Turna Elmaci

Homework 3 

 

In the context of the extract from TB's political memoirs what is meant by the proverbial dog with a bone?

 

The proverb "dog with a bone" depicts a dog which won't give up his bone no matter which danger it has to face. The dog will defend it and nibble at it and try to remove every piece of meat. This proverb describes very clearly that stubbornness and persistence can lead to a favorable and beneficial result if applied under any circumstances and in knowledge of the consequence positive or negative.

In his political memoirs Tony Blair explains that not only his ambitions helped Tony Blair to become the historic person he is now but also the people who he has met in his past and who played a leading role in forming his character and directing his ambitions. One of these people Tony Blair mentions in his political memoirs is Derry Irvine who was his pupil master and later under him the Lord Chancellor in Blair's period being in office. Tony Blair says that he learnt many important lessons while working under Derry Irvine. The word he uses to describe Derry's attitudes facing legal issues is the proverb "the dog with a bone". Irvine's persistence and stubbornness lead to a successful completion of legal cases because Irvine didn't give up finding ways to solve the issues under any circumstances. Tony Blair says "He (Irvine) would gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it up, step back and stare at it".

Tony Blair states in his political memoirs that working under Irvine gave him important impulses how to form his attitude working as a barrister and as a politician. Moreover, that it can lead to success.

Tony Blair can look back to an impressive and successful political career being the former Prime Minister of the U.K. though he started as a barrister apprentice with an intensive work performance he still could pursue his political ambitions by participating in his local party and writing political articles.

Ji-young HONG_HW3

In the context of extract from TB's political memoirs, what is meant by the 'proverbial dog with a bone'?

 

People who are considered successful figures meet a good mentor in their lives. Tony Blair's mentor was Derry Irvine, for instance. From TB's memoirs, he said, "Faced with a legal problem, Derry was like the proverbial dog with a bone." This is from one of famous fables. The story is that there was a dog with a bone. When the dog crossed a stream he looked down and the other dog had a bigger bone than his. To get bigger one, the dog opened his mouth and he lost his own bone eventually. The lesson from this proverb is "Don't be greedy. If you are greedy, you will loss all you have." However, compare to original story, Derry was regarded as one of the best and brightest junior counsels at the Bar according to TB's memoirs because Derry was greedy not for everything just for his profession as a junior counsel. From Tony Blair's memoirs, about the legal problems, Derry would gnaw it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it up, step back and stare at it. Finally he approaches totally different point of view for some legal problems. From Derry as a pupil master, Tony learned how to think and he was impressed a lot. In the context of TB's political memoirs, he said "I was scared of him, admired him and adored him; but most of all, I was grateful to him." Lesson in this context is that if you are like the proverbial dog with a bone just in your profession, you will be successful and also can be a good mentor.

 

 

Below is posted for getting your comments. Thanks for your times.

 

What does DI mean when he says he wants TB to be personally responsible?

 

   Have you ever watched TV reality program 'Apprenticeship'? It was one of popular TV show made in U.S.A. Apprenticeship can be a good opportunity to have a job and from this period, job seekers can meet a good mentor or his/her role model. For TB's case, he met DI as his pupil master. Tony said "Derry taught me how to think" in his memoirs. Tony thought his work was considered modified by Derry because Tony was a pupil and he just helped Derry's opinion writing so total responsibility is on Derry not him. This thought made Tony's work in half-completion. For final work completion, Tony needed to have a whole responsibility not hoping someone correct and modify his work. Don't expect help or free gain when you don't do your best but as long as you did your best, it's okay if you make mistakes. DI trained TB like this way. From the mistakes you may go up to the next level for completion. Do your best. That is the answer.

woori

In the context of the extract from TB’s political memoirs¸ what is meant by the proverbial dog with a bone?

 

Derry who used to be a Tony Blair’s pupil master gave a life changing influence on his apprentice.

