Only nerds write papers for fun

I haven't written for a while. Being busy and stuff. I don't want to write about me, though. If you know me, you know I love the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. That book has heroes and villains. Some of the greatest people have the worst situations thrust upon them, yet they pull through. Atticus Finch. Heck Tate. Judge Taylor. Tom Robinson. Arthur Radley. But those people won't really be the focus of what I am writing about tonight. I want to write a paper about a man who dies in the first chapter of the book. A man who literally never talks in the whole novel. A man whose first name we don't even learn: Mr. Radley.

The first time through the book To Kill a Mockingbird, it is very easy for one to think that Mr. Radley is a rigid, total jerk. In fact, having read this novel over ten times, I can tell you that that perspective is probably going to stick. I never thought about it, really. He was a jerk and he died. Done deal. However, I have been thinking about it. I have really been thinking about it. To the point that now when I think about Mr. Radley, I tear up. I submit to you that Mr. Radley was as great of a man as Atticus Finch. The only difference was that he had a rougher situation.

Here is a little thought I had that you probably haven't considered (I say that because I just barely thought of it and that was on a fluke): Arthur Radley was mentally handicapped. Now mind you, I don't mean that he had a lot of disabilities; maybe just a little autism. The book takes place in the 1930's in the South. Heck, this was a time when they hardly understood that skin color didn't change the worth of a person. They almost definitely didn't understand mental illness. Now keep that in mind as we go on.

Mr. Radley was said to be devoutly religious. A man whose only law was the law of God. A man who was most likely extremely happy to have a healthy baby boy, Nathan. A man who was probably extremely distraught when his second son, Arthur, was born with problems he didn't understand. A man who probably prayed to God asking why he had been given this unsolvable trial. A man whose already stiff living became stiffer, thinking he had done something to upset God. His children grew up living fairly normal lives, his younger sons slight disability not too noticeable, but just noticeable enough for Mr. Radley to want to change it yet was unable to do so. Mr. Radley was aware that his younger son did not have many friends. He was sad that his son was so distant. Then finally Arthur got some friends. Mr. Radley didn't care who these kids were; they were friends with Arthur and that was good enough. His son was finally normal and Mr. Radley was so happy. He really loved Arthur.

That's why the arrest came as such a shock. It wasn't as bad as everyone said it was. Small towns always blow things out of proportions. The biggest problem was not the charges. The court wanted the boys to be sent to a correctional school. But Mr. Radley knew better than most: Arthur wouldn't do well there. He just wouldn't be able to make it with all his special needs. Not only that, but ever since the incident (of which he was just an observer), Arthur was scared. Mr. Radley told the courts that he would never send his son to that school. People took it as a sign of pride, but it didn't matter. The thing was, Arthur didn't need to be encouraged to stay indoors. He was scared. His simple mind couldn't think of anything outside of his house that was good.

After Nathan moved out, the Radley's reached a very easy point in their lives. Mr. Radley, now retired, bought groceries. Mrs. Radley took care of the house and her plants on the porch. Arthur was Arthur. He was content as long as he had newspaper and scissors. Mr. Radley started to love his son more. Mr. Radley went from seeing his son as a curse of God and started to think of him as a gift from God. Mr. Radley, a typically calm, reserved man, started playing with his son. He may have been an adult, but he had the mind and the heart of an innocent child and Mr. Radley loved that. In contrast, as his love for Arthur grew, his resentment for Maycomb also grew. Their stories of Arthur become wild exaggerations. They didn't know Arthur. Who were they to judge his blessing from God? The neighborhood starting calling Arthur the cruel name of Boo, as though he were just a creature and not a beautiful, wonderful, innocent young man. Mr. Radley started to speak to Maycomb citizens as minimally as possible. 

