TKAM Setting Blog

         The picture I chose to represent Maycomb County shows a small town with old cars. One of the main cars looks very dirty as if it could be a farming truck. In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee it states, "As Maycomb County was farm country, nickels and dimes were hard to come by for doctors and dentists and lawyers." This quote shows that mostly everyone was a farmer in Maycomb County. The truck in the front of the picture looks to be a truck that carries produce produced on farms. The truck accurately represents the lifestyle of Maycomb County. This photo also depicts Maycomb because the man in the picture seems to be very hot. The book states, "Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffering on a summer's day; bony mules hitched to Hoover carts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of the live oaks on the square. Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum." This quote explains that Scout, the main character, remembers Maycomb to be excruciatingly hot. The picture shows this because the man in the car has his head down resting in the shade of his car. There seems to be a rag of some sort on his neck and head that could be helping him keep cool from the sun. This picture also represents the way people could have acted in Maycomb county.

         There was a few things that I thought about while looking at the photo. One of these things was that the main car seems a lot more dirty and beat up then all the other ones. The reason of this was that this could have been a farmers truck, since it needed a trunk for all the produce. Something else that I thought about was what the difference would have been if this picture was taken today. Well, one of the differences would be that all the cars would be a lot newer and have air conditioning. The "farming" truck would be a big SUV that you see on the highways with the logo of the store, restaurant, or farm on the sides of it. Another difference would be how the stores would have new companies like Apple, Forever 21, Zumiez, and McDonalds. Maybe the buildings themselves would be more modern with air conditioning and plumbing.

        While looking at this photo I had a few questions. These questions was, What was the exact purpose for the photographer to take this photo?, Who is the man in the truck?, and What time of the year was this picture taken?.

Evans, Walker. Untitled Photo. June 1936. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives, Library of Congress, Greensboro, Alabama

Election Reflection Blog

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  My thoughts about the election in general is that this was the most intense one I have ever witnessed. Both sides of the party were at each other's necks all the time. What I mean by this is that they were always insulting each other and trying to make the other person look bad. Both politicians had very strong and different beliefs so no one wanted both to win. It was also very intense because people predicted that they would be very close in the election. Clinton and Trump would change this country for the better or worse.
  
  My thoughts on the results of this election is that I wonder what kind of a country this is. How could so many people vote for a crazy man. I understand that I am being very biased, but it boggles my mind how people can see a positive future with him. For example many people will say that his beliefs towards women shouldn't effect how he is as a president. I totally disagree with this. If he shows disrespect and superiority towards women, then how is he going to make good decisions based on their best interest. He is a business man, so he will do things for the money.
  
  This election shows me that either many Americans are unreliable or that many democrats didn't vote for Hillary. I am just stunned how many people really believe in Trump. I still feel like someone on TV is going to say "Just kidding everyone! That was a joke he really didn't win". I am very disappointed in our country. However, I do understand that he doesn't have as much power as people think. Some people are afraid that he is going to build a wall and all the other extravagant things he promised. Congress, although will hopefully stop him from doing these things. 
  
  On the other hand, it is predicted that Congress is going to be Republican dominated. These Republicans will vote for his ideas even if they don't agree with them. They will do this because they want to keep their jobs. When the next election comes Republican citizens wouldn't vote for them because they didn't vote for Trumps bills. They would do whatever they could to keep their jobs.
  
  

  

  
  

Veterans Day Poem

       
"The Rows"

Cars lined up in three rows
This road has felt our car's weight for hours
Beeping and yelling arise from the sea of vehicles
I sit bored, staring out into the squabble

A old man of 60 walks along the rows
His long beard black and white
The baggy clothes fit loosely around his thin body
The baseball hat he wears shows the words "Vietnam"

A creased piece of cardboard is held up with his frail arms
It reads "Homeless Veteran. Please help"
The eyes of this man show pain and sorrow
His body shows guns and missiles

Loose change fills the mcDonalds up
The pennies and dimes that people don't care about
Are his only source of income.
He relies on the few cents that you get back at the store

Soon
He approaches our car

I can feel the plead he shows with his eyes
I can feel the pity that I myself encounter
I can feel pain in which many like himself have felt
I can feel the homesickness that haunted his mind

Thousands just like him
Roamed around the city

First Quarter Reflection Blog

        This quarter I have learned how to work well with others. Unlike previous years, I do not know a lot of people in this class. Many of these people I have never talked to in my life, opposed to people I have known since kindergarten. Conversations weren't easy, until a few weeks ago. I have learned to find things in common with students who I normally wouldn't talk to. This has helped me because I have become more social with my classmates, which helps me get my work done faster.

       There are a few things that I would like to improve on with working with others. One of these things is being able to have small talk. This would help me because I could get closer with my classmates and then be able to work more effectively. Another thing that I would like to improve on is engaging in conversation with my peers more. Sometimes I don't talk to my partner about our work as much as I should. If I talk more then my work could have more than one opinion in it.

       During this past quarter I have learned many things about the world. I did this by listening to other peoples AOW's during the last few weeks. One thing that surprised me in an AOW, was that almost half of teachers in a study were racist. This showed me that just because a law was passed, doesn't mean that peoples minds are changed. It is very hard to persuade someone to think another way. Another thing that I learned was that more people are getting pregnant when they are older. This surprised me because some of these women are 50 years old. It makes me wonder if the mother or the  baby have a higher risk of injuries than younger women.