The master impressed Tony Blair, teaching how to think and a sense of responsibility for own work which are essential elements as a lawyer. The anecdote with the master clearly shows Derry’s firm characteristics and attitudes towards work. When TB brought him the first draft, the master was very disappointed with insufficient work done and harshly criticized on his excuse for, denouncing “I don’t want your half thoughts, I want your best work that you personally will be responsible for”. To Tony Blair, these rigorous attitudes and strict principles to work made Derry look like a proverbial dog with a bone. In the memoir, he was describing Derry being faced with a legal problem: “He would gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it, step back and stare at it” Like a dog with a bone to conquer, Derry kept thinking and analyzing a problem until he completely understood the problem. Further, in order to avoid conventional analysis, he returned to the first principles for different perspectives on the problems. As a just pupil who had just passed exam, Tony Blair was impressed with Derry’s disciplinary manners on work and admired his genius. And it was enough to give the nick name “a proverbial dog” to Derry. 

Regina H Jeong (3rd)

 

In the context of extract from TB's political memoirs, what is meant by the proverbial dog with a bone?

 

Given the extract from TB's political memoirs, Blair described the encounter with his pupil master, Derry Irvine, as the one that changed his life and the time his views began to shift. From Derry, Blair learned how to think not in a manual way but in a real way. Thought that reaches from analyzing, dissecting a problem from first principles, and having deconstructed it to constructing a solution. In this manner, he learned how to drill down a matter to the answer. Other than mentioning Derry's excellence at work, Blair even compared him to the proverbial dog with a bone. 'Faced with a legal problem, Derry wouldn't stop or reflect until he had got every bit of meat there was off it, had extracted its essence and mastered it.' In order to finish the last piece of meat with a bone, a dog would exam his one first, gnaw away next, turn it over at times, even stare, lick, and finally bury it when he has finished. The dog's acts to finish off his bone could be applied as a way of access to many problems sometimes. By examining matters first, looking at them with the different angles next, turning them over at times, doing diverse tryouts when they needs, we can get clues from unexpected angles or grasp the facts about the problems in an entirely different way.

 

 

 

Sorry for its late, I will try harder to finish early for the next time.

Thanks.

 

 

Regards,

Regina

 

Guobin Li

In the context of the extract from Tony Blair's political memoirs, what is meant by the proverbial dog with a bone?

 

Derry Irvine was already a successful lawyer at the Bar when he was only thirty-six years old. He became Tony Blair's mentor and, according to the memoirs, it was him who taught Tony Blair how to think, a critical skill for legal jobs. Derry, as a counsel, was required to perform extensive and complex research into relevant facts and law; He needed to conduct a superficial analysis. In the memoirs, Tony Blair described Derry as "the proverbial dog with a bone" when facing with a legal problem. Tony Blair wrote: he would gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it up, step back and stare at it. Derry's analytical behavior was compared to that of a dog working on a bone. There is no denying how much a dog takes pleasure in chewing on a bone and a dog would not easily give up a bone before she has fully "explored" it. Tony Blair also wrote: he wouldn't stop or reflect until he got every bit of meat there was off it. He was completely uncompromising when it came to matters of the mind. It is just like how much the meat on the bone matters to a dog. With the comparison, Tony Blair wanted to show how persistent Derry was when dealing with a legal problem. It is this never-give-up attitude, perhaps, has made him one of the best and brightest counsels at the Bar. When analyzing a problem, Derry would utilize whatever way possible, be it conventional or a first principal. This in Tony Blair's eye was seen as his genius.

The proverbial dog: New approach in problem solving

     When facing a problem, it is easier to look for already existing answers; or even to give up at the first place, the real difficult task is to grasp the meaning of it; see it from a different point of view, and coming up with a real solution. The genuineness of each individual is his/her reactions toward difficult situations, or so called challenges. The way each individual approaches a problem, tells all about his/her wisdom. Whether he/she takes a logical approach toward the problem; looks for conventional solutions or thinks it difficult at the first place is based on how skillfully he/she thinks critically. As Tony Blair in his memoir mentions about Derry Irvine; Derry Irvine was a unique genius man who approached the problems in a logical way, or as he puts it: "Like a proverbial dog with a bone. He would gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, burry it, dig it up, step back and stare at it." Recognizing the problem, understanding it deep and clear, analyzing it from a different point of view, trying to come up with unconventional solutions, and in the end coming up with a solution that no ordinary one could ever come up with are the ways that Derry Irvine would process the data regarding the problem.  "He wouldn't stop or reflect until he had got every bit of meat there was off it, had extracted its essence and mastered it." Digging the problem deep and figuring out its actual concept is the main factor in a logical approach. This is the approach of none-ordinary men. The genuine individual does not look for an easy way; he/she looks for a real answer.

