Michael Thomas Harbuck
English - Hawkins
Journal III – 20/11/2007

•	Bold words from WORD POWER.  

Also, I have reached the end of my first academic classes since being a student at VCC 

in the year 1995.  I would like to say first of all, that the public language used by the 

American student has certainly reached the bottom of the world scale, and I see no 

change in sight.  As a teacher of English, this should be of great concern.  There may 

have been many shifts in the use of certain words which were at one time considered 

foul and vulgar, to being common place.  There is perhaps a record of evidence of 

these use changes somewhere in the language archives....  When I am at the place 

and time to research these, I might do so.  But for now, I will still be appalled at the 

definite infancy of the American student as compared to those I the rest of world, in 

regards to vocabulary and word usage.  Perhaps this is different at other schools, but I 

so not believe so, because it is not teachable, not controllable. 

You have certainly noticed, that I do not perceive the majority of what America 

considers culture as plausible or enjoyable.  Without having a view from the outside 

inward, there is no means of teaching this missing link to the higher academics.  I am 

not immune to the what I will describe at the American syndrome, being the two faced 

ethics and two-faced professionalism.  I find America not multi-cultured, but rather a 

cultural black hole.  Anarchy is not the way to peace and tranquility either, so there 

must be an attractive middle ground.  I have found that life is a compromise.  Often I 

am at the wrong place at the right time, and at the right place at the wrong time.  My 

personal observations are, that the Americans want to be European, but have no idea 

what is really means, and the Europeans want to be American, and have no idea what 

is means, yet this fallacy of the greener grass is always there.  In the US, there are 

numerous jobs, and employment, in exchange for a non-existent community pride, and 

the loss of identity and importance within the industrially cloned consuming masses.  

Where in Germany, there is a great sense of pride and the joy of the discrimination 

between the ideals and characteristics of the German society, but the lack of resources 

and land mass has restricted the growth within the national boundaries.  

	By the way, I am not a National Socialist.  Why people think this of any person 

who speaks German just proves their ignorance and stupidity.  Person who think this 

should be required to learn the German language, or better yet, be hindered from using 

any product from their daily lives which was invented or influenced by a German 

scientist, chemist, author of philosopher.  

	As for my perception of myself…..  Life is too short to ponder this question.  I 

am a stubborn bull, and like to learn, but not with scum bags around.  I will certainly 

be interested in seeing how the structure exercises in this course will help with 

composition in a foreign language.  

	Next semester:  No hoods in class, and five points off for every use of foul 

language.  If you ignore it, then it will continue to infect and make America look even 

more ridiculous to the outside world than it already does.  
	
My narrative story would have been about my experience in a sexually harassing 

and demeaning work environment, but I have come to the opinion, after having been 

proven wrong once again, that if I give the benefit of the doubt, that Americans will 

ALWAYS take advantage of this, and prove themselves beyond a doubt, to be inferior to 

the rest of the world, also not deserving of my story, nor ever be able to fix the dualism 

of their morals.  I will therefore be American, and tell some dumb story which I have 

to, instead of what I would like to.  I was told today by a fellow ‘student’ that I am not 

liked, and am a pest, because I reprimanded him for his use of foul language in a class.  

He commented that it was his job to do this.  Well you can all go to hell, it is not far 

from here.   

I have enjoyed your class, and hope that you do not have to teach American 

students much longer, but are able to use your time in a better way, as I wish I could.