If I Die Young

If I Die Young is written by The Band Perry and is such a great song. It carries such meaning in the verses which is somewhat surprising considering that the author, Kimberly Perry, is only 26.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM&ob=av2e

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the loving of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand

There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing
Funny, when you're dead how people start listening

If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys
And I'll wear my pearls

Dead Like Me

Dead Like Me was a series on Showtime that approached death from the afterlife perspective. I personally found it interesting because it gave a comical edge to a somewhat touchy topic. Like we discussed in class, death is still a 'pornography' of sorts. In the show, a young woman dies and becomes a grim reaper. Her co-workers, so to speak, are just like she. They are all normal looking people, they don't carry sickles and they aren't dressed in black robes. It reminds me of the episode of the Twilight Zone that we watched in class. Mr. Death, was a normal person, and death came as a whisper, not a bang, which is how death is depicted in this series as well.
Georgia struggles with her job. At first mourning her own death, she finds it hard to take someones soul, but through the series, the learns that with life comes death.

This is the link to the season 1 trailer. Check it out, though I don't think it gives the show justice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM3BTBuevmw

Romeo and Juliet

This is a well known and older story about death; there is a remake of the movie that depicts a more modern age view of the story. After watching it and really grasping more of the story now then I did when I was younger forced to read the play; I really enjoyed the beauty of their deaths. That might sound a little strange that by commiting suicide their deaths were beautiful, but Shakespeare wrote and intended it to be viewed that way. If he saw the importance of love or dying to be with the one you love back then makes me question a quote in the book. In the 15th century it was an actual reason of death, "dying from a broken heart." Romeo nor Juliet did do to poison and a sword but a broken heart drove them to do act as they did. There are always news reports of death because they were depressed from a break up or divorce. Whether it is considered suicide, I feel that the reasoning behind why they actually did take there lives should be considered in the report as well. Suicide by a broken heart or something to that nature... Now society does not put any backing behind dying from a broken heart regardless if the stress from a death close to you caused an heart attack. It is still just that, a heart attack. As a fan of romance and the behind scene reasoning of death; should it be specific when someone dies on why they died or why they took their own lives?

How much do we vaule life

A recent story on the news about a boy that is seventeen brutally killed both his parents with a hammer. The crime was planned and the teenager even through a party after the said crime with his parents dead in their room. The topic is not really on the boy's crime but the fact he is getting tried as a juvenile versus an adult. The reasoning behind this decision is because the fact he is not of age as an adult, and if he was put in a trial as an adult he would face the death penalty. Is it right that he is not facing the death penalty after clearly showing no remorse after killing both his parents? Is it right that being tried as a juvenile he could be out in ten years after this murder? The story really is mind blowing to think that there is no justice in this situation. It is a very sad story within itself, but does our country really care about the life of this young boy when he did such an act? There are people doing life for murders that were unintentional but regardless they happened and they are facing the consequences. Our society is always saying, an eye for an eye, but if that is the case; why are there so many different cases where the criminals in their own way... get away?

Has our media gone too far?

The question that seems to be on every news channel is whether Casey Anthony is safe after being released from jail? Does are media not realize that a child has been murdered and whoever has done this awful act is free! It is extremely sad when rather than memorialize the death of a child, the media publicizes the trial of the child's mother. Regardless if anyone believes she did it or not; does the media take it too far focusing on the mother versus the crime? When she leaves jail at the end of today, her child is not coming home with her. Caylee Anthony died a terrible death way too early in life. There should be recognition for the lost life displayed somewhere in the reports. All that has been said lately is the safety of the mother. So, I will end this blog and leave you again with the same question mention before, has the media gone too far?

These are a few links to recent articles about the case and death of Caylee Anythony:
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/28660098/detail.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/07/25/abc-news-after-casey-anthony-debacle-bans-paying-news-subjects-for-photos.html

Living Life to the Fullest

I can not lie; on the first day of class I walked in not really knowing how this class would really play out. I was scared to an extent that it would be very dry and depressing. Needless to say I was very wrong! I have more of an appreciation for the dying process and more value for the time I have left here myself. To bring up a blog made by a previous student entitled the, "bucket list" really sums up my thoughts reaching the end of this class. Every year it is the same question, "What do you want to do for your birthday?" Each year I always laugh and say I want to go sky diving. I recently took the time and signed up for a day to go and actually do my dream activity. My parents being very protective keep telling me to hold off and wait until I am older. When is the time to do these things though? Should I wait until I am older? The times have somewhat shifted; my grandparents now travel everywhere but went no where when they were my age. I would rather spend my time now being young doing all those things I would put on my 'bucket list' rather than wait until I am older. Is it wrong and selfish of me to postpone life to enjoy my youth, get all my dreams out of the way and then decide to settle down? It really has me thinking that maybe I am doing the sequence out of order.

The Bucket List

I saw the movie The Bucket List starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson back in 2007. This class has made me think about the concept of a bucket list especially after our discussion on the topic. However, one question still remains with me. Is creating a bucket list just another way to measure who we are and what we have done or not done in life? I would like to come up with a bucket list but I am hesitant to do it because I fear the end result. I think that if I produce a bucket list I may fail at completing it. Often people forget about their bucket list due to living life and it’s only when life comes to a halt that we look at our list. Another issue is losing the list or setting goals too high that the completion of the list may not be obtainable.

Perhaps my hesitation and question is just a way of me staling to come up with a list. Maybe people do not need a list and I am just following along with what society feels helps us. People may speculate my reasoning and question. However, I believe that the bigger picture is why do we really want a bucket list is just for our self or to prove to others? I leave with a final question. Will a bucket list or the concept of a bucket list really matter when we are dead?

Supriya Konkol Entry # 4