Mayella sat with her hands in her lap not looking up at the people looking at her. She inconspicuously tried straightening a piece of her hair that was sticking up to one side. It was to no use. At home she would have just spit in her hand and wiped it on her hair to make it lay flat, but she knew that that was not ok for court. This morning she had gotten up early and taken a bath.
No one had helped her whatsoever to carry pail after pail of water to get enough to sink herself into. She had looked though the trash and found a broken comb witch she used to brush through the knots and tangles of her hair. After Pa had gotten angry at her that one time and cut her hair of with a knife she had been gradually trying to grow it out and make it even. She had washed her best clothes and had them laid out. She was the only one who ever tried to keep anything clean.
All the other members of her family were men and they expected her to do everything. If she didn’t than she would get beaten. After every time she would get beaten she would have to stay in bed for a day. No one would come to help her, not her father nor any of her brothers and sisters.
The only person who had ever shoed any kindness to her in her whole life was a negro man. When she first saw him she had taken pity on him. She had been there the day he had gotten his arm in the cotton gin. She had seen his friends running for help. She asked them what was wrong and they had replied “We need a doctor, Tom’s got his arm in the cotton gin” she had run to the field to see if there was anything she could do to help. He was lying on the ground and there was blood all around him. He was screaming in pain she then felt compassion for this poor crippled Negro boy and that compassion had never left her.
Mayella wanted to die, she wanted to kill herself. After first kissing this man and then saying he raped her. What was wrong with her? She loved him but at the same time she was convicting him to death. She was just so lonely and sad and confused, she wished that there was someone that could be there for her that could in someway help her. She at this point was old enough to know that neither of those options were possible.
Was Tom Robinson so OBLIVIOUS to the fact that she loved him? Didn’t he see it in her eyes when she would ask him to help her? She would INDULGE in watching him. So strong, but she knew that they couldn’t be together for many reasons. One, he did not love her in return. Two, he was married and with children and three, she was a poor beaten girl who had never before two days ago kissed someone. She would AMIABLY though her self of a cliff right now.
Oh no… the court was starting. She wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt and looked up into the face of her fear. Atticus. She had ACQUAINTED herself with him before. So she knew… she knew he was going to find her out. She looked over to the DEFENDANT chair were Tom was sitting. She looked away. Her heart gave a painful little squeeze as she accepted what she was doing. All hope and love inside her shut down and she became prepared to lie.
Post 5 Chap 13-15 Dill
May 17, 2009
Dill closed his eyes and listened to the conversations around him. He suddenly heard shouting and he heard scout cry out in pain. He suddenly had the overwhelming urge to get out from under scouts bed and help her. He knew that she was only fighting against Jem though. He heard Jem fall down and then Atticus entered the room. “Go to bed” Atticus said. Yes this was his chance. He squeezed his hand out. Then he felt scout step on it. She had been reading and was ready to go to bed. He couldn’t help it, it hurt. He let out a grunt.
She stopped and looked down. Even though she could not see anything in the dark. She turned on the light and went to Jem’s room. Wait! He didn’t want Jem to find him only scout. He was planning that in the middle of the night he would climb into bed with her. She would think it was a dream and then in the morning he would still be there and she would be so happy. Jem came into her room. He could see that he was holding a broom. He stuck it under the bed and hit Dill in the face. Again he didn’t say anything. Dill decided a minute later that it was no use and eventually let him get his arm out. Dill squeezed himself out from under the bed.
Scout was looking at him. She looked like it was the happiest day of her lie. Then dills stomach growled. She realized he was hungry and went to go get him soothing to eat. She came back a minute later with a pan of corn bread. He ate the whole thing he was so hungry. Then Jem did something that he would never forgive him for. “Atticus come here”
How could he do that to Dill. He had never done anything mean to him in his whole life and now he was treating him poorly. Dill thought of this as unacceptable and never thought of Jem the same way again.
She stopped and looked down. Even though she could not see anything in the dark. She turned on the light and went to Jem’s room. Wait! He didn’t want Jem to find him only scout. He was planning that in the middle of the night he would climb into bed with her. She would think it was a dream and then in the morning he would still be there and she would be so happy. Jem came into her room. He could see that he was holding a broom. He stuck it under the bed and hit Dill in the face. Again he didn’t say anything. Dill decided a minute later that it was no use and eventually let him get his arm out. Dill squeezed himself out from under the bed.
Scout was looking at him. She looked like it was the happiest day of her lie. Then dills stomach growled. She realized he was hungry and went to go get him soothing to eat. She came back a minute later with a pan of corn bread. He ate the whole thing he was so hungry. Then Jem did something that he would never forgive him for. “Atticus come here”
How could he do that to Dill. He had never done anything mean to him in his whole life and now he was treating him poorly. Dill thought of this as unacceptable and never thought of Jem the same way again.
Post 4 Chap. 10-11 Calpurnia.
May 14, 2009
Post 4 Chap. 10-11 Calpurnia.
I closed the door of Scouts room and walked down the hallway into the living room. “Are they in bed?” Atticus asked. “Yes.., ms. Scouts been talking about you lately. She’s been wondering if you were good at anything and about your past” Atticus sighed. “What did you tell her?”
“I didn’t tell her nothin’ sir” I said. It was true. When scout had come to me I had said he was good at reading. I knew that was not what she had wanted to hear but sometimes you need to love them before you understand them. “Right then, you can go home... Thank you Calpurnia” Atticus said. She loved the Fiches she had been working for them for as long as she could remember. She had always taken care of Jem and Scout. And now that they were getting older Jem was starting to drift away from Scout. She could see it. She could also see how much it hurt Scout to see that.
She was not ready to let her brother go. The next day I was washing up in the kitchen when scout ran it. She had that look on her face. She looked scared. “What’s wrong?” I automatically asked setting down the soap. She then told me about the mad dog coming down our street. I knew witch one she was talking about. Scout and Jem had never seen a mad dog in action. When I was little there had been a mad dog on our street. My mom had ushered us inside because she knew of the PERIL of mad dogs. Almost INAUDIBLY she said. “Keep quiet until I come back” I had stayed there behind our thin screen door and peeped out the window. My mom came back a couple minutes later and put her arms around me. Close your eyes honey. My mom had tried to warn our neighbors but because she was Negro they had not believed her.
A couple seconds later I heard the scream of one of our CANTANKEROUS neighbors. I never forgot that sight or sound. “Cal?!” I heard Scout say. I was brought back to the present. “Are you lying” I said. No! No, Its coming” she said. I told her and Jem to get inside. Thankfully they did not CONTRADICT me.
I called all of our neighbors and they believed me. They all shut there doors tight. The only house on the block that didn’t know were the Radley’s I would have to go over and tell them my self. I INCONSPICUOUSLY walked out side and ran to the other side of the road. The Radley’s were of the same CONTEMPORARIES as us so they knew about mad dogs. I knocked hard on there door. I looked over my shoulder and saw it coming towards me. I tried one more time. No one answered. I ran back and covered the kids with my body.
Soon the sheriff was there with his rifle pointed at the dog but he did not shoot. I saw him trying to give the gun to Atticus but he would not take it. It was getting to close it he did not shoot the dog now…. In one swift movement he took the rife through of his glasses aimed and fired. The dog jumped in the air and landed still. I had known the second Atticus picked up the gun that he would not miss. Jem and Scout stood stunned beside me.
I closed the door of Scouts room and walked down the hallway into the living room. “Are they in bed?” Atticus asked. “Yes.., ms. Scouts been talking about you lately. She’s been wondering if you were good at anything and about your past” Atticus sighed. “What did you tell her?”
