In Mair's essay, "On Being A Cripple", she discusses how she suffers from MS. This condition is very serious and the symptoms are harsh. However, she continues to have a positive outlook. Many people are inspired by stories such as this and say "if I ever get diagnosed with a serious disease, I'm not going to let it keep me down. I'm going keep a positive outlook on life".

However, I found it hard to believe that people who currently have a negative outlook would suddenly just change after given more bad news. Sure it would be nice for it to be that simple to always have a good attitude, but if people aren't thankful for all of the blessings that they have, then it would be a lot harder to be content with life if you have a horrible disease such as MS.

Therefore, people should try their hardest to keep a positive outlook on life no matter what life throws at them. I believe this is Mair's main purpose, to motivate and encourage. Therefore be thankful for what you have.

Which is Better: Formal or Informal Language?

In Adam Sternbergh’s essay, he discusses current slang used by rappers and how it is better than “business jargon”. Sternbergh actually approves of new slang words and describes them as being interesting and fun. He believes that it is okay to use these new words as long as they are innovative and creative.

However, there is a greater question at stake than simply is rappers’ slang better than businessmen’s slang. The greater question is which is better for the English language—informal or formal language?

People such as Sternbergh like informal language because it is creative and innovative. Others would say that language’s purpose is to express one’s self, and informal language is more expressive; therefore, informal should be acceptable. Some are also more partial towards informal language because of the freedom and lack of restrictions that come with it.

However, others would say that formal language is much better. Some would argue that there is just too much history and tradition in the English language to simply throw it out the window. I personally like learning the formal English language and using it. It is the “proper” way to speak. Furthermore, if informal language was acceptable, then the language would be even harder to learn.

If informal language is acceptable, then our society is basically saying that rules don’t matter and neither does all of the progress former generations have made before us. However, some could still argue that without change, there can be no progress.

What do you think?

"PRO TECT YO KITCH'N"...What??

Wow! This is probably the worst article I have ever read in my entire life. Verta Mae comes right out and saids that he is not a writer, but he is a rapper. He continues to say that as a reader, we should not simply just read the article, but we should "rap it aloud". At this point I double checked the assignment sheet to make sure that I really had to read this. Unfortunately, I did.

Mae starts discussing how the kitchen is beginning to slowly diminish from our homes because of the advances our culture have been making. This is true; restaurants are growing in number, types and locations dramatically. Dietary supplements are also replacing traditional meals. Even though I didn't have too high of an opinion of Mae at first, soon I realized he was a complete moron. He begins to stereotype white people as lazy cooks and the reason for instant food. What an idiot. Instant foods were created because of our fast-paced society, not because white people couldn't cook. He acts as if white people eat totally different foods than black people do. Sure black people like "soul food", but so do white people. I guarentee that I've eaten more fried chitlins in my life than he has. I also guarentee that my grandma( who is white) has made 5 times the amount of pound cakes that he has.

Therefore don't stereotype, it just makes you look like a moron, and Verta Mae is a moron. If you're going to write a rap song, then write a rap song. If your going to write an essay, then write an essay; do not mix the two.

P.S.--Just thought I would throw in this ingenious quote from Mae's essay,"white people discovered terrapins, ate them all up and now they are all but extinct (terrapins)." --Thanks for putting terrapins in parenthesis Mae, you almost had us thinking that white people are almost extinct. Not really...you're a freakin' moron.