Living Nighmare

Scott Uria       

Professor Warren

ENC 1102

April 28, 2013

Living Nightmare

            Screaming, crying, than separated! This is the experience that the Holocaust survivors went through. I recently had to opportunity to watch a film called Forgiving Dr. Mengele. I know a little about the Holocaust, but ashamed to say that I don’t know enough. During this film Eva Kor, a survivor, talked about her experiences at Auschwitz, her life-long anger, and her ability to forgive. During her road to forgiveness, she traveled back to Auschwitz. There she met up with a former Nazi Dr. looking for answers on the experiments that was conducted on the children in Auschwitz. Although he had little information to offer, he apologized and the two embraced in a moment of recovery. Her ability to forgive has not set well with other Holocaust survivors, but she viewed it as a way to get her life back, and not allow that nightmare continue to control her life. Now that this film caught my attention, I was hungry to learn more. After I did some research, I feel that the Holocaust is the most horrific time in our world history.

            So, what is the Holocaust? As defined in the Holocaust Encyclopedia (ushmm.org), The Holocaust was the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored, persecution and murder of approximately six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. The Nazi regime not only targeted Jews, but also gypsies and homosexuals. Upon arrival to the concentration camps, each adult and child were forced to give up their clothing, and all bodily hair was shaved off. After hair removal, a disinfectant was applied before led to the showers, and then quarantined. This was done to help prevent diseases from striking across the camps. Their new article of clothing would be the camp uniform. Each prisoner was identified by a tattoo serial number, which was inked on their left forearm. The so called “meals” were issued three times a day. The first meal of the day usually consisted of herbal tea, or some black coffee. The second meal of the day was normally a form of soup, which many referred to it as having a nasty, unforgiving taste. The final meal of the day would consist of sausage, bread, and a spoonful of jam. I’m not sure how many died of starvation or malnutrition, but I would have to believe the number is startling high!

The largest concentration camp was located in Southern Poland, known as Auschwitz. It was here that families were separated, kids off in one direction, while parents were taken the opposite direction. The living conditions were inhumane. The barracks were either made of brick, or they were wooden. Some of the wooden barracks were initially built for horse stables. The bunks were stacked three high, and made out of wood. It was not uncommon to have 700-800 people assigned to on barrack. Dr. Josef Mengele, also known as the “Angel of Death,” would conduct laboratory experiments on the children, many who were twins. During these experiments the children were place in rooms for 6-8 hours naked and compared the size of their eyes, skulls, and taken to the blood lab. Dr. Mengele would “inject each child with an unknown substance” (Kor), which normally lead to sickness, and sometimes death. The parents were used as slaves to keep the camp maintained, while some were used during barbaric medical experiences. Unfortunately, many were sent to the gas chamber to take their last breath.

For the parents with children, could you imagine the separation moment? For a young child who has little knowledge as to what was happening, could you imagine the tears? As a father of four, I sat and tried to imagine the pain. The only thing I could come up with was the times I deployed while in the military. I can remember boarding the ship, and standing up along the rails as each mooring line was released. Looking down at the pier watching my kids wiping away the tears, and the emptiness I felt knowing I would not see my kids for 6-8 months. While reflecting back on those somber moments, it’s not even a drop in the glass compared to the pain and sorrow of each family separation during the Holocaust. Those parents are ripped away, knowing that they will never see their child again. And for the child who, if they survived, will have to live their life without the guidance and love of their parents. I’m pretty sure that I am speaking for most parents’ it’s a nightmare we would not want to live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

 Forgiving Dr. Mengele. Dir. Bob Hercules and Cheri Pugh. Perf. Eva Kor. Media Process Group Inc, 2006. Documentary.

 "History.com/topics/the-holocaust." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.

 "Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team." Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

 "Home | Jewish Virtual Library." Home | Jewish Virtual Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013.

"John Demjanjuk: Prosecution of A Nazi Collaborator." Holocaust Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

 

Journal 8

Journal 8

            Coming into this semester, I wasn’t too sure as to what the curriculum would consist of. I have had several friends tell me that ENC 1102 would consist of a lot of research papers. To my surprise, it was complete opposite. Professor Warren addressed the class with a new twist to this course, film reviewing and blogging. I must admit that I wasn’t too thrilled with the film reviewing portion because I just finished taking a film class the semester before. The last thing I wanted to do was to watch and critique films again. Once we watched our first film and she explained the different options and freedoms we have to express ourselves, I became an instant fan of her system. There really is no right or wrong way to add in your content, as long as it is grammatically correct with the right format.