“I didn’t tell her nothin’ sir” I said. It was true. When scout had come to me I had said he was good at reading. I knew that was not what she had wanted to hear but sometimes you need to love them before you understand them. “Right then, you can go home... Thank you Calpurnia” Atticus said. She loved the Fiches she had been working for them for as long as she could remember. She had always taken care of Jem and Scout. And now that they were getting older Jem was starting to drift away from Scout. She could see it. She could also see how much it hurt Scout to see that.
She was not ready to let her brother go. The next day I was washing up in the kitchen when scout ran it. She had that look on her face. She looked scared. “What’s wrong?” I automatically asked setting down the soap. She then told me about the mad dog coming down our street. I knew witch one she was talking about. Scout and Jem had never seen a mad dog in action. When I was little there had been a mad dog on our street. My mom had ushered us inside because she knew of the PERIL of mad dogs. Almost INAUDIBLY she said. “Keep quiet until I come back” I had stayed there behind our thin screen door and peeped out the window. My mom came back a couple minutes later and put her arms around me. Close your eyes honey. My mom had tried to warn our neighbors but because she was Negro they had not believed her.
A couple seconds later I heard the scream of one of our CANTANKEROUS neighbors. I never forgot that sight or sound. “Cal?!” I heard Scout say. I was brought back to the present. “Are you lying” I said. No! No, Its coming” she said. I told her and Jem to get inside. Thankfully they did not CONTRADICT me.
I called all of our neighbors and they believed me. They all shut there doors tight. The only house on the block that didn’t know were the Radley’s I would have to go over and tell them my self. I INCONSPICUOUSLY walked out side and ran to the other side of the road. The Radley’s were of the same CONTEMPORARIES as us so they knew about mad dogs. I knocked hard on there door. I looked over my shoulder and saw it coming towards me. I tried one more time. No one answered. I ran back and covered the kids with my body.
Soon the sheriff was there with his rifle pointed at the dog but he did not shoot. I saw him trying to give the gun to Atticus but he would not take it. It was getting to close it he did not shoot the dog now…. In one swift movement he took the rife through of his glasses aimed and fired. The dog jumped in the air and landed still. I had known the second Atticus picked up the gun that he would not miss. Jem and Scout stood stunned beside me.
TKAM post 3 chapters 8-9 Scout
May 11, 2009
TKAM post 3 chapters 8-9 Scout
I shivered and pulled my thin coat around my body. I hated school it was so boring. We were outside and we were supposed to be playing but it was to cold for that. Some kids were running around but they were only running half heartedly. I looked down at my hands. I was gripping my coat so hard my knuckles were white. Later that day when we were walking home I couldn’t help but look at the radley tree. The hole was still filled with cement. I think I heard Jem sigh as we walked past.
I was woken up in the middle of the night. I had been in the middle of a dream were and Jem and Boo were all friends and that he wasn’t as bad as everyone said he was. The hands were cold and shocking. “Get up! Get up!” it was Jem’s voice speaking. When Jem put a certain tone in his voice I knew that it was important. I hurried and put on my coat. I could already smell the smoke.
We ran outside and I stared in horror at Ms. Maudie’s house. It was so bright in contrast to the cold winter night. “Stay over there” Atticus said. We walked over to the Radleys house we stood by the tree. Soon I couldn’t feel anywhere in my body and I was shaking I felt Jem’s hand on my shoulder and it made me feel warmer and safer. We watched the firemen trying to put out the fire. I couldn’t understand how there was a fire on the coldest day of the year. We waited there for what seemed like hours.
When the sun started peeking over the tops of the house it seemed that the firemen’s jobs were done. I had been so worried about our house but now in the sun I saw that my worry was unneeded because our house was fine. It hadn’t even burnt the sides of our house were my window was. We went into our house and started our fires again. Seeing fire in my home automatically made me on edge. I knew that I would not be having any sleep tonight, not that there was much left to tonight. “You don’t need to go to school tomorrow” Atticus announced. That made me feel at least a little bit better.
“Were did you get that blanket” Atticus asked. I looked at my shoulders. The second I saw it I knew exactly were it was from. “It’s Boo Radleys” I said. “How do you know?” asked Jem. “Because no one else would have been able to put in on me, it wasn’t you and no one else was near us” I shivered as I thought of my mental image of Boo radley sneaking up behind me and touch me. “I think you should at least try to take a nap” Calpurnia said. She ushered me to my bed and I fell into a deep troubled sleep.
A couple days later Uncle Jack came to our house. I always like Uncle Jack best. I ENTRUSTED everything I owned to Uncle Jack. He had always been there for me. Uncle Jack was INGENUOUS, he was a doctor and everyone knew that to be a doctor you had to be really, really smart. Atticus had paid for Uncle Jack’s education so uncle jack was always trying to repay Atticus in some way. We soon went to our cousins house but I hated it there my cousin was so boring and he was mean too. He called atticus a nigger lover, I didn’t know that it meant but I knew it meant something bad. I told him to stop but he didn’t and I got mad. No one would talk to me and I felt ISOLATE away from everybody else. After the thousandth time that he called Atticus a nigger lover I hit him and it hurt bad but I didn’t care because it felt good at the same time. I got in trouble thought and I heard Atticus and uncle Jack DEBATING on what to do with me. I was so mad. Neither of them understood the PERPLEXITY of children. I went into the car with out saying goodbye I was so mad. When we got home I didn’t talk to anyone.
I shivered and pulled my thin coat around my body. I hated school it was so boring. We were outside and we were supposed to be playing but it was to cold for that. Some kids were running around but they were only running half heartedly. I looked down at my hands. I was gripping my coat so hard my knuckles were white. Later that day when we were walking home I couldn’t help but look at the radley tree. The hole was still filled with cement. I think I heard Jem sigh as we walked past.
I was woken up in the middle of the night. I had been in the middle of a dream were and Jem and Boo were all friends and that he wasn’t as bad as everyone said he was. The hands were cold and shocking. “Get up! Get up!” it was Jem’s voice speaking. When Jem put a certain tone in his voice I knew that it was important. I hurried and put on my coat. I could already smell the smoke.
We ran outside and I stared in horror at Ms. Maudie’s house. It was so bright in contrast to the cold winter night. “Stay over there” Atticus said. We walked over to the Radleys house we stood by the tree. Soon I couldn’t feel anywhere in my body and I was shaking I felt Jem’s hand on my shoulder and it made me feel warmer and safer. We watched the firemen trying to put out the fire. I couldn’t understand how there was a fire on the coldest day of the year. We waited there for what seemed like hours.
When the sun started peeking over the tops of the house it seemed that the firemen’s jobs were done. I had been so worried about our house but now in the sun I saw that my worry was unneeded because our house was fine. It hadn’t even burnt the sides of our house were my window was. We went into our house and started our fires again. Seeing fire in my home automatically made me on edge. I knew that I would not be having any sleep tonight, not that there was much left to tonight. “You don’t need to go to school tomorrow” Atticus announced. That made me feel at least a little bit better.
“Were did you get that blanket” Atticus asked. I looked at my shoulders. The second I saw it I knew exactly were it was from. “It’s Boo Radleys” I said. “How do you know?” asked Jem. “Because no one else would have been able to put in on me, it wasn’t you and no one else was near us” I shivered as I thought of my mental image of Boo radley sneaking up behind me and touch me. “I think you should at least try to take a nap” Calpurnia said. She ushered me to my bed and I fell into a deep troubled sleep.
