Reading In Tim O Brien's The Things They Carried

I always read as a kid. I was the small boy who plowed through books day and night, my mom scrambling to and from the library just to keep up with me. The only thing fixated on my mind was reading a new book and being totally captivated by the plot. Since then, I read less and less, sometimes going months without finishing a book. I feel sad that I spend less and less days staying up to midnight just to read one ... more … page. At this point in my busy life, the only reading I can complete is the books assigned in english class. Time and time again, this outlet has been a way for me to experience the satisfaction of reading that I normally would not have time for. I was curious when I heard we were reading The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. …show more content…
I had read books with emotional weight to them, but looking at the author with my own eyes let me visualize the scene when Lieutenant Cross retrieved Curt Lemon’s limbs from the top of the tree. I had never experienced this, whether it be in literature, a movie, or in person. I had talked to my father and grandfather about war, but they never vulnerable and opened up in this type of way. The Things They Carried was an avenue for me to completely change my opinion on a topic that had been drilled into me since I was a small kid. As amazing as reading and experiencing the book, this realization was much more powerful and important to me as a …show more content…
Rather than succumbing to this submissive idea, I learned to think for myself, and form my own ideas about topics rather than have others tell me what to think. I now fully understood Dr. Mederer’s three rules: never trust your teacher, never trust your calculator, and never trust your textbook. While this may seem backward coming from a math teacher, the lesson is impermeable. In this day and age, it is essential we form our own opinions from the facts presented to us, and to not merely listen to what is told to us. To say media and social media does not consume us would be a lie, and the only function it serves is to stimulate us, present us with opinions to grab our attention as we sit bewildered and completely vulnerable. As a result, we do not use our own heads to formulate ideas, but rather rely on others to think for us. This is dangerous, especially in a society where our opinions and ability to influence change are the most powerful qualities we have. In the past ten years, social media has been so influential for any political action because of this weakness we all have. This weakness has been exploited, whether it be for good or for worse. Barack Obama used social media to swing the election in his favor, securing the title of first black president. President Donald Trump used social media to leverage his way into office while spending about