            When addressing the blogging portion of the course, many of us have never blogged, so I wasn’t really sure how this would work. Professor Warren walked us through the steps to setting up a blog account, and we were off to the races. Once we finished our film review essay, we had to post onto our blog account, than we were required to review and comment on at least three other essays. The cool thing I enjoyed about this is that I could see the different perspective another student had on the same film. I actually found it quite intriguing that another student was able to express totally different views on the same film, along with adding personal experiences. On our blog accounts, we could upload a picture, so not only was a reading an essay, I was able to put a face with the work.

            Overall, with Professor Warren leading the way, I had a great experience with this course She brings a lot of enthusiasm, which makes it student friendly. With the way the film reviewing and blogging is set up, I wouldn’t change a thing. I really enjoyed this course. Thanks Professor Warren!!

A,B,C....1-2-3

Scott Uria

Professor Warren

ENC 1102

April 15, 2012

ABC…1-2-3

            Welcome Students! This is normally the greeting students receive on the first day of school. On that first day, every student is on the same level, with a clean slate. Expectations are high from the educators, students, and parents. After that first day, the learning capabilities of students begin to separate. I recently had to opportunity to view the film, Waiting for Superman. I must admit, this film was a true eye opener. This film covered kids and the educational system, and how reading and math scores remain low. Although parents are extremely important with their child’s learning, I feel most of the responsibility falls on the educators. Let’s be honest, some have the dedication and the gift of teaching, while others just have a degree.

            I wanted to research and find out what makes a person qualified to be teacher within the educational system. As a person decides on their college of choice, they need to select and focus on a field of study, which in this case is a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. For one choosing to be an educator, the first choice would be whether or not to pursue elementary education, or middle and high school education (Education-Portal). During this program, a student must meet the required field work, which consists of help or teaching a class under a licensed teacher. After the degree has been earned, the final portion required is the completion of a teacher education program, and completion of a basic writing and math skills test. There you have it, a person qualified to be employed in a school district. The requirements obtained should be enough to help our youth to be successful in advancing to the next grade. Unfortunately that isn’t happening. Many teachers are not teaching a well-rounded curriculum, and there are some who are not passionate about their job, and the only motive is to only receive that paycheck. But I can’t put the blame solely on our teachers; there is plenty of blame to go around.

            Our government stepped in with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. I would like to believe this Act was put into law to better our educational system. As with most things, there are some pros and cons. According to Carleton.Edu, the pros and cons seem to equal out. A couple of the pros show the positive outcomes to the NCLBA. Since this act took effect, there has been an increase in student test scores, and classes are being taught by more highly qualified teachers, which overall the best thing a student or parent could ask for.  Some of the cons that caught my attention are that teachers are teaching “to the test.” What this basically means is that each year the schools are required to test the students, usually covering 3-4 days, and each class, grade, school, and district is evaluated and compared to other schools. Obviously no teacher wants to have the class with the lowest scores, and no grade wants to be lower than others, no school wants to be the one with the overall lowest mark, and each district wants to shine over others. So instead of the students being taught a curriculum that covers many aspects, teachers are spending most of the school year focusing on the math problems and comprehension points. During this test, students are held to the same achievement standards regardless of their ability level. The con to this is every child learns differently. This directly affected my home two years ago.

 My daughter is very intelligent, but she seemed to continue to struggle with math. She could read very well, but would lose focus on what she just read. We took her to a psychologist who put her through a series of tests, covering about four hours. After doing our own research, we came up with exactly what the psychologist did. The psychologist asked if she easily gets side tracked at home when given chores. We acknowledge and confirmed that she did. The prognosis was that my daughter has a non-verbal learning disability. We were shown the results of some of the tests that she was given. My daughter scored off the charts in certain challenges, some in the 86 percentile, higher than 20% above students of her age. The psychologist said that she will always have a struggle with math, even up through the college years, and recommended that paragraphs not be read in full, but to break it down in 3-4 sentence intervals, which has helped drastically. Although we submitted everything to the school, she was held to the same standard as one without a learning disability. Once the FCAT results came back, she missed the required line score in the subjects that her disability most affects. Although her grades throughout the year were passing, she was not allowed to advance to the fourth grade. At that point, we enrolled her into a private school, with smaller classrooms, and no FCAT. For the past two years, she has maintained high grades, and continues to expand her knowledge. I’m proud of that kid!