A couple days later Uncle Jack came to our house. I always like Uncle Jack best. I ENTRUSTED everything I owned to Uncle Jack. He had always been there for me. Uncle Jack was INGENUOUS, he was a doctor and everyone knew that to be a doctor you had to be really, really smart. Atticus had paid for Uncle Jack’s education so uncle jack was always trying to repay Atticus in some way. We soon went to our cousins house but I hated it there my cousin was so boring and he was mean too. He called atticus a nigger lover, I didn’t know that it meant but I knew it meant something bad. I told him to stop but he didn’t and I got mad. No one would talk to me and I felt ISOLATE away from everybody else. After the thousandth time that he called Atticus a nigger lover I hit him and it hurt bad but I didn’t care because it felt good at the same time. I got in trouble thought and I heard Atticus and uncle Jack DEBATING on what to do with me. I was so mad. Neither of them understood the PERPLEXITY of children. I went into the car with out saying goodbye I was so mad. When we got home I didn’t talk to anyone.
Chapters 4-7 Jem
May 10, 2009
I awoke to the calming sound of my sister sleeping on her bunk above me. I knew the sound of her breathing and could tell if she was a wake or not. My sister, Scout was a tough thing, she would never admit it but yes, she could be scared too. She always tried to hard to be strong and tough. Atticus said that she did that because she wanted to impress Jem but he didn’t understand why she thought she needed to do that. Jem lay there for a while and then sank indo a deep sleep. Next morning he got up for school.
Scout was still complaining about it. He reminded himself to be patient. He remembered the years were he had to struggle through school while Scout stayed at home and played and did nothing. Nothing had tormented him more that to go to school wile she just played around. Scout knew that too so she soon stopped complaining.
I came home the next day to find Scout sitting on the floor chewing gum. I automatically knew that this was not a good sign. “Were did you get that” I asked staring at it. She looked at me with her annoying “I’ so much smarter than you” smile and said “The Radley place” I stared at her. Was she stupid? I suddenly had a mental image of her suddenly keeling over. I ran forward and took it out of her mouth. Everyone knew that anything from the Radley house had a malignant quality. She took it out and washed up but I was still keeping an eye on her to make sure she wasn’t about to die.
The next day when we walked home together she didn’t run past the Radley place. She instead stopped by the tree and stuck her hand in it. What was wrong with her! I ran back to make sure she was alright when she emerged with a box. We ran home and looked inside it. In it there were two pennies. I knew the second I saw them that they were really old. And really, really valuable. I wasn’t gonna tell her that though. I knew when I looked closer that each of these was worth almost as much as three bottles of molasses. “Here, Il keep them safe” I said. She put them in my hand. That night I went to went to were Atticus was sleeping and showed them to him. His eyes widened when he took them in. “Where did you get these” He asked. I tried my new evasion tactic but it didn’t work.
“I don’t know how, but somehow she knew they were there. She knew that they were waiting for her, For us! And why would Boo Radley want to give us money anyway. You know yesterday I caught her chewing gum, you know what she said.. She said she had “found it” at the radley place. Everyone knows you never, ever touch anything from the radley place.” Atticus simply looked at me then looked away. “Oh stop quibbling” he said. “The radleys have enough problems as it is with out medaling kids interfering in there business” He sighed and then looked at me. “I think its time to tell you what happened sixteen years ago”
That night we stayed up all night talking. He told me everything. He said that if he ever found out I told he would never trust me ever again. So if you think I’m going tell you, you’re wrong, I always keep my promises. For the next couple days we spent them planning with Dill on how to get a message to Boo. It tormented me not being able to say anything, but I always kept my promises. I don’t know what was up with Scout. She reminded me of a chameleon always changing one days she would be happy and then the next she would be mad. I think it had something to do with Dill. The other day I had overheard them talking and I think I had heard something about getting married. Geez they were still kids.
Boo radley kept on giving us gifts. One day we tried sneaking in to give us something and someone tried to shoot me. I mean geez. Overall the week was pretty eventful.
Scout was still complaining about it. He reminded himself to be patient. He remembered the years were he had to struggle through school while Scout stayed at home and played and did nothing. Nothing had tormented him more that to go to school wile she just played around. Scout knew that too so she soon stopped complaining.
I came home the next day to find Scout sitting on the floor chewing gum. I automatically knew that this was not a good sign. “Were did you get that” I asked staring at it. She looked at me with her annoying “I’ so much smarter than you” smile and said “The Radley place” I stared at her. Was she stupid? I suddenly had a mental image of her suddenly keeling over. I ran forward and took it out of her mouth. Everyone knew that anything from the Radley house had a malignant quality. She took it out and washed up but I was still keeping an eye on her to make sure she wasn’t about to die.
The next day when we walked home together she didn’t run past the Radley place. She instead stopped by the tree and stuck her hand in it. What was wrong with her! I ran back to make sure she was alright when she emerged with a box. We ran home and looked inside it. In it there were two pennies. I knew the second I saw them that they were really old. And really, really valuable. I wasn’t gonna tell her that though. I knew when I looked closer that each of these was worth almost as much as three bottles of molasses. “Here, Il keep them safe” I said. She put them in my hand. That night I went to went to were Atticus was sleeping and showed them to him. His eyes widened when he took them in. “Where did you get these” He asked. I tried my new evasion tactic but it didn’t work.
“I don’t know how, but somehow she knew they were there. She knew that they were waiting for her, For us! And why would Boo Radley want to give us money anyway. You know yesterday I caught her chewing gum, you know what she said.. She said she had “found it” at the radley place. Everyone knows you never, ever touch anything from the radley place.” Atticus simply looked at me then looked away. “Oh stop quibbling” he said. “The radleys have enough problems as it is with out medaling kids interfering in there business” He sighed and then looked at me. “I think its time to tell you what happened sixteen years ago”
That night we stayed up all night talking. He told me everything. He said that if he ever found out I told he would never trust me ever again. So if you think I’m going tell you, you’re wrong, I always keep my promises. For the next couple days we spent them planning with Dill on how to get a message to Boo. It tormented me not being able to say anything, but I always kept my promises. I don’t know what was up with Scout. She reminded me of a chameleon always changing one days she would be happy and then the next she would be mad. I think it had something to do with Dill. The other day I had overheard them talking and I think I had heard something about getting married. Geez they were still kids.
Boo radley kept on giving us gifts. One day we tried sneaking in to give us something and someone tried to shoot me. I mean geez. Overall the week was pretty eventful.
TKAM post 1 Scout
May 3, 2009
I sat on the rim of our tree house letting my feet dangle over the edge. I looked out at the houses. From up here I could see everything and everyone. I knew that if I told Atticus he would never let us sit up here again. He would pronounce that “, that would be rude to look in people’s houses”. The only reason Jem and I ever did it was to keep watch on the Radleys. We had wanted to make sure that we could keep an eye on them so that Boo Radley didn’t go out and kill more people. One time when I was really little I thought that I had heard Boo scratching at my window. That night I promised my self that I would sleep in the tree house, because we all knew that Boo couldn’t climb for apples. We Maycomb children had all heard the stories about Boo Radley. And we also knew to get in the house before nine o’clock because that’s the time that he got out every night.
At approximately eight o’nine I ran out side with a blanket and a torch and set up camp in the tree house. I had presently asked Jem to stay with me. But to my annoyance and disappointment he had declined. It always irked me when Jem didn’t agree to something. But I would still persevere without him. I tried to stay up and listen and watch for any signs of Boo but to my disappointment nothing happened and I fell asleep.
