Critical thinking Question #2

  What really hard things are happening in this text? Are these things happening in the world now? Where?

     In the book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is a story about a  little boy who wants to know how the Lorax disappeared. He asks the Oncler and her tell him the story about him making his factory and using up all the Trufflela trees. In the story the Lorax tries to stop the Oncler from cutting down all the trees. The Oncler simply did not listen so he went on with cutting them all down. Slowly animals left and trees were scarce and when the last tree was cut the Lorax was gone. What this story is telling us is the affects of hurting our environment. A lot of deforestation is happening right know. Some people choose not to stop it.

     In the story the Oncler uses the trufflela trees to make a thneeds. At first he doesn’t do any harm, he meant it for good intentions. When the Lorax appeared to worn him he simply ignored wht the Lorax was saying to him and when on to making factories and machine to make thneeds. The Oncler thought the thneeds were going to be useful for everyone. He had all good intentions but when to far. For example today many trees in needed areas are being cut down because they need to build more homes for people their. Our expanded population is leading to using more environmental materials. Materials such as trees. Companies, factories and the government led us to deforestation for the money, which is what the Oncler did. They may not do it with bad intentions but their contributing to our deforestation.

    Another reason is that when the Oncler starts making all these cars that go out and cut many trees at once to make more sweaters each time their are a lot of trees gone. Since they cut so many very quickly it led them to only one tree left. The Lorax gives the Oncler his last warning about cutting it off but he still goes on and cuts it. This is kind of predicting how our future will be because when we use up all our trees, theirs only going to be one left. When the Lorax disappeared its kind of also saying how will we live without our trees? How will humans still be here to breathe and live if their is no trees left. We are using trees just for the sake of it when we should be preserving them and planting more of them then just cutting them down. But at the end the Oncler gives the little boy the very last seed, which gives us, hope that this will not the last of the trees but it could be.

    This issue is happening everywhere in the world. Many people are like the Lorax in the way that they want to try to preserve nature and every that is natural and others like the Oncler who use these resources to their benefit in hopes of economic success but end up hurting more than gaining. I hope that people take this seriously and try to help out with the cause.

Critical Thinking

      How different are people allowed to be in this text? Does it assume everyone is happy and good in the same ways?

        In the book Push by Sapphire the main character Claireece Precious Jones is a teenager learning the basics of life. having a daughter at age 12 while getting beat is the high light of her life. Most of her life she has been neglected by her parents. With a rapist of a father Precious only sees her father when he comes to "visit". Precious lives in an apartment with her mother who harasses her constantly about supposedly "stealing" her husband other wise known as also the father of Precious children. Living surrounded by hatred and sadness from her mother is what she lives through everyday. Luckily Precious wants to get her life on track so she goes to school and meets people who have many similarities to her.

       At her school their are only 8 students in her class. This school is for girls who dropped out of school and/ or want to get their GED. In this class their are many mixes of cultural back grounds. From Latinos to African Americans to Trinidad to others more, but the bond they have with each other is unique. Many share same situations of living and other things. Precious shares her bond with each of them individually. For example one of the Spanish girls Rita has been going through the same situation as Precious, getting pregnant and having 2 kids, too and on top of that she also has HIV and shares this bond with Precious no one else has. Giving each other advice and helping each other get through situations is how they understand each other. Another example are her friends Rhonda and Jermaine they have different backgrounds but they are who Precious runs to when she needs someone to give them words of encouragement and altogether they all bond with each other.People maybe different but many of us share similar backgrounds but we just need to get to know each other.

       In this world their are many people who get judged but Precious looks beyond their looks and has a deeper understanding of who and what their like. Many people out their share similar things and we need to be more humble. This may make you open your eyes about how many, many things have changed and that it may be good. This does assume that everyone is happy and good in the same way.

Social Awareness Project

Media/ News Immersion-
      After hurricane Sandy hit New York many places were destroyed. Long Island Beach, Coney Island, Rockaway, and Staten Island. For the past few days I have been collecting news articles on the destruction of hurricane Sandy. With Sandy came time of struggle and help. Many people have no homes, nothing left to them except the clothes on their bodies. Since the hurricane many people are now homeless and need they help they didn`t need before. Many volunteers are helping by donating and providing many necessary items but even with all the help Staten Island doesn`t feel the same. 
        Watching from out side my window I see many cars go by. Constant ambulances and fire trucks pass by. people going back and fourth. Even with the constant sirens I doesn`t sound the same around here. In the articles it says that people came back to a house that was no longer their. Many things were swept out of homes and people were stuck on the thought " what do we do next?" These people when from big mansion homes to nothing but a temporary shelter. Many people are struggling to get back on their feet again but it is hard. I saw Father Capidano Boulevard ( South Beach Staten Island) and it looked awful from nice beach front houses to ice cream trucks slammed into a home and sidewalk concrete being broken down and houses being buried into the cracks. There are not too many things left.Luckily there's help. This is now the new reality. Poverty and how people can other comes situations like this.
          Many people are positive and can bare the sadness other are just stuck on what to do next. Its necessary to help those who most need it. Here in Staten Island people need all the help they can get. This has become a serious poverty struck over many people and i see it everyday.
          
