Sound and Fury

I never really noticed the difference between hearing and deaf people. Obviously I don't know what they are going through because I can hear, and in the hearing world. I have always wanted to learn sign language because I think it amazing to see people talking with their hands, expressing how they feel. It's "beautiful" like the Artinian's family said. However, Peter and Nita Artinian have a opportunity to give "the world" to Heather, their daughter. But, is a cochlear implant going to give her the world, or hurt her further? Peter and Nita are faced with a very tough choice and I think I agree with them on where they stand. 

Honestly, these kinds of documentaries are hard to watch. As the viewer it's hard to understand where these people are coming from. Most would say, "Just get the cochlear, it will make Heather's life so much easier." Well, would it? Looking at the big picture, yes... it may be easier for her to hear and be with her talking friends. She will be able to communicate and fit in. However, her whole family is deaf. Her mom, dad and brother. If Heather could talk, her parents wouldn't be able to help her with her speech. Heather would still have to sign at home- she would be in two different worlds. 

The family moved to have better schooling for their two children. It was a deaf community. Most would say they are sheltering themselves, to get away from all the chaos and confusion. I don't think they were. I cannot fathom living somewhere where I am the only one deaf. Everyone would still try to talk to you, and wont go out of there way to learn sign language. It's like what we talk about in class. There are a selected handful who are deaf, in comparison to the amount of people who can hear. Why not move to where everyone is lie you? Where even the local businesses even sign for you. I think it was a smart move, to move to where they were most comfortable living.

On the flip side, if the whole family, like Chris and Mari Artinian, were all hearing, and had a deaf child, I would do what they did and get Peter, there son, a cochlear implant. It would be so hard on Peter to grow up deaf. Chris's brother Peter was the only one deaf in their family. They showed how hard it was on both the family and Peter. I would want my child to be able to hear me, and be able to hear everyone else.

At my old school, one of my teammates was deaf. She had a cochlear implant. Without it she couldn't hear any of us talking to her. It was hard seeing her without her devise on. I saw the frustration and confusion when she couldn't hear us. It was hard. I am very thankful for technology now, that we can get the deaf community to hear if they choose. It brings on so many joys in life that many people take for granted. No one has to give up the deaf culture. People will still learn sign language since it is history. It will never go away. 

Scared of... The Dark

Scared of The Dark

 In the beginning of the world was only darkness. It wasn’t meant as a bad, scary, or obscure entity; just that there is absence of light. Why is it that humans, and some animals, adapt to sleep more at night rather than day? It’s because of time; the twelve month calendar that sets all of our daily lives into a schedule. My mom likes to stay up later at night since she feels as though she has more energy and can accomplish more since everyone else is asleep. However, is that the reason she stays up?

When I was little my mom explained what Heaven and Hell were; places you go after you die, what most people would call the afterworld. With us being Christians, my mom explained that Satin was once an angle, a beautiful one too. He however, turned from God and took some angles with him into a place called Hell. My mom went on to say that Satin can take on all forms. When you are a little kid you don’t know what to make of that. I took it that satin can “become” anything. As I grew older, I learned more and more what Hell was: a dark scary place with fire. More frightening from that, you’re separated from God for eternity.

Darkness became a huge fear, the sensation of being surrounded by blackness. Objects seem to take on a different form and shape at night, that time seems unreal.  Movement of your door or a tree branch scratching your window with the moon so dim you can barely see it in the huge sky and murky clouds.  I remember thinking Satin or one of his followers was under my bed and would grab me, take me under with no escape. Take me into the unknown, the dark unknown. They would cover my mouth so I could not scream. I would try to run but my legs collapsed under me and I fall. I would walk over to my light switch; take a deep breath, knowing that the light would help me for now. As soon as I turn it off, I know everything was fair game, including myself. I turned out the light and ran as fast as my little legs could carry me. Run so that no one could grab me. I jumped on my bed and pull the overs over me in a flash, so no one could harm me. I would take a sigh of relief, knowing that I was safe, for now. I closed my eyes, and then fall asleep.

 

 

 

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos Based Arguments in Campaign Ads

Throughout campaign ads, ethos, pathos and logos based arguments are made.  Sometimes it can be obvious as to what kind of technique they use to draw the attention of the voters. In Political Science we learned that most voters do not take the time to actually research about each candidate. Most vote based on the campaign adds. That’s why it is so critical to know what each advertisement is trying to convey.