Yes, I seemed to put a lot of responsibility and blame towards unwilling teachers. But let’s keep it real, education and the mentality to learn starts in the home. We as parents should never be too busy to help our child with school work, and take the time out to read to them. Our children are like sponges, they will absorb everything we put into them. After 23 years of being out of school, I decided to enroll back in 2011, and I am proud to say that I made the Dean’s List last semester. That is the example I love setting for my children. In two weeks my oldest daughter will be graduating from Charleston Southern University with a B.S in Biology. Being actively involved with her and giving lots of encouragement goes a long way. Yes, education starts in the home. Let’s encourage success at home, so they will have success in the class.

           

Works Cited

 

"No Child Left Behind Act of 2001." : A Private Liberal Arts College in Northfield, Minnesota. N.p., n.d. Web. Oct.-Nov. 2009.

Waiting for Superman. Dir. Davis Guggenheim. N.d. Documentary.

Education-Portal.com

 

 

Waiting for Superman Blog

Waiting for Superman

I had the opportunity to view a film called, Waiting for Superman. This film discussed children and their struggles within the education system. While touching on the fact that Math and Reading scores remain low, the film added that by the 7^th grade, grades begin to drop in most students. Is that drop due to the lacking effort of students and their parents? I would say so, but a lot of weight falls on the school systems, and the educators who are employed by the school system. Unfortunately, our nation leaders can’t seem to control their spending, and definitely can’t figure out how to balance a budget. With that being said, their lack of discipline and thinking has effected every department, especially the Department of Education. Budget cuts have led to school closings, programs discontinued, and resources minimized. Add those ingredients to the fact that teacher unions and contracts are making it difficult to fire “dirt bag” teachers who are there collecting a check with little interest in the progress of students. Since the implementing of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, in my opinion, have hurt the children. Instead of receiving a well- rounded curriculum, many teachers seem to be teaching “to the test.” The last thing a teacher wants is their class to have the lowest scores, affecting the school’s overall score. So who is benefiting from the NCLB Act? Is it the students? Is it the teachers? What I do know is that our educational system is broke, and our politicians could care less.

Eyes of the Beholder

Scott Uria       

ENC 1102

Professor Kelly

April 9, 2013

Eyes of the Beholder

            Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone! Sure, we have heard this many times, but who does it actually affect? After viewing the film Miss Representation, it made me wonder who the real victim is. In my opinion, it seems that the women who are in the spotlight were the ones catching grief because of their size. We must keep in mind that those women in the movies, magazines, or music videos are paid, and paid quite well.  I do agree that the wrong message is being sent to our youth. I agree that our youth feel pressured to keep up with society deems as acceptable.

            Our history hasn’t been in favor of depicting women in a positive way. But as time has shown, women are getting lead roles on the big screen, and women have held or are currently holding some powerful positions. With that in mind, the sacrifices seem to have paid off in certain fields. In the job fields of modeling, certain movie roles, and reality television seem to have a harmful effect on our youth, mainly young female. In the areas just mentioned, a thin, slim, petite build is acceptable. Many young females will struggle with putting on weight in the hips and leg region. It’s bad enough that average or slightly overweight girls are teased and bullied at school, but now they seem to catch grief from what is on television or magazine. Many girls are strong enough to deal with what classmates or media points to be acceptable, but others fall into a dark side to seek satisfaction from others. It’s sad, but many young girls will turn to unhealthy and sometimes deadly alternatives.

            One of the alternatives that young females turn to is anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa, by definition, is an eating disorder that causes people to obsess about their weight and the food they eat. People with anorexia attempt to maintain a weight that’s far below normal for their age and height. To prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight, people with anorexia may starve themselves or exercise excessively. Anorexia isn’t really about food.  It’s an unhealthy way to cope with emotional problems (Mayo). This is a sad situation, but who is to blame? On one side these young ladies are being teased and bullied, and on the other side these young ladies are seeing how extremely thin models are being accepted. I would love to say that this issue should be addressed at home, but unfortunately the disorder or emotional problems aren’t noticed until it’s too late.