 

By: Mina Sheikhha

homework

In the context from Tony Blair's political memoirs; what is meant by the proverbial dog with a bone?

 

Tony Blair explains in his political memoirs his time with Derry Irvine as the most interesting, giving and inspiring time. It was a lesson learned in full. Tony Blair described Derry Irvine as a genius and an unconventional thinker when it came to solving hopeless cases. He uses the expression "the proverbial dog with a bone" whilst explaining the working method of Derry Irvine and by using this Tony Blair gives the reader a metaphorical understanding for how excessively Derry Irvine worked with his cases:" He would gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it up, step back and stare at it". Just like a dog is only focused on his bone and spend all his attention on finding a piece of meat, Derry Irvine examined his cases in the deepest and most careful way. Furthermore he did not gave up easily; "He would not stop or reflect until he had got every bit of meat there was off it, had extracted its essence and mastered it". There was no other way than solving a case for Derry Irvine, whether it took a lot of time or a lot of hard work, he made it. Tony Blair's admiration for Derry Irvine's way of working in the matter of his unconventional way of analyzing and studying cases from a different way was the greatest lesson he ever had. Tony Blair is eternally thankful for have had the chance to have learned from "the proverbial dog with a bone" .

Michael Ade Craig

Who will read it?...

By definition responsibility is a particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible. A child is a responsibility to its parents, a president is responsible for making critical decisions for his or her nation and we as writers are responsible for the quality of the work that others will read.

In Tony Blair's autobiography he states that before he met his pupil master Derry Irvine, he had only passed exams. He didn't have a clue how to think, analyze and dissect a problem from its birth. As referenced in his autobiography, Derry Irvine taught Tony Blair how to produce his best work and at the same time be personally responsible for his work.

I think most people have produced work that they wouldn't endorse if they had to. Work that you never anticipated would get any recognition, thus being the reason why you didn't pour your heart into it. With the exception of writers or individuals with literature backgrounds, when are most people required to be responsible for their work? When will an outside force hold them accountable for the words that they produce?

Personal responsibility goes beyond the compositional platform. Are we not charged as human beings to act civilized and uphold the law? When producing a literary body of work we should demonstrate within that document, similar if not identical qualities that we do throughout our life. Every moment of our existence we are on a stage, we must carry over that same mind frame to the pen and pad.

 

I'm going to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb

"Proverbial" is an adjective describing or asserting more evidence to something already evident.  A proverbial dog with a bone is someone or something that leaves nothing untouched. Every corner or exposed area is attended to.

In relation to Tony Blair's autobiography, the proverbial dog was his pupil master Derry Irvine. She was an archeologist/anatomist sort of speak when it came to dissecting and uncovering vulnerable areas within his writing.

JungDoe Jang

In the context from TB's political memories, what is meant by 'proverbial dog with a bone'?

Tony Blair mentioned that Derry Irvine was like the proverbial dog with a bone who "gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it up, step back and state at it" legal problem. When most of people face difficult problem, they either try to find easy way to solve or give up. However, instead of using conventional methods like others, Derry Irvine becomes 'proverbial dog' to understand, analyze, and give solution by looking all the dimensions of problem. This was the biggest difference between Derry Irvine and others. Before, Tony Blair was just a pupil who passed the exams, and did not know ways to think. However, Tony Blair learnt one of his biggest lessons from Derry Irvine by witnessing Derry Irvine being a 'proverbial dog'. Tony Blair emphasized in his autobiography that how Derry Irvine influenced him by saying 'I mean really think – analyze, dissect a problem from first principles, and having deconstructed it, construct a solution'. Tony Blair working in the Bar under Derry Irvine for five years, finally he had a chance to meet John Smith and other Labour figures. After all, it can be said that Tony Blair also learnt how to think or else, he would have not succeeded in politics.