The first campaign commercial that I chose was from 1952, the presidential race against Eisenhower and Stevenson. Eisenhower won with majority of votes. I will have to admit, those who put this ad together were ingenious. The song was very catchy and can get stuck in your head pretty easily. (I had to watch it a lot to get information out of it). Anyway, because of its catchy tune, most will remember “Ike” just because of the song. The pathos behind this is through a technique of bandwagon. “You like Ike, I like Ike, and everyone loves Ike!” This in itself is super simple but so effective!! Pretty impressive actually. The idea that EVERYONE is behind Ike makes the voter say, “Hey! I want to be a part of this!” Even Uncle Sam, the poster trying to get people into the military is all for Ike. This ties in with Ethos too. Through saying “Everyone loves Ike,” they show a variety of those who are all for him. Doesn’t matter if your young, old, even whole families with their pets like Ike.  The logos claim in this campaign ad is that Ike will get us to be where we are going as a country. “Day and night” we will stick with Ike “all the way to Washington.”

In the second ad, it is against Bush and Kerry in 2004 presidential election. Throughout the whole ad there are no words spoken, just flashed on the screen. The pathos argument was simply the music, the kind of music that was playing gave off a serious kind of vibe. However, that’s what contributed to the main idea of this ad. “Raising to the challenge” and to “turn the corner” for a “safe and strong Nation.” The diction here is very powerful. Not only that but the ethos and logos behind the message was both “Strong” and “powerful.” The words on the screen describe what’s going on in our country dealing with the “economy”, “stock market”, and “tragedy” our country has gone through. The way this campaign addresses it, while saying we will remain “strong” while “turning the corner” implies Bush will help our country move and pick up the pieces.

Both of these ads were very right to the point with what they were trying to come across as. In the book “Thank you for arguing”, it really hit on the key points in which Ethos fit into the big scheme of things. Both ads hit on the “audience expectations for a leaders tone, appearance, and manners.” The advertisements were both serious, while conveying they were the best for the job. The decorum argument tool also fits in, especially with Ike’s commercial. The fact that he could get everyone to “follow his all the way to Washington” reflects positively while meeting the voter’s expectations.

 

"Blurred Lines"

I remember hearing this song on the radio when it first came out, and I have to say I liked it. The song has catchy lines and you sing it without even realizing what you’re saying.  Like most music that comes on the radio, most people don’t know what the lyrics actually are saying or mean. Now that I have taken the time to read the lyrics, I can say that I am very disappointed. Robin Thicke’s song, “Blurred Lines” created this tension to if this song is morally harmful and discriminating women in society, which I believe it does.

In the articles as well as the video, it is obvious to see that Thicke is talking about women, but in a negative way. The first article, I believe, got straight to the point with “The women are clearly being used as objects to reinforce the status of the men in the video.” The fact that the men have all the “control and status” over the women shows through because the men are fully covered.  Meanwhile, the women are very scantily dressed dancing around the men.  What’s interesting is that Thicke told VH1 that he didn’t think they weren’t “ogling and degrading them”, just “laughing and being silly with them.” I do not for one second believe that’s true. The lyrics prove that alone. “Talk about getting blasted, I hate these blurred lines, I know you want it, but you’re a good girl, the way you grab me, must want to get nasty.” The message behind female identity to these men, from these lines, defines the fact that the girls in this video come off as wanting to portray their "good girl" act, then Thicke tells her and the rest of the audience it's okay to be a bad girl. It’s okay and socially acceptable to “unleash” her “animal” side that all she wants is “crazy wild sex” and it is therefore in our “nature” to “get nasty though the song does not come right out and say that, but it is implied thought the context of this song.

The song name itself, “Blurred Lines,” brings across some questions as to what are the boundaries. Are they really not noticeable when it comes between what’s right and wrong? Although the view can also get another view off of this song title and the meaning behind it as well. “You're far from plastic” as Thicke sings, can have the impression that girls are hard to read. We all have heard from many that girls are so complicated and you never know the right approach as to what to say as a guy. Well, Thicke is saying that we are actually human beings, who have feelings and emotions. But then he precedes to go on about “getting blasted” and that he hates “these blurred lines “between using girls or actually treating them with respect as humans.

