Urban Legend

     The kidney heist - a young man or a teenager is either seduced by a beautiful woman or pays for an escort. The following morning, he awakens in a bathtub full of ice to find one of his kidneys has been removed for sale on the black market. 
      Organ harvesting is contemporary society's misdeed. In this story, the loss of an organ and possible forthcoming grotesque life of pain, is used as a repercussion for young males who would risk or fall into a nets of 'lust.' Meanwhile, the story dates back to approximately about 200 years, the more contemporary version of this urban legend is that freshman will get an AIDS or HIV and will live a life of pure peer pressure and tenure. The story bases its fundamentals on the religious and cultural values of being free of 'extra desires.' The modern society has its own beliefs which might be distinct than the beliefs of the society 200 years ago.

Namesake - name meanings

• Ashoke - the name of an emperor, means "he who transcends grief.", without sorrow. Ashoke can be related to his name because Ashoke’s life is full of grief that he relieved: experiencing the train crash, being tied to a bed for over than a year, getting to to live and feed his family in foreign country alone with his Ashima. (56)
• Ashima - she who is limitless, boundless, protector. Ashima’s name suits her because she is matriarch figure in the family: taking care of her husband and Gogol.(56)
• Nikhil - is artfully connected to the old. It’s a perfectly respectable Bengali good name, meaning "he who is entire, encompassing all," whole(109). Nikolay(Russian) - victory of the people. Nikolay and Nikhil can be linked to character due to his bilingual socialization process - he encompasses the Indian and American values.
• Sonali - she who is golden, gold - good colour.(86) Meanwhile, Sonya’s figure hasn’t developed yet, the readers can feel that Sonya is just a little sweet sister of Gogol. She always supports him and shares his secrets.

My full name is Khamidov Mirza Firuz Bekhzod og’li

In Pieces: 

1. Khamid(Arabic)  - "praiseworthy”,  In Islamic tradition al-Hamid is one of the 99 names of Allah. The ‘ov’ ending is reminiscent of Soviet background of my family - all citizens of USSR had to put the same ending to their family names.
2. Firuz (Persian) - meaning "victorious", success
3. Mirza ~ Amirzadeh ~ (Persian, Arabic) -  "prince."
4. Bekhzod - "noble, high-born, honorable", derived from Persian به (beh) meaning "good, excellent" combined with زاد (zâd) meaning "child, son". ‘Og’li’ at the end means son of Bekhzad

All together I’m praiseworthy and victorious prince of honorable and noble dad.

The Namesake -- INTRO

     I came to U.S.A. for the first time in 2010. That journey had played an impeccable impression on me. The reason is every time I see something adorable - I want to own it. In States everything was adorable and at that time I already promised myself that I'm going to fulfill an American Dream. Later on, I had visited this country several times while being constantly motivated and inspired by people who lived in it. In 2018, my father fulfills his promise of sending me out to States. Life now, is a lot different but I'm more hungry for an American Dream. 

    My family is a family of immigrants who made it. Both of my grandparents were sent to Moscow to succeed with no financial, moral and physical support to succeed. My father and uncles were sent out to Shanghai and JFK  airport, respectively. The reason I wrote JFK is because they had no other destination but to progress from the airport down to the city. Now it's my turn to make a history; however my part is a lot easier than that of my family - I have all the support that I need.

    Traditions are rooted in the respect that all of us should show to others no matter in how bad position you are in.

Metaphor

Difference between cleverness and foolishness is exactly 5 minutes. We all as humans are similar to each other and to say that one is superior to other based on his cognitive skills is foolishness in its purest form. 

The metaphor is collateral to a famous metaphor “All ingenious is simple, and all simple is brilliant, A little man likes to hide his insignificance behind complex things” - by Joseph Goebbels. All the complex things ever said, ever invented, ever happened now from a span of time look brilliantly easy. However, try to prove the “BIg Bang” theory without ideas to start, invent a lightbulb or convince 200 million unlettered civilians to unite under your control.  

Explanation: Cleverness is just 5 minutes away from stupidity. Moreover, compound interest compound those 5 minutes into a whole eternity.

Briar rose

Sleeping beauty is fairy tale of a young princess who gets into a century long sleep after she, due to misfortune, touches the needles. In all three fairy tales the antagonist and protagonists are women while the only mans who actively participate in princesses life's are princes who rescue her from the misfortune. I disagree with the question proposed, because it is society’s attitude which shaped this fairy tale.