Observe your surroundings- 
         - Damage from hurricane
         - Popularity
         - Peer Pressure
         - Families
        As I`ve  been looking out my window lately and things are kind off the same. Same traffic every morning, same amount of cars crossing in front of my street but not the same feeling. Around my neighborhood things are quiet as always but there are more sirens and less people walking in the streets. A few miles away from my house are the serious damages of Staten Island, were homes used to be and were peoples beds and closets used to be. Over all you can see the commotion  Although their is help from volunteers the poverty that is growing is tremendous. Some people are beginning to feel their reality. Their new life style is just to hard for them to get used to they are living like many impoverished people every were.
       Poverty is affecting their life like many others, especially with this economical crisis that`s going on in nowadays its harder to get enough money to help everyone. Many now need jobs because their old ones were flooded or damaged. Many jobs are also not needing of employ's so its tougher to find a job.Its also getting harder for many people but for others their is a path of success. Success to having a house and their old way of life back to them but for now. 
       Along with struggle comes success and many people can find this success in many things like finally getting a home or getting a job. But the government should also give their hand out to those who mostly need it and offer homes or materials that most need but don`t have. They should provide them a temporary home to live untill they are ready to move out. They should especially help those who have young children give them supplies needed to try and sustain them for a while. These are very helpful and needed solutions to the consequences of hurricane sandy.       

Write an original literary piece-
                         Rain

 It drips upon my face

 Cooled water of sadness.

 is it true the sky is mad?

 is it sad?

 Why cant it just go away

 I guess rain really does ruin

 a good day.

I see it drip drop but it won’t

                         Stop.

It goes and keeps on pouring.

Why rain must you ruin a good

          DAY?

This poem is about all the rain that has been going on lately. Ever since hurricane Sandy, the nor eastern and the rain/ snow a few days ago. Is nature trying to tell us something? A warning? Everything was fine till the new of the hurricane came after that the weather has been acting weird. We can`t play with these ‘signals’ that out earth is trying to give us. Near the Gowanus waters have been contaminated as well as many areas. We need to be more aware and pay attention to surroundings as well as increasing high temperatatures.

I think that we should prepare now for any other natural disasters coming our way.  We need to protect our fellow citizens from potentially being in the positions that others are in. something as simple as to evacuate please do follow orders because that’s a family less that is not killed by the disaster

Blog post #2

      Against all her odds, this girl is the brave and courageous heroine of Katniss Everdeen. The book Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins is the second of the trilogy The Hunger Games. In Catching fire Katniss comes back from the hunger games with Peeta and after a wile they say hi to their loved ones again. Katniss sees Gale again and notices a slight distance in his attitude. Peeta goes bake to the bakery with his parents but Katniss and Peeta don`t even look at each other. Living in their new homes given to them by the capitol a rebellion is forming in the capitol started by Katniss and Peeta. Katniss believes and is sticking up for her district because she believes that fighting to the death for entertainment is not fair but the capitol highly disagrees. Why is the capitol always trying to get back at Katniss? Is it because their afraid of her?

     

" The Forgotten Borough"

       After the destructive hurricane Sandy struck New York and New Jersey many people who once had a home now have nothing. Sandy brought strong winds and waters with her but sadly homes were wrecked, things were lost and lives were lost in the process. Places especially hit where places like Long Island, Rocaway, Coney Island, Red Hook, Breezy Point and places in New Jersey. President Barack Obama was especially concerned about all the destruction and damage done to homes and people; so he sent people from FEMA and The American Red Cross to give a helping hand. Luckily these places and people are getting assisted except for 'the forgotten borough' of Staten Island. In the article "Hurricane Sandy Victims Will Rebuild After Red Cross ' Too Little, Too Late' " by Eleanor Goldberg, it states that mean while all these other places are getting help 1 day or 2 after the storm, Staten Island isn`t even getting a crumb of the help.