One night, Arthur and Mr. Radley were playing a game. Arthur got excited. Too excited. It was an accident. He didn't even really realize what he had done. He stabbed Mr. Radley in the leg with his favorite pair of scissors. They went to Dr. Reynolds and of course he had to call Heck Tate. When he got to the Radley residence, Arthur had forgotten the incident. Mr. and Mrs. Radley thought it was understandable. No one else did. The whole thing got blown out of proportions again. They locked Arthur up. It made Mr. Radley mad. His son was not a criminal. His son was not crazy. His son was a beautiful young man who just had a different understanding. Arthur was locked up and Mr. Radley couldn't get him out fast enough. Finally the courts heard his appeal; Arthur was coming home. Mr. Radley couldn't wait to have his little boy home again. 

The nights in the courthouse basement changed Arthur. Now he was silent. He was deathly afraid to go outside. It broke Mr. Radley's heart. His son was so sweet and they had ruined his life. His special son, and he was lost because of their ignorance. Mr. Radley's personality in public was so cold that before he seemed personable in comparison. He had little to say to these people. He didn't care what they thought. He didn't care about their lives. Even the good ones like the lawyer Finch became strangers. Mr. Radley spent all day every day trying to get Arthur to become what he used to be. After years of trying, it finally hit Mr. Radley: Arthur was gone. All that was left was Boo.

The day he realized was the day he started dying. Within a month he was on his deathbed. The typical people came over. Boo stayed away. Mr. Radley died thinking his son was broken and he couldn't do anything to change that. As far as he knew, no one could fix him. 

Of course, that was before Dill bet Jem that he couldn't touch the Radley house. That was before Boo met Scout and that was before Arthur started watching the lawyer Finch's kids.

That was my paper. I hope you like it. Because that was all I would need to use it for. Also, if you want to disprove anything I wrote, most of it was guesswork. It all came from the first chapter. Now if you haven't read this book, ask yourself, "Why in the world would a senior in high school write a four page paper for fun?" That is how amazing this book is. That paper was written from the first chapter. Seriously, if you haven't read it, do it now. I promise you it will change your perspective on life. It is so amazing. Thanks for reading this. Here's your prize. I have no idea what the heck it is. I spent like thirty seconds exploring, but have at it. That's all. Goodnight!

Atticus Finch

He is such a man, you know?

I hope I can be like him some day. Because seriously, such a man.

I want to tell you a story

It's about a man who came to earth. To make writing easier, we'll call him Clark. 

Clark was sent because his father, a good and noble man, wanted his son to live a life like himself. 

Clark was taken into a home by parents who wanted a baby boy. They got a son who was going to be strong, but they didn't realize it for a while. As Clark grew, he knew he had certain responsibilities due to traits inherit from his true father, who he had never met. So Clark decided to fulfill what his father had always planned on him doing: protecting and saving the world from total destruction.

Clark was on a planet that wasn't his home. He had parents he loved more than anything, but they weren't his only parents. He got a job as a writer, people around him never realizing how much power he really possessed. But when he heard a cry for help, no matter where he was, he put on his father's mantle and saved those he could. He wasn't perfect, but he tried to be. And it seemed that when he didn't reach his full potential, the shortcomings were made up for him.

At times, although Clark had amazing powers, he felt he needed guidance, guidance from him who truly knew his situation: his father. Luckily, when Clark retreated to his mountain citadel, he was able to gain insights from his first father. This connection was one of the reasons Clark was able to become so great.

Clark had a heart of righteousness and because of his father, he had powers and gifts the world wouldn't understand and some would even reject and scorn. He knew his potential and every day Clark strived to fulfill that potential, because he knew that was the only worthwhile choice. Clark was a super hero, but few ever realized.

This is funny. Because you really think you know who I am talking about. Well get ready to be blown away. This completely true story is not written about a fictional character. It's the story of Wyatt Duclos. I'll change the names and add a couple of words to help make it clearer.

Wyatt was sent because his Heavenly Father, a good and noble man, wanted his son to live a life like himself. 

Wyatt was taken into a home by parents who wanted another baby boy. They got a son who was going to be spiritually strong, but they didn't realize it for a while. As Wyatt grew, he knew he had certain responsibilities due to priesthood powers inherited from his true father, who he had never met. So Wyatt decided to fulfill what his father had always planned on him doing: protecting and saving the world from total spiritual destruction.

