Soloist 13-22

I've always wondered what happiness meant to people, and sometimes I would see someone on the street collecting soda cans, and think to myself what a boring looking job that is, how can one possibly be happy doing such normal things in life such as planting flowers or collecting trash. To Nathaniel, being happy is being free of worldly things like apartments, cars, fame, etc. And for Nathaniel, being happy is not very hard, music seems to do the trick just fine. Steve Lopez did a interesting observation; although Lopez has a successful career and fathered healthy children and all seems to do quiet alright, yet Lopez still needs to worry about his debt, his mortgage, and so on. Seems to me like Nathaniel might be having a happier life than the life Lopez is having now. One might argue that Nathaniel is just a mad man who doesn't know what life is. But I beg to argue, I think Nathaniel knew exactly what he needs to be happy, and he is fortunate to be able to do what he loved to do. He might not live a very luxurious life, by any means, but does all the thrills in life really matter that much for a person to be truly happy? Death is inevitable for everyone, yet while we're alive, we take all we can, and we waste all we can, and we kill each other just for the extra few dollars. Being happy and being a human being is what is really important for a better world. I'd rather have more Nathaniels in the world than more Donald Trumps. Those ruthless politicians and new-riches, deprives the society to the point where people are forced to find alternatives like injecting themselves with heroine, or prostitution, even worst-mental breakdowns. Fortunately Nathaniel's has a escape, and it is music that will hold him together, or love in another word. Without love, people will eat each other just to comfort one's stomach.

PS: I want my readers to think about what is being happy, and are all those shiny cars and extra dough necessary for a happy life? I'm not saying money is not needed, but not to the point where you deprive other people's chance to happiness and freedom.

THe Soloist 7-12

The Soloist 7-12

I want to talk about my reaction when reading the excerpt from Hamlet. It has some very interesting thoughts about the purpose of life and the pursuit of happiness.

To be or not to be, that is the question;
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them. To die--to sleep,
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause. There's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life,
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
Th'oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and the spurns
That patient merit of th'unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscovered country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will,
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.

This world famous monologue from the Hamlet was recited by Nathaniel in front of the “respectable” audiences at Skids Row. “To be or not to be” itself makes perfect alternative for people that are on the brinks of collapse, when the only alternative to them is to end all misery by suicide. But there is something inside us that tells us that death is not the only option when it comes to ending misery and grief. Love is what makes us survive the cruel world of reality, and we will forever remember being loved or the loved ones. And also there is always a choice that we can make, but there are consequences.

PS: I want my readers to think about Nathaniel's position and the monologue itself, and it almost seems that To be or not to be, means to live or not to live. To me death is almost a kind of relief from the suffering in the world, and yet life can seem wonderful with love, and music. Basically love is the only thing that keeps us all going, while knowing all of us are heading towards death. And it also it seems like being born, is to die. I can't totally explain this unique paradox.

The Soloist 1-6

The Soloist 1-6

Steve Lopez, a adventurous columnist from L.A. Times, was captured by a Julliard cello student practicing in one of the worst neighborhoods in the United States. Nathaniel his name is, dressed in rags and lived off a shopping cart filled with his belongings, camping out with sewer rats and cockroaches. I guess anyone sensible would wonder why in the world a person from one of the most prestigious music schools in the world playing a holy instrument in the midst if all kinds of crime and mayhem. Something terrible must've happened to him, something that was not cured, and Lopez decided that Nathaniel needs help, and that Nathaniel's story will be precious to him and to the world. Nathaniel seems to have lost all interest in life and its thrills, and the only thing holding him together seems to be music. What went wrong in his life? With a warm heart Lopez would help Nathaniel unconditionally. Lopez started to become the angel from God, trying to help and guide Nathaniel on the road to a happier life, and hopefully to recovery. I am amazed at Steve Lopez's determination to find out more about Nathaniel, and that showed that there are many good things and people in life, depite the bad that had caused Nathaniel's destruction.

PS: I want my readers to think about the relationship between Nathaniel and Lopez, and how someone unrelated in blood, could show such care and love.