“Diary of a Young Girl”- Anne Frank

I personally love reading autobiographies. I chose, “Diary of a Young Girl”- Diary of Anne Frank. She went through, what you could say the worst time period ever, the Holocaust. However, through all chaos and hard living conditions, Anne’s spirt remained the same. She wrote in her diary day after day describing what she did and the experiences she encountered.

Just take a moment and think about your life during school. Busy right? But enjoyable. You go to school, do work, extra activities after school, homework, maybe have a slight crush on that one boy/girl, and hang out with friends. No one infringes on your rights to do so. Now imagine being discriminated because you are a Jew. You have to go to a different school because “your different” then everyone else. Jews were restricted by anti-Jewish decrees: “Jews were required to wear yellow star, turn in bikes, forbidden to use streetcars, shop between 3 and 5 pm, only visit Jewish owned barbershops and beauty parlors, forbidden to be on the streets between 8pm and 6am, forbidden to go to movie theaters, swimming pools, tennis courts, hockey fields, go rowing, any athletics in public and forbidden to visit Christians in their homes.” Seriously, what was there to do!? This was only the beginning.

The book begins on Anne’s 13^th birthday. She describes all the gifts she got one including a diary. She mentions she doesn’t have any true friends, so she decided her diary would be her best friend. She named it “Kitty”. Soon after, the Germans (Nazis) were capitulating a lot more people than usual. On July 8th, 1942, Ann’s father received a “call-up notice” for Margret (Anne’s older sister.) Apparently when girls turn 16, they are sent away to live on their own. Therefore Ann’s parents decided to go into hiding a lot sooner then they originally thought. On July 9^th the family moved into the hiding place which was in her father’s office building behind a series of doors. The employees from Anne’s father’s firm helped hide the Franks and kept them supplied with food, medicine, and information about the outside world.  Anne mentioned that Moortje, her cat, was “the only living thing (she) got to say goodbye too.” Shortly, on July 13^th, the Van Daans moved in. A while later, a friend moved in as well, Mr. Dussel. The Van Daans had a 16 yr old son named Peter. Anne and Peter eventually have a little romance going on by the end of the book. Anne mentions that it wasn’t bad, they “cook themselves, listen to the radio (paying close attention to every development of the war), reading, games and writing.” She also included that they couldn’t look out the windows or go outside. Throughout the 2 years of isolation, Anne often wrote about the depression and loneness she was feeling. She also write about every small thing that happened since nothing really exciting did happen. I cannot image growing up in such conditions as this.  August 1, 1944 was Anne’s last journal entry. It seemed perfectly normal. On August 4^th, everyone that was in hiding was betrayed to the Nazis and arrested. They were all sent to different concentration camps. Anne’s father was the only survivor and found Anne’s diary.

What suppressed me is that Anne was ok with the way she lived for 2 long years of her life. Even with her family and friends got on her nerves, a lot, with the feeling of despair and being Claustrophobic. She wrote in her diary when everything started to go downhill: “It’s as if my whole world has suddenly turned upside down.” I’m still alive, and that’s the main thing.” She had so much spirt and a good attitude towards everything (most days). I admire her for that and her bravery thought all of the hard times.

What You'll Wish You'd Known

I am going to tackle the question most high school kids do not want to answer, especially seniors: What are you going to do for the rest of your life? That’s a hard one, hu? Most adults ask where you want to go to college, what do you want to study, etc. I mean we are only 15-18 year olds. We have our whole lives in front of us and we have to decide now? Through knowing what your options are, not disregarding motives and by being responsible, you will be able to accomplish many things in your life time.

“Know what the options are”. That is a good idea. When we were all younger we all wanted to either do what our parents did, a super hero, doctor, heck I wanted to be a professional ballerina. Kids have huge imaginations, knowing exactly what they want. For some reason, we are told to grow up and think logically. For our whole future depends on what choices we make.