 

What does DI meant when he says he wanted TB to be 'personally responsible'?

 
The first time when Tony Blair wrote opinions for Derry Irvine, Tony thought Derry would just bin it after finishing reading it. In Tony Balir's view, Derry should not take his work seriously since he is just a pupil. However, when Derry asked Tony whether it is his best work; Tony started to make an excuse. Derry then said 'I do not want your half-though, work that you personally will be responsible for". No one can be perfect from beginning. It is someone's attitude or passion that makes difference at the end. Tony Blair just stepped into new world, and Derry Irvine is aware of that. What Derry really wanted from Tony is not a perfect writing but to see his attitude and mind set. Being a pupil or intern is only a protection from making mistakes not from lackadaisical behavior. In that sense, it seems like Derry wanted to teach Tony a lesson that being personally responsible for his/her work is perhaps the best way to learn and become a professional. The more you put your responsibility on your work, more you learn from mistakes. That is why when Tony brought 2nd work, Derry asked him to sit down and reviewed Tony's work together. It is hard to believe that Tony's 2nd work is perfect; however, at least, he did his best. Although there are mistakes, Tony will not neglect those mistakes but take it as a mild-stone to become better lawyer. Maybe this valuable lesson made Tony Blair respected Prime Minister instead being a lawyer.  --
Regards.
JungDoe Jang

Saeha Lee_TB(the proverbial dog with a bone)

In the context of the exact from Tony Blair's political memoirs, what is meant by the proverbial dog with a bone?

 

Tony Blair, in his political memoirs, was stating about his learning on how to think, looking back on the days he had been trained as a pupil by Derry Irvine. Comparing most people who can easily believe that their solutions are the best, Tony described Derry as 'the proverbial dog with a bone'. The meaning of the quoted expression would be interpreted in this context.

 

According to the canine conversation, which is the website and includes explanations of dogs in metaphors and idioms, 'Be like a dog with a bone' is used when someone is illustrated as a committed, tenacious, stubborn, determined, or single-minded person. The free dictionary defined the expression as 'to refuse to stop thinking about to talking about a subject.'

 

In Tony Blair's memoirs, there are some sentences that also help us understand the expression.

He (Derry Irvine) would gnaw at it, examine it, turn it over, bury it, dig it up, step back and stare at it. But he wouldn't stop or reflect until he had got every bit of meat there was off it, had extracted its essence and mastered it.

These sentences imply how Derry devoted himself to his work. He was literally committed to handling a legal problem. Tony also added, "He never accepted the conventional analysis just because it was conventional…," meaning that Derry did not let the problem he faced go easily for his convenience.

 

Based on the above sources and the sentences ahead of the expression in the Tony's memoirs, it can be said that Tony depicted Derry as a person who grasped his work like a dog grasps his bone, using the expression in order to underscore Derry's dedicated attitude toward his work.

 

 

 

 

Sense of responsibility, a basis for professionalism

     Being responsible for one's tasks is the first step toward professionalism. The main reason behind why so many interns make a lot of mistakes is the lack of responsibility. All of the "half thoughts", "ramblings" and last minute projects are built on the "naturally-I-thought-he-would-write-it-himself" ideas, an idea that holds back the strike of perfection. The sense of responsibility severely affects the process; lack of it causes feeble results. If the task is not taken seriously the chances of it being done with the necessary care and effort will be decreased accordingly. However when the task is accomplished with maximum effort under the feeling of "best work", there is still a huge possibility of making mistakes. But these mistakes should be considered as productive ones; for when the person puts in charge all of his/her potentials and still makes mistakes, those are the real mistakes that occur due to lack of experience rather than lack of effort. A superior learner is the one who takes advantage of his/her former mistakes, and does his best not to make them again; one who is "personally responsible" for what he/she had conducted. A good teacher on the other hand is the one who is flexible when his/her students make mistakes and at the same time awakens his/her students' sense of responsibility. For professionalism takes place where sense of responsibility exists.