I woke to the sound of laughter and looked out of the hole like window in the tree house. There was a boy on the other side of the fence. He had blond perfect hair and blue, blue eyes. I jumped down from the tree house making sure that I landed correctly. This act looked amazing but anyone that knew me knew that I had been able to do it since I was nine. “Hey who are you?” I said walking over. He stood up and barley came up to my shoulder. I laughed, id never seen a boy so short before. “My name is Charles Baker Harris” he said and looked at me full in the face. No one did that to me. I was indigenous to the Maycomb country, so I was taller that almost all the boys my age and much stronger than them too. So when some little, blond, fancy named kid stands up to me you can understand how that would make me mad. Jem walked up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. I knew that, that meant stop and uncoiled my fists.
Later I learned that Charles Baker Harris was staying with our neighbor for a wile. It was really fun having someone new around and meeting Dill really brightened up my summer. We played games and he got to know most of everything in Maycomb, not that there was much to see but it was impressive all the same. But when the summer ended he had to go. No teary goodbyes, just a firm yet warm handshake. He had been a nice kid.
Next morning I got ready for my first day at school. I think that Atticus had paid him because he had condescended to take me to school. I got into my classroom and sat at the front. I was so excited to learn new things. That’s when our teacher came in. Miss Caroline, in my eyes, looked like a peppermint stick. Not that any of us had ever seen one let alone taste one we all knew that they smelled and tasted like. She had red hair white skin. She was obviously not native to Maycomb but she was eccentric all the same. She asked people to read and I being able to read raised my hand. I had known how to read as long as I can remember. But Miss Caroline did not think that was acceptable. That day she sent me home with a new found hatred towards school.
Next day went about the same. Miss Caroline got mad for me knowing how to read and she also got in a fight with Burris Ewel. Poor thing, I knew she was not a malevolent soul but sometimes she just annoyed me to death. I knew that when I was mad I became intimidating to the other kids so on my way home they all stayed away from me. The second I got home Atticus knew something was wrong. He took me out side and talked to me. That night we made a compromise. I had always known that not reading was impossible for me so making that compromise really brightened my day.
At approximately eight o’nine I ran out side with a blanket and a torch and set up camp in the tree house. I had presently asked Jem to stay with me. But to my annoyance and disappointment he had declined. It always irked me when Jem didn’t agree to something. But I would still persevere without him. I tried to stay up and listen and watch for any signs of Boo but to my disappointment nothing happened and I fell asleep.
I woke to the sound of laughter and looked out of the hole like window in the tree house. There was a boy on the other side of the fence. He had blond perfect hair and blue, blue eyes. I jumped down from the tree house making sure that I landed correctly. This act looked amazing but anyone that knew me knew that I had been able to do it since I was nine. “Hey who are you?” I said walking over. He stood up and barley came up to my shoulder. I laughed, id never seen a boy so short before. “My name is Charles Baker Harris” he said and looked at me full in the face. No one did that to me. I was indigenous to the Maycomb country, so I was taller that almost all the boys my age and much stronger than them too. So when some little, blond, fancy named kid stands up to me you can understand how that would make me mad. Jem walked up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. I knew that, that meant stop and uncoiled my fists.
Later I learned that Charles Baker Harris was staying with our neighbor for a wile. It was really fun having someone new around and meeting Dill really brightened up my summer. We played games and he got to know most of everything in Maycomb, not that there was much to see but it was impressive all the same. But when the summer ended he had to go. No teary goodbyes, just a firm yet warm handshake. He had been a nice kid.
Next morning I got ready for my first day at school. I think that Atticus had paid him because he had condescended to take me to school. I got into my classroom and sat at the front. I was so excited to learn new things. That’s when our teacher came in. Miss Caroline, in my eyes, looked like a peppermint stick. Not that any of us had ever seen one let alone taste one we all knew that they smelled and tasted like. She had red hair white skin. She was obviously not native to Maycomb but she was eccentric all the same. She asked people to read and I being able to read raised my hand. I had known how to read as long as I can remember. But Miss Caroline did not think that was acceptable. That day she sent me home with a new found hatred towards school.
Next day went about the same. Miss Caroline got mad for me knowing how to read and she also got in a fight with Burris Ewel. Poor thing, I knew she was not a malevolent soul but sometimes she just annoyed me to death. I knew that when I was mad I became intimidating to the other kids so on my way home they all stayed away from me. The second I got home Atticus knew something was wrong. He took me out side and talked to me. That night we made a compromise. I had always known that not reading was impossible for me so making that compromise really brightened my day.
Immigration project reflection
Mar 29, 2009
Immigration project reflection
This semester I choose to read the book a long way gone by Ishmael Beah. I wanted to read this book because it was about a topic that I wanted to learn more about. I think that a long way gone was a really sad book. It really brought up some Important but sad issues in the world right now. I am happy with my book choice because even though it was sad I really liked it. It had a great story and it helped me to open my eyes to issues around the world.
The book a long way gone was about a boy names Ishmael Beah. He was a child soldier he was forced by the corrupt government to kill innocent people. He was never the kind of kid to want to kill so it really affected him when he was forced to kill people. I learned about how corrupt the government can be and how it can force children to kill other children. Sometimes when I was reading the book I would be in a place that I couldn’t have access to a computer so I would have to try to rush and write it so I could finish it on time. And other days I wouldn’t be able to be home until late so I think that they should be posted by 12:00 not 9:00 because a lot of people go to bed later than that.
I think that it would be easier if our lit circles should be written because it easier to read and explain that way and people don’t always have access to computers and it feels rushed because we have to get it done by a certain time. I think that it would be easier if it was not on the computer.
Sometimes the books were really confusing and I think that it would be fun if we were able to choose the book we wanted instead of having to choose from some that the teacher provided. Not that the ones that the teacher provided weren’t good. It’s just that we had no idea what the looked like or how many pages they were.
I decided that for my art piece I wanted to make my interpretation of the book. I thought that that would be a better way to express the feelings I had for this book counting on that the book was really emotional and touching. I wanted a way to show and express the anger and sadness in the book and I didn’t think that I would be able to with any of the other ways like a book cover. With the book cover I didn’t think that it would be right because I was planning on making something depressing and sad and I didn’t want to create an art piece for the cover of a book that would discourage people from buying the book.
Since this book was about sad things I thought that it would be good to make it really dark. This is why I made the whole background dark and made it look like the painting was on fire. People usually associate fire with death and darkness so this is why I choose that. When I was first making my art piece it looked horrible. Compared to how my drawing with colored pencil looked. It looked absolutely horrible. I hadn’t put the paint on think enough so his skin looked like it was odd and slightly green. But after the paint had dried I made a second layer and after that I looked better. I just kept messing with it until It looked like how I wanted it to look. When it finally looked how I wanted it to I stopped messing with it because I didn’t want it to end up looking bad. But all in all I liked how it turned out. It looked dark, sad and scary and that’s exactly what I wanted it to look like.
I think that I could have spent more time on my art piece. I know that I could have been neater and more organized. I think that I could have used smaller brushes because sometimes when I used a big brush it would get paint in places where I didn’t want it. I wish that we could have had more time to do what we wanted with our paintings.
I interviewed a friend of my fathers. She is Indian. It was fun interviewing her because I honestly wanted to know what she had to say about some of the questions I asked her. I think that the idea to interview someone 3 times and in 3 different methods is a good idea because that way you get more comfortable talking to that person so when you have your final interview it isn’t awkward. My interviewee was born in Nellore, India. In India it is very different everything if family oriented. To say thank you to someone you have to go up to them so you are face to face and say thank you. Otherwise you are considered rude. I see that immigrating to another country can be really scary at tines because if you do not know the language it is hard to find someone to talk to and you can become lonely. I’m hoping that when I give my interviewee her gift she will appreciate it because it took me a lot of hard work to make it.
