Candide's Punishments, Do They Fit the Crime?

I think that none of the punishments that Candide has received so far actually fit the crime. I have noticed that the punishments get a little bit closer to fitting the crime with each incident, but Candide hasn't really done anything that deserves such harsh treatment. His first "crime" was kissing Cunegonde in the Baron's palace. As a result, Candide was kicked out of the palace and out of the only world that he has ever known. After being kicked out of the palace, Candide was tricked into joining the Bulgarian army. He trained well, but was basically tortured when he attempted to run away. I don't even think he had any bad intentions; he simply didn't know that you can't leave the army whenever you please. Of course, Candide was harshly punished for that. Just for innocently escaping the army, he was beaten to the muscle by the whole regiment of the Bulgarian army (choosing this punishment over being shot in the head). Next, Candide was verbally punished by the Christians in Holland. His crime in this part of the book was ignorance, for he was not completely aware of what he had to say to get approval in the particular town he was in. Fortunately, there was the Anabaptist present, who helped Candide out. Candide's next punishment was being beaten in the act of faith, as well as seeing his mentor hanged. Candide had to suffer this treatment because Pangloss was talking about his opinions (philosophical optimism), and Candide was listening to him. Because of all the pain and suffering Candide has had to endure up to this point, he is starting to move away from the belief that all is for the best in this world, as his mentor taught him. He is starting to learn more about the world around him and how he must act and think in order to stay alive. 

Who is the Modern Gadfly?

I would have to say that Michael Moore matches the description of a modern day gadfly more than anyone else that I can think of. Much like Socrates during his time, Michael Moore persistently attempts to approach our leaders of corporate America and the government in order to make them admit that they've done something wrong or that their beliefs and foundation aren't too stable. I think what truly makes Michael Moore a modern gadfly is the fact that he is presenting his opponents with valid arguments and becomes irritating to the point where he actually becomes an important person in the category of anti-status quo personalities. If Moore was even the slightest less pressing than he is, this nation probably wouldn't really even know who he is. He decided to focus on key issues in America, carefully analyze and understand them, then ask his opponents why they made certain decisions. In all of his films, Michael Moore makes it a point to personally attempt to dig up truth from the  leaders that he believes have made poor decisions that have negatively affected America. Other than producing films, Moore has voiced his opinions on news shows, including Fox News. In 2006, he and Bill O'Reily spoke about 9/11 and former President Bush's actions. I believe that Michael Moore stands behind everything he believes in, and is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to find truth in pivotal issues. In Athens, Socrates approached leaders and questioned their beliefs and ideology. I feel that no one today has done this more than Michael Moore.

The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living?

I agree with Socrates that the unexamined life is not worth living. At some point in your life, you must look back on what you've done so far and evaluate whether you like what you've done or don't. At that moment, you can make a change in your habits in order to become more productive or meet a goal that you have. I don't think that it's possible to set goals if you don't examine your life and see where it's headed. There would be no way to know if you want to go to college, or if want to start a business in downtown Chicago. Self-evaluation is an essential tool that allows one to realize what they want the most and them to figure out how to achieve whatever that may be. While there may be little consequence to going through the motions of life without much thought about future plans, countless opportunities are missed if you don't think about possibilities for yourself and how you have excel in whatever it is you do. I believe that most major decisions are made through self-evaluation because at the end of the day, you have to make a decision that will make you happy, regardless of what others may think of that decision. Without examining your life, it would be extremely easy for somebody to steer you in the wrong direction and you sway your beliefs. Most people form their beliefs by looking at themselves and the world around them. They take in what they hear from parents, friends, and the media and try to relate it to their life. Without the careful examination of your life, it becomes very difficult to understand how anything that happens in the world could relate to you.

My Eulogy

Zachary Stuart was a hard-working, responsible young man who loved to play golf and spend time with his friends and family. He liked to give back to others, whether this meant tutoring a fellow student or lending money to someone in need. Volunteering was a large part of how Zach gave back to the community. As a member of NHS, he volunteered at events around Chicago and places such as the Greater Food Depository of Chicago. Also, as a member of the First Tee of Greater Chicago, he helped young people learn the game of golf and all that it has to offer. Besides being a full time high school student, Zachary was also a member of the Whitney Young golf team. Since the age of six, he played the game and developed his golfing skills. Golf had a great impact on Zach's personality because it taught him honesty, respect, and perseverance, and he always tried to apply values such as these on and off the golf course. As a student, Zach always gave his best effort to maintain a good grade point average and understand what his teachers taught him. He strongly believed that the work he put in as a young man would greatly benefit him later on, which is why challenged himself and worked hard throughout his educational career. He had plans to study mechanical engineering at Stanford University, and then go on to get a MBA from the Wharton School of Business. After finishing his education, Zachary planned to start his own engineering firm and work with cutting-edge technology.