By: Mina Sheikhha

JungDoe

 

 

Majority of people are addicted to drugs due to the emotions or feelings they cannot experience when they are sober. Due to this temptation, people need to devote all their effort once they want to get out from it. Elton John, a world famous singer, said "My greatest achievement in life was getting sober and clean because I was a real mess". From what he said, we can imagine not only difficulty of overcoming addiction but also how much he regrets his mistake.

           There is no clear description how Slash successfully fight his problem, but we can assume Slash have had tough time to overcome his difficult situation. Hence, I am quite sure that Slash now has stronger mental, physical, and emotional condition just like he used to be. However, like Slash had to experience, there is a small issue that all the people have to face when they decide to become sober. That is, people tend to feel ashamed or cannot understand their behavior or choices they made during they are inebriated.

           After getting sober, Slash mentioned that "I was getting back to myself; I was getting into work mode." This shows that Slash, at least his attitude, became what he used to be. Also, in Slash's autobiography, we can see one of the small issue mentioned before which is 'hard to understand his/her decision'. Slash said 'Looking back, once I was sober, I didn't see Megan the same way at all'. After all, Slash decides to let her go, since she does not mean as same as before.

           It is certain that not only Slash but people who overcame their situation have achieved positive result. However, there is always a cost for choice, such as Slash's one of the most important person becoming meaninglessness after getting sober. Although drug addicts have ways to put their life to own track, still, it is inescapable that they have to sacrifice something important to them. That is why people should avoid this cost by not starting drugs from the beginning. If that is not the case, it is wise to depend on one's family members or treatment organization to overcome their situation to get their life back.

 

p.s I tried to focus more on negative changes after being sober.

--
Regards.
JungDoe Jang

University of Nevada Las Vegas Singapore

Tel: (65) 8429 - 9373 | Email: jae.jangjw@gmail.com

100 Victoria Street, National Library Building, #11-02, Singapore 188064
Website: www.unlv.edu.sg

Michael Ade Craig

Change….

"These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized." Red, Shawshank Redemption

I believe change comes in two forms: welcomed change that allows you to reinvent yourself and change that does its own reinventing and at the same time reinvents everything around you.

The reason I decided to begin this short commentary of Slash's autobiography with a passage from Shawshank Redemption was because I think that we become products of our environment once we are immersed in it for any given amount of time.  A prison inmate is given a sentence depending on the severity of his or her crime. Once aware of how much time they must serve in order to become fair with the law, these individuals go through a transformation psychologically, which hopefully allows them to cope with their predicament successfully. After completing your time, re-socialization into society is next. This process isn't always successful, thus the old man committed suicide in the movie.

In regards to Slash's autobiography his actions weren't as drastic. He details how becoming sober changed him for the better; however, it simultaneously exposed another side of him, ultimately destroying his relationship. This new personality wasn't able to continue with the status quo because the variables around him were not needed anymore. Once your vision is corrected, you no longer need those bifocals.

With anything in life, when we develop we are not always able to bring former elements that were present during our primitive stage.  

 

--
Sincerely,
Michael Ade Craig

My comments on your posts

I may forget to say this in class today. I apologise if my comments on your writing are brutal! I am reading them first thing in the morning on the day of class before I leave for work even before I have had breakfast. I tend to prepare for class over the weekend, so if the homework is posted earlier, I have more time to comment. I appreciate that this may not be amenable to your schedule. Anyway, my comments are made constructively, albeit that the style is terse, and with the best of intentions! Mark 

Mark Benton - Sample Paragraph - Slash

Explain in the context of the extract from Slash's autobiography how getting sober can change someone's life.