Nowadays woman’s role is portrayed as a weak human’s who is in desperate need. However, I believe that this is not true. Women always had their own way to impact on the societal issues. Women played a domestic father figure role and in recent years womens are being compared to mans role which makes sexist, feminist concerns.

Sleeping beauty is an old style fairy tale where the pure love and passion fights for the truth and beauty against all the greedy, jealous and evil deeds of wicked weak. Moreover the last scenes in all three poems correlate which reminds the notion that humans should always believe and hope in good. Princesses are seconds away from tormenting death, but their beloved always come at the right time to rescue them. Meanwhile, the cooks attempt to save children from ravenous and jealous evils is attempt to show that goodness always turn out in a positive ways - cooks are granted all worldly pleasures.

Fairy Tale

Fairy tale is a folklore genre that takes the form of a short story. The stories about the magical bold and feats, the magical creatures  battling against simple humans. Usually fairy tales are short stories made for kids to learn lifelong, valuable lessons. 

Life is God given miraculous gift. My fairy tale would be the life I'm having right now. I truly believe that we as humans are granted a lot of beautiful features which are considered average. Ability of analyzing, feeling of empathy, love, and loyalty are the features which are granted to people. There is no other fairy tale which could be compared to wonders of a fairy tale called life.

OK, not to be too humble, I would have a special attribute - doing the things which I promised to myself and my dear people. I wanted to be 100% disciplined. Plan follower would be my virtue.  

The Origin of Ants - is a Chinese folktale about the man who escapes from work, successfully tells lies and fells into a trap made by his deceptions.

In China there is a quote, “Small bricks build a Great Wall.” Small lies to his wife led him to a bigger adventures which forced him to lie to an emperor and to his whole nation. The moral of the story is do the work on time. Procrastinating  leads to the worst case scenarios. 

I like the folktale The Origin of Ants for several reasons. First of all the title of the tale is ironic - ants are hardworking and the man is lethargic. Second reason is because “released arrow always finds its aim.” The cycle of his lies led to his surprising, but logical ending.

The ending of this tale is what really makes this story unique. After reading Origin of Ants I know how ants are made and why they are on the kitchens where crumbs of bread is located.

Why "This Land Is Your Land" is considered folklore?

     This Land Is Your Land is a popular folk music about the boundless lands which United States of America possess. Endless skyway, golden valley and diamond desert are the beautiful places which belong to American folk. Every American citizen while listening to this folk music considers himself part of the song.

My opinion on the song

     I didn't knew the song before I start writing my blog. At the beginning it seemed old school. However, after first 26 seconds I started loving it. The background music is relaxing. It brings the feeling that I'm part of the society which I live in today - America. The lyrics are amazing, I would say motivating. I love national music because it always shows how country is good. 

P.S. I sang along with mr. Guthrie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s

Jornal 5.

(When I first discovered those statements it was obvious for me that they are logical)

(Take into account that this blog is attempt for a positive outlook)

WAR IS PEACE. 

Here is the quote of Italian diplomat of the Renaissance period, Niccolò Machiavelli “There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.” The war, work or task can’t be avoided, because if the possibility of war exists then the war will happen one day or another. “Never was anything great achieved without danger,” - the peace can be achieved by tackling the dangers.

P.S.: Orwell was a strong critic of Machiavellian ideas.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

There could be 2 possible explanations:
1) Ability to focus(ignore left thoughts) is essential to a efficiency during labor. It could be applied to cross country running. 

2) The less you know the better you sleep. The more you know the more there is responsibility & accountability. 

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

My parents taught me always to keep myself always busy. Man should always work, work and work. When man is free he is not improving, he is stagnating & he is not benefitting people around him. In my life freedom always leads to enslavement by mind and consequentially to depression.

Journal 8

George Orwell, author of 1984,  introduces the protagonist in the blossom of his mental puberty. Winston Smith is a 39 years old, he looks and acts sore. The protagonist is a hero with a big question mark. Hero - is a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Winston lacks all of those features. However, he is worthy of admiration.