Wyatt was on a planet that wasn't his home. He had parents he loved more than anything, but they weren't his only parents. He got a job as a writer, people around him never realizing how much power he really possessed. But when he heard a cry for help, no matter where he was, he put on his father's mantle and saved those he could. He wasn't perfect, but he tried to be. And it seemed that when he didn't reach his full potential, the shortcomings were made up for him.

At times, although Wyatt had amazing powers, he felt he needed guidance, guidance from him who truly knew his situation: his Heavenly Father. Luckily, when Wyatt retreated to his mountain citadel, he was able to gain insights from his first father. This connection was one of the reasons Wyatt was able to become so great.

Wyatt had a heart of righteousness and because of his Heavenly Father, he had priesthood powers and spiritual gifts the world wouldn't understand and some would even reject and scorn. He knew his potential and every day Wyatt strived to fulfill that potential, because he knew that was the only worthwhile choice. Wyatt was a super hero, but few ever realized.

The thing about this is, I am not the only one. Anyone who has the gospel has the same responsibilities and the same gifts. It may seem like bragging that I say that Superman and I are the same person and I guess you're right. Superman never saved souls and neither have I. But I really intend to. I am a huge Superman fan because the story of Superman is the story of any priesthood holding twelve year old or eighty year old. Our Father asks us to be super, but first He made us super. We have His guidance. We have His gifts. We have His power.

I guess we all have a choice. We all have that decision to make: 

Will I be normal?

Or will I be super?

Average. Moderate.

"The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%."
-Andrew Carnegie

Dare to be the few and far between. You know I will.

"You rarely win"

Atticus Finch is a great man. He really would be, if he were real. He knows what courage is. I have read To Kill a Mockingbird at least a billion times. There is a simple quote that really gets me.

"Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win…"

People have seen me persist at one thing. I have been told that it is hopeless. I have been told that my time is not being spent well; that (to use a TKAM reference) Tom Robinson cannot be saved, so why even try? Honestly, until tonight, I never thought of myself as a courageous person. I mean I have always hoped that I was brave, but I didn't know. However, I am.

I knew from the beginning that I was licked. I knew it. There was no denying it. Tom was as good as dead as soon as Mayella Ewell asked him into her yard. But I did it anyway. Why? Because Atticus knew what he was talking about.

"You rarely win, but sometimes you do."

You can't stop the school of rock!!!

I started guitar class this semester. Every class period ends with me wishing I was JB. Yes, you read that right. Some people give him a hard time, because of his overall appearance and his lack of appreciation in some social circles, but I always want to be as awesome at guitar as Jack Black (who did you think I was talking about?). So I always crave watching the school of rock. Which I am doing now. Seriously so great.
Also I have a burning desire to replicate Jukebox Hero. Long story.

Hung Over
The School of Rock at MOVIECLIPS.com

Things I did today

Well, it was a busy one.

• I started out helping Nicole answer Trevor to Homecoming. I did that basically all day. She wanted me to stall him. I didn't really need to, but I accidentally did anyway. 
• Then I had some school. 
• I made a survey on if people in my Medical English class had robbed graves and why. It will be a hit.
• I felt a kinship to Newton and Aristotle and Galileo as we discussed them in Chemistry.
• I filmed some Student Council kids during third period and after school. 
• During lunch I made grilled-cheese panini for two girls that I never, ever thought would be at my house eating my food, Nicole Tucker and Kaylee Whiteley. 
• I told a story for Open Mic in Radio that technically happened to my best friend (but I said it happened to me).
• I fell asleep in my front yard in a chair that was waaaaay too close to the trash (I was too lazy to move it).
• I got picked up by Nicole and Annysela Medrano and we went to Buffalo Wild Wings.
• I did the Blazin' Challenge at BWW for On Campus. The challenge is eating 12 of their hottest (about 300,000 Scoville Heat Units) wings (bone in) within 6 minutes without any drinks and you cannot wipe your face.
• I cried while doing said challenge.
• I dominated said challenge in a beautiful 3 minutes 46 seconds.
• I washed my hands really well, but not well enough because in the car I rubbed my eye and basically burned it to a crisp.
• I went to DI and purchased the book A Thousand Splendid Suns for $2.00.
• My "friends" Nicole and Nini talked about how hot guys were and made me really uncomfortable.
• I helped Nicole really answer Trevor with a giant pair of pants on his windshield.
• I was the mascot (which incidentally is not the best thing to be after downing 12 wings and drinking milk which you can't fully digest).
• I watched PG dominate Provo 41-7.
• I went to McDonald's with Trevor and Nicole.
• I got home and edited a video to show my parents what I did this afternoon (the challenge).
• I texted this really great and awesome friend of mine who I didn't really get to see today, Maren Parsons.
• I blogged.

