The Power Of Thick Face, Black Heart

The 2nd Brigade of 101st Airborne Division found out in the summer of 2004 that they had to prepare for the war in the Middle East more particularly for Iraq. With Colonel Todd Ebel in Command of the 2nd Division with a year to prepare over 3,400 men and woman he got right to work. Colonel Ebel started by choosing his staff and who he thought was fit to take charge and lead this ever more complicated war. It was a huge religious civil war taking place in Iraq at the time with the Sunnis at war against the Shi’ite and after the capture of Saddam insurgency started uprising immediately. This uprising along with the uprising of Muqtada al-Sadr a key leader that had lots of violent followers that soon grew into a form of a militia called

In order to become an expert performer Abbott and Collins (2004) suggest that talent development requires the possession of Psychological Characteristics for Developing Excellence (PCDE), which as the performer moves through the transition phases become further developed. PCDE’s are both trait characteristics and state related skills such as self-belief, dedication and discipline (Abbott and Collins, 2004). Another significant aspect of becoming an expert musician is deliberate practice. Deliberate practice requires determination with the correct motivation for the performer, and the necessary time and effort roughly equating to 10,000 hours (Ericsson et al., 1993). MacNamara, Holmes and Collins (2008) state that expert musicians require numerous aspects to reach the highest level; natural talent and/or deliberate practice combined with social context and significant others are needed to maintain performance at this high level. As talent is developed, the performer moves

One’s skills and talents define what someone does and how others perceive them. In Outliers, Gladwell speaks of the “10,000 Hour Rule”. He says that if one practices a skill for 10,000 hours, then they will master that skill. Some musicians, like the Beatles, are known for their music and their musical talent, because they practiced over 10,000 hours. Their musical skills help develop their identity and how others recognize them.

Sometimes, when one is hurt emotionally, recovering from the pain may be difficult, “Your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to heal.” (15). This indicated that one will have to deal with the pain or push through it because it can be difficult to heal it all at once. As well, when the negativity becomes extreme, overcoming and not caring about what others think is very important, “When they slip war and hatred under your door…” (58). One must believe in themself and appreciate the beauty of who they are to get over the rude things that others are saying. Furthermore, having a small mindspace and not thinking about the positive rather than the negative can lead to one being weak and

I have come a very long way; the four years since I started have only progressed with intensity and involvement with music. I know the next years of my life will only be more intense and more involved with music, and I hope that it can become a career one day. Music has allowed me to express myself during my happy moments, my teenage angst, my depression, my heartbreaks, and it has always gotten stronger, and it carries me with it. I cannot wait to see what music I’m creating in five, ten, or fifteen years. One day, I’ll look back to the songs I have finished in my younger days, and I will be reminded of my high school years, and what I was going through during those times, because, to me, music is

Arthur Black is a very opinionated man. In his essays about Canada, he has many short pieces about the differences between Canadians and Americans. He states how there is never anything bad said about Canada, and that Canada could even be considered a “wallflower”. In his essay Canadian Passion Not Flagging, Black talks about how the Americans wave their flag and Canadians do not. Americans have their flag everywhere; hanging inside malls, and even at the gas stations. In his essay Canada: Too Polite to Live, it says how the American Declaration of Independence demands life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Canadians have settled for peace, order, and good government. Another difference between Americans and Canadians according to

Everyone has a dream to become someone significant one day, and would try to work his or her best to achieve that goal. Although the goal can take many years to achieve, but there are some people who are willing to work that hard for it even if it takes them 10,20,30 or 50 years. From the movie 20 Feet From Stardom by Morgan Neville, it shows how the struggles of back up singers. Many listeners have heard of their song thousands of time, they have been played on the radio, malls, and on television, but we never know what their names are, or how they look like. The title of this movie really define how back up singers are only a few feet away from fame, yet it takes them so much longer to be successful, or have other to know their name.

Throughout their lifetimes, individuals encounter a variety of challenges that test their resilience. Sometimes it targets a person’s personality, beliefs, race or culture. It can follow an individual throughout their life or stay in it for a period of time. However, with a strong personality and a determined goal, these obstacles can be conquered. An example of an obstacle that can be a battle in everyday life is prejudice, mostly against the different types of race. Racism is the false conviction that one race is more unrivaled than the other which isolated the world to what it is today. It is a part of human nature, and unfortunately, many people don’t know their limits when it comes to it. Some other individuals, however, have internal conflicts with themselves which, in some situations, limits them from the world.

My life would be incomplete without performing music. I’ve spent time, in concert bands, in bell choirs, in school and church choirs, and singing, playing in music festivals, and in pit bands trying not to laugh my head off at the actors’ improvisations. But the art that truly speaks to my soul does not lie in creating music, it lies in dancing to it.

What is the true meaning of finding your own strength to conquer life’s inhibitions? Just like many other amazing people throughout the course of history, I have had many barriers to cross, but one always will stay in my memory. I managed to let go of the anger and hatred for a person, and are now friends with him. I used courage and integity to end the war that I hated. Using Jackie Robinson’s nine values, I let go of my troubles and learned to shine, just the way I am.

As I sat down in a room with my favorite drummer, Rhett Noland, I had pre existing thoughts I would learn new drum skills, hear about tour life, and get advice about performing. Instead, all those things were blown out the window. What I aquired from this classroom was more important to me than any rudiment or drum fill, or any advice someone else could have given me. What I learned in this classroom in a sense “woke me up” and gave me a realization about what I am here on Earth for. Rhett told me about how he used to be an alcoholic. How he used to not even be able to go to work without a drink. How destructive drinking was. How miserable he was. There was a paradigm shift in the room immediately after he told us that now, he had been sober for 23 months.

One must have hope to resist the cruel challenges that they are faced with from oppressive figures of authority, in order to achieve self wellness.

The more time you put in, the better the abilities develop. Another way of gaining knowledge of music and to get experience is to start touring with a band and get used to coming up with ideas for records. Brandon Boyd makes another statement in the article, “Brandon Boyd of Incubus” by Jancee Dunn, writer for Rolling Stone magazine. Brandon explains, “We fight a lot when we’re writing our records. You know, it’s five different opinions trying to make their way into one… Bands break up for stupid reasons” (Dunn 26). Experience is a valuable advantage in the music industry that will make one find success much easier.

     Things are not always as they appear. You may think someone is a certain way because of how they dress and carry themselves this is called stereotyping. Many people stereotype without even noticing that they are doing it. Everyone has his or her right to first impressions, but stereotyping is wrong. There are many examples of this topic in literature as well as in our society today.

The brand new mission that involved the 1-502nd Infantry regiment was not only a hostile, but a confusing one in the least. In 2005, the 502nd Infantry Regiment was flung out to the 330-square mile region in Southern Baghdad known as the “Triangle of Death,” homing one of the most dangerous insurgency in the country. This area was the focal battleground between the Sunnis and Shi’ites as well as the central grounds for terrorists to ferry men, weapons, and money into the capital (Frederickson 113). The 502nd Regiment was assigned to the task of root out insurgent strongholds, promote social and municipal revival, and to train the local Iraqi Army battalions into a competent fighting force,