Hills Like Life and Death

Hills Like White Elephants is a short story about life and death, selfishness and peer pressure. The name of the title of this story represents something rare and special which is behind the plot. It makes us question what love is and the meaning of life which isn’t seen as valuable. The end result is that the couple featured does not stay together.

The Hills Are Like White Elephants is a see saw conversation between and American man and a local woman. The peer pressure that is eluded towards the local woman gives the reader something to think about and try to figure out where the story is going. The quote “Its really an awfully simple operation, jig” (Hills like white elephants, Ernest Hemingway pg2, 30) gives and idea of the thought of a possible discussion of an abortion. What makes it more evident of an abortion is the quote “We’ll be fine afterward. Just like we were before”.

You can tell the woman in the story is hesitant to go through with the discussed operation because of her continued silence when the man keeps pressing the issue. He keeps trying to reassure her by saying things like “You don’t have to be afraid. I’ve known lots fo people that have done it”. Theres a part of the story when you think that carelessness or just the time of the era related to the story plays a part when they are both drinking alcohol. Normally a woman who is pregnant wont consume alcohol but it clearly states confusion through the quotes of “Lets drink beer”

You get the sense that the man is telling the woman anything she wants to hear so that his selfish, inhumane request is carried out by the woman he is manipulating. His persistent passive aggressiveness shows its working when the woman says “Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t care about me.” With all the pressure from the man, the woman still subtly reveals she’s going to keep the child in the dialogue ” but they haven’t taken it away” and “All right, but you got to realize-” “I realize”.

So in the end the man and the woman go on their separate ways while the woman will go through with the abortion and that they probably wont ever see each other again. This is a rough situation to be in for both of them but you hear about these kind of crossroads with people or couples. In the end the child suffers or isn’t given a chance to enter the world.

Letter To My Future Self

Dear Kyle Burks,

Remember me?

Now that you’re finally a successful leader with an A type personality, an accomplished CRNA, and a proud father of a daughter who is in a good school with a good education, its good to see you working as a CRNA, having financial freedom, vacationing in tropical islands, being able to skydive regularly and having the extra time to run a pit bull rescue.

You finally have your five bedroom house with an in ground pool, multiple cars, married to the woman you wanna spend the rest of your life with and your child is getting the education she deserves.

You’ve come a long way, considering that all you wanted was a two week vacation in Florida laying on the beach soaking in the sun and enjoying some cold beers.

While we’re on the subject, do you remember your younger self when you were underachieving, stressed exhausted, had a short temperament and lack of time to spend with your family? When you questioned yourself and felt weak mentally and physically?

Ten years ago, you struggled with time to study, juggling a job and school, having a social life and having to limit the amount of courses you could take due to a strapped schedule.

Despite everything, I knew you were going to make it when you started to grow as a student by becoming a better writer with essays and papers. When you had a purpose for being better every time you looked at your little girl and stopped being selfish and wanted to have a better life for yourself so that your daughter could too.

Remember the time you got back into school? You actually thought you wouldn’t be able to focus or have the support you needed to succeed. You thought that you wouldn’t have the continuous drive to want to keep going but you did.

Today I want to thank you for being a leader and for never giving up. For fighting all the way and having the never quit attitude.

Kyle Burks

04/27/2016

The Contrast between Tupac’s Music and His Own Life

In my essay I will touch on aspects of Tupac’s life and reference his own words and life events. After reading my essay you will have a better understanding of the transparency of Tupac and the life he lived. I will express in my own opinion on the idea that despite the positive messages in Tupac’s music, he didn’t live up to these messages in his own life.

Tupac often referenced the struggles he faced and saw others facing during his childhood through adulthood. He gave inspiration to others through his music, In his song “Keep Your Head Up,” he targets men and how they need to respect women and realize that without women they are nothing by saying “since we all came from a woman” (Shakur). Meanwhile, as he is depicting his passion for change, he often contradicts himself, rapping about respecting women, “why we rape our women, do we hate our women”? (vs1,18). Tupac’s view of women in his music was compassionate, caring and supportive. He encouraged women to stand up to men who didn’t treat them right and disrespected them: And if he can’t learn to love you you should leave him (vs1,10). That woman have a voice and deserve better from a man. While encouraging women in his lyrics, he was accused of sexual assault in 1993 (Wikipedia, 109).

I feel Tupac got caught up in the thug life because he was used to experiencing that kind of life growing up in the inner city. What he rapped about was a fantasy, an escape from reality. He blamed his shortcomings on the system: “we aint meant to survive, cause its a setup” (vs2,25). Tupac believed he was a product of the “system”, and that he and other youth had no chance to succeed no matter how hard they tried. He often promoted the opposite of what he preached by blaming the “system” which resulted in negative actions and often violent outcomes that followed. His recklessness resulted in the wrongful death of a 6 year old in 1992 (Wikipedia,103). The assault charges in 1993 involving Tupac’s attempt to beat a fellow rapper with a baseball bat set in stone the stigma he tried to reverse (Wikipedia, 105).

The thug image and lifestyle he lived showed no respect for authority, carrying guns on him, among other things, hurt his cause and his dream for a better life for himself and the people he was reaching out to help.

All rappers before Tupac use the same foundation of lyrics in their songs. I think that rap music changed course from its original purpose of inspiring others and creating hope. To being all about money and business, about getting one’s name out there to the public with marketing. I also feel rap music often depicts the opposite of what Tupac’s message was intended to be regarding women. Even though Tupac rapped about a brighter future, he didn’t make enough choices or influences in his own life to make his dream a reality.

In my opinion, Tupac dressed the part for the way society viewed him, and he didn’t seem to care. From his baggy pants to the bandana on his head, the cocky swagger he projected in his music video for the song “Keep Ya Head Up,” he painted the negative image that he was trying so hard to deflect (“Keep Ya Head Up” music video).

I REMEMBER

I remember saying goodbye to friends and family as I drove to airport to board the small white jet with only the clothes on my back and a small bag. I remember not sleeping the first 72 hours. I remember the many ,many push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, running and swimming I endured. The cattle shoot of never ending vaccines that made my arms feel like spaghetti and throb with pain. The many achievements I accomplished and being labeled as a leader and a stand out in my time in boot camp trying to become the best of the best in my goal to become a Navy Seal. Ultimately being selected for SEAL training I deciding to go another route in my career in the medical aspect of the service.

I remember traveling by air, land and sea through deserts, jungles and high waves to get to my destination or designated target.

I remember the hot dry days, the sweltering humidity, and the cold nights. The sand storms that whipped up out of nowhere and the brown outs that were generated by the powerful rotors of the helicopters.

I remember the raids and explosions, the bullet splash around me, the constant stress and mental alertness that drained everything out of me.

I remember things I wish not to remember and the PTSD I came home with and dealt with for some time after trying to readjust

I remember the humming of rotors and aircraft that took off and landed causing me to use earplugs. I remember the feel of a wet suit before entering the deep dark ocean water for training exercises.

I remember the sleepless nights as I lay awake due to either the heat, the fear of camel spiders and snakes or sand fleas or the uncomfortable racks and cots I had to sleep in every night.

I remember the feel of the sand as it hits my skin like shards of glass, the ocean breeze and the transition to a calming feeling aboard the carrier away from the “sandbox”

I remember my brothers and the life long bond we have, the way we looked out for each other and the things we all went through together. Having friends of all kinds from all over the United States and knowing that you will always share something special with them.

I remember drinking beer on the beach in Spain and the locals generous hospitality, four wheeling through the streets with my shipmates and shopping at expensive shops. I remember the amazing pizza I tasted in Cicili and pictures I took of the beautiful scenery.

I remember 3am watch on the journey home across the Bermuda triangle and the erie feeling I got as I swear the water looked black and the superstition of stories of ships not making it home crossed my mind.

I remember hugging loved ones and friends after arriving back home on American soil, the huge steak I ate at outback as my first meal home. It was good to be home!

Where I’m From

I am from dumbells, from downy fabric softner and tide

I am from the discipline and compassion I was raised with, scars from falling off my bike, playing in the snow for hours, the smell of my mothers homemade pumpkin pies.

I am from peddles with thorns, tough on the outside, soft on the inside

I am from family Christmas parties and stubbornness

I am from the quick tempered and loyal

From you can be whatever you want to be and don’t changer who you are for anybody

I am from Christianity and my belief in my savior jesus Christ

I am from Harrisburg and german and dutch, venison and mashed potatoes

From aunt madlyn and her yellow canary, the way she used to spoil me as a kid, and the close relationship she had with my grandmother

I am from pee wee football, lots of trophies, pictures on santa’s lap and my first dog susie