So you could say I have been a little busy. That is literally nothing of my whole day. I got random texts throughout the day talking about eating pants (in the Spanish language, no less) and I also witnessed the craziest fight I've ever seen at school.

It was a near champion day, I'd say.

The face of complete joy .02 seconds before the face of gut-retching pain. Love it.

Greatness

All you should watch is from 1:55 on.


I have recently been contemplating what makes a great man. I think I figured it out. A great man is he who does what he needs in order to succeed, but in a way that will help (or at least not hurt) other people.
My good friend, Josh, recently had a testing experience. He had received a very revealing piece of evidence to show the true nature of one of his enemies' character. He had recently gotten the upper hand on this person and it would have been very reasonable to share this information, thus crushing the enemy beneath him on his rise to the victor's cup. As Winston Churchhill once said, "Great and good are seldom the same man." I would like to add to what he says. Great and good are seldom the same man, but when it happens a legend is born. Well Josh is a legend.
Greatness is not a mean, it is an end. Some say to be great is to be misunderstood and I agree with that to a point. But true, Christlike greatness cannot be misunderstood, because all men know what it is: complete and utter righteousness.
So like Josh, or Malcolm Reynolds, or Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, we must strive to be. Because greatness, true greatness, makes legends. And that is pretty legen(wait for it)dary. Legendary.

Artistic Genius.

So I have been listening to the biography of Steve Jobs (don't touch it, it drops the F bomb more times than an 'R' rated, late eighties teenage film about "coming of age") and I have gotten inspired. No, not by Jobs, but by possibly one of the greatest artists of our era: Jonathan Ive. He is iconic. I cannot believe how beautifully everything he crafts comes to be. He really is a great artist.

Words cannot describe the respect I have for this genius of a man.

To keep me going

I got some good quotes that keep me writing. like: 

"You fail only if you stop writing."-Ray Bradbury

That one is hanging in my room. Or:

"If there is a magic in story writing, and I am convinced there is, no one has ever been able to reduce it to a recipe that can be passed from one person to another. The formula seems to lie solely in the aching urge of the writer to convey something he feels important to the reader. If the writer has that urge, he may sometimes, but by no means always, find the way to do it. You must perceive the excellence that makes a good story good or the errors that makes a bad story. For a bad story is only an ineffective story.”-John Steinbeck

One more:

"Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct or rewrite until the whole thing is down. Rewrite in process is usually found to be an excuse for not going on. It also interferes with flow and rhythm which can only come from a kind of unconscious association with the material."-John Steinbeck

The best part is that it's like John Steinbeck and Ray Bradbury are telling me things that they've learned by being professionals and I already knew them. Makes me feel giddy. I mean manly.

Hero

I read a quote once that I related to quite well. In all honesty I had no idea who Arthur Ashe was and I still don't know who he is. Judging from his quote page on Brainyquote, I think he was an African American tennis player. He has said things that I find not only true, but completely awesome. Really he inspires me and for that I am grateful.
Here is my favorite quote by him that I really feel applies to me completely:

"I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way, I am something of a loner."

I am taking a test right now

For a stupid class. I am actually writing this at 11:55 Wednesday night, but I know I will be angry right now. So let's just have something great.

It'll take me a lot of courage tomorrow. Well I guess today since this won't post until tomorrow. Weird. I am tired.