This semester I choose to read the book a long way gone by Ishmael Beah. I wanted to read this book because it was about a topic that I wanted to learn more about. I think that a long way gone was a really sad book. It really brought up some Important but sad issues in the world right now. I am happy with my book choice because even though it was sad I really liked it. It had a great story and it helped me to open my eyes to issues around the world.
The book a long way gone was about a boy names Ishmael Beah. He was a child soldier he was forced by the corrupt government to kill innocent people. He was never the kind of kid to want to kill so it really affected him when he was forced to kill people. I learned about how corrupt the government can be and how it can force children to kill other children. Sometimes when I was reading the book I would be in a place that I couldn’t have access to a computer so I would have to try to rush and write it so I could finish it on time. And other days I wouldn’t be able to be home until late so I think that they should be posted by 12:00 not 9:00 because a lot of people go to bed later than that.
I think that it would be easier if our lit circles should be written because it easier to read and explain that way and people don’t always have access to computers and it feels rushed because we have to get it done by a certain time. I think that it would be easier if it was not on the computer.
Sometimes the books were really confusing and I think that it would be fun if we were able to choose the book we wanted instead of having to choose from some that the teacher provided. Not that the ones that the teacher provided weren’t good. It’s just that we had no idea what the looked like or how many pages they were.
I decided that for my art piece I wanted to make my interpretation of the book. I thought that that would be a better way to express the feelings I had for this book counting on that the book was really emotional and touching. I wanted a way to show and express the anger and sadness in the book and I didn’t think that I would be able to with any of the other ways like a book cover. With the book cover I didn’t think that it would be right because I was planning on making something depressing and sad and I didn’t want to create an art piece for the cover of a book that would discourage people from buying the book.
Since this book was about sad things I thought that it would be good to make it really dark. This is why I made the whole background dark and made it look like the painting was on fire. People usually associate fire with death and darkness so this is why I choose that. When I was first making my art piece it looked horrible. Compared to how my drawing with colored pencil looked. It looked absolutely horrible. I hadn’t put the paint on think enough so his skin looked like it was odd and slightly green. But after the paint had dried I made a second layer and after that I looked better. I just kept messing with it until It looked like how I wanted it to look. When it finally looked how I wanted it to I stopped messing with it because I didn’t want it to end up looking bad. But all in all I liked how it turned out. It looked dark, sad and scary and that’s exactly what I wanted it to look like.
I think that I could have spent more time on my art piece. I know that I could have been neater and more organized. I think that I could have used smaller brushes because sometimes when I used a big brush it would get paint in places where I didn’t want it. I wish that we could have had more time to do what we wanted with our paintings.
I interviewed a friend of my fathers. She is Indian. It was fun interviewing her because I honestly wanted to know what she had to say about some of the questions I asked her. I think that the idea to interview someone 3 times and in 3 different methods is a good idea because that way you get more comfortable talking to that person so when you have your final interview it isn’t awkward. My interviewee was born in Nellore, India. In India it is very different everything if family oriented. To say thank you to someone you have to go up to them so you are face to face and say thank you. Otherwise you are considered rude. I see that immigrating to another country can be really scary at tines because if you do not know the language it is hard to find someone to talk to and you can become lonely. I’m hoping that when I give my interviewee her gift she will appreciate it because it took me a lot of hard work to make it.
book review #1 a long way gone
Mar 14, 2009
Book Review
Why or why not you should read the book a long way gone By: Ishmael Beah
For the Reading circles this semester I chose to read the book long way gone By: Ishmael Beah. I wanted to read this book because we had previously in school been learning about kids in Africa and I had liked the idea that I could help but I wanted to know a little bit more though. I wanted to know from one kid what it was like. Then I saw this book and it was perfect. This, like many other books, starts of slow. For me it was hard to struggle though the first part of the book. This part mainly just talked about his life before the war. I think I should have appreciated it because I didn’t know what was going to come.
If you are at all squeamish I highly recommend Do Not read this book. This is not the book that start’s of happy and end’s with a kiss. This book with shock you, make you think different of people and what they can do. I also say that, If you are under the age of 13 do not read it. It has a lot of adult content. That is because the whole story is true. Knowing that the whole story was true made me re-think my life and my priorities. It made me really appreciate what I had.
I liked this book. It really made me open my eyes to the problems around us. There are so many countries that a child will grow up and have to kill his neighbors just because the “Government” said so. This is what happened in along way gone.
I have seen so many people come in and talk to us about other countries but its not the same as reading exactly what happened in someone’s life. I am surprised that Ishmael Beah had enough sanity to write a book about his struggles. After the amount of horrible trials he went though I don’t think that many people would, first, be able to get over it. Second, be able to have to think about every detail that happened. And third, write a book about it. The amount of courage and understanding that this boy had made me really want to help other people not as fortunate as me. And I think that, that is the key reason that he wrote this book in the first place.
Besides the gruesome detail and the sorrow and death. This is actually a well written book. You can tell that he though of every detail when writing. From Scent, to sound, even to how everything felt when he touched it. Sometimes when reading this I could almost imagine and feel how hard it must have been for him. This was an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who, like me, wants to help.
-Ashlen Sepulveda
Why or why not you should read the book a long way gone By: Ishmael Beah
For the Reading circles this semester I chose to read the book long way gone By: Ishmael Beah. I wanted to read this book because we had previously in school been learning about kids in Africa and I had liked the idea that I could help but I wanted to know a little bit more though. I wanted to know from one kid what it was like. Then I saw this book and it was perfect. This, like many other books, starts of slow. For me it was hard to struggle though the first part of the book. This part mainly just talked about his life before the war. I think I should have appreciated it because I didn’t know what was going to come.
If you are at all squeamish I highly recommend Do Not read this book. This is not the book that start’s of happy and end’s with a kiss. This book with shock you, make you think different of people and what they can do. I also say that, If you are under the age of 13 do not read it. It has a lot of adult content. That is because the whole story is true. Knowing that the whole story was true made me re-think my life and my priorities. It made me really appreciate what I had.
I liked this book. It really made me open my eyes to the problems around us. There are so many countries that a child will grow up and have to kill his neighbors just because the “Government” said so. This is what happened in along way gone.
I have seen so many people come in and talk to us about other countries but its not the same as reading exactly what happened in someone’s life. I am surprised that Ishmael Beah had enough sanity to write a book about his struggles. After the amount of horrible trials he went though I don’t think that many people would, first, be able to get over it. Second, be able to have to think about every detail that happened. And third, write a book about it. The amount of courage and understanding that this boy had made me really want to help other people not as fortunate as me. And I think that, that is the key reason that he wrote this book in the first place.
Besides the gruesome detail and the sorrow and death. This is actually a well written book. You can tell that he though of every detail when writing. From Scent, to sound, even to how everything felt when he touched it. Sometimes when reading this I could almost imagine and feel how hard it must have been for him. This was an amazing book and I recommend it to anyone who, like me, wants to help.
-Ashlen Sepulveda
a long way gone 6
Mar 11, 2009
"Well, I am from the part of the country where I have not only suffered because of the war but i have also participated in it and undergone rehabilitation. So I have a better understanding, based on my experience of the situation, than any of these city boys who are here for the interview. What are they going to sat when they go over there? They don't know anything about the war except the news of it"
Ismael , page 187
Significance: I really hope that Ishmael and get this job because he really deserves it. He has experienced everything so he should be able to tell the world about it (he has, He wrote the book!) I am so happy for him that his life is so much better he deserves the best after all the hardships hes been through.
Character Judgment: I'm happy with how Ismael's character turned out. In the beginning I didn't like him. He killed people and was a slob. But now hes so much better. Its always darker before the light. I'm glad he found that light.
