What is a sinner?

 Puritan Society as a whole is the main influence of the moral punishment of Heter Prynne, the main character of the Scarlet Letter.  It is guilty for imbuing the people with what they perceive as right and wrong.  To truly understand morality and ethics we must seek deeper meanings.  In a book called “Ethics: Approaching Moral Decisions,” by Arthur Holmes, these philosophical ideas are defined.  "Ethics is about the good (that is, what values and virtues we should cultivate) and about the right (that is, what our moral duties may be).”⁶ When relating this passage in coherency with the world’s view of morality, it is understandable that one could conclude that all people have “sinned”.  Humans also have a tendency to learn from their mistakes.  This is seen nearly every day. It is what makes the world a safer and more unified place. 

Now once the reader visualizes that everyone has sinned in some way, that individual should feel that the treatment of Hester Prynne is wrong.

“This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die. Is there not law for it? Truly, there is, both in the Scripture and the statute-book. Then let the magistrates, who have made it of no effect, thank themselves if their own wives and daughters go astray!” cried another female.⁴

 The way the society around Hester responded to the marking of the “A” was not morally right, especially in the Puritan times.  True, Puritan society was based on strict moral codes with punishments acceptable by law; however, it is hypocritical how so many who had sinned before, verbally and emotionally attacked Hester.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus finds himself among a crowd of people ready to stone an adulterer, yet waiting for his recognition of the act. On the contrary, Jesus responds with a verse, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (New King James Version, John 8. 7).  With the Puritan society based on Christian belief, and their laws formed under the Church, the people that inflicted remorse upon Hester would be guilty by what should be their own moral terms.  About Hester’s scarlet letter, the people thought,

“Here, there was the taint of deepest sin in the most sacred quality of human life, working such effect, that the world was only the darker for this woman’s beauty, and the more lost for the infant that she had borne.” ⁵

Lao-Tse and Confucius

                The two most famous sages both lived during the same century, Confucius and Lao-tse.  Their lives took place around 500 B.C., and Lao-tse had 50 years more wisdom than Confucius had at the time.  Although they lived in the same area and period, their teachings and beliefs were complete opposites of each other.  When asked the question, “What is the key to happiness and contentment?” by an eager student, the two scribes’ responses would greatly differ from each other.

                Confucius would say that happiness and contentment lies in virtuosity, and a moral code based on ethics, humanity, and love.  He is strict about obtaining a good education, and to master five virtues to be a good gentleman.  They are courtesy, magnanimity, good faith, diligence, and kindness.  The most important part of society was the family, which was there to be an economic, social, and political component. He involves Karma in his religion in saying “Do not do unto others what thou wouldst not they should do unto you.”  This was his Golden Rule, and it became important in Chinese culture.  Be optimistic about life, People should live together in harmony, and be harmonious with nature as well.  If one to follow these words of advice, more simply stated as Confucianism, then he would reach infinite happiness and contentment.

Lao-tse on the other hand had a very different ideology about happiness and contentment.  He would preach that happiness and contentment is found through an “Easy Flow” lifestyle.  He doesn’t think about virtues or moral codes; he even states that having mandatory rules only creates hypocrisy and cruelty.  He believes true happiness comes from the inside, and stresses that one must try to reach for personal freedom and being one’s natural self.  There is a natural flow of life, and one must follow that flow rather than set up regulations to fight the current, which is what Confucius says.  

Clearly the student would be confused by these two very profound answers, and would want to know which one is right.  Although very different from each other, Confucius and Lao-tse’s answers are both correct in their own way, containing wisdom beyond a normal intellectual mind.

 -------------------

My Metamorphosis

In his psychological novella, “Metamorphosis,” Franz Kafka writes about Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a “horrible vermin” overnight, and the direct results of alienation that come from his family and job.  Samsa’s life is completely dedicated to his dependent family who turn against him in his new condition. Through the process of alienation, the power of man is taken away, leaving him a pit of estrangement and hopelessness.

Gregor Samsa thinks of nothing but his family.  For the past 16 years he has worked a strenuous career as a traveling salesman, in order to help his family live a happy carefree life.  His father’s previous business failed, leaving his family in large debt which Gregor strives to one day relieve them of. At first, the hard work he put into his family was greatly appreciated by his parents and his sister.  They understood how much he devoted himself to them.  Nonetheless, after six years of Gregor’s work, his family began to appreciate it less and less.  They took it for granted.  Gregor also wants to send his sister to the conservatory to study violin.  Her music is one thing that he enjoys in life.  Everything changes however, at the precise moment Gregor wakes up and finds himself a vermin with hundreds of little uncontrollable legs.  Gregor does not realize the vast limitations that are placed on him at that moment.