            Another alternative used by young ladies to meet the acceptable appearance by society is, Bulimia. Bulimia Nervosa, by definition, is known mostly as bulimia, is a serious, potentially life threatening eating disorder. People with bulimia may secretly binge – eating large amounts of food – and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. Bulimia can be categorized in two ways: 1) Purging Bulimia is when one self-induces vomiting or misuse laxatives, diuretics, or enemas after binging. 2) Non-Purging Bulimia is when one uses other methods to rid you of calories and prevent weight gain, such as fasting, strict dieting or excessive exercise (Mayo). Now this disorder I know about and was around as a teenager. In high school, I had a girlfriend who was thought by many, including myself, to be a beautiful young woman. She not only had a beautiful face, but her body was second to none. She was on the varsity volleyball and softball team, along with doing well in the classroom. She was definitely a trophy to me, because she was a senior and I was just a sophomore. The longer we dated I felt that I knew her pretty well. There was a dark secret that she kept from me, along with everyone else. She finally confided with my best friend. We all were really close, and she wanted me to know the struggles she was having. She felt that my best friend could help with breaking the news to me. She made the right decision, because some things are  best coming from a buddy. When I finally sat down with her, I explained that I still didn’t understand the need to do this to her body. Although she didn’t need to, she said she had self-esteem problems. Shocker! I learned that even the more beautiful girl can have esteem issues. After she graduated, we began to grow apart. But I am happy to say that she got help, and is doing great. We still keep contact with each other and her struggles will never be forgotten.

            The stats can be staggering with girls having eating disorders. Newport Academy reports that 90% of Americans with eating disorders are female, and around 15% of teenage girls have some type of eating disorder. Around 1,000 women will die each year of anorexia, while 5% - 20% of teens who have anorexia will die for reasons related to a disorder. Growing up as a child in today’s society has far more stresses than when I grew up. Maybe it’s time for the entertainment world, and society as a whole, stop sending the wrong message to our youth. The message should be that every person be proud of who you are, not what you appear to other. Remember, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.

 

Miss Representation. Dir. Jennifer S. Newsom. OWN, 2011. Documentary.

 

"We Save Teens." Newport Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013

Journal 6

I must say that I have mixed views on the film, Miss Representation. As a father of three daughters, I have already experienced the teenage years with one, one getting close to start, and the little one is breaking me off now, so her teenage years should be a walk in the park. I didn't see much of the media or society affecting the way my oldest presented herself, but with my tween, it's a completely ballgame. She is always in front of the mirror. She will stand in front of the mirror for an hour doing her hair. She will definitely add to the stress level once she is officially a teen. Now with the film Miss Representation, I heard a lot of reporters, students, and parents hating on the beautiful women in the movies, commercials, and modeling jobs. Some were saying that the women used in those platforms are belittling women, portraying them in a negative way, and used as sex symbols. If  they are, so what, those women weren't held at gun point forcing them to do those jobs. The fact is, each women got paid for the job, and each felt good about themselves. For the students or media that  are knocking those of beauty, seek counseling and enjoy life.

Waste Not Want Not

Scott Uria

Professor Kelly

ENC 1102

March 19, 2013

Waste Not Want Not

            Hey Mom, is dinner ready? At some point in most of our childhood, we have asked that question.  Unfortunately there are many children in our country that are lucky to receive a hot meal once a week. The United States is the wealthiest country in the world, so why do we have hungry families? There are many countries that does not have the benefit of overstocked food and a government that could help. I feel that poverty exist because our government and society as a whole have failed them. During a recent documentary I reviewed called Dive, this film brought to light of the food waste that seems to be a common practice by many food chain stores. Instead of waste, what could be done with all that food?

            According to an article by Tom Hudson, dumpster diving is on the rise across the states. Those diving are not finding trash, but perfectly good food. Every city has food banks to help feed the homeless and families in need, so why not provide to those outlets? There are some great individuals that are crusading for this cause, so this issue is now getting the attention it deserves. But should it be just up to the community to speak on this waste issue? Our elected politicians seem to make things happen when it benefits them. If they need a new gold faucet for their 1,200 square foot bathroom, it’s done! If the people who voted the politicians in office need help to feed their families, politicians will place it on the back burner and considered not important. Wouldn’t it be nice if our government passed a law that forbids food chain stores from throwing out perfectly good food into dumpsters, and mandate that the food be donated to food banks instead? Maybe our country would be able to rest at night knowing that every American has been fed.