First of all, Smith contends against norms which doesn’t suit him. Keeping diary, having a love affair & thinking against the government - Winston did all of those actions. He managed to take action taking into consideration the danger of death penalty and tortures of room 101. That is the actions of true outlier - effort against fears. 

Secondly, unlike his comrades Winston differs with the ability of analyzing, thinking and questioning. He constantly asks the questions about the harshness of the system. Hero mentally and physically struggles, but keeps searching for an exit in this system and finds it in love to Julia. Winston’s thinking abilities are features which make him hero.

Last but not the least, Winston searches for a hope & loves. Airstrip one is dismal and depressing features: the gray walls give gloomy background, omnipresent Big Brother has a supervision of every move and, God forbid, if there is slight trace of inadvertent left thought - citizen is ought to be punished. However, protagonist as a true hero finds optimism in love to Julia.

In macabre, meaningless and merciless struggle of a person against system, first is doomed to lose. Winston Smith is a hero to be admired to have a qualities which ought not to exist in tortured and depressed society.

Journal 13.

Spirit of a man...  Spirit of a man... 

     I believe in human spirit
     Spirit of a man it is something unmeasurable, unfathomable feature of a human which distinguishes human from an animal. Distinct cultures call it differently: soul, inner being, essential being or even motivating force. "Do not look for anything outside the soul - everything is in it," - said once Philaret Drozdov, the most influential figure in the Russian Orthodox Church.
     Since the immemorial our ancestors, constantly were in search of the immaterial matter which they could rely on. Tribes would pray to stones, get instructed by shamans, envision God to ask him for a help. Finally they decided. The best which exists is in themselves - their soul, their faith. Man is created to believe, to believe that there is a chance. We must live, we must love, we must believe.
However, in the battle of human vs. system, the choice is obvious. The structure is a machine which was built up day by day, year into year, decades... Moreover, the interest of a party stand out  as a primary - it is for public benefit. Human spirit can undermine the spirit of system but it will take a longer time & lot of cooperative work.

     P.S.: As a strong supporter of communism, I abstain from the notion that system is constructed to benefit few individuals. It’s more than that...

1.  There are a lot of poems which made me think, but these two left an indelible mark on me.
     First one is 'Martin Eden' by English poet Jack London written in the beginning of 20th century. It's a story of a fellow Martin who transforms from a common sailor into an outstanding author of his society. The gist of this story was that he falls in love with young, bourgeoise Ruth & does impossible just to let her family accept him in their family. Along the way of his growth he observes how Londons bourgeoisie is heavily  spoiled. 
      Second one is a book by Irish author Jonathan Swift, 'Gulliver's Travels.' I read this book two times in my life(that is how I love it): first in my childhood - nothing more than an interesting tale about super human, & second time I read it this summer and understood how deep it is, that this is not entirely children's literature. In the first part of the book is about the absurd vanity of the midgets. In the second, in the country of giants, the point of view is changing, and it turns out that our civilization deserves the same ridicule. In the third part, the arrogance of human pride is ridiculed. Finally, in the fourth appear vile exe as a concentrate of primordial human nature, not ennobled by spirituality which are those who are not taught.
      P.S: Personally, I love 'Karlsson-on-the-Roof' by Astrid Lingren.
- Believe me, Carlson, happiness is not in pies ...
- Are you crazy? And in what is it?


2.  Firuz is a nice guy. If you want to know more about him. Read this poem:


Admit it, Firuz, the world is an illusion.
The air you breathe, the earth which you step on
The water you drink, the fire that blames you, is just an illusion.
They are not eternal.
Admit who plunged into this illusion.
One day will surely wake up.
Even if you are a king, what's the point ...
We are all naked in the river of truth 
And since there is no aroma of constancy in the garden of this world
Get body wounds for blooming roses.
Everything will disappear like the wind blowing leaves during a fall, because the hour of death will come.
Admit it, Firuz, the world is an illusion.
The air you breathe, the earth
which you step
The water you drink, the fire that devours you, is just an illusion.
They are not eternal.
Admit who plunged into this illusion
One day she will surely wake up.
King or not, we are all naked in the river of truth ...


P.S.: this poem is an inspiration by Suleiman. Every time Firuz sees this essay, he comes back to his religious beginnings. He understands that the worries are not worth it, that the desires are ought to be shushed & thing that matters is the legacy which will be left behind.