This is the beginning of his alienation from work, society, and most importantly, his family.  Gregor was standing upright on several of his many legs, ready to go to work.    This was an arduous sight for his family to handle. His mother fainted.  “His father looked hostile, and clenched his fists as if wanting to knock Gregor back into his room.”(pg. 8). The chief clerk turned away as soon as Gregor started to speak.  This instant inhospitality shown towards Gregor shocked him.  At one time, Gregor was a lieutenant in the army, a man full of ambition and success; now to see their son cast down and turned into this gruesome creature was just horrifying.  After all, he still loved his family and his job and was prepared to provide for them for as long as he lived.  To Gregor, the harsh and unjust punishment that is beset upon him seems to come from nowhere and without good reason. “Gregor’s appeals to his father were of no help, his appeals were simply not understood… his father merely stamped his foot all the harder.”  (p. 10).  He is no longer able to speak words, walk upright, or let others know his intentions.  These setbacks self-alienate Gregor from being able to communicate and be part of the family.  In addition to this, his family shuts him out of their life, incarcerating him to his own room. 

“For some reason, the tall empty room where he was forced to remain made him feel uneasy as he lay there flat on the floor.” (p. 12).  Gregor is confined to his room where nobody will have to either see him, or deal with him.  Without being able to interact with his family and have human contact, Gregor’s life slowly drains out of him.  The family’s happy and carefree life was snatched away when Gregor went through his metamorphosis.  His hopes of paying back his father’s debt and sending his sister to the conservatory are banished by his vermin-like state, and he is ashamed of his condition, trying to hide from everyone.  He wants to help his family, but he is unable to. Unfortunately, his family loses hope in Gregor “getting better,” for they cannot remember how much he has done for them.  The blame is directed towards Gregor, further drilling him into that pit of estrangement and hopelessness.  His new body has separated him from his family and society, and has put an economical strain on his family.

Gregor’s situation is very likely related to when an individual has the knowledge to save the world, yet is unable to do anything, therefore diminishing his confidence and power.  As the alienation process wears on, Gregor falls down the classes of society and nearly obtains the untouchables status in India.  He no longer has the power to work, to speak, or have the strength to have a meaningful life.  Throughout his journey in his new body, Gregor has come to face the truth that he has been alienated from society, his power and position swiped away from him, all resulting from one metamorphosis.

Christmas in Saipan

When the typical person thinks of the Christmas holidays, they would most likely imagine a beautiful, winter wonderland; the smell of pine trees in the air, and stores lit up with bountiful lights and filled with presents.  In every supermarket the bells of Santa’s sleigh will be ringing, and jolly Christmas songs will be a’ singing from every karaoke in the country.  The seasons have visibly changed.  The lengthy warm summer days have gone.  We now lie on the soft grass and lookup at the vast sky, and golden brown leaves float gently down upon you.  The ongoing job of raking the leaves continuously gets messed up by your inner child coming out and diving back into the piles.  Fall came and went.  You wake up one morning, sometime mid-November to look out the window and see that the thermometer has definitely dropped, and little flakes of snow glide to the ground.  SNOW DAY! School is called off, and the kids around the block come out for an annual snowball fight.  In a few weeks it will be Christmas, and the children have long lists of amazing (and expensive) gifts.  It is the time of giving and receiving. The days are short, and the nights are long.

                And then there’s us on Saipan.  We don’t have that beautiful winter wonderland, the beetle nut trees don’t know how to lose all of their leaves on time, but the weather does get much nicer.  It is not so hot and is a lot windier as trade winds blow from the northeast.  At least, we do get to enjoy some things that people in climates such as described above can’t.  Our closets are much less of a hassle, there’s no need to switch out clothes by the season; we only have one season (unless you count the wet and dry season, but who really wears raincoats regularly on this island?).  There is really not much use for sweaters and jackets.  We also get to enjoy seeing a local Santa, wearing a full furry Santa Suit and an even fuller accent. It’s Saipan, so the guy’s white face paint is all runny from the dripping sweat, as he rides on top of one of the few fire trucks that Saipan has.  He’s driven around town throwing candy out to bystanders watching this “parade”.  He also preaches to young adults and five-year-olds about how bad drinking and driving is along the way.  There are signs on every street, every corner, and behind every trash can on island which threatens, “You Drink, You Drive, You LOSE.” I vaguely remember this happening when I was seven or eight years old.  It was a bit misleading, because most of us did not know what the kind of “drink” was that the jovial old Santa was talking about.  We were on our way to school one morning and my mother took out a bottle of water to drink. And as innocent as I was, I could not help but snatching it out of her hand while shouting, “MOM! If you drink that were going to lose!” She could not help but laugh, but I was so stuck on this idea, I honestly could not see what was so funny.  She explained to me that the “drink” was alcohol, when I did not know what that was, she told me it was “Adult Soda” and I understood.  To this day, I have never been able to find “Adult Soda” in any of the supermarkets we’ve ever been to.