            I wanted to look into another country and their poverty level. That country would be Bolivia, the other half of my heritage. It appears that 60% of 9.1 million in population lives in poverty (N.Y Times). Despite increasing revenues from gas and oil, Bolivia remains the most hunger afflicted country in South America. I lived in Bolivia as a young baby, and as I got older I can recall my mother telling me how most of the meals consisted of rice and corn, and were never in large portions. The bright spot was that we never had to go without, but there were many who were not so lucky.

            Throughout my military career, I have traveled to several countries. In many of those countries, eating a simple hamburger would be a luxury. There were several kids that would go behind people as they threw away their trash in search of left over scraps. I really wished I could help by purchasing a meal for a kid, but I knew that would open up the flood gates. If other children seen a child receiving a meal, the kids would be on me like fleas. Instead I would just wave and keep moving.

            Hunger and food waste is a big issue in America. It’s not just a food chain problem, it’s a household problem. Many of us have thrown out food that we never used. Yes, I am guilty! There have been several times where I went grocery shopping and purchased more than I actually needed. I catch myself preaching to my children that the food they leave on their plate could feed families in other parts of the world.  If we just start with ourselves by not wasting, maybe one day the regulations will change on food chain stores. I would like to close with a scripture that seems to tie right in with this topic. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” – Matthew 25:35

                                                                    Works Cited

Dive. Perf. Jeremy Seifert. 2010.

Fantz, Ashley. (2013): n. pag. CNN. Web.

Hudson, Tom. "Dumpster Diving." Editorial. Dec. 2012: n. pag. Print.

Matthew. King James Version. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.

Dive

After watching the documentary Dive, it really made me think about how wasteful our country is. While driving home, I knew I had to stop by Wal-mart to pick up a few groceries. Once in the parking lot, I contemplated whether or not I should go in to shop, or go behind the store to shop. Although joking, I must admit I wanted to take a peek to see Wal-mart was just as wasteful as many grocery stores. As days have passed, I have reflected on food I had purchased to stock my refrigerator, just to end up unused waste. Yes, I am guilty on a much smaller level, but still guilty. The part of the documentary that hit me the most was the segment on Haiti. That really put things in perspective of the poverty going on throughout this world. But I am a firm believer of taking care of you own first, so let’s stop wasting America, and donated the unused items to the hungry families in our country!

The American Dream (Essay)

Scott Uria

Professor Kelly

ENC 1102

March 5, 2013

The American Dream

From birth to death, we all have decisions that will dictate our life. When we hear of people living out the American dream, what does that mean? How many of us have actually given it a thought? The American dream is something we all strive for, but what defines whether or not we have accomplished our dream? The fact is, it varies from person to person. I feel that every person decides what they are pursuing, and decides when they have accomplished it. That is the beauty of our country and the pursuit of happiness.

 I recently had the opportunity to hear a wonderful speaker, Mo Garcia, and his experience and translation of the American dream. He explained how he was uprooted from El Salvador and sent to the United States to start a new life. With years of resentment came wasted years. Once the light bulb came on, he knew what he wanted to do, just to be derailed again. Mr. Garcia had to identify his weaknesses and turned those into strengths. Once accomplished, he found success in motivating others to be proactive in life goals. His lecture is structured to make you think about where you fit in, and how to get there. I came home and contemplated whether or not I have lived out my American dream, and the answer is yes.

            Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, I was always intrigued by Fort Jackson, an Army base located nearby. I knew from an early age that I wanted to serve my country as a service member of the United States Armed Forces. Upon completion of high school, I enrolled at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Although I enjoyed the college/campus life, I knew that I needed something to give me more. At the end of the semester, I came home and joined the United States Navy, and shipped out on March 20, 1989.  Sure, basic training was a rude awakening as to what I just signed up for, but I liked the challenge. Before I knew it, twenty years of service was upon me, and retired March 31, 2009. During that time frame, I have traveled the world, free of charge, received free on the job training, free medical and dental, thirty plus days of yearly vacation, unlimited paid sick days, and a free education using the Post 9/11 G.I Bill. Having the opportunity to retire at the age of 39, with a monthly pension for the rest of my life is a sweet deal. Most importantly, I was able to protect the freedoms of my country so other may chase and accomplish their American dream. Yes, I can honestly say that I have and currently am living the American dream!