If you were Ishmael would you want to tell other people your story?
“Gunshots echoed in the quiet city, and the morning breeze felt harsh against my face. The air smelled of rotten bodies and gun powder”
Page 209, Ishmael
Significance:This quote makes me think of Because of Romek which is another book about a boy in a war and in that book it is always describing how it smells. I think the scent is a very important aspect because it gives you a better idea of were he is. Its really sad that he knows what the smell of rotten bodies smells like. I hope I never have to smell that.
Personal Connection: I can relate to this because I think about what it smells like and all of those small details when I'm writing. And I think that to describe something well you need to have what it smells like. That is why I choose that quote.
If you were to write a book about an experience like the one that Ismael Beah had what would you most want to get across to the reader?
a long way gone #5
Mar 5, 2009
"No one will believe is when we tell them this"
Alhaji, page 147
Significance: Now that Ismael and his friends have arrived in the big city of Sierra Leone they are starting to see that the war hasn't spread that far. Here it is just a story that is sometimes told. They see tons of rich happy people and children eating ice cream. How are they supposed to adjust from a hard lifestyle of murder and lies back to there previous life of innocence and happiness. Would you be able to?
Character Judgment: I am hoping that Ishmael and his friends will be able to put aside what they did and try to start a new life for them selves. They are homeless and have barely any money. I don't think that I were any of them , that I would be able to forget what I did . I would probably have nightmares about it for the rest of my life.
If you were Ishmael would you be able to adjust from a hard life style of murder and lies back to there previous life of innocence and happiness?
“I smoked marijuana, ate, and snorted cocaine and *brown brown.”
Page 143, Ishmael and his friends
*Cocaine with gun powder mixed into it.
Significance: I don't like this quote I was really hoping that they would be able to start fresh and do better but obviously they are incapable of that. I was thinking that once they got to Sierra Leone they would WANT to be better and not go back to there old life.
Character judgment: I am so mad at them. Why would they want to go back to that? But Drugs, I mean really, what is he thinking? I think that they have all given up on life and don't really care anymore if they died or not. If I were them I think I would have gotten to that point along time ago so in a way they are strong. They get the Not as Bad as They could Be award.
D you think you could ever get to the point were you wanted to die?
Alhaji, page 147
Significance: Now that Ismael and his friends have arrived in the big city of Sierra Leone they are starting to see that the war hasn't spread that far. Here it is just a story that is sometimes told. They see tons of rich happy people and children eating ice cream. How are they supposed to adjust from a hard lifestyle of murder and lies back to there previous life of innocence and happiness. Would you be able to?
Character Judgment: I am hoping that Ishmael and his friends will be able to put aside what they did and try to start a new life for them selves. They are homeless and have barely any money. I don't think that I were any of them , that I would be able to forget what I did . I would probably have nightmares about it for the rest of my life.
If you were Ishmael would you be able to adjust from a hard life style of murder and lies back to there previous life of innocence and happiness?
“I smoked marijuana, ate, and snorted cocaine and *brown brown.”
Page 143, Ishmael and his friends
*Cocaine with gun powder mixed into it.
Significance: I don't like this quote I was really hoping that they would be able to start fresh and do better but obviously they are incapable of that. I was thinking that once they got to Sierra Leone they would WANT to be better and not go back to there old life.
Character judgment: I am so mad at them. Why would they want to go back to that? But Drugs, I mean really, what is he thinking? I think that they have all given up on life and don't really care anymore if they died or not. If I were them I think I would have gotten to that point along time ago so in a way they are strong. They get the Not as Bad as They could Be award.
D you think you could ever get to the point were you wanted to die?
a long way gone 4
Feb 28, 2009
"We went to work killing everyone in sight. We didn't waste a single bullet"
Page 143, Ishmael
Significance: This quote is starting to show what kind off people Ishmael and his fiends have become. Even if they are killing rebels they are killing people. People with family's. I don't think I could kill someone even if they are really bad. Ishmael and his friends used to be so innocent. They never thought about killing anyone ever. But now they are killing people(even though they are not innocent)they are still killing people.
Character Judgment: I, in a way am mad at Ishmael. They could have just passed by the village instead of killing people out of revenge. I think that the reason that Ishmael and his friends keep trying to commit suicide is because they are depressed that they killed people. I also think that, that is the reason that they are sick.
Would you be able to kill someone even if they had killed people before?
“We walked around the village and killed everyone in sight”
Page 143, Ishmael and his friends
Significance:I don't like this quote it is once again showing how horrible these boys can be. before they were only killing the soldiers now they are also killing the soldiers wife's and children. They know what it is like to go on with out a family. So how could they do that to other people when they have experienced how horrible it is.
Character judgment: I am so mad at them. How could they do this to other people. They could have just gone on there way but for some reason. Maybe out of revenge. They had to go though and kill everyone. This just shows how much killing someone can change your life.
Would you ever kill someone out of revenge?
Page 143, Ishmael
Significance: This quote is starting to show what kind off people Ishmael and his fiends have become. Even if they are killing rebels they are killing people. People with family's. I don't think I could kill someone even if they are really bad. Ishmael and his friends used to be so innocent. They never thought about killing anyone ever. But now they are killing people(even though they are not innocent)they are still killing people.
Character Judgment: I, in a way am mad at Ishmael. They could have just passed by the village instead of killing people out of revenge. I think that the reason that Ishmael and his friends keep trying to commit suicide is because they are depressed that they killed people. I also think that, that is the reason that they are sick.
Would you be able to kill someone even if they had killed people before?
“We walked around the village and killed everyone in sight”
Page 143, Ishmael and his friends
Significance:I don't like this quote it is once again showing how horrible these boys can be. before they were only killing the soldiers now they are also killing the soldiers wife's and children. They know what it is like to go on with out a family. So how could they do that to other people when they have experienced how horrible it is.
Character judgment: I am so mad at them. How could they do this to other people. They could have just gone on there way but for some reason. Maybe out of revenge. They had to go though and kill everyone. This just shows how much killing someone can change your life.
Would you ever kill someone out of revenge?
a long way gone #3
Feb 24, 2009
"You guys disgust me just thinking about something like that""
Page 78, Jumah
Significance: I think this quote is a good choice because its starting to show what these boys have had to stoop to. They are starving to point were they are trying to eat dogs and other animals that in there previous life they would have never even tried to hunt let alone eat. they have changed as people so much over the past couple months and I don't think that they will ever be able to make it back to being how they used to be. They have lost there innocence.
Personal connection: I think that if I saw someone die or experienced any of the other things that they have experienced I would not feel the same way ever again. I feel so bad for them because they have killed people and I don't think I could ever bring my self to do that.
How would you cope if you killed someone?
“We must kill them all. We must make sure they never walk this earth again”
Page 108, Rebels
Significance:I think that this is really scary because a human is saying this and it reminds me of the holocaust. I don't think that people should hate each other that much. Something went wrong with the rebels to instigate why they hate people so much. I'm hoping they will tell us why.
Character judgment: I think that all of the people that were going along with that chant. NO matter what. Are bad people. I would not know what to so though would you go along with it and suffer the bad conscious or would you fight back and suffer dying?
would you go along with it and suffer the bad conscious or would you fight back and suffer dying?
Page 78, Jumah
Significance: I think this quote is a good choice because its starting to show what these boys have had to stoop to. They are starving to point were they are trying to eat dogs and other animals that in there previous life they would have never even tried to hunt let alone eat. they have changed as people so much over the past couple months and I don't think that they will ever be able to make it back to being how they used to be. They have lost there innocence.