 Don’t ever “underestimate your potential.” I recently took a special test to see what I was interested in. One of the options came up as occupational therapy. Now, many of you, like I was, are like what is that? Basically it’s helping people recuperate from physical or mental illnesses through helping them do basic things that you would do on a daily basis. I personally love to help people, so this naturally sounded like the perfect job for me. When I visited a few colleges, I learned that you have to work on real cadavers. (This is coming from the girl who couldn’t even dissect the pig in 10^th grade). But, that doesn’t mean I can’t achieve my goals of becoming an OT. That’s how that quote comes into play. If you set your mind to something, there’s nothing stopping you from accomplishing that particular objective!

“Don't disregard unseemly motivations.” If you have an interest that you want to pursue, do it! Don’t think negatively towards it until you try it out. “Curiosity turns work into play.” While you are doing something you love, it won’t seem like that crummy old lab your teacher wanted due Monday. It will be like a “mystery you are trying to solve.” Believe it or not, you find what you want to do by trial and error. One “Path can bend a lot more than you think.”  So why not make the best of it? Learn while having fun. School should be fun, not just some jail you go to everyday. “If you want to do good work, what you need is a great curiosity about a promising question.”

Now, what is the main difference between adults and high school students, without bringing age into the equation? “It's that adults take responsibility for themselves. Making a living is only a small part of it. Far more important is to take intellectual responsibility for oneself.” Being responsible is a huge component in what employers are looking for. Not only that, but your independent, reliable, and trustworthy. “School is like a day time job.” That got me thinking. My parents always told me that running was “my job”, but I never thought of school as my job either. Think about it. We go to a building from the hours of 8 to 3. We are doing work throughout the whole day. If you treat it like a day job, you will benefit most out of it, learning and experiencing more for your future.

Why Running is Important to Me. An essay about running written by a cancer survivor

Honestly this whole essay describes my whole running experience. To pick merely a few quotes will be difficult! To begin, I picked this particular essay for two reasons. Most of you know that I am a runner. I have been running ever since I could walk, to racing the neighborhood boys around the block. Second, my grandpa and aunt died of cancer. I have seen how hard it is for people and their bodies to function doing everyday things. That’s why this women inspired me, still continuing to run when everything was against her.

Just today I ran at the arboretum with my cross country team. Just the fact that I get to run with my friends, while getting better at the same time! All of “the soft surfaces”, “the smell” of all the growing trees, “the high cliffs” all of it is truly amazing to have that rush of running through nature. Not knowing what is around the next bend and always hoping over roots and rocks is an adventure. I remember when I was at cross country camp, we were running next to the river and eventually through it. (It was at my waist!) It’s so much fun when it is “high and rushing like a torrent!” It’s amazing to see “how the river changes.”

“You see, this is where I not only run, this is where I find solace, where I go when I need to escape.” For most runners, running is a way to “be normal” and express ourselves in a sport that takes so much mental and physical pain. After school, yes sometimes I would rather go home sit in front of the tv and eat snacks all day. (Runners can seriously be the laziest people you ever will meet, ironic hu?) But that’s the best part! We are “committed”. We run through “rain, ice, snow, (especially here in great ol Wisconsin…) sleet, hot, warm…all kinds of weather. That is our escape. If we had a bad day at school, you have a good workout that day to look forward to and get all the anger and frustration out. But to non-runners, you all still think we are insane and I don’t blame you for that. We as runners “take a sort of twisted pride in the joke that our sport is every other sport’s punishment.”

My Aunt Susan died when I was still a baby. She was only 18 years old. She had a kind of cancer that built up over time. I do not know the exact reason she got cancer in the first place, but all I know is that she strived to be normal. She was not a runner like this women was, but she loved to sing and play her guitar. That was her “one activity that made, (my aunt) feel normal and alive and like I was still part of this world.” She also had to get a fake wig since all her hair was falling out. She was too “losing weight, (her) face was as white as a sheet and swollen.” She too felt “depression.”

My Grandpa died a few years ago, near my 14^th birthday. His cancer was breaking down his body physically. He too “lost weight” (he weighed less than me) and was “white as a sheet.” This women said that cancer literally “brought her to her knees”, that’s what it did to my grandpa too. Cancer is so hard on one’s body, and that shows how much dedication this women was to her running and to her body, to get better. She mentioned that on one of her runs, she felt as though she “had a spear stuck in the right side of (her) chest.” She had to “kneel on one knee, the other firmly planted on the dirt.” That is a scary feeling, not being able to breath. Obviously that’s something you desperately need is air while running.