            Many Americans consider homeownership a major piece of completing life’s dreams. To get to that point, other steps must be accomplished. Mortgage companies will review whether or not the applicant has a secure job, established credit, and debt to income ratio. Two of items listed fall into the large puzzle of the American dream. Employment and strong credit will get a lot in this country. With so many people owning homes, that dream threatened some, and buried others. Our country went into a recession in 2008, and the housing market continues to struggle today. So for those who consider homeownership part of their American dream, has that dream become a nightmare? According to, Statesman Journal, Queenie Wong reports that since 2009, more than a dozen government and private programs have been created to help home owners avoid foreclosure. Now programs are offering more options for homeowners, but they’re also not going off without a hitch. The dream of owning a home is still alive, but it may be a little tougher than years passed.

            I have shared a large portion of my American dream, and the joy and satisfaction I felt upon completion. Sure, I have several other goals to accomplished, and others that have been completed. Upon completion of new goals, it will be another building block to my life of success. Have you figured out what your dream consist of? Some dreams may not be individual, but as a country as a whole.  I would like to share a portion of Martin Luther King Jr. speech, ‘I Have a Dream.’ This should be the foundation of every dream. “From every mountainside, let freedom ring. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

                         Queenie Wong, Statesman Journal, September 29, 2012

                         Mauricio “Mo” Garcia, Founder and CEO, MG Success Services

      Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., ‘I Have a Dream’, August 28, 1963

           

The American Dream

The American Dream

            When we hear of people living out the American dream, what does that mean? How many of us have actually given it a thought? I recently had the opportunity to hear a wonderful speaker, Mo Garcia, and his experience and translation of the American dream. He explained how he was uprooted from El Salvador and sent to the United States to start a new life. With years of resentment came wasted years. Once the light bulb came on, he knew what he wanted to do, just to be derailed again. Mr. Garcia had to identify his weaknesses and turned those into strengths. Once accomplished, he found success in motivating others to be proactive in life goals. His lecture is structured to make you think about where you fit in, and how to get there. I came home and contemplated whether or not I have lived out my American dream, and the answer is yes.

            Growing up in Columbia, South Carolina, I was always intrigued by Fort Jackson, an Army base located nearby. I knew from an early age that I wanted to serve my country as a service member of the United States Armed Forces. Upon completion of high school, I enrolled at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. Although I enjoyed the college/campus life, I knew that I needed something to give me more. At the end of the semester, I came home and joined the United States Navy, and shipped out on March 20, 1989.  Sure, basic training was a rude awakening as to what I just signed up for, but I liked the challenge. Before I knew it, twenty years of service was upon me, and retired March 31, 2009. During that time frame, I have traveled the world, free of charge, received free on the job training, free medical and dental, thirty plus days of yearly vacation, unlimited paid sick days, and a free education using the Post 9/11 G.I Bill. Having the opportunity to retire at the age of 39, with a monthly pension for the rest of my life is a sweet deal. Most importantly, I was able to protect the freedoms of my country so other may chase and accomplish their American dream. Yes, I can honestly say that I have and currently am living the American dream!

Digital Nation Essay

Scott Uria

Professor Warren

ENC 1102

February 19, 2013

Digital Nation

            Login, password, enter, and I am in! I have now entered a world used by so many, and I’m the prey of many more. The film, Digital Nation, brings to light the different ways technology is used today and the positive and negative aspects to go along with it. I feel that technology is beneficial to an extent, and on the other side, I am more of a traditionalist. This film mentioned companies using virtual meetings, military recruiting tactics, military operations, and effects of gaming. And the most negative aspect was the addiction of the gaming world. My views are close on some, and quite a distance away on others. Now it’s time to explain.

