A Hollywood Blockbuster

I can't believe I was offered a deal like this. It's pretty cool. Well, first of all, I better start with who I'm going to have as my actors. First, as Hamlet, I would have to cast Johnny Depp. Out of all the actors I have seen in my life, he is the only one I can think of who can play the perfect part of completely crazy person. For the part of Claudius, I would have to pick Jack Nicholson. He's the perfect one for a murderous, envious brother. For Gertrude, I would have to keep Glenn Close. There is just no one else I can think of for the role. For the part of Ophelia, I would go with Christina Applegate. Honestly, I don't know why. Its's just what I'm feeling. For the role of Laertes, I would cast Nicholas Cage. I feel like he could play the worried brother. For Polonius's part, I would want to go with Al Pacino. He is the perfect guy you would want as a protective father. For the role of Horatio, I would go and cast keanu Reeves. He just seems like he would work well with Hamlet's character. For the part of the duo, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, There are only two people I can think of for them. They are a team, themselves, and have not performed with each other for some tim. Yes, those actors are Ben Aflec and Matt Damon. Having them work together again would feel like a real Oprah moment. And, for last but most definately not least, the part of the Ghost; Hamlet's farther. There is one and only person I could pick for this role. And that man is Sean Connery. He is perfect for the part. I would have the time period changed though. I can strongly imagine this play taking place during present time. I would have the setting in England. I want it to be in present time, but I want monarchy to still be in place. So, England is the perfect place for such a thing. For the costumes, I would make it very simple. Just have all the males be in suites and all the women in dresses. And, I hope the country speaks for itself on what language they are speaking.

ShakesePeer

     How's it goin' viewers? Hope you're here to enjoy another one of my riviting posts. The subject of this post: whether or not we should keep teaching Shakespeare in school. Personally, I think it should; but only in high school, of course. Little middle school kids aren't going to be able to understand any of that stuff. It's too difficult for them. And, I also think that when it taught in high school, it should only be taught to upper classmen. Freshmen and sophmores are just too fresh out of middle school to be able to fully comprehend. I'll even admit that I was when I was a freshman and sophmore. Now, I hear it all the time. Adults always demening us teenagers, saying none us will ever be able to appreciate true Shakespeare. I have even heard a group of middle aged people criticize teenage actors performing in a Shakespearian play; saying in a whisper to each other that "these foolish children will never understand the play they're performing". I don't know about you, but sounds pretty insulting to me. I also always hear teens ask, "Why is this important", or, "When are we ever going to use this". Well, I have asked this myself. And, it wasn't till very recently that I have found the answer to it. If you plan on staying in an English speaking country for the rest of your life, you should listen up in class. Shakespeare is a very vital essence in the English you will use in the future. When I found this out, a scenario popped up in my head of adults asking me how they will use when the can't get some of the Elizebithan English gestures and speech used. That is why liturature books put translation notes right next to them. Come on people you were in high scholl once, too, weren't you? I, myself, have started to see how it helps. After learning Shakespeare, you can see a wde range of discussion available to you. Through learning the different ways of speech that Shakespeare uses, you can speak in a different intillect; which is very advantagous to you in the future. May it be anything from finding a big job to meeting people who could be your best friends for life(or even your future spouse). And, it has to be taught in high shool because, when you wait till later in college, it's too late to collect all of that info. That is why I think that Shakespeare should be taught in school. It is my opinion as your peer, so you take it or leave it.

On the Wrong Side of Good

Hello again to everyone on this blog. It's your friendly neighbor hood Josh to give you his opinion on what the American government did with the whole Iraq situation. From watching the posted videos, I can't really make a good opinion off of them. To be completely honest, I didn't really get what they were all talking about. The big polotician talk confusses me sometimes. But, I can give you an personal opinion. Really, I don't think we should have went in and do what we did. I believe that America was right in going in to hunt down the terrorists for what they did and what they would continue to do. But, Going in and overthrowing a leader and trying to completely change the government and everything like that. Problems like that had nothing to do with them. It was none of their business. On top of that, they didn't even ask for their help in the first place. What they could have done, though, is talk about it with their government and offer to provide assistance if they agreed. That would have been the best approach in my opinion. To be honest, this very similar to what the Catholic Church did to the people of Umuofia in our book, Things Fall Apart. The Catholics had no right to do that either. They just bardged in and started building churches and also started establishing a government. On top of all that, they just strolled into the villages and started preaching to everyone and telling them that everything that they were doing was completely wrong and that none of them could ever be "saved" unless they did everything the Catholics to do. In doing this, in both situations, they have all disrupted and caused turmoil for the very sides they thought they were "helping". I, for one, cannot agree with this and dissaproave the actions that have taken place.