      " I`d like somebody who does this for a living so I know we`re doing what needs to get done" says local Joe Caldarera of Staten Island. People have been doubting help from organisations like FEMA and The Red Cross because they don`t seem interested or determined to help the people of this borough. So far it`s just been neighbor to neighbor helping each other save what they can and get water out of their homes.Even local businesses have made free foods and items to give to people in their communities  Other Islanders have created little meetings where people can drop off clothing, blankets, pillows, flashlights and many more items that can be passable to other who desperateness need it. I think everyone is slowly going to come back to "normalcy" after a wile but a little slower because they barely have enough help already. The mayor and governor I think need also to spread the help equally among places in the state, so that everyone can recuperate in a positive way.

      During a press conference Borough President James Molinaro of Staten Island says " All these people making bis salaries should be out there font the front line and my advice to the people of Staten Island is: Do not donate to the American Red Cross. Let them get their money elsewhere". Many agree with Molinaro. Neglected, people in desperate times are being neglected, apparently others are maybe benefiting from warm food, water and maybe even temporary shelters, but no. Citizens say that they haven`t even see 1 Red Cross food truck or any type of service till 5 days later when one finally did show up. " We`re doing all that we can...we`re here" says one lady who works in the Red Cross food truck. they claimed to have been their for the past few days but still are arguing that they didn`t even see one.I think services should have been announced immdiently people would have gotten what they needed and just have to wait with a matter of sheltering.

     Volunteers have been the bright side to these dark few days in Staten Island from helping take out water from their homes to checking and asking everyone of their needs. These people devoted their time kindness to their communities and people on their borough. Most don`t even know each other but still share hugs and service, most of these volunteers are from young teenagers to retired citizens."Communities will always take care of themselves, and if you wait for government or huge nonprofits to come in, most of the time its too little, too late" says councilman Vincent Ignizio. Communities should help them selves flourish again by having found raisers and raising awareness to people who may want to contribute to the cause. I that those who need jobs and don`t have any thing to do should help the other person that doesn`t know what to do like volunteering to help better those families and communities. I also think since I live in Staten Island and I was lucky to have been OK I would help those who don`t not for money but for everyone.

       This article has opened my eyes about how important community is and how people become one to help each other even though their in the same position. These people all live a few blocks from the beach that now they don`t know where there house is.Sandy destroyed all that these people had and knew. People are searching for photos and memories that sustained the storm to warm their hearts. No shelter, power or water makes this fight harder but with we can accomplish to becoming and even stronger community in the future. I think this is how community should be on a daily bases giving each other a welcoming helping hand. We will turn out successful in the end.

Push final Revised piece

 

Livings in a life were parents harass you, rape you and disrespect you is the life of Precious. In the book Push by Sapphire, the main character Claireece P. Jones otherwise known as Precious has a very tough life. Born and raised in Harlem, New York, Precious goes through many struggles in her life. From not knowing how to read and write at age 16 and in the 8th grade to having a father who rapes her every now and then, but her mother doesn't help her either. Precious and her mother used to have the regular mother daughter relationship were everything was normal but after Precious`s father got her pregnant at the age of 12 their relation ship hasn`t been the same. Precious mother treats her like garbage by always yelling a her and telling her she is a slot and how she stole her "man", but it doesn`t get any better because Precious is 16 pregnant with her second child. Her mother wants nothing to do with Precious or her children unless it`s for well fair money, so now Precious is currently pregnant while her daughter lives with her grandmother. Precious still gets reaped by her father but how does Precious deal with all the issues with her life?

          Everyone deserves warm loving parents, ones who support you in and will do anything for you; these types of parents are what Precious wishes for. Precious doesn`t stop thinking about what if she was brought up by another family. She`s tired of getting raped but she cant do anything about it because if she does things will get even worse.  One example is when Precious is remembering being raped by her father, she thinks " Can`t he see I am a girl for flowers and thin straw legs and a place in the picture. I been out of the picture so long I`m used to it." I think what Precious is trying to say is that she wishes that she was brought up by loving and caring parents, not ones who rape up every now and then. She might want to be like the "white" people from the magazines, moves and pictures, who have better lives. All Precious wants to do in life is learn how to read and write so that she can be a good mother for her children not get raped by her father. Precious as she said, is used to her life. She knows she can`t change her life so she isn`t really brought down when ever her dad rapes her or when she goes to school pregnant twice, but she sees the brighter sides of things in life to not bring her down. Even though her children are her fathers too, Precious copes with it because she wants her children to have a better life.