            One part of running a successful business is to know your personal, their strengths, and weaknesses. There are meetings with staff, and contracted affiliates, to keep the business running effectively and successfully. When the business is located at different locations, it’s not uncommon to have a conference call on a specific date and time. During this time of advanced technology, Digital Nation shared a growing trend of virtual meetings, vice personal and conference call meetings. Although similar to a conference call, I see these virtual conferences nothing more than adults enjoying the gaming world, minus the score keeping and violence. The segment on Digital Nation showed a virtual meeting where one associate was more focused on the shirt that another put on his virtual character. In my opinion, situations like this can become more of a distraction than focusing on success. I know that many businesses may not have in their budget to travel to a certain locations, but a simple conference call would suffice without the gimmicks of the virtual world.

            The United States military has changed the way it operates in certain fields and tactics. Digital Nation pointed out a couple of different areas in which technology has modified the standard operating procedure, whether good or bad. There is an Army Recruiting Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that took recruiting to a new level, which I totally disagree with. The Army built a large arcade like facility to attract you people. Once the young kids are in and actively involved with the different simulators and games, the recruiters will pounce of them while their mind is captured by the excitement of the moment. As a prior Navy Recruiter, I am not surprise that the Army has stooped to this level. As a recruiter, my job was to make sure an applicant is qualified mentally, physically, and morally. If an applicant gets past that stage of initial blueprinting, it’s time to find out what the applicant is interested in, the goals desire, and how the Navy can help get them there. After that portion of the interview, it is important to set up an appointment with the parents, because parents can sway decisions either way. Believe it or not, parents can respect the character of the recruiter if the interest of their child is priority. I was a very successful recruiter because I wasn’t concerned with a monthly quota, but sincere with helping their child lay out a road map to meet their needs, and bonding close with family members during the process. I honestly don’t feel that an arcade recruiting building, with all the games and simulator, can establish a bond with a future service member. It has been ten years since I left recruiting, and to this day, I still keep up with many of the young people, and their families. Not sure a recruiter can actually know the complete background of a young person if they met them in a recruiting trap.

            Concerning the military and technology, there is one area that I totally agree with. The United States Air Force is utilizing a remote operated air craft, called Drones. With the war in Afghanistan, lasting over ten years, there have been a lot of unfortunate casualties. The Drone is used for surveillance, and destruction of targets if needed. The Drone is not operated by an onboard pilot, but a remote control operator on ground. This technology is very effective, and reduces casualties of war.

            Unfortunately, the world of gaming has taken our youth from exercise, studying, and social skills at home. Obesity in the United States is at an all-time high. Some is a result of a poor diet, but most is the lack of excising activities. Many gamers will stay up all night, sleep all day, and have little to say during family meals. University of Wisconsin Psychologist, C. Shawn Green expressed, “Video games change your brain.” I definitely agree, but is this change for the better, or worse?  Is this the activity we want for young Americans? I would have to say so, because online games, consoles, and disc games, are at an all-time high. There needs to be some type of regulation, restrictions, increased pricing, to help bring this lifestyle under control. If those areas were addressed, we may win our children back, for a happier and healthier life. On a positive note, there appears to be many relationships that have blossomed from the gaming world.

            Digital Nation shed some light on how advanced our world has become, and the uses to help advance business, and the pros and cons of gaming. Yes, our world has become much smaller with technology, but on a different aspect, it has caused our loved ones to be further away.

           

           

Digital Nation

Scott Uria

Kelly Warren

Digital Nation Blog Entry

            The digital world that we live in has made life much simpler in one aspect, and much more complex in another. With the World Wide Web, our world appears to be much smaller than it did some twenty-five plus years ago. During my early military career, while deployed, it could take a couple of weeks to receive a letter. If I needed to send money back to the states, I either wrote out a check or got a money order to mail off. Towards the end of my career, the same situations could be handled with a click of a button. I can recall back in 1992, while deployed to Guam, if I wanted to call home, I had to go through several base operators throughout the states to get connected for my “morale call.” Today service members will Skype when calling home. How cool is that?  On the complex side of things, because technology changes so quickly, one will constantly have to learn new systems. Because of technology, identity theft is on the rise, and hackers can easily access your bank, email, and work accounts. With the internet, there are more and more stories of a spouse meeting someone online, leading to an all-time high in divorce. With the changes I have seen over the years, it’s just a matter of time before our world self-destructs.

