My Opinion Isn't (A) Right

After reading the article before class and all the discussion about whether or not we have the right to our opinion, I actually kept all my frustration of the topic inside. This topic stated that no one has a right to their own opinion. That's really really interesting, no actually, it's horrifying. The words this article brings to me can best be described as, bull shit. It isn't fair for someone else to tell you what or what not to believe. It  is your responsibility keep your own viewpoint about what people say and what articles tell you. Remember that just because someone has an opinion, that doesn't make it justifiable. You can't justify an opinion by merely stating that the idea is correct. I'm not necessarily saying that people have a right to force an opinion or run around the world getting in people's faces shouting what they believe, but taking away opinions is taking away free will. Does this article mean that I can't believe in God? Does it mean that I no longer can think for myself? Then count me out. Telling someone that they don't have a right to an opinion is an opinion. "An opinion is a judgement, viewpoint, or statement about matters commonly considered to be subjective." David Foster Wallace shared the same viewpoint as I do in his book/speech titled "This Is Water." In it he provided insight through his powerful words, "education is not so much about filling you up with knowledge as it is about, quote, "teaching you how to think." he later says "to get in a place like this isn't really about the capacity to think, but rather about the choice of what to think about." Looking through this perspective I think we all have a right to our own personal ideas and just because I believe something, it doesn't mean I'm a sales man trying to buy your right to an opinion. It is completely up to you to disagree or agree with me, but I think that there is no definite "right" answer. I am humble enough to accept the fact that my thoughts may or may not be true, but I still have the right to my own opinion and so does everyone else. The ideas in the article make me feel alienated and it also sounds like I'm forced to accept the fact the I apparently don't have an opinion. This is what David Foster Wallace dis-promotes, someone else telling you what you believe and what you do or don't have.

Young Life/Woodleaf

One of my most recent experiences that changed the way I view things was at a camp called Woodleaf. The camp is ran by Young Life and was a full week spent without cell phones. Throughout the week, I greatly improved my social skills. I went to this camp not knowing anyone and this caused me to force myself into uncomfortable situations to make friends. I did this successfully and slowly struggled to learned the names of about 40 other kids from SLO county. After this experience I learned that I had to open myself up to others to receive the love and acceptance I desire. Surprisingly enough, it was the best week of my life. I made life long friends in Young Life that I met at camp and learned the true meaning of "sometimes you can be in a room full of people and still feel alone." That explains how I was living before camp. After going to camp I feel connected to people and I'm not afraid to be myself and to be the weird human that I am. I never realized how important other people were to my life until I went to this camp. I learned that length of a friendship has no comparison to meaning within a friendship. It was helpful to my growth in life and I loved the in depth conversations that I was able to have. Woodleaf made me the happiest that I have ever been. I hope that others can one day view life the way I do. There is much more to life than this.

Open Source Learning??

Week one evaluation:
I just ended my first week of school and let me tell you.. it has been crazy! On my first day of school, I was required to make a blog and begin my adventure into "open source learning." My reaction of course was: How do I make a blog? I already have to post on this blog? An essay the first day of school! The most important of these questions was, "What is open source learning?" If you didn't know, this type of learning is one focused through a computer and blogging. Part of this experience is also looking at your fellow classmates blogs and commenting on their posts and also the posts that the teacher asks you to comment on. I was quite weary of this class, which was supposed to be an AP Literature course and was confused with all the changes. Before you know it, I was assigned to make videos and post them. All of this was new to me, but is definitely teaching me things I wish I would have learned before. It also inspired the creation of this blog, which is not going to be a gruesome and boring blog. I am telling you this, because this is the start of my own personal blog. A blog of creativity and questions, of pictures and videos, of gopro's and adventure, and of love and uniqueness. All inspired from my original blog apenglishdanielblack.blogspot.com and of course the unlimited potentials of blogging and sharing ideas. STAY TUNED. And if you want to check out my photography look up danny_blackie on instagram! I'm excited to test the possibilities of this class and also the art of blogging.