Personal connection: I think that if I saw someone die or experienced any of the other things that they have experienced I would not feel the same way ever again. I feel so bad for them because they have killed people and I don't think I could ever bring my self to do that.
How would you cope if you killed someone?
“We must kill them all. We must make sure they never walk this earth again”
Page 108, Rebels
Significance:I think that this is really scary because a human is saying this and it reminds me of the holocaust. I don't think that people should hate each other that much. Something went wrong with the rebels to instigate why they hate people so much. I'm hoping they will tell us why.
Character judgment: I think that all of the people that were going along with that chant. NO matter what. Are bad people. I would not know what to so though would you go along with it and suffer the bad conscious or would you fight back and suffer dying?
would you go along with it and suffer the bad conscious or would you fight back and suffer dying?
a long way gone 2
Feb 20, 2009
"I pray to the gods and ancestors that your family will always be together, even when one of you crosses into the spirit world. To family and to community"
Page 45, Old man
Significance: This quote is sad in a way because this happened before they all got killed so now what the old man said in a way is not true because they are all dead. The old man still hopes that they will be together someday. Maybe when they die.
Personal connection: I think that I would want to be with my family when i was dead. I in a way wish that I could know what happens when you die. I'm not sure if I believe in a spirit world but I hope that there is something.
Would you want to be with your family after you died?
“My children, you must hurry now, and my blessings are with you.”
Page 65, older woman, the mother of Ismael host
Significance: I really like this woman she and her family were taking care of Ishmael and his friends. The people in the village had found out about them and were our to capture Ishmael and his friends. And she had warned them to protect them. I would not have done that but I'm glad that she did
Character judgment: I love the old woman's ability to stand up for her self. If i had been in that situation i would not have helped even if they were children. She could stand up for what she believed was right even though there were killers after them and she could have gotten hurt.
Would you have put your life on the line for strangers that were children?
Page 45, Old man
Significance: This quote is sad in a way because this happened before they all got killed so now what the old man said in a way is not true because they are all dead. The old man still hopes that they will be together someday. Maybe when they die.
Personal connection: I think that I would want to be with my family when i was dead. I in a way wish that I could know what happens when you die. I'm not sure if I believe in a spirit world but I hope that there is something.
Would you want to be with your family after you died?
“My children, you must hurry now, and my blessings are with you.”
Page 65, older woman, the mother of Ismael host
Significance: I really like this woman she and her family were taking care of Ishmael and his friends. The people in the village had found out about them and were our to capture Ishmael and his friends. And she had warned them to protect them. I would not have done that but I'm glad that she did
Character judgment: I love the old woman's ability to stand up for her self. If i had been in that situation i would not have helped even if they were children. She could stand up for what she believed was right even though there were killers after them and she could have gotten hurt.
Would you have put your life on the line for strangers that were children?
a long way gone #1
Feb 14, 2009
"Too much blood has been spilled were you are going. Even the good spirits have fled from that place"
Page 11-12, Woman
Significance: This quote was intended for Ishmael and his brother because the woman knew that they were going to America and to get there they would have to see a lot of blood and broken villages. The woman was saying that it was not worth what might happen to them if they tried to go to America. The woman had already experienced what hardships you had to face to go to America and did not want children to have to go through those same experiences.
Personal connection: I can connect to this because when I say I'm going to do something that will maybe harm me my parents say not to do it and if I’m really determined then they say be careful. But I think that the chances of getting hurt are more than the chances of not getting hurt. Children are irresponsible and think that they are invincible they think “Oh that would never happen to me” but in many cases it does and usually when I do something risky I always get hurt.
Is rapping really worth getting killed?
“If any of you make a move, I will kill everyone. So don’t even breathe too hard or it might be your last”
Page 32, Rebel Soldier
Significance: Ishmael and his friends had tried to get to America and had been caught. So far Ishmael and his friend’s journey hadn’t been that great either. Ishmael and his friends had seen so many people die and now they were caught by soldiers who were threatening to kill them. They were starving and wishing they would have died in the first round of killings with the rest of there families. I feel really bad for them.
Character judgment: I am mad at the rebel soldier he is a kid just like them and what right does he have to kill these people. But also in a way I feel bad. If he doesn’t die he will have to live with killing all of these people for the rest of his life. No child would choose that for themselves so that means that he was forced to work. And in repayment he would not die.
Would you rather die or become a soldier and have to kill to save your own life?
Page 11-12, Woman
Significance: This quote was intended for Ishmael and his brother because the woman knew that they were going to America and to get there they would have to see a lot of blood and broken villages. The woman was saying that it was not worth what might happen to them if they tried to go to America. The woman had already experienced what hardships you had to face to go to America and did not want children to have to go through those same experiences.
Personal connection: I can connect to this because when I say I'm going to do something that will maybe harm me my parents say not to do it and if I’m really determined then they say be careful. But I think that the chances of getting hurt are more than the chances of not getting hurt. Children are irresponsible and think that they are invincible they think “Oh that would never happen to me” but in many cases it does and usually when I do something risky I always get hurt.
Is rapping really worth getting killed?
“If any of you make a move, I will kill everyone. So don’t even breathe too hard or it might be your last”
Page 32, Rebel Soldier
Significance: Ishmael and his friends had tried to get to America and had been caught. So far Ishmael and his friend’s journey hadn’t been that great either. Ishmael and his friends had seen so many people die and now they were caught by soldiers who were threatening to kill them. They were starving and wishing they would have died in the first round of killings with the rest of there families. I feel really bad for them.
Character judgment: I am mad at the rebel soldier he is a kid just like them and what right does he have to kill these people. But also in a way I feel bad. If he doesn’t die he will have to live with killing all of these people for the rest of his life. No child would choose that for themselves so that means that he was forced to work. And in repayment he would not die.
Would you rather die or become a soldier and have to kill to save your own life?
Feild trip reflection
Part 1 from Haven to Home:
In this exhibition I learned many things about the Jewish culture and how it came to America. Jews have been in America for 350 years. The first group of Jewish immigrants, approximately twenty, arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654. Many of these people had been pushed out of there home lands and wanted to start over in a clean, new, safe life. They were the first group of Jews in America. By the 1740 there were more Jews in America. Establishing there lives. In 1776 many Jews fought for America in the revolutionary war. Many more Jews and other immigrants came to America all for different reasons. Though America was safer and better than there previous home land they still had to deal with Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism started in America in 1920. Martin Luther king fought against Anti-Semitism. Many Jews after they came to America started changing.
They went from conservative to reform to humanist and so on. America had started to Americanize its people, there started to be free English classes for anyone that wanted to attend. Even though many Jews had become full Americans more still kept to there old ways. Many Jews still kept couture. They were not allowed to eat pork and shellfish. They were not allowed to eat beef and milk together on the same plate because they thought it was wrong to eat the meat of the mother with her milk. But in 1902 there was a huge scandal. Many people were charging much more for couture meat then for normal meat. This made them angry. Couture meat is only from a rib bone second to the last and up. This cow is killed swiftly so that it does not suffer. The meat also has to be blessed by a certain type of Rabbi. Many people use the term “Its couture” to mean “It’s clean.”
Soon Jews became very involved with pop culture. Some became movie stars and when the hit Fiddler on the Roof came out many more people stared noticing them. Barbra Streisand in signified was a very famous Jewish actress. Also The first Jewish Ms. New York was Bess Myerson.
Zionism was a belief that many Jews followed. It was created for the Jews. Its belief was that all Jewish people should have a homeland. But not all Jews were good. Benjamin (Bugsy) Sigel was one of the first gangsters in America. He was Jewish. He founded Las Vegas which is a huge hot spot today.