Varying Situations of Blame

This is your pal, Joshua Lewis, back on the scene for this topic on approaching where blame is due. This topic is a very good discussion point. Do any of the people stated here actually deserve any kind of blame for their actions? Are they perfectly innocent, or are they nothing more than psychotic mass murderers. Well, these questions are very simple to answer. Yes and no to all of them. These answers can both simultaneously exist with the same question. But, one person cannot say both answers for both groups. This is because these questions are all opinionated. Anyone can say that both are wrong, both are right, or one's wrong and the other is wrong. Now, I'm going to give you my opinion on the matter. And, my answers might surprise you. Or, they might not. It all depends on what you believe. First, I would like to talk about those who were involved in the murders in the Holocaust. These men murdered many innocent people for the sake of murdering. These men were part of the Nazi regime. They completely volunteered for this. They volunteered to commit acts of violence and murder on own free will. These men, in my opinion, are completely guilty for what they have done. They are the ones to blame for the things they have done.

Now, I would like to talk about those whom he had kill for them. In my personal opinion, these men are not guilty. These men are carrying out orders from their king. These were men who were raised to do everything the king had told them to do. Everything the king said was absolute law. If the king told them that they had to kill someone for the good of the kingdom, than you knew it was for the good of the kingdom. Also, in this time period, it was very easy to get killed for disobeying what your king has ordered you to do. So, these men had absolutely no room for blame to be placed on them. Their hands are completely clean.

How the Lion Recieved Its Man

Joshua Lewis
     The mighty Lion. This majestic animal is not just an ordinary animal. It has its own title; the King of the Jungle. This animal was not just given its title because of how ferocious it is or how it looks. This animal earned its title. It all started with the first Lion that stepped into the World when it was first created. The first Lion actually not had its mane yet. His neck was bare. This story starts off with its naming by Adam and Eve. After naming the animal, Lion, they had approached him. Not beig used to the scent of God's new creation, he was cautious. He flashed off his giant and sharp teeth, and then belt out an amazing roar that had not shook the hearts of Adam and Eve, but also the very Earth itself. Adam and Eve were scared and deamed the animal a horrifying monster who should not be approached. They had condemed the animal. But even though they had condemed the Lion, he felt a sense of gratitude to them for giving him a name. So, from that time forth, the Lion devoted his time to figuring out what he could do for them. One day, while the Lion was thinking, he overheard God banishing Adam and Eve out of the wonerful garden they had all been a part of for the deed they have done of betraying God and eating the Apple from the tree He told them not to eat from. The Lion was confused, and very upset to hear that he may not be able to repay the humans. As he was went out to approach God and ask him what he could do, he overheard another conversation God was having. But, it was not with Adam and Eve; it was with Lucifer, the Angel who was banished for despising the humans.
    
     "See how weak they are Father", Lucifer said. "They have no right to be called your children."

     "They may have betrayed me Lucifer", God said. "But, they have not betrayed me as severly as you have. For this sin against me, you will never set forth in neither Heaven, nor Earth anymore"

     "I see you are still ignorant to the flaws of the humans", Lucifer said. "If thats how it is then I shall get rid of them myself." In that moment, Lucifer turned from a snake, into a gigantic Serpentine-like creature who could not even be named, and went after Adam and Eve. God could not act quickly enough. In that moment, the Lion leaped towards God, asking the Creator to act through him, using his speed and strength to bring down the horrifying creature. God agreed, but had no time. So, He gave the Lion a spec of his power. Through that, the Lion recieved his sight; the sight that brings those whom stare into the eyes of Lions into a complete paralysis. The Lion used this sight to stop Lucifer from attacking, and used every bit of energy he had to leep up and bite the head off of Lucifer. Adam and Eve saw what the Lion had done for them. And, for his bravery over all of the animals that lived, they and God gave him the title of King of all animals. From this, God gave the Lion a beautiful mane to signify his title over all of the animals. That, my friends is how the Lion recieved its mane.