Thankful for a Classmate

Thanksgiving…that time of year when we all give thanks to one another. I am not very familiar with anyone from 3^nd period American Literature. With the exception of Briana since I went to grade school with her. But she was never in any of my classes. It would be kind of awkward if I wrote about you people, no offense. So I thought it would be easier to write about Melanie. And yes, for the twentieth time, she is my twin sister. Just to give you guys a heads-up, this isn’t going to be some mushy blog. Anyways, I am thankful for my sister because we help each other with a lot of school work. We have the same teachers for some classes so it is sort of convenient, especially in this class. Even though it’s usually me doing most of the help, but let’s just say we equally do. For example, if I left my Literature book in my locker, I can borrow hers. Sometimes it becomes a problem when we both forgot our books…I hate it when that happens. She thinks just because we’re in the same class, I’ll always have my books and stuff…We also help each other with studying for tests and doing homework.    
I would also like to thank Carl and Jose! They make the back of the classroom pretty hilarious :).

I am a Plow.

A plow is defined as an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil. I am a plow. Metaphorically speaking that is. In reference to life, I am a plow. Every day I have to work hard in school. I have many obstacles to “cut” through. Whether it is finishing homework, surviving class lectures, waking up, arriving to school on time, keep from getting sleep-deprived, and much more. I have to overcome these daily obstacles. I also have to work hard in pleasing those around me: my parents, friends, and teachers. I have to plow through.

 When a plow is jammed or not functioning properly, that is when I am struggling. To me school is the biggest source of my struggles or stress. Obviously, there is no denying that. I am sure most of you guys can agree with me on this one. Personality wise, I am a plow. I may not look like it, but I am a very aggressive person. My friends and family think so too. When something makes me mad or someone says something I don’t like, I express my anger. I am a plow.

Class Commentary

Personally, this class is my favorite out of all the others. And I’m not trying to suck up to the teacher or anything… I like American Literature because it’s a subject that I am better at. To put it bluntly, I am better at writing than math. With writing you’re given more freedom. You can give your opinion, what you like or don’t like, etc. As for math you can only have one answer.

I think our class has more fun. It’s a really relaxed environment. I like how we do journals because it takes away from “regular” routine like the other classes. Most of the journals don’t relate to what we’re learning. So it’s nice to have a little break. I also like how we get to read individually on Thursdays. The last time I’ve had that was in the sixth grade at my grade school. I really enjoyed that and wished I had that chance to do it again. And now we canJ. I also liked how we got to watch the soccer movie. I forgot how to spell it, so I’m not going to bother. I like how we can make jokes in the class and Mr. McCarthy actually plays along or vice versa. (Unlike other teachers.) I don’t necessarily like the book we have to read for grades.  

Modern Day Slavery?

I believe that modern day slavery is cruel treatment. It is a wrong and shameful act. When people think slavery they automatically think the African Americans that were taken from their homes and forced to work for white families on plantations. When asked does slavery still exist, some might be questionable. The answer is yes. I define slavery as the act of a person forcing another to do work against their will. Some foreign countries today still practice slavery.

Most modern day slaves are under debt bondage or an arrangement whereby a person is forced to pay off a loan with direct labor in place of currency, over an agreed or obscure period of time. This is usually the reason why young women and children enter the world of slavery. Asian and African countries still hold slaves. Children work in factories earning a minimum wage. Human trafficking is another form of modern day slavery. It is the illegal trade of humans for forced labor or for sexual purposes. Prostitution is the primary industry in human trafficking.

In conclusion, any form of slavery, whether it is from the past or present is malicious and self-righteous. One just wants to feel superior to those below them. And those who are the victims of slavery should be able to express what they want.

Interesting Tidbits

Salem, Massachusetts was where the "witches" were at. Obviously, the witch trials were the most historical event that had taken place. Did you know that some of America’s first millionaires lived in Salem, Massachusetts? Most people earned their money from overseas trade. The trade brought much cargo and money. Salem’s wealth is also expressed through their different types of architecture and museums. Salem’s industries consisted of trade, shipbuilding, and fishing.  

Puritans were strong believers of demonic forces in the time period of the witchcraft trials. Many Puritan pastors had performed exorcisms in very high-profiled situations. They performed exorcisms on people who were possessed by the devil or displayed any demon-like actions. Puritan roots still influence present-day society in America by the use of exorcisms. For example, many horror movies are based on exorcisms. And in these types of movies a pastor is usually the ones getting rid of the devil.

The House of the Seven Gables was built in the year 1668. The mansion is the oldest standing 17^th century wooden structure in England. The House of the Seven Gables was the inspiration for author Nathaniel Hawthorne famous book. The book was named after the mansion itself. The house that Hawthorne was born was moved to The House of the Seven Gables and is a few feet away from the historical mansion.    

Realization of an American

I knew I was an American when I couldn’t speak Tagalog. That is the language my family speaks besides English because we are Filipino. When I was younger, my parents tried speaking to me in Tagalog but I just didn’t want to learn. My maternal grandmother rarely spoke to me in Tagalog because she wanted to learn English. She would only teach me simple words and games. It is always easier to learn other languages when you’re younger. That is one enormous mistake I have made. I regret it, a lot.

Another obvious reason is I am an American citizen. I was born in Chicago, Illinois. And I have lived here all my life. I have never been to the Philippines. Kind of sad, isn’t it? Oh well, I’ll go someday. Anyways, back to the point. My mother told me that I’m lucky to be born as an American. Unlike her, I am automatically a citizen of the United States. It took my parents and elder brother five years to get their citizenship.

It sucks not being able to understand my family’s conversations. I’m jealous that my cousins can eavesdrop on the adults to get some family gossip or drama. So I always have to ask them for some juicy news. But I can understand simple Tagalog. My brother only taught me the bad words when I was little. No swear words though. If only I can pick up a language quickly. That’s all up to me. I am Filipino-American.   

A Drive to Death

What drives a conflict with no solution that leads to death? I think that all depends on the scenario taking place. If a problem is completely unsolvable, you have to end it immediately. In my opinion, if I was stuck with a conflicting person or problem, I would want to get rid of it. I consider myself to be very impatient and easily annoyed. For example, in The Crucible Danforth got so fed up with the whole witchcraft hysteria that killed innocent people. Danforth hung people for the sake of “resolution”.

Another reason for death is those who are in authority. But this way of ending conflicts isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, doctors are people with authority. Say a patient’s life is on the verge of death, the doctor might think putting them to sleep would be better. In doing this, the patient won’t suffer with anymore pain. The family and friends would probably think that’s the right decision to make. The police are also an example of authority. In dangerous situations where someone is loaded with weapons and harming bystanders, the police have no choice but to take action. If things get out of hand, the police might have to shoot the person down. They are doing so for safety reasons.