All in All, seeing how someone is this dedicated to her running while going through chemo is absolutely amazing. To personally know how hard and draining cancer is on one’s body. I can also relate to her because of our love to running, especially through trails or the woods. She summarized it all up right at the end: “And that is why I love running: nothing makes me feel more alive. I hope I can run forever.”

 

 

 

The Great Lawsuit and If Men Could Menstruate

Discrimination against women has been an issue in our country throughout history.  Both of these articles, a hundred years apart, seem to have the same message: equality for women. Both of these articles were written by feminists, with both of them clearly stating what they believe. Margret Fuller women's rights advocate is associated with the American transcendentalism movement in the mid-1800s. Gloria Steinem was a media spokeswoman for the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s. However, I respectfully disagree with the content in Steinem’s article. Instead, I will present you with a passage of Biblical scripture and compare and contrast the roles of men and women in society. I will also compare the Bible to what Fuller spoke of as well, since she made a few good points.

To start out, I have a question. Honestly, what is the real difference between genders? I know you may be thinking there are tons of differences, but can you name some without referring to biology?  This particular topic is impossible. None of us have a clue or say out loud what we think. The shrillest voice in late feminism genders exist to exploit each other and fighting to gain control over each other instead of “avoiding collision, but to bring forth ravishing harmony.”- Fuller.

Margret Fuller’s, “The great lawsuit” was taking the perspective that women were the “idle” men “live upon” from the “earnings of industrious wives,” meaning that the men depended on and took the women’s money. Nothing belonged to the women in the household. It all belonged to the man. Even to the extent that women were “slaves”, house workers for their husbands, having no say in anything. Fuller states “we wonder why reformers think that measures are not likely to be taken in behalf of women, unless represented by women”. It seems as though there is an enormous good in feminist movement empowering the right for women during this time, and even through today.

Both Steinman and Fuller expressed the truth that women are equal to men. Steinman’s idea behind the discrimination behind women was as compared to African American’s was on the right track. That the “superior group has will be used to justify its superiority, and whatever and inferior group has will be used to justify its plight”.  It’s not in fact to treat women “poorly” and as if we are “weaker.” Steinman even said that men liberals and radicals says that “women are equal, just different.”  Fuller’s knowledge that we have laid every path open “to women as freely as to man.” Also referring to the slave aspect, you cannot hold “another in bondage, on women.” That both a slave and women have a “soul.” There is one master and law that everyone is held accounted for. “If there is to be an interpreter of it he comes not as man, or son of man, but as son of God.” Yes this is all true. God gave a good gift when he gave complementary gender roles for men and women how we should each be treated and to flourish in each other.  The Bible states in Colossians 3:18-19, “Wives, submit to your husband, as is fitting in the Lord.   Husbands, love your wives and don’t be harsh with them.”  The husband is in charge of the household, the head of his wife.  What we hear is that the husband has the ability and authority to exploit his wife.  Instead, God is telling us that the husband is in charge of loving and caring of his wife and household.  Back in the Roman times, which is what Fuller was referring to, there were relationship codes, household rules to go by. The women were not addressed, just the men. It was to provide rules for how the men should run the household. He has the right to do what he had to do in order to keep the household together. There was no limit on violence if the husband thought it was necessary. The Biblical view is different.  It doesn’t say subject your wives to your authority (talking to the men) but wives, are to willingly submit to their husbands.  Husbands, in turn, are to treat their wives with respect and as an equal.  They (husbands) are to guard their families and protect them.   So, men and women shouldn’t have to compete for top spots in society but instead they should build each other up and share the responsibilities as their talents allow.

 

"Is Google Making us Stupid?"

Technology plays a huge role in today’s society. Everywhere you look people are always texting, gaming, listening to music and browsing. On the flip side, technology has also helped improve ways of living through research, curing diseases and even communicate with others across the world. Nicholas Carr believes Google does in fact make us stupid, he does have a slight point on the matter, but not to what we all may expect to hear.

It seemed a bit ironic that Carr was going on and on about how his “concentration started to drift after two or three pages” when this article is seven pages long. I found myself also to be “fidgety, begin looking for something else to do” also starting to scan. This is a point I want to bring up. I believe that most people blame technology for what we are becoming.  Carr mentioned that “deep reading used to come natural has become a struggle,” meaning technology in a way has been “making us stupid.” Maybe not in the sense as many might think.