      Usually mothers dream of their daughters growing up and being the prettiest girl out their. That they are going to to be success in life, but sadly Precious mother is far from those thoughts. An example of this when Precious`s mom is beginning to hate her. When Precious came back from the hospital and her mom started beating her with a pan and kicking her. While her mother was doing this she said " Thank you Miz Claireece Precious Jones for f***ing my husband you nasty little slut!" Precious may feel bad right now because it`s her first baby and she`s only 12. Like any other young mother she needs some one to be their for her, comfort her and support her. She didn`t want to get pregnant, she didn`t want to steel her moms husband but he did that to her, she didn`t know that getting raped and pregnant was going to be her fault. I think the only reason that Precious mother is always blaming her is because she`s scared that she was going to loose her husband so she takes it out on Precious instead of her husband. She knows he rapes her but she takes it out on Precious because she’s scared. I feel bad for Precious but she`s used to it and deals with it in the future.

    Overall Precious does deal with issues in her life like being hurt emotional and mentally and wishing for a different life. From being raped and having her fathers babies to being harassed by her mother. When she wishes for a better life it pushes away thoughts about her real life and imagining another/ better life. Also when she is getting beating or brought down with words and violence by her mother, she seems to see the brighter side of things. The brighter side wanting to learn how to read and write not only for her but for her children. She also doesn`t hold on to words that others say against her. I think that, that's what makes Precious secretly strong in her own way.  

Reading Reasponce #5- Push

     In the book Push by Sapphire, the main character Claireece P. Jones otherwise known as Precious has a very tough life. Precious and her mom used to have the regular mother daughter relationship but after Precious father got her pregnant at 12 their relation ship hasn`t been the same. Precious mother treats her like garbage by always yelling a her and telling her she is a slot, but it doesn`t get any better because Precious is pregnant with her second child. Her mother wants nothing to do with Precious or her children so now Precious is currently pregnant while her daughter lives with her grandma. So, Precious still gets reaped by her father. How does Precious deal with all the issues with her life?
    
       Precious doesn`t stop thinking about what if she was brought up by another family. One example is when Precious is remembering being raped by her father, she thinks " Can`t he see I am a girl for flowers and thin straw legs and a place in the picture. I been out of the picture so long I`m used to it." I think what Precious is trying to say is that she wishes that she was brought up by loving and caring parents, not ones who rape up every now and then. She might want to be like the "white" people from the magazines, moves and pictures, who have better lives.Precious as she said, is used to her life. She knows she can`t change her life so she isn`t really brought down when ever her dad rapes her or when she goes to school pregnant twice, but she sees the brighter sides of things in life to not bring her down.

       Another example is when Precious mom is beginning to hate her. When Precious came back from the hospital and her mom started beating her with a pan and kicking her. While her mother was doing this she said " Thank you Miz Claireece Precious Jones for f***ing my husband you nasty little slut!" Precious may feel bad right now because it`s her first baby and she`s only 12. She didn`t want to get pregnant, she didn`t want to steel her moms husband but he did that to her. I think the only reason that Precious mother is always blaming her is because she`s scared that she was going to loose her husband so she takes it out on Precious instead of her husband. I feel bad for Precious but she`s used to it and deals with it in the future.

       Overall Precious does deal with issues in her life like being hurt emotional and mentally and wishing for a different life. When she wishes for a better life it`s push away thoughts about her real life and imagining another/ better life.Also when she is getting beating or brought down with words by her mother, she seems to see the brighter side of things. She also doesn`t hold on to words that others say against her. I think that, that's what makes her secretly strong in her own way.   

Reading Response- The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

    In the story The Drummer Boy of Shiloh by Ray Brabury the main character Joby is facing some changes in thoughts. In the beginning he was sleeping under an orchard tree. Everything begins to startle him in the middle of the night. He begins crying over all his fears and feels someone walking towards him. The person walking towards him is the general. The general was helping Joby get over his fears and feelings of the war. The general was a big influence in the book but how did he help Joby change towards the end of the book?

                One example is in the beginning of the story, Joby is noticing things around him and thinks to himself; “Me, thought the boy, I got only a drum, and two sticks to beat it and no shield”. Joby basically thinks that he`s not important to the war at all because everyone has a suit and protective shield and all Joby has is a drum. Joby may also feel neglected because maybe before the war he was more loved and appreciated by others around him but now he`s just Joby the drummer boy. What I mean by the drummer boy is that hes just their to play the drums, instead of others who are actually fighting for something and being appreciated or rewarded for it. Joby was their to maintain marching pace and that`s all.

                Another example is when the general comes over to Joby  and begins to talk to him. Then the general says “You want to cry some more go on ahead. I did the same last night”. The general is trying to relate to Joby. He`s was relating to Joby in a way that he`s telling him you can cry its ok because everyone else does too. Joby is crying because he wants to live like every other soldier and general their. I also think he crying because he may miss his family at home and is wondering why him out of all men had to be a drummer boy. Away from all his friends, family, Joby`s real home behind. So that’s why he is thinking so deeply to make him cry. I think that it was a really nice that the general said something that he wouldn't tell any other soldier but he decided to tell Joby because he saw his fear and thought he could relate to what he was saying.