                These wonderful holidays are on their way again this year, and if you want some magical candy or some super cool drinking and driving pamphlets, make sure to find Santa on his fire truck. It is a very different life than what people experience in colder climates, but it’s a great life.

                Happy Holidays, everyone! 

Most Humiliating Experience Blog

      It happened when I was about 7 years old.  The Coconut Tennis Tournament had finally come and all my excitement began to pour out.  Now leading up to my event, a singles match against some godly player, I had to use the bathroom.  Now you know when you are a little kid, you are often too shy to ask strangers where things are, especially the toilet.  So I couldn’t help but hold my bladder.  It was time for me to compete and I got out on the court.  We played the first set, and I was holding up alright.  The second set was a little different.  I didn’t realize it at first, but when I looked down at my shadow, I saw that I was doing a little jig.  Oh hey! Cool! I didn’t know I could dance like this! It went through my mind.  Then I felt a freight train coming.  Soon enough, it wasn’t only my excitement that poured out, but… yeah… I think you get the point.  It is very vague to me now, but I remember blurrily a scene where everyone was looking at me, my shorts, and the puddle beneath my feat.  I’m glad everyone has forgotten by now… but whoever may come to read this blog will remember if they were there and laugh. But that’s a great thing! What better to approach your own human folly than to laugh at yourself! It is the best words of advice.  

My Literary Hero

                Ever since the beginning of time there has been corruption and greed. Although there has been the occasional, optimistic age of peace and prosperity, most of the past has been dark; hence the Dark Ages.  Heroes with answers and solutions to problems in the gloomy societies often rose, yet quickly fell to their doom.  The most fascinating hero in my opinion is Robin Hood. Also known as Earl of Locksley, Robin was a skillful, generous, determined man.  He set his whole life on a path of reaching outward and helping others, especially the less fortunate. He is my literary hero.

                Robin had what some could say, a very rough childhood. Relatively speaking, Robin’s life growing up was much more brutal than any modern kid who is fairly well off.  His father’s head was literally “offed” when Robin was a small boy, possibly around 6 years old.  When he had an epiphany, he realized the true nature of mankind is greed, evil, and corruption.  He set his life purpose to avoiding this evil hole that so many people fall into.  He set out with a several close companions in search of justice and heroic opportunities.

                He grew up to have strong moral values and a skillful eye at along the shaft of the arrow. Some could say he was an inconsistent traveler, a low life, a castaway. But he was much more.  He stole from the rich and gave to the poor, providing the unfortunate with the excess of riches the greedy bastard kings had.  His getaways were easily pulled off by his amazingly accurate bowman ship, which was essential to his success and survival.

                His generosity, his fight for justice and liberty, and his various skills made him one of the most influential heroes of all time. They definitely make him the coolest hero ever, to me. :D

My Utopia

the crystal clear water is lapping around my ankles... it is nearing Christmas of our junior year in highschool, and we are spending our days relaxing on the beach.  fairy terns fly overhead, and golden white-eyes play in the palm fronds, singing minute melodies for the world.  the waves are rolling in towards the beach and we grab our surfboards and go out for a surf.  what in the world could possibly be better.. to be surround by your closest friends, on a pristine beach with clear skies and aquamarine water, jubilant singsong birds in the trees, a fresh coconut, some sashimi from a wahu catch, and going out for a surf... honestly i find this to be one of the best dreams in the world. also the love of my life would have to be there, and it would just be absolutely amazing. I would have my guitar on the beach, not just any guitar, but a Gibson Hummingbird True Vintage VOS Acoustic Guitar. The guitar of my dreams... "The Gibson Hummingbird True Vintage VOS Acoustic takes us back to the subtle glamour of the original 1960 guitar. Enhancements include split-parallelogram, mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays; crown headstock inlay; and an elaborate 3-point tortoise pickguard with engraved hummingbird motif.  The Hummingbird captures a measure of the pastoral whimsy and brave new horizons of the 1960s—along with a solid chunk of woody acoustic tone." quite stunning really.
anyways, there would be music on that beach, vibrating from my VOS Gibson Hummingbird.. the sky would be a brilliant blue, the trees an earthy green, and the air filled with scents of lavender and thyme.