 

Reality Television

Scott Uria

Professor Warren

ENC 1102

Reality TV

            I found the text reading on reality television interesting. One point that was brought up, then backed away from is, reality television as a form of voyeurism. I can agree how that aspect was brought up and dismissed, because in the case of voyeurism, it consists of one being filmed or photographed in a real life setting, although the one being viewed is unaware and unwilling. Do I personally like reality television? Yes! Although editing controls what is being viewed, it’s captured real time reactions. The names that are seen are reality tv are their real names, vice an actor that you will see in various shows under a different character’s name. In my opinion, reality tv will continue to grow, and enjoyed by many.

Captured

Scott Uria

ENC 1102

January 29, 2013

Captured

            Focus, focus, focus, and snap! At that moment a story has been captured in time. There is no better form of storytelling than that of a photograph. Ansel Adams once said, “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” To the viewer, each picture can be translated in many ways, which is the beauty of photographs. During a recent trip to an art gallery, I selected three photographs, and with each, share my interpretation.

            The first photograph I selected is titled, Watchdog. This photograph center of attention was definitely on the eyes of the German Shepherd Dog. The eyes are an auburn color, with a deep stare, as if focused on the object or sound within his territory. The intensity displayed in this photograph is that the dog is on high alert. The eyes appear to be ready to intimidate by stare, or attack by action. The most important vibe I received from this picture is the look of being fearless. The look of fearlessness, telling his family that there is unconditional love, that willingness to lay down his own life for those he watches out for. One of the best traits of the German Shepherd Dog is his loyalty, and to back down from no one who threatens his territory. I was captivated by this photo because, I am a proud owner of two German Shepherds, and know quite a bit about them. That is the beauty of this photograph, and all others. The story I perceive from this picture may be told differently by someone else.

            The second photograph I selected is titled, Innocence. There are so many directions one could take with this photo. The photo contains a young Hispanic boy. I see why the photographer titled it, Innocence, but I see a different story. I see a young boy who is troubled. Not troubled by his doing, but troubled by the fact that his voice is going unheard. His eyes seem to pierce through whoever will listen. So what could be troubling this young child? The look of fear appears that of kid who has fallen victim to child abuse. The outward bruises and scars are not visible, but the real damage is within. The deep stare is his way of wanting to love, but his trust is too fragile to allow him to do so. The horrible road of child abuse is the path he has been on, and not by his choice. I see this photograph totally opposite of what others may view it, because at one point in my childhood, I had the same look.

            The third and final photograph I selected is titled, Smile. This photograph is a simple shot of a young girl playing in her backyard. The smile on her face is telling me that she is having a blast with her parents or playmates. A smile comes so easily and natural for children, especially when it’s in a love filled home. This young girl is sharing her love and excitement with the great outdoors, on a beautiful spring day. The photographer has done an outstanding job by focusing clearly on the child and her emotions. Her ethnicity appears to be of a bi-racial child, which leads me to think the photograph is taken in the South. I’m not saying that the South is the only place where bi-racial children live, but statistically, the majority of bi-racial children appear to reside in the South.  Of the three photographs, this one is my favorite. A lot has to do with the simplicity of the image, but most of all, the young girl resembles my daughter.

            Story telling can be shared in many different ways. Many chose to do so by verbal communication, whether that’s face to face, or via phone. By that method, only part of the story can be told. If a person was holding a photograph, and began to tell the story that went along with that photo, the story not only has verbal part, but now has the visual to make the story complete. As with this exercise of selecting three photographs to write about, I didn’t need anyone to tell me the story behind it. While viewing each photo, I had the freedom to interpret each picture through my eyes. Each photographer captured the image that best conveys their interpretation of that moment captured in time, now it’s time for each viewer to share their interpretation. Happy story telling!

ENC 1101 Review

After retirement from the military, I decided to go back to school. Since it had been 22 years since I last attended class, I had some concern. English Comp. was the class I feared most, because writing wasn't my strong suit. I was very fortunate to have Professor Bruno, because she put the class at ease, and taught us different methods to writing. The one technique that stood out was the clustering method. The clustering method helped with a layout of what I wanted to write about, and before long, a thousand word essay seemed easy to do. We also covered proper use of commas and other grammatical uses. I must admit, to this day, grammar mistakes is still a problem for me.