                Overall through out the story general really helps enlighten Joby about the war.The general gives Joby a sense of hope knowing that he`s not the only one thinking or feeling these emotions. The general wasn`t just give him advice because Joby wanted it but because  he needed it. I definitely think that after the advice the general give`s Joby  that Joby is more confident and secure about himself because right now Joby is scared and feels non-appreciated by people around him. 

Reading Responce: Mockingbird

    In the book Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine the main character Caitlin has an older brother named Devon who has passed along with her mother. Now Caitlin is living with her father and life isn`t easy for her or her father because Caitlin has Asperger`s syndrome. When Devon was here he would help Caitlin understand things clearer but now Caitlin is understanding things in black and white. Mean while Caitlin is getting help from teachers and counselors from school. Things get even more confusing for Caitlin because when she find the definition to the word "closure" she decides that's what she needs, but does she really need it?
     If Caitlin really needs closure then maybe that will help her move on with from her memories with Devon. One example is when it was Caitlin`s birthday she keeps on thinking that Devon is going to take her shopping   like he did last year before the incident. When she told her dad and counselor they noticed that Caitlin really did need to get Devon out of her mind.Maybe with closure she will stop saying that Devon will make her/ take her places. If Caitlin doesn`t need closure than maybe with help from others she will move on naturally, eventually. Maybe she still needs time to let go and is remembering her past and the good times she had with Devon. With out closure maybe she`ll be fine but she might her time.
       This like when people love someone dearly and they pass their still in shock. For example when my grandma died everyone in my family after a month was still under the shock of how she died and how we were going to be with out her. 3 years later were still sad but we`ve moved on in life and have thought about her everyday but took us at least a year to accept this reality that she had to go. So maybe that's what Caitlin needs more time to accept her reality with out Devon 

Comments on Perzya and Emily`s responses

Comments on Perzya`s:
      I really liked Perzya`s reading response because she goes right to the point. Reading her response it really interested me into reading it.I think that what she did was  very clear on what she wanted to say. With her description I a picture/ idea of what the book would be like if i read it.I like how she related to the book to reality because a lot of girls do worry about what they look like and how they look.This maybe a book to inspire girls who think the same way who don`t think their like the skinnier,prettier girls, when their just as pretty. I really enjoyed her response and I hope to read the book.

Comments on Emily`s:
        Emily`s book sounds very interesting too. I liked how she put her thoughts in it and made more interesting to read. It was also good to know that she still thinking of concepts in the book that she still doesn`t know like, when she said she didn`t know if the main character did really have a boyfriend because she having some insecurities in the relationship. I like how she didn`t give too much of the book away but yet gave a few details here and there. The description was great and it was also very balanced their was a good amount of everything that she included.

My Summer Reading Book

    This summer I read the book Before we were Free by Julia Alvarez and it`s about a girl named Anita de la Torre, who lives in the Dominican Republic during 1960. This book tells a story about bravery and courage that shows with in her life.  After most of her family decides to America Anita is left with her mother, father, sister, American neighbors and other family members. At school Anita would see portrates of Trujillo in her class room and home thinking he was a good man. Her dad and uncle and others make a plan to go against their dictator Trujillo and it strikes the family. 
      At one point in the book Anita is confused about which road to choose, because at first in school during history class would take about the government in America and Dominican Republic thinking that he was here and a good man but then when she finds out about her Tio Toni and fathers plan to rebel she doesn`t know who to believe. If she does go with her father/ families plan to rebel against the dictator her family may end up in a big failure because her family can get caught in the making and be killed. another possibility is that may her family can come of this plan successful with some bumps in the road and actually get what they had wanted for their country and future.The other side of this is if she keeps thinking Trujillo`s good than what will her family do with her? If their against Trujillo are they going to turn their backs on Anita too because of her opinion on him? Another possibility is that her family can respect opinion but can try to persuade her to agree with them.
        I can relate to what Anita is going through because shes getting mixed thoughts about what to believe. This is like when somebody you think is your friend and they do something behind your back mean while someone tells you what they said and your at the point were you don`t know who or what believe.So you begin to think of the facts you have on each side and slowly flow on to one side. This connects to Anita because she has to flow to one side but is still see the facts on each side to know the right decision. 
     In the end Anita makes what she thinks is the right decision which is go with her parents opinion and join her families rebellion.

My Summer reading book