Slash is a legendary guitarist in the ilk of Richards, Hendrix and Clapton. He rose to fame with the anarchic American rock band Guns ‘n’ Roses whose success and notoriety peaked in the early 1990s. Perhaps it is no coincidence that Slash and many other famous musicians suffer from addictive illness with a propensity towards drugs and alcohol especially due to their ready availability on the rock scene. The extract from Slash’s autobiography is telling as to an addict’s state of mind and the effects of addiction on personal relationships before and after the event of sobriety and getting well. As Slash got sober, his feelings towards his (probably) long suffering girlfriend changed. He says in relation to his feelings towards her: “With nothing to cloud my vision, it felt like she was a stranger.” It can be inferred from this that Slash entered and maintained that relationship with his thought processes befuddled by drugs and alcohol. He acted accordingly. The flip side to this is that when he got sober, his feelings towards her did a volte face. He said: “I was getting back to my old self; I was getting into work mode. All I kept thinking when I looked at her was, What are you doing here? You’ve got to go. I’ve got shit to do…” Whilst this must sound callous and probably is, it is also clear that the original basis for the relationship i.e. one founded in drugs and alcohol was unsound. It would have been doomed from the start regardless of whether Slash had got sober or not. However, the removal of those mind altering substances caused a seismic shift in Slash’s behaviour and attitudes. Luckily for him at least it meant that he was able to get his life back on track. 

Turna Elmaci

Homework

Explain in the context of Slash's autobiography how getting sober can change someone's life.

 

Everybody can do it. Everybody? Yes, everybody. What can they do? Putting the bottle of beer aside and becoming sober. They can. Who are they? We call them alcoholics who cling to a bottle beer like it is their girlfriends or mothers. To stop this fatal attraction, some of them join the Anonymous Alcoholics and they try eagerly to swear off this femme fatale called alcohol.

Normal people might never fall deeply in love with alcohol and for them the state of sobriety might not be the biggest step in evolution but for former drug addicts, sometimes referred as rock stars, it is. They start to have a better vision and have the will to put their lives back on the right track. One of these rock stars is Slash, the guitarist of the group "Guns'n Roses" who talked about his addiction to alcohol and the state of sobriety. After becoming sober, Slash talked about the impact sobriety made in his life. He reported about having an improved vision. Slash said this about his ex-girlfriend, "Suddenly she was like a piece of furniture…" Some other people might not end up with a better vision but with the determined will to put things back together using sobriety as glue. Alcohol might have separated and broke some things like relationships but sobriety will work fine as glue to put them back. 

Ji-young HONG _HW2

Write a paragraph on explain in the context of the extract from Slash's autobiography how getting sober can change someone's life (Use a direct quote)

 

Not the same way at all when people are sober. I can learn this from Slash's autobiography. Once he was sober, he said, "I didn't see Megan the same way at all." He felt the woman who was usually stay with him differently suddenly. Before he was not sober he did not recognize her. He did not consider her seriously because he was used to her I guess. After he was sober, he said, "Suddenly she was like a piece of furniture that I didn't remember buying." and "With nothing to cloud my vision, it felt like she was a stranger." Therefore, he was getting back to his old self. He said, "I've always had to do things my way; I've gotten high my way, I've gotten clean my way, I've been in and out of relationships my way. I've taken myself to the edges of life my way." Moreover, he treated Megan harshly. From his sober, he realized his situation and he changed his life style to old self and also Megan treated differently by him.

Regina H Jeong (2nd)

 

Q. How getting sober can change someone's life?

 

From the case of guitarist, Slash, soberness is witnessed with the following four stages: recognition, questioning, returning to routine, and finding oneself.

 

Firstly, it starts with the recognition: Slash told Megan, "Megan, I don't see you the same way at all. Suddenly you are like a piece of furniture that I don't remember buying." He could not remember anything when he was on drug and everything looked different for him.

 

Second, he is questioning: he began to ask himself each and every day, 'What we have in common? Now I have nothing to cloud my vision, she seems a stranger to me. Neither have we had any responsibilities nor distractions in our relationship. So nothing could be left there for both of us.'

 

Third, he returns to his routine: he was getting back to his old-self and work mode.' When she was with him, he could not help but thinking himself, 'What is she doing here? She's got to go. I've got shit to do. We've got a record to make.'

