Antonio Davari

Mr. Melhuish
English literature per. 1
24 October 2016
Lifting of the Veil
I believe that people should question the values they are given
as a child to become their own person.
1. This so called transformation occurred not too long ago. Third quarter
sophomore year in my Literature class. The book was The Fall by
Camus. This book inadvertently taught this belief, and I found myself
extremely similar to the Anti hero of the story Jean-Baptiste Clamence.
2. While having a Socratic seminar on this book and other similar works I
was arguing fiercely with another student and gave examples from the
text, and paused mid sentence and began to connect these events
with those of my own life, but only after I criticized this character for
the same actions.
3. This sudden moment of clarity changed my mindset and I began
questioning most if not all my former beliefs, but to answer these
questions I took my time.
4. This event allowed me to create my own identity, and to have an open
mind to others opinions to seek further knowledge or perspectives.

Content in ignorance, the eighteen characters that defended my life for

fifteen years.
This statement I now hold with contempt used as a reminder to keep me
from my own insolence. I believe that to become independent we must be
master of our own beliefs. This idea is what I hold to be the definition and the
difference between a person whom I can trust and respect. Despite where
their choices or values they have deemed their own may diverge from my
own. You have listened to me ramble on about who and what I respect, but I
can tell you what I despise. The voluntary blind acceptance of public morals
and values granted by society without question, and worse still the hypocrisy
and judgment of those who cannot even hold their own opinion for fear of
disapproval from their so called peers or parents. And do not say that I
have not or cannot know the repercussions for holding an unpopular opinion
because I have been there shackled by fear, and forced to practice the
thespian arts daily in exchange for acceptance. It is often said that I speak
softly, but remember two things if I had an issue I dare not mumble it under
my breath or lie in order to appease you or anyone else for that matter, and
in doing so I can look into the mirror and see my face free of any sort of
mask and be able to confidently receive confirmation that I am completely
okay with what I am and what I stand for. A privilege that I earned less than
a year ago.

My I Believe Artifact
This is a slam poem that took some thought to create and even decide on a
topic. I had issue with how to word some of my points and how to accurately
describe who I was and verbally show my utter disgust at the prospect of
going back. This represents and actively shows my stance on this value I
hold, and my reasoning for choosing this value due to the fact that this is the
basis for all other values that I hold as my own.