I learned many things that I didn’t know about Jewish history I also learned more things about there religion and how they immigrated here. I am glad that we got to see that exhibition because it really opened my eyes to other people and other religions.
Part 2: The Children of Immigrants:
Photo:
India Independence Day, Chicago 1997
In this picture the main focus in the child. She is a little girl and is about 3 years old. Behind her, her mom looks content she stands proud next to her husband. But the little girl is not sharing there happiness. She is scared, confused. She is no longer in her home. Why did her parents take her to this place? Though her parents had secured her future, she still misses her home. I chose this picture because it made me see that not everyone was pleased with going to America.
Quote:
“The greatest thing in my life is to become a successful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but who I am inside”
-Samira Duravovic, Yugoslavia
I choose this quote because I really agree with it and I think that, that should be everybody’s motto. I think that it is really touching and I can see that a lot of effort and heart was put into it.
In this exhibition I learned many things about the Jewish culture and how it came to America. Jews have been in America for 350 years. The first group of Jewish immigrants, approximately twenty, arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654. Many of these people had been pushed out of there home lands and wanted to start over in a clean, new, safe life. They were the first group of Jews in America. By the 1740 there were more Jews in America. Establishing there lives. In 1776 many Jews fought for America in the revolutionary war. Many more Jews and other immigrants came to America all for different reasons. Though America was safer and better than there previous home land they still had to deal with Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism started in America in 1920. Martin Luther king fought against Anti-Semitism. Many Jews after they came to America started changing.
They went from conservative to reform to humanist and so on. America had started to Americanize its people, there started to be free English classes for anyone that wanted to attend. Even though many Jews had become full Americans more still kept to there old ways. Many Jews still kept couture. They were not allowed to eat pork and shellfish. They were not allowed to eat beef and milk together on the same plate because they thought it was wrong to eat the meat of the mother with her milk. But in 1902 there was a huge scandal. Many people were charging much more for couture meat then for normal meat. This made them angry. Couture meat is only from a rib bone second to the last and up. This cow is killed swiftly so that it does not suffer. The meat also has to be blessed by a certain type of Rabbi. Many people use the term “Its couture” to mean “It’s clean.”
Soon Jews became very involved with pop culture. Some became movie stars and when the hit Fiddler on the Roof came out many more people stared noticing them. Barbra Streisand in signified was a very famous Jewish actress. Also The first Jewish Ms. New York was Bess Myerson.
Zionism was a belief that many Jews followed. It was created for the Jews. Its belief was that all Jewish people should have a homeland. But not all Jews were good. Benjamin (Bugsy) Sigel was one of the first gangsters in America. He was Jewish. He founded Las Vegas which is a huge hot spot today.
I learned many things that I didn’t know about Jewish history I also learned more things about there religion and how they immigrated here. I am glad that we got to see that exhibition because it really opened my eyes to other people and other religions.
Part 2: The Children of Immigrants:
Photo:
India Independence Day, Chicago 1997
In this picture the main focus in the child. She is a little girl and is about 3 years old. Behind her, her mom looks content she stands proud next to her husband. But the little girl is not sharing there happiness. She is scared, confused. She is no longer in her home. Why did her parents take her to this place? Though her parents had secured her future, she still misses her home. I chose this picture because it made me see that not everyone was pleased with going to America.
Quote:
“The greatest thing in my life is to become a successful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but who I am inside”
-Samira Duravovic, Yugoslavia
I choose this quote because I really agree with it and I think that, that should be everybody’s motto. I think that it is really touching and I can see that a lot of effort and heart was put into it.
Immigration Feild trip reflection
Part 1 from Haven to Home:
In this exhibition I learned many things about the Jewish culture and how it came to
They went from conservative to reform to humanist and so on.
Soon Jews became very involved with pop culture. Some became movie stars and when the hit Fiddler on the Roof came out many more people stared noticing them. Barbra Streisand in signified was a very famous Jewish actress. Also The first Jewish Ms.
Zionism was a belief that many Jews followed. It was created for the Jews. Its belief was that all Jewish people should have a homeland. But not all Jews were good. Benjamin (Bugsy) Sigel was one of the first gangsters in
I learned many things that I didn’t know about Jewish history I also learned more things about there religion and how they immigrated here. I am glad that we got to see that exhibition because it really opened my eyes to other people and other religions.
Part 2: The Children of Immigrants:
Photo:
In this picture the main focus in the child. She is a little girl and is about 3 years old. Behind her, her mom looks content she stands proud next to her husband. But the little girl is not sharing there happiness. She is scared, confused. She is no longer in her home. Why did her parents take her to this place? Though her parents had secured her future, she still misses her home. I chose this picture because it made me see that not everyone was pleased with going to
Quote:
“The greatest thing in my life is to become a successful person and to have a family and friends to support me, not to be looked at by the color of my skin but who I am inside”
-
I choose this quote because I really agree with it and I think that, that should be everybody’s motto. I think that it is really touching and I can see that a lot of effort and heart was put into it.
Immigration Reflection
Feb 7, 2009
An immigrant is a person who moves from one country to another. Sometimes its for better and sometimes its for worse. An immigrant is a person who comes to a country even though they were not born there to settle there. We are all immigrants because the only people who are not are the native American Indians. Some people were born and grew up in a country that they don't believe in. Lots of people immigrate because they follow a different religion than that of the country that they were born in. Some people immigrate to get a better education and others immigrate to countries that have money. Lots of people Immigrate here to flee from a war that is going on in there home country. But there are also those sad times in history were people would have to immigrate illegally to get away from people who would have killed them for there religion or color of skin.
Our country can provide a good education for children. It is mandatory for all children of the ages 5 to 16 to be educated. Either it being home schooled or at a local elementary school. Many people can get jobs that supply more money for there families. One of the parents in the family can immigrate here then send money back home to help there family. Many people immigrate to the US because of the religious and social freedom that we experience and take for granted every day. Many people can come to the Us to experience things that they had never experienced before. They believe that there are endless opportunities for them here.
There are so many people from different religions and countries in the us that in away although we are all different we are the same. All of our ancestors were from other countries to begin with which makes us all equal. There are restaurants serving food from every place in the word and people that are all different colors. There is an official policy of no segregation in the United states. It is illegal to segregate people so that's why so many families move here to get a better life and a better education.
Without immigration none of us would be alive because we are all from immigrant families. My parents would had never met if my father hadn't immigrated here for a better education from Mexico city. My father was 24 when he came to the us to go to UCSD for his graduate school education. My father had been planing to get an education here then return home to mexico but thats when he met my mom. Im glad he did so otherwise I wouldent be alive today.
Our country can provide a good education for children. It is mandatory for all children of the ages 5 to 16 to be educated. Either it being home schooled or at a local elementary school. Many people can get jobs that supply more money for there families. One of the parents in the family can immigrate here then send money back home to help there family. Many people immigrate to the US because of the religious and social freedom that we experience and take for granted every day. Many people can come to the Us to experience things that they had never experienced before. They believe that there are endless opportunities for them here.
There are so many people from different religions and countries in the us that in away although we are all different we are the same. All of our ancestors were from other countries to begin with which makes us all equal. There are restaurants serving food from every place in the word and people that are all different colors. There is an official policy of no segregation in the United states. It is illegal to segregate people so that's why so many families move here to get a better life and a better education.
Without immigration none of us would be alive because we are all from immigrant families. My parents would had never met if my father hadn't immigrated here for a better education from Mexico city. My father was 24 when he came to the us to go to UCSD for his graduate school education. My father had been planing to get an education here then return home to mexico but thats when he met my mom. Im glad he did so otherwise I wouldent be alive today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)