Tristan and Isolde Summary

 Tristan and Isolde is a story of two bickering sides, Ireland and Britain, to find ways to resolve the issues. Tristan, as a young boy, was spared when his homeland was attacked and Lord Mark took him under his wing. Isolde lost her mother when she was young, to what she claimed to be a broken heart, and was raised by her cold-hearted father, the King of Ireland. This statement foreshadowed her and Tristan's future. Isolde was set to marry a man when Tristan, thought to be dead, washed upon the Irish shores. She knew the anecdote to the poison that injured him, saved his life, and they fell in love. Tristan didn't know Isolde's real identity when she sent him away to keep him safe, until he fought to win the Irish princess for Lord Mark, only to discover that she were Isolde. This was originally a plan for peace on both sides, but in actuality caused heartbreak and excuse for a battle that would have occured anyway. As Lord Mark and Isolde are married, Tristan and Isolde found a place in secrecy behind Lord Mark's back, whom unknowingly confided in Tristan that Isolde seemed to be unfaithful, saying, "Is it possible a man blinded by love might not see treachery right in front of him?" Tristan reassured him she was loyal. Tristan was told that he needed to find love by Mark, and this statement was affirmed by Isolde's remark that love is made by God, ignore it and you suffer as you cannot imagine. This quote was implied to be about Tristan as they had fallen in love and would not ignore that fact. Tristan and Isolde's secret was found out by two traitors who plotted with the enemy to take Lord Mark's crown. Tristan decided to break ties with Isolde when he realized that Mark truly cared for her, and when Ireland and Britain set up a party, their plot to catch Tristan and Isolde was successful.

Gays in the Military

A controversy is currently underway as our nation lessens its focus on God, and widens its focus on worldly issues. Military servicemen have made our freedom of religion, speech, and this country’s foundation possible; therefore, it is important to recognize their concerns and wishes as they serve. A few decades back, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was applied to the military which allowed men and women to serve as long as their sexual orientation was not brought into the picture. Presently, the issue is being readdressed as the individuals wish to be openly gay and serve in crucial roles in the armed forces.

Individuals in the US may believe that openly allowing gays to serve would lower morale and harm recruitment; however, in foreign nations where gays serve openly, no morale or recruitment problems were reported. When the ban is lifted, gay men and lesbians will no longer have to conceal who they are and the military will no longer need to sacrifice losing those who serve (Shalikashvili xxx).

 Regardless of skin color or sexual orientation, one person can make a real difference in our country and military. From a nurse saving one whom was wounded on the battlefield to a linguist who could make a difference in the situation, it is absurd to not let them serve because of their orientation (Coleman xxx).

Overall, military men and women play an important role in our country, and I believe that everyone enlisting to serve for the right reasons should have that option. As our country has strong feelings on this topic, it is important to realize the individual’s purpose while sticking true to your values.

Works Cited

Coleman, Vance. “Statement to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel, House Armed Services Committee, U.S. House of Representatives.” 23 June 2008. Print. 4 March 2013.

Shalikashvili, John M. New York Times. “Second Thoughts on Gays in the Military.” 2 January 2007. Print. 4 March 4, 2013.

Lectures Into Podcasts

College courses are proven to be very challenging, while paying attention to the instructor may present an additional issue to the learning process. I believe that you should make all of your class lectures available through a podcast. Not only will it be easily accessible, but it will also be a very convenient tool that your students could use to grow in the course, while answering any questions of what one missed that day. Not only are lectures being offered to download on iPods, but office hours are lessened with podcasts that are equipped with frequently asked questions (News xxx). IPods are very common on college campuses, and using them could ensure knowledge if students used them to their best interest. When the cost of iPods is factored in, however, some may argue the unimportance of podcasts. Students who consent to dilute their classroom experience by forcing it through an iPod are shortchanging themselves (Schneider xxx). Lectures should be attended as much as possible; the use of podcasts will be convenient for not only the students, but also you! The never-ending emails would come to an end as they could be answered by a podcast, and repetition of information can do nothing but good to ensure that the students are learning your material! I believe podcasts could improve your class’s overall grade average, and I hope you will agree, and begin the revolution of podcasts!

Works Cited

Schneider, Robert. “The Attack of the Pod People.” Chronicle of Higher Education. 8 Dec, 2006. Print. 25 February, 2013.

Pitt News. “iPod Addiction Goes Academic.” 21 March, 2006. Print. 25 February 2013.

The Bear Came Over the Mountain

 The protagonist in The Bear Came Over the Mountain is Grant, Fiona's husband. Grant is a very deep character as he reminisces the history between himself and Fiona. I make Grant out to be in love, yet he is not loyal as he should be. He appears to be caring, as well as intrigued by one's appearance and very aware of the little things.

We also discover that he has secrets of affairs that his wife may or may not have known of. He loves his wife dearly, as he is upset putting her in the nursing home, and makes regular visits only to find her spending time with another man. When this man, Aubrey, leaves the home and Fiona behind, Grant wants nothing more than Fiona's happiness and he expresses that by attempting to get Aubrey back to her side. As stated by Alice Munroe, "Then he took the plunge, going on to make the request he’d come to make. Could she consider taking Aubrey back to Meadowlake, maybe just one day a week, for a visit (xx)." This was a completely selfless move on his part that resulted in his Fiona coming back to him. He could have deserted her in the home, but instead succeeded at making her happy and keeping her love.

Works Cited

Munro, Alice. The Bear Came Over the Mountain. The New Yorker. 27 December 1999. Print. 18    February 2013.

Excercise 12.6 Wikipedia

Many people are questioning the use of Wikipedia as a legitimate research source. A legitimate source can be defined as a source that is accurate and credible by pronouned authors. According to this definition, Wikipedia does not appear to be a legitimate source, as it has anonymous authors and can be edited however anyone pleases. Not everyone agrees, however. Some people say that Wikipedia is a convenient tool for research and also a way to understand the background of a search. Others say that Wikipedia's content cannot be trusted as accurate facts, and using it as a source is unacceptable because it's lack of credibility. Wikipedia's anonymity and lack of accountability assures that it cannot be considered an authoritative source (Waters). Although these points make sense, it is clear that Wikipedia is a convenient research site but it isn't credible enough to use as a source.

Works Cited
 

Walters, Neil. "Wikiphobia:The Latest in Open Source." Middlebury Campus.11 April, 2007. Print. 14 February, 2013. 

Academic Freedom pg 151 #1

The opportunity to discuss subjects without restriction may be a freedom, however, it must be restricted so the professor's opinions are not forced upon the students. It is important to maintain an avoidance of religion as the students religions may vary. Academic freedom is the opportunity to express oneself however one chooses in the classroom. Limiting the content expressed is advised, and avoiding controversial subjects would help keep academic freedom in check. I admire professors that encourage the same faith as I do; however, I would not want to pay to take a class of which the professor is of a contrary belief, and expresses it on a regular basis. We live in the land of the free, and it is important to maintain that freedom, but academic freedom may not be the best freedom to encourage learning among a vast group of religious affiliations. Not only is religion a dilemma, but other forms prejudice may be expressed if academic freedom wasn't limited.

Formal Definition of Blog

A blog is a tool used for web-based journaling that can be opinionated or factual, as well as shared with the public or private.