Voltaire And Camus Are Voting For...

No one! After reading Candide, I learned that Voltaire does not believe in positions of power. In his novel, he has made it clear that he believes that most leaders, both political and religious, are corrupt and will not lead one to happiness. Voltaire is the type of person who would rather not worry about all the pettiness in society and mind his own business in his tiny garden.

Camus would definitely not be participating in the election either. After reading The Stranger, I see that he would find no meaning in the election. Everyone will die anyways, so what's the point of voting? Camus might be committing suicide or waiting to die somewhere instead.

Our Stranger Meaning

Having new experiences that I can connect with is something that creates meaning in my life. Every time I do something I've never done before, it comes with a rush, some new high. I love the way how going someplace new, eating something different, or learning something interesting stimulates my mind in a way that throws it off balance. Having the lack of familiarity upset by the attainment of it is the best feeling. These outside experiences, in turn, create an inner experience that mold new little parts of who I am and who I become. Yes, I know that life is pointless because I will eventually die and all of the events in my life will eventually matter to no one. But, I'm the type of person that wants to live forever. I am so small compared to this country, this earth, this universe. I feel like there are so many things to experience out there. I was born to live life, so why not lead it in a way that will make me happy?

Candide's Punishments, Do They Fit the Crime

Candide has committed many crimes. I believe he was punished justly for some, and he was also not punished enough for others. For instance, he greedily took the jewels from Eldorado to bring to the outside world for the use of living in luxury. To me, taking those rocks in use for profit somewhat tainted the innocence and purity they had in Eldorado. He was justly punished by eventually losing it all to nature and even greedier people. Nature was taking the jewels back when the sheep carrying them were starving and falling off cliffs into their deaths. Candide's greed manifested the crime, so even greater greed served the punishment via the sailors/pirates.
An instance where Candide escaped punishment was when he killed the Commandant and the two monkeys. He was going to be killed by angry cannibals but he was let free because he killed the cannibals' enemy. He went unpunished even though he murdered three beings. Simple logic would obviously suggest that a killer should be killed. Should killing your predator's enemy make up for killing your predator's kin? I don't know.

The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living?

I pretty much agree that an unexamined life is not worth living. I'm not saying that people with unexamined lives should go kill themselves, but yes, I think there wouldn't be much substance in their lives. I feel like people, especially young people (me included), do not know what they want in life. As children, people blindly grow up under so many influences that they do not even know are there. These influences include people, yes, but they also can include the many minor events that one experiences such as watching a cartoon or climbing a tree. I feel like these influences are the key to examining one's life. They are the only things one knows so it is the one and only great place to start reflection. Questioning one's experiences and influences forces the true meaning of those things to oneself. Why do I like this? Is it wrong for me to do this? How? After long bouts of introspection, I feel like the personal meanings of things will reveal themselves to anyone. All the bull people thought they cared for and all the true shit people actually care about will be realized. I feel like this self examination, goes on throughout one's life; It is a sign of maturing. Examination will help direct those blindly living life.

Eulogy

We can all remember Justin Mark Honra in many ways. We know him as a brother, a cousin, a friend, but really as the funniest, straight forward and truthful person we could ever meet. He was born in Manila, Philippines on January 23, 1995 to Jeanett Honra and Darius Mayhay. He lived through poverty, not owning many toys but only a bag of legos and a walking robot that lit up. As a boy, he and his cousins had fun by playing outside and messing with his uncle's pet monkey Fykes. Life was simple back then, but it was still tough. He came to America when he was six. I can still remember him as the boy that never really talked. I think he didn't know English. When I look back at the six year old Justin compared to the seventeen year old one, I cannot believe that they were the same person.
Justin was a loud one all right. He was talkative and loved to make jokes in class. He was really straightforward to both teachers and students. He may have seemed the quiet type in class but it was only when he was with awesome people that his true personality showed.
You know, it always surprised me how Justin could always laugh and be so straight forward all the time. He didn't grow up in the greatest situation out there. His father left when he was 9 and he didn't have his mom in America until two years ago. He had to learn to be independent which made him mature quickly. Although Justin may have seemed at times to be too frank and rude, he was actually kind. His unique personality always left people with a smile. We will always know Justin not as that boy in class that died, or the unfortunate family member, but as the man who could always make you laugh and would never lie to your face no matter the situation.