 

Finally, he finds himself: he told her much as well, "I treated you harshly and it was not my style. But I just can't take it anymore." Now she left him and he was alone left there saying, "I've always had to do things my way. I've gotten high my way. I've gotten clean my way. I've been in and out of relationships my way. I've taken myself to the edges of life my way. And I'm still here. Whether or not I deserve to be…But that is another story."

 

 

 

Thnks for your time.

 

Regards,

Regina

 

 

Woori

Explain in the context of Slash's autobiography how getting sober can change someone's life.

"24/7 Sobriety program" is the United State's project to curb alcohol related crimes and now London piloted it too. This program forces problem drinkers to take twice-daily breath tests and pay fines in order to prove they are sober. The tests also can be used as a sentence after alcohol related problems. Amid high opposition and concerns of civilians and experts on the efficiency of the project, the governments are actively enforcing this coercive practice to tackle alcohol related problems for stability and productivity of their society. To keep people sober many similar policies, campaigns and rehabilitation institutes are founded not only in the United States or in London but also in other countries. Getting civilians sober has become one of the important duties for governments as long as individual's sobriety is deeply related with economic productivity and social stability. Getting sober is no longer an individual matter but a social problem. Then, why and how sobriety is important for stable and productive society?

According to the definition of "Sobriety" by Wikipedia, it says "it is the state of being sober, that is, not in an altered state of consciousness, or not under the influence of psychoactive drugs." This means that getting sober maintains people's state psychologically stable and independent. Furthermore, this healthy and constructive mental status brings out stability and high productivity to people. We can see its process by referring to the extract of the old famous guitarist Slash's autobiography. Slash was a famous guitarist in the early 1980's but unfortunately, he was drug addict. On the page 293 of his book, he was delicately explaining how sobriety changed his view on his lover and himself. First, Sobriety cleared off his illusion caused by drugs and made him see an object directly. According to Slash, he says "Once I was sober, I didn't see Megan (his lover) the same way at all.", "With nothing to cloud my vision, it felt like she was a stranger." While he was taking drugs, he perceived Megan in an illusory way. This proves being sober helps drinking people to face reality. Second, Sobriety helped him to be independent and this lead work productivity. In the extract, Slash says "I also didn't have time for the time consuming responsibilities and distractions of a relationship. I was getting back to my old self; I was getting into work mode…". This means people could concentrate on their work and perceive themselves as an independent creature in the state of being sober.

For these reasons stated above getting sober highly influences on people's productivity and stability. Like Slash's case, those who have alcohol or drug problems see objects directly out of illusionary state after being sober. So they can concentrate on themselves and their work. This individual's psychological state contributes to better economic performances and stable societies for their country. This is the reason why many governments and societies are dealing with heavy alcohol or drug offenders seriously. Tackling alcoholics and drug addicts is not easy at all because those substances they intake are strongly addictive. Additionally, sometimes strict crack down or rules do not work amid controversy on effectiveness. However, each administration will not stop to curb heavy drinking and drug addiction as long as civilians' sobriety has become one of the important virtues for country's prosperity and stability.

Being sober = facing the life for real, a neutral one

     Living on drugs is as looking at the world through sunglasses with different colored lenses. Things look extraordinary; you feel excited, overwhelmed, emotions you normally do not feel. And it all feels so real. Then you make a choice. You feel like you have to change or it is your life. So you try to stay clean and live as new. And suddenly things start changing. No more sunglasses, and there you face the real world. Not that you were not facing it before, but that you had a different concept: "Once I was sober, I didn't see Megan the same way at all." As mentions Slash when he starts to get sober. "She was sweet, she was fine… but she was just there." No more excitement once the colored lenses are gone. And when things start clearing up for real: "I've always had to do things my way." There then starts being an independent self of you. And it is not the matter of changing for better; it is just about being you; being real: "And I'm still here, whether or not I deserve to be is another story." And whether that reality is a better you - a more successful version, a more independent one - or a change for worse - a person who does not fear breaking a lover's heart - who would I be to judge?

By: Mina Sheikhha