      These next few quarters I would like to learn more things about the world. To do this I hope to get more involved with the news. That means that I would be watching the news more and looking at articles that involve the entire world. Doing this could help me understand the direction the world is heading in and how I could help make it better. It would have all started by doing my AOW.

     

Montresor's Confession

Montresor Task

        Hello everyone. My name is Montresor. I am here to tell you all my story. You all in the court and the stands have made up a situation that might be close or different from mine. This is what really happened, this the truth.

        It all started 16 years ago. I was merely an adult, as was he. Words cannot describe the type of bond we had when we first met. It was Carnival and we stumbled upon each other in a drunken haze. Laughing, singing and shouting echoed throughout the streets and I had never been so happy. He was my other half and I was his. We went everywhere together and shared many secrets.

        We had the same secret. Both of us, now this is very hard to admit, we were...what do you call it? Um, we both were attracted to the same gender. I hear the gasps in your voices and see the astonishment in your eyes. My dear friends, this is what I wanted to keep a secret. This is why I killed my old friend Fortunato. You see we were together for quite some time, and I thought we would be together forever. He, on the other hand, didn't see it that way. His family had been suspicious for a very long time and caught on to our secret deed. They threatened to expose us and laugh in the punishment of our lives if we didn't stop.

         Fortunato had always been the type of person to want other peoples praise. The deal with his family was soon made right after they announced it. The day he told me of his plans to marry his future wife was a horrible one. He came to my house early in the morning with a determined look in his eyes. When I asked him if he wanted tea he agreed and we sat at the table. There was a long pause until he finally spoke. I must tell you, my audience, that I felt the worst anxiety and adrenaline I had every felt in those few minutes. I wanted him to tell me that he loved me and how nothing was going to stand in the way of us. I yearned for the simple words of  "I love you". Those words never came.

         Instead of those three syllables he said, "I am marrying Camilla."
     
         My heart sank with those words. I saw my future become black and with it, my heart. Even though my soul felt like it was breaking, my face showed understanding. He continued on saying how we would have never worked and that we were better off. I could not hold it in any longer. My lips released the words, "But I love you". Fortunato's  face became red and distorted. He slammed on the table with his mighty fist, spilling the tea.

        "How dare you say that! You mean nothing to me! Go and live your filthy ways!"
       
         Instead of just a black heart, it became cold and angry. I wanted nothing more than to kill him right there. In moments he had broken my heart and turned it resentful. I no longer felt sad. I felt like killing the man who had made me want to hurt myself. If I saw him with his future wife I would definitely kill myself. In that moment I realized that it was either my life or his.

        You people in the court probably have a lot of mixed emotions right now. But I am here to tell you that you shouldn't imprison a man for his personality. I am the type of person who wants to survive. I am a survivor. I simply couldn't survive if I ever saw Fortunato and Camilla together. So, everyone in the court, let me ask you this. Will you imprison a man for his lack of good character, or will you take pity on a man who got his heart broken by societies flaws?

        And with that statement I rest my case.



I commented on:
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Kezia's Blog

   

Life Line Poem "Together"

"Together”


Muslims and Christians unite
Ethiopians and Eritreans hug
In this night
We are one

This should be daily
So we will not wear scars

He disliked me because I treated everyone like an
Angel
Not a monstrous black beetle
I focused on what we can give
Not what we can take

It means a measuring stick
Measuring beauty
In
Each other, to
Give
Beauty to each other

It is that
She
Is our sister
Either throw us away with her
Or hug her with us

“She” is the million of refugees
“She” is the beetles
“She” is the angels

AoW 9-23-16

          An idea that is similar in the book Of Beetles and Angels and the article "The unique programme that brings refugees to Canada" is that it is hard to adjust to life in another country. In the article it says," A report on the use of Toronto food banks released this week notes a surge in the first three months of 2016, linked in part to an influx of newcomers, including Syrian refugees." This quote explains that many Syrian refugees need food banks to eat. It is difficult for them to provide for themselves or for their family because they are in a new country. In the book it states, "Even with their constant suport, though, we still felt the deepest homesickness... We yearned for... A neighbor who spoke our language. For our people." This quote shows that Mawi's family missed their home very much as they try to adjust to life in America. Both quotes show the struggles of being a refugee.

           Another idea that is similar is that there is kind people in the world. In the book it says,"My brother had found him housing and a job, encouraged him, and even given him money when he could-even though my bro had so little himself." This excerpt shows that Mawi's brother, Tewolde, is very giving and generous. He gives even when he doesn't have anything himself. Tewolde was probably a role model for Mawi. In the article when it talks about all the refugees that Canada let in it states,"That generosity won "the people of Canada" the 1986 UN's Nansen refugee award, which recognises outstanding service to the causes of refugees..." This shows that many people in Canada sponsored and took in refugees. They did this out of the kindness of their own hearts and helped the less fortunate.

          War affects individuals and societies in many ways. For example some people may have to move because of the violence or discrimination that is occurring there. These people are called refugees. This could cause great harm or distress to the people who are being