Future Of Us [Revised]

Reading Response #5


Fate.something that unavoidably befalls a person; fortune;the universal principle or ultimate agency by which the order of things is presumably prescribed; the decreed cause of events; that which is inevitably predetermined; destiny; a prophetic declaration of what must be; death, destruction, or ruin.- Dictionary.com

In the book, The Future of Us by Carolyn Mackler and Jay Asher, future and fate is discussed throughout the book. In the beginning, Emma, the main character, receives an AOL CD-ROM from her close friend Josh, and gets logged on to Facebook, which wasn't even invented yet. Facebook includes everyone's future in fifteen years, by their profiles. In the book Emma talks about her "Fate" changing, which is oxymoronic considering that fate never changes, in several parts of the book. Fate doesn't change.

In the beginning, Emma discovers, through her Facebook profile, that she does not have a job, and loves macaroni and cheese. Later, she concludes that she "changed" her fate. How? She found a post of her future self, "last night's lasagna heated up great, but work is stressing me out." [75] Stating that she has a job, and is heating up lasagna instead of making mac and cheese. She believes that the dinner she had [mac and cheese] "turned her off to it" [75] now, and in the future. When Emma says that she changed her Fate, the sentence itself is logically incorrect; fate NEVER changes, it is a planned future. No matter what anyone does, fate is fate. The only way that this could've actually happened is that her future self decided to delete her previous post, decide to cut on mac and cheese, and finally find a job.Going deeper into the book, Emma changes her future again. "-looking at the name of her new husband. Kevin Storm." [137] Emma's husband at the beginning of the book is Jordan Jones, now its Kevin Storm. She also found a job change. She is now a marine biologist. This is another change that she did in her future. It seems that Facebook is allowing Emma to change her future so that she would like it. It still doesn't make sense, the future is already written. One can't just simply change the future, it is scientifically impossible.

Science in this book, specifically physics, play a major role in this book. The laws of physics, in the book,  are permitting her to look at her future with no limits, and allowing her to change it so that she would like it. Why doesn't it make sense? When Emma grows up, she is going to live the future that she is "changing" right now. How is future Emma is living the changes? Is she going to actually witness the changes in her future? If fate were easily changed by Emma’s and Josh’s actions now, then fate would always be changing for them, no matter how much they try not to. That is why Fate exists. It is a planned future, unchangeable. 



Science in this book, specifically physics, play a major role in this book. The laws of physics, in the book,  are permitting her to look at her future with no limits, and allowing her to change it so that she would like it. Why doesn't it make sense? When Emma grows up, she is going to live the future that she is "changing" right now. How is future Emma is living the changes? Is she going to actually witness the changes in her future? If fate were easily changed by Emma’s and Josh’s actions now, then fate would always be changing for them, no matter how much they try not to. That is why Fate exists. It is a planned future, unchangeable. 

The Future Of Us

Reading Response #5

Fate.

Fate is a both a noun and a verb. Something destined to happen, or the development of events outside a person's control, a supernatural "thing." In other words, Fate is already planned, it is also known as 'Destiny.'

In the book, The Future of Us by Carolyn Mackler and Jay Asher, future and fate is discussed throughout the book. In the beginning, Emma, the main character, receives an AOL CD-ROM from her close friend Josh, and gets logged on to Facebook, which wasn't even invented yet. Facebook includes everyone's future in fifteen years, by their profiles. In the book Emma talks about her "Fate" changing, which is oxymoronic considering that fate never changes, in several parts of the book. Fate doesn't change.

In the beginning, Emma discovers, through her Facebook profile, that she does not have a job, and loves macaroni and cheese. Later, she concludes that she "changed" her fate. How? She found a post of her future self, "last night's lasagna heated up great, but work is stressing me out." [75] Stating that she has a job, and is heating up lasagna instead of making mac and cheese. She believes that the dinner she had [mac and cheese] "turned her off to it" [75] now, and in the future. When Emma says that she changed her Fate, the sentence is oxymoronic; Fate doesn't change, it is a planned future. No matter what anyone does, fate is fate. The only way that this could've actually happened is that her future self decided to delete her previous post, decide to cut on mac and cheese, and finally find a job.

Going deeper into the book, Emma changes her future again. "-looking at the name of her new husband. Kevin Storm." Emma's husband at the beginning of the book used to be Jordan Jones, now its Kevin Storm. She also found a job change. She is now a marine biologist. This is another change that she did in her future. It seems that Facebook is allowing Emma to change her future so that she would like it. It still doesn't make sense, the future is already written. One can't just simply change the future, it is scientifically impossible.

Science in this book, specifically physics, play a major role in this book. The laws of physics are permitting her to look at her future unlimitedly, and allowing her to change it so that she would like it. Why doesn't it make sense? When Emma grows up, she is going to live the future that she is "changing" right now. How? Exactly. How? is the question. Is she going to actually witness the changes in her future? That is why Fate exists. It is a planned future, unchangeable. The authors are making the character decide on the future she wants, even though fate is unchangeable.

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

Reading Response 4


The story The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, by Ray Bradbury, shows how much we all need a guide, mentor, or mother figure. We all had some moments where we feel useless because of someone or something. We may not realize it right away, but someone needs us. In the story, Joby, the protagonist, is going through the same thing. He soon realizes he needs to continue in the war, not only for his well being, but for the soldiers and the country. Everyone has a purpose, not only in their own lives, but in other lives too, and in fate.

How did Joby even get to the war? He ran away from home. Thinking that it will solve all of his problems. How did his family feel? Joby's actions had taken effect on his family. His family had to react in a motherly like way: worrying about him everyday. What if Joby dies in the war? His family would be devastated.

"Me, thought the boy, I got only a drum, two sticks to beat it, and no shield" (50) Joby views himself as a useless little boy that will eventually die in the war no matter how much he tries; he feels that he has absolutely nothing to do in the war. Like us, Joby feels that if he dies, absolutely nothing will change and no one will notice his death.

What the general has him understand is that everything will change after his death. By everything, I mean the whole nation and the nation's fate.

"The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" stresses this fact by placing the protagonist in war, and having the general tell him his purpose, therefore, making it obvious that his family, the soldiers, the general, including the nation, would be affected.