FOR CLAY

My friend, Clayton Ellis, just got called on a mission to Montreal, Canada, French speaking. So I am writing this. That is all.

Just kidding. Ha. He probably doesn't know this, but the Duclos family traces it's roots to the Montreal area. I am of French Canadian decent. I am pretty sure we are from his area, but I could be wrong. I also believe that there are lots of Duclos' living in that area. So Clay, I better have at least fifty Mormon cousins from Canada in two years and a few months. Seriously though, I am glad you are going. Maybe you tell people your friends with a Duclos and they feed you. It could happen. You are awesome and a great example to me. Thanks for all you do.

Also, there is a Brockville in your area. I just thought that was pretty funny.

Happy Birthday to my friend

He was born 203 years ago. What a great man. When we meet again in the spirit world, you bet I will be hugging one of my biggest heroes. I love this man.

Two Years

So I turn 19 in 727 days. I can be in the mission field as early as 727 days from now. I went to a farewell for a great man who I probably won't see for about four years. Zach Harris is one of my heroes. It made me realize how much I am going to miss the people I've known for longer than a year and a half. Like Nate Church or Taft Robinson or Trevor Ward. People like Josh Brown and Nate Cutler and every other guy who'll be leaving. (Hey all you girls out there- I probably won't miss you while I am gone. Take it personally if you'd like.)

I really love the church and I love the gospel. It can make miracles happen. I know it's truth and I strive to be like our Savior always. Seriously, He loves us more than words can describe. I would do anything I could for the people I love. I can't imagine anything that would make me scared to save even a single person. That is what makes what the Savior did so important. I didn't volunteer. The sacrifice was too much for me. I can't comprehend that. If the sacrifice was too great for me, the Savior loved us more than I could understand in this mortal world. It amazes me to know that He loves me that much. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I challenge you, reader of my blog, to study the Book of Mormon and pray to know it's truth. I promise nothing but blessings will come. I know that He loves you beyond anything ever. Remember that in times of trial.

I usually hate the stuff I write a few months after I write it, but not this. I wrote this a while back, but the truth of it is still the truth. Check it up:

I am proud to say that I am very brave (at least in past circumstances I have proven myself). I believe that, if needs be, I could do anything. If the situation was grave enough, I would be victorious. But I am not fearless. I submit to you my greatest fear: I fear that those I love and care deeply about don't care about me, or worse yet, dislike me. I am afraid that my friends who I would die for think of me as next to nothing. I fear that my best is not good enough. I fear I am a nuisance. I always think it and I hate it. I don't know if I'm anything worth caring for.

But then I remember someone, the greatest person ever to love. I remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves me. He knows who I am and still, He loves me. He rejoices when I make good choices, even when I am alone. When I make bad choices, He waits with open arms of forgiveness. No matter the problems in my life, He and my Father in Heaven will support me.

Jesus, my older brother, loves me enough that He died so I may be eternally happy. He suffered pain and scorn because He knew it would be worth doing. And He did not do this just for me. He did this for my friends, my neighbors, everyone who has been on this earth or will be on this earth. He is our shepherd, the voice in the dark, calling us to the light. He did so much for us because He loves us. He loves me.

So from now on, if you ever wonder, Am I good enough?, just remember, He knows you are and no one else can even compare.

Original post here.

A Real Man

Weird coincidence the other day: I got choked up in class. That would make sense in Seminary or even Biology, but it happened in History. Now, History is not my best subject, but it is one of my favorites. We spoke of someone I have always respected but never really that too much about. A man named Abraham Lincoln. While we discussed his assassination, I felt a strong sense of respect and of solemness that I surprised myself. I really believe that Abe and I were pretty tight in the pre mortal life. Here are some great quotes of his:


Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.

Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new at all.

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.

Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.

Everybody likes a compliment.

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.

I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.

I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.

I don't know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.

I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.

I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

Important principles may, and must, be inflexible.

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.

My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.

The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just.

Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.

When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence.

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.

You have to do your own growing no matter how tall your grandfather was.




Abe was a true man. A real man. Don't forget to give this man the respect he has earned in creating a free nation where the gospel could thrive.