The internet has many useful websites, recipes, information that you can find in one place: Google. The “advantages,” as Carr said, of having “immediate access to such an incredible rich store of information had been fully applauded.” I personally love having fast access to the internet to find what I need, like most of you as well. However, we choose to use these resources. We elect to have Google help us, therefore making us rely on it. Those are the key words here. As Theorist Marshall McLuhan put it, “media are not just passive channels of information.”  “They supply the stuff of thought, but they also shape the process of thought.” Meaning, they supply the material, but since we rely on all this information given to us, it shapes us to need it and not think on our own.

The world as we know it is changing so fast we can’t comprehend it. Carr believes. "You should be skeptical of my skepticism,” that we should be careful in what we do. We all do need to think on our own and use the internet as a resource, not fully depend on it. I feel as though this argument Carr is making can be about a lot of things, not just technology. It’s just the era we are living in.

 

THE ETHICS OF LIVING JIM CROW

It may seem a little odd when I say I like stories like this one. Looking into different perspectives on how people may have lived, acted, or have been treated. Richard Wright mentions multiple times on how his "Jim crow education" helped in each of the nine stories he wrote about; Wright here, learned to “lie, steal, dissemble, and that dual role which every Negro must play if he wants to eat and live.”

First, I wanted to say that the title of this story got me thinking. In history class this year, before I moved, we talked about the Black Code in the 1800s which restricted the civil rights and liberties of African Americans with no pretense of equality. Following, African Americans gained some rights after a case with the Supreme Court allowing them to have some freedom that became the Jim Crow laws. These laws dealt with segregation between the African Americans and whites starting in 1876. Even though the "motto" for this era was separate but equal, no one meant it. As we all know, people still treated African Americans wrongly in the sense that they had a different skin color then all of us whites. Thus, the segregation of public schools, public places, public transportation, restrooms, restaurants, and drinking fountains all occurred. Richard Wright put the words "Jim Crow" into the title of the story to say how he was treated during these times of his life. 

In the fourth story, the "white man’s home" with "green trees, trimmed hedges, cropped lawns" all became horrifying symbols for Wright- what this world turned into, and had been. Wright even uses a simile to compare himself being "examined like a prize poodle," to when he was trying to get a job. Imagine your job interview today. This is an extreme interview isn't it compared to that isn't it?  At this time, all you would do is stand there while they check out all physical features to see if you qualify.  

Women's rights have come a long way since the 1800's.  In Wright’s second story, the store owner and colleague both took advantage of this poor women because she couldn’t pay her bills. The men beat her up, “the floor covered in blood, strewn with wipes of hair and clothing." Meanwhile one of the guys said she was lucky nothing worse happened. In today’s world, the women would have gone to jail, some sort of trial, or given the groceries on credit. This also would have been considered abused, and the men would have been sent to jail. In these times however, it was perfectly normal.  

Amendments one and nine are violated here in story four. Wright was just walking down the street when he heard "Get down and put up your hands!" A policemen almost arrested him for walking in a white neighborhood at night. I see this sometimes today as well, but the opposite. If a white man walks into the “black’s territory” we get questioned. Some African Americans use the term “racist” toward whites nowadays. They bring up the past when all laws have been changed and everyone is equal under the law and in society. God made everyone in His image. He leaves no one out, and loves everyone the same. No one should be treated different because of skin color, or because of any other issue either.

The tragic event of 9/11 has prompted questions, devastation, and loss of loved ones to this country. Jon Updike and Susan Sontag wrote essays that were in the New Yorker's "Talk of the Town,” each having his/her own perspective on what occurred that particular day.  

Jon Updike's essay was both honest and truthful. I liked his piece since he described what was happening all around him, on top of an apartment building. He was able to see the destruction first hand with "smoked speckled bits of paper curling into the cloudless sky," the horrifying sight of the "south tower dropping," while holding onto his wife realizing he just watched thousands of people die.  The author states that this tragic event had a "false intimacy of Television," that the newscasters could not capture the emotions and "horrendous" event. Updike referred to as a "nightmare ballet," scenes being replayed over and over. Many, like Updike, didn't-(couldn't) believe this could happen, that it "was not quite real."  

