The New England Courant

"My brother had, in 1720 or 1721, begun to print a newspaper. It was the second that appeared in America, and was called the New England Courant. The only one before it was the Boston News-Letter. I remember his being dissuaded by some of his friends from the undertaking, as not likely to succeed, one newspaper being, in their judgement, enough for America."

-Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, pg. 24

This makes me laugh so much! I love Benjamin Franklin's accounts.

The Power of Words

This is not from literature, but I do feel it is important. It is from a booklet from the International YOU Rally, with the theme "Peace Be Still." Reading through these lists was a very enlightening and helpful experience for me. Literature (need I remind you), is made of words, and in all of the complex myriad of words and the confusion they sometimes convey, I think I begin to doubt the integrity available in our language (the language of humans). These lists remind me of the true power behind words; they are not merely letters strung together that sometimes sound pleasing to the ear: they are symbols that procure from within us, recognition of some of the most simple, most basic and profoundly important aspects of our own humanity. You may want to come to this when you have a space of time that allows you to actually read through each word, possibly even aloud; In my experience, doing so will yield far more impact than merely skimming over it.

Feelings

When our needs are met

adventurous

affectionate

alive

amazed

calm

centered

comfortable

compassionate

confident

content

curious

delighted

eager

encouraged

energetic

enthusiastic

excited

fascinated

free

fulfilled

glad

grateful

happy

hopeful

inspired

interested

intrigued

joyful

lively

moved

marvelous

motivated

optimistic

peaceful

playful

proud

relaxed

relieved

safe

satisfied

strong

surprised

thankful

thrilled touched

Feelings

When our needs are not met

afraid

angry

annoyed

anxious

ashamed

bored

bothered

concerned

confused

depressed

desperate

disappointed

discouraged

disgusted

dismayed

disoriented

distressed

drained

embarrassed

exasperated

exhausted

fearful

fed up

frustrated

furious

grumpy

guilty

hesitant

hopeless

horrified

hostile

hurt

impatient

irritated

jealous

lazy

lonely

lost

miserable

moody

nervous

numb

overwhelmed

pessimistic

regretful

reluctant

resentful

sad

scared

shocked

shy

sorry

stressed

suspicious

tense

terrified

tired

uncertain

uncomfortable

unhappy

unsafe

unsatisfied

unsure

upset

vulnerable

worried

Needs

Needs we all have

acceptance

achievement

acknowledgement

adventure

affection

appreciation

authenticity

autonomy

balance

beauty

celebration

choice

clarity

comfort

communication

community

compassion

connection

consideration

contribution

cooperation

creativity

ease

emotional security

empathy

empowerment

equality

exercise

freedom

friendship

fun

growth

harmony

health

help

honesty

hope

humor

independence

inspiration

integrity

intimacy

justice

knowledge

learning

leisure

love

meaning

mourning

mutuality

(music)!

nurturance

nutrition

order

participation

patience

peace

physical security

play

power in my world

presence

privacy

progress

purpose

recreation

reliability

respect

rest

safety

self-acceptance

self-esteem

self-expression

shared reality

solitude

space

stability

success

support

to belong

to be heard

to have my intentions understood

to matter

to be seen for who I am

tranquility

trust

truth

understanding

well-being

The Legacy of Success

I am taking an honors class this semester (my first) at UNM called the Legacy of Success. The reading list for that class is the longest of all my classes, but I have already delved into its richness and realized that I want to be able to talk about it. So: "Litertwitter:" for all the literature-related things I'll want to share, take note of, or mull over as I read and do assignments this semester. It's one way to spread good quotes and excerpts so even those who have not read a work may benefit from a small piece of it and possibly thus become encouraged to read it themselves.

My reflection on my enjoyment and exasperation with literature and learning:

I know and understand so little of the world and my life in it. I am befuddled by the unresolved duality of learning: that through study -especially study of literature- one may benefit from the vicarious experience of another and thereby aim to attempt a level of improvement from the mistakes already made and consequences already exacted; and yet, that though one may study for a lifetime, even the most avid and convicted readers are still in want of a clear way to pull together the combined wisdom of every "lesson learned;" we lack a trustworthy map by which knowledge could avoid the traps where so many have fallen, while still retaining full sincerity and compassion; we lack a hope that learning would reward its true seekers with a sure way to succeed where others have failed, to "succeed," in short, at life. (I believe the topic of success will prove to be highly involving and relevant to me this semester).

One of the lessons presented in Samuel Johnson's The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abbisinia, is that "because of the perennial conflict between hope and reality, man is inclined to aggravate his own wretchedness. (Introduction by J.P.H. pg. xviii)" This a condition to which I have often found myself prone, because my basic hope would be for learning to result in advancement of some kind. I feel rather crushed and even the slightest bit betrayed when reality is in conflict with that hope, sometimes even the reality presented by the literature itself! For example, in the introduction of Rasselas again: "Moreover, it is during this third section or movement that they" [the characters] "witness the most frightening spectacle of the obsessive tendencies of man's seemingly infinite mind. The mad astronomer has obviously given himself 'something to pursue;' but in an important sense he too has neglected to live."

In other words, an obsession with learning about how best to live may inhibit one from stepping out of the realm of ideals (however pure or impure they may be!) into the tainted and risk-filled imperfection of actually living.

this is my conundrum.

And so I hope to have learned from Shelly's Frankenstein -both the book and the character himself- and Johnson's mad astronomer in Rasselas: to at least attempt to avoid the insanity of studying in isolation by #1: attending the school classes where I'm actually required to read and discuss these books, and #2: try to escape the maddening confinement of my own head by making both of them (my madness and my head) public on this blog. I know the title Litertwitter is rather lame, not to mention Mr. Macindoo would probably KILL me for all the copyright laws it's probably breaking, but one of my perceived uses of twitter was already this: a medium by which ideas may be spread. I might as well do so in a more realistic amount of space (i.e., NOT 140 characters). And since my focus and initiator of "conversation" is literature, it is lame but not entirely uncalled for.

So what are my ground rules, my goal? To be clear? Concise? Hopefully an honest combination of the two... which, depending on how unclear and in-concise this first entry has been, may or may not always be entirely possible (though the honest part is honestly my forte). And second ground rule (the first being more of a goal, anyway): PLEASE GET INVOLVED- COMMENT, ADD YOUR OWN QUOTES, IDEAS, INTERPRETATIONS! The less this feels isolated, perhaps the less I will tend towards obsession or madness like our good friend Dr.Frankenstein...which I hope none of us are too eager to see happen.

;)

thanks!