Fences: Parenthood

Parents have the most dificult job in the world, they are required to bring children into the world and then instill upon them the values that will help guide their success or failure in life. Every parent has a different ideas on how to best accomplish this, sometimes they work, but more than often they fail in an even more constructive way than was intended. As it turns out in fences, Troy failed more than he succeeded, but as a result his children were better off for it.

Lyons was his first born son, and probably his biggest mistake. Troy would push Lyons to find work that wasn't satisfying to him, to through away his dreams and squander his hopes and desires. As a result of this, Lyons was able to see the kind of man he should never be, instead he was always encouraging the dreams of others and pushing them to strive for their goals. This was very evident with his interactions with Cory, who had the dream of going to college and playing football and earning a higher education. Every time Lyons saw Cory he would give that extra support and encouragement for him to go after his dreams. When he showed up in the last scene before Troy's funeral, he was still asking others about what they wanted in life, and reassuring them that they would surely be able to get what they wanted.

Cory was his second son, and his first and final child with Rose. The relationship between Cory and Troy was more prominent during the play than that of Lyons or Raynell, which allowed for a better look on the influence that Troy had on his son. The first thing that Troy failed at was establishing a work first play later attitude in Cory. Cory wanted to live more like Lyons, chasing his dream of becoming more successful than his father ever was. Troy forced Cory out of sports, out of his favor, and out of his house, but in the process Cory learned what hard work and dedication and duty could do to create a successful future. After he was kicked out of the house, he left to become a marine, and to do so he used the mentality his father helped grow inside of him. Although the mere idea of being like his father haunted him, he actually became everything that made his father good. He was hard working, determined, deontological, and demanding man that would not let another soul control his destiny. This brought him to a higher level, a place where he could now go anywhere with endless possibilities.

Troy's last child was Raynell, but not a whole lot of description or character was developed in the play. But the greatest thing that Troy did for Raynell was not even directly to her, but rather an action that had occured about 15 years before she was even born, and he would later look back and find that it was a mistake, he married Rose. The greatest blessing that he was able to give to his daughter was by giving her a mother who knew what to to for the child, someone who saw what his sons went through to get to the point where they are now, and she would be able to raise Raynell to have the values of hard work that would help her to find success.

Troy was by no means a perfect father, quite the opposite as a matter of fact, but what he did do was help bring to life three amazing children. Despite his many faults and screw-ups, Troy did what he thought was right, he taught the lessons that he  had to learn for himself. Not always in the best way, but every one of his kids learned the same lessons one way or the other.

The Abnormal State

The Outsider

Looking around

every face turns away

Looking down 

I don't belong

Feeling so different

no one to know

Feeling in darkness

for someone to hold

Finding nothing 

But gravel on the ground

Finding something

that knows my pain

Looking up

a new face appears

Looking forward

to a life long friend

The question of what is normal has become the center point on what many high schoolers have been focusing their attention. As a result many people are outcast for a multitude of reasons; whether it be a person's ability to function at a certain mental state, not too smart not to dumb, or just because they look a certain way. This kind of grouping is often referred to as clicks, but, as I know, most of the people who will be reading this blog already know this to be a fact. But the question is, what really is abnormal? Grade school kids put a lot of emphasis on how they perceive others, but the truth is this is too narrow of a window to look at the world.

As I have been going through school I have had a unique perspective on how my peers interact. I like to stay off to the side lines most of the time, looking in on what other people are doing and saying, but then at the same time I decide to jump in to see what it feels like to be in the group. People always seem to feel safer in these groups, but the truth is groups can destroy those who are not part of them...and sometimes even those in them.

"Clicking" forces some people out of groups and pulls others in. This fluctuation is the main source of difference and ultimately abnormality. When people are brought into groups, they begin to share qualities that others share, this soon makes them normal, equal, the same as the people surrounding them. In the same way this also creates difference, pulls people apart and subjects them to scrutiny by peers. This action of emotionless excommunication forces people into isolation, a place where few venture, a place where people become abnormalities in society. Although this occurs by the actions of peers at times, an individual will sometimes choose this path themselves, to avoid having to conform when others feel the need, but in the end, the act of isolation, separation, seclusion, is what makes someone abnormal.

But the thing about abnormality is that it is also about perspective as well. A person who has been shunned from one group often finds another, even if it is the group of people who have no one else to turn to, a group with nothing in common but the fact that very few others seem to share their ideals. Even though many call some strange, some more than naught call many strange. So the truth is everyone is normal, all they need to do is find someone to be normal with...and so is the state of abnormality.

Introduction to Me

This is my first blog ever and I would really like to introduce myself to the world. The number one thing that I want to share is that I really love math and science and engineering. Just the idea that things can be explained and constructed by simple ideas has always excited me. I always feel such an acomplishment when I am able to take different principles and apply them to my everyday life in an intriging way.

But even above engineering I have found a deeper passion for aviation and all things that fly, what ever they may be. Flying to me has always been that ultimate freedom that has put the rest of the world into perspective. Things that once seemed so much larger and important are now mere specs from three thousand feet up. I feel that this perspective has given me a unique point of view on the world.

On a more literature side I love to read novels and listen to music and watch movies. Of the three I would say that movies are by far my favorite type of literature. My favorite movie is impossible to pin point, but my favorite genre of movies is definitely "the struggle for social balance". I don't know why, but I am always captivated into the deeper parts of the movie where characters must over come the hurdles in themselves to conquer the hurdles of society.

One of my favorite bands is definitely AC/DC. They created some of the first heavy rock in the world, and the best part about it is they are still played on major stations on the radio today. The other band, slightly in the opposite direction, that I have found to be a great joy to listen to is Muse. They morph so many aspects of  different genres together to create and entirly unique sound that is completely their own.

So that is a little about me. I hope you have enjoyed reading my first blog as much as I have enjoyed writing.

And I should probably mention that my last name is not O'Brian, but my uncle thought it suited me well so it has become my name for him.