Not only that, but Updike has a positive outlook on the whole situation. Through this hard time on many, everyone worked together to “pick up the pieces” and continue onward, “to go on living.” Updike has this amazing attitude on the aftermath. He makes a connection with the motto, “the sun will rise tomorrow” by saying hey, we can get back to normal. The “boats tentatively move in the river, the ruins still sending out smoke, but New York looked glorious.”

On the other hand, Susan Sontag starts right from the beginning and was not afraid to speak her mind on the issues that laid at hand. These issues dealt with the media, the attackers, and how our country as a whole responded to the situation. Basically she is saying why focus on "cowardly" attack on "civilization,”  "liberty,” "humanity" or "the free world" but an attack on the world's self-proclaimed Superpower over ruled by the actions of the invaders.  Sontag clearly states that government is trying to “protect” the country by saying “everything is OK” and “our country is strong” when clearly it isn’t. The author brigs up an interesting point on “who doesn’t think America is strong?” Is the government just saying that to reassure themselves, or trying to convince other counties that they are going to move on, pick up the pieces, and “stand tall?” They are not giving out details of the reality that had been brought forward. The government should start “thinking more” and making smart decisions to put our country back onto its feet. To do so, “America doesn’t just need to be strong.”

            Even though I was five at the time of 9/11, I remember what happened, at least to my mom. I was on a play-date with one of my good friends and I just remember playing in the yard when my mom ran inside. I followed her and she said to go back outside so I did. Not until recently, a few years ago, did I find that my aunt (mom’s sister) was scheduled to work on one of those plans that crashed into one of the world trade centers. I don't know the exact reason why she didn't work that day, but I remember my dad going to meet her in New Jersey for her to come visit us and made it to our house safely very late the night before September 11th. Every year I like to watch documentaries of this event, just to learn more about what happened. Every person has their own perspective on what happened that day.

 












 

Hey Everyone! Hope you are having a great summer so far! The weather is nice, sleeping in, hanging out with friends, and working, are all the exciting aspects of it. As far as already looking into next year, it's  kind of scary. For me and some of you, it will be our senior year! We all have tons of memories, and will make more as we continue this journey right into college. Below are 5 things that sum up who I am!

Christian- First and foremost I am a strong believer. I take my faith very seriously and thank God for everything that has happened to me. My family and I have moved two times, once when I was in 8th grade, from Pennsylvania to Virginia, and recently, from Virginia to Wisconsin. It was hard moving in the middle of the year both times, but each move was part of God's plan for my family and I.

Family- My family is very unusual, funny, caring, outgoing, loving and crazy. I love everything about them! I have a brother (15) and sister (13). I'm not going to lie, but my brother and sister and I sometimes get along. We fight like normal siblings, but in the end we all know we love each other and always make up. My dad and mom are also the best. They always have my back and support me no matter what, even though they also sometimes get on my nerves!

Friends- I love to make friends. Moving a lot has taught me to be very outgoing and become friends with a lot of people. I still have very good friends from PA and VA that I still talk to almost every day.  have also made a lot of good ones here too! I look forward to hanging out with a lot of them this summer, while getting to know them better too.

Photographer- Ever since I was little I have always loved taking pictures. I remember my first photography class in 8th grade, and I fell in love with it all. Since then, I have gradually improved my skills, learning about each part of the camera and the use of film cameras. I have become very good friends with some amazing photographers in my class this past year. They have taught me so much! I have my own website and hope one day, to create this as a side business. With my photography, I hope to capture the precious life God has given us, along with some of the beauty of his world. Through the opportunities I have had, I have learned to see the small things in life, that mean the most.

Sports- Sports are my life. I have literally played every sport that a girl can play. However, my favorite is running. I have been running since I would walk, then racing the neighborhood boys around the block. I have been on a team for 5 years and have had 3 amazing coaches. They all have impacted my life in a way they will never know. Running is a lot of fun for me, and it is one of my "outlets" to express myself. When I moved here I was scared to join the team, not knowing what to expect. All the girls immediately accepted me and introduced me to a lot of kids at school. I even ran with them before my first day at school! They are all truly amazing runners, and I am blessed to be able to run with them. My dream is to run at a division 2 Christian college.

Well, that about sums me right up! Hope all of you enjoy your summer break!