. As soon as we reach the top of the form, I will begin to tell the story where he left off; in my own wording. He begins his last phrase. I breathe in deeply as the soloist exhales one last powerful note.
All skillfully crafted instrumental solos follow a few key guidelines in order to leave a lasting impact. They must have an apparent rhythm. They must have some sense of direction. And the notes must have a sense of purpose. Without these things, a musician cannot possibly create a solo with a significant effect on anyone.
I believe life is an improvised solo. I can either give an amateur performance, or I can try with everything I’ve got to create something spectacular. Personally, I want to influence the world. If my life is a performance, the people I meet will be my audience. When my solo is finally over, I want it to have a lasting impact on my observers.
The saxophone sings its’ final note. My foot is rising and falling to the rhythm. Now it’s my turn to solo. I know the direction I want to go and strike my first note. It resonates with purpose.
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