Where the Kissing Never Stops

After reading "Where the Kissing Never Stops," I have come to believe that, in my opinion, the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence is actually both a good and a bad idea. People exercise their rights to do certain things yet have to limit it due to law. Joan Baez’s school is an example of people's choices of what they do and what they believe in. All throughout this essay, Didion provides us with the details about people’s thoughts, certain decisions they have made, and the reasons why the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence is a good and bad idea.

I believe this institute is both a good and a bad idea because people are able to study what they want, which is a good idea, and do what they want as long as it doesn't violate the law, but sometimes things can be taken too far, which is my reason for why it is also bad idea. "Well I realized, of course, that as long as I am in this flesh and this blood, I couldn't be perfectly nonviolent." Ira speaks out about being a vegetarian and that no matter what, he would be violent in some sort of way, even if it is just the slightest bit. The only way someone could be "perfectly nonviolent" at all times would be if a person just sits and does nothing for his or her entire lifetime. Further on into the story, the conversation moves to a man by the name of Marv. Ira said, "Marv is an honest-to-God nonviolenter...a man of honesty and love." But someone interjects and says, "He said he's an anarchist." Even if it seems as if there can be no nonviolence in this world of humans, it is okay for students to focus on the studies of it. It really isn’t hurting anyone. At the beginning of the story though, where the negativity came in, a woman by the name of Mrs. Petkuss had her belief that the school wasn't a brilliant idea. She quotes, "We wonder what kind of people would go to a school like this..." Many others wonder the same thing and quite of few disagree to having the school, which is also my reason for why it is a bad idea. It causes a certain dispute among the people.

Looking at this scenario in two different ways prove my opinion for why it is both a good and a bad idea. It is fine when people exercise their rights but it would also be nice if people limit themselves to certain activities. Sometimes things can be taken too far, whether or not they believe it is fine or not, therefore supporting my reasons for why the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence is both a good and bad idea.

Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream

Writing is often thought out thoroughly with the mind, before it is transferred onto paper for people to read or just for the writer to read. Not only is writing just about one thing only, but it also focuses on the little details that make up the big story. The things people write about can either be fact or fiction, whether it is an essay, a novel, or a journal that a person keeps. Writers try to fit in what they can so that the reader would understand the text fully, not just to a certain extent. Descriptions also make the text more interesting to read. It is said that ‘good writers are often descriptive writers’ and this statement is proven correct in Joan Didion’s, Slouching Toward Bethlehem, within the first essay, “Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream.”

Throughout Didion’s essay, descriptive writing can be found everywhere. For starters, she discusses the San Bernardino Valley and includes details that would clue the readers in with how the whole scenery is expressed in that certain area, both time and place, as if they were actually there. She makes sure that the readers are able to picture what is going on in the story or writes it in a way that readers can imagine how life would be like in that specific area, rather than just reading the story only. Didion writes, “October is the bad month for the wind…when breathing is most difficult and the hills blaze up spontaneously…” Within those few words, it already sets a scene for her story. During the court scene, Didion adds in cries, screams, and certain motions to set off a mood of disappointment, anguish, guilt, and much more.

As anyone can see, a good writer must include the little details within a story. So whether or not the story is based on something factual, the descriptiveness makes up for the entire piece and completes it. Without the important little details and the many descriptions to what is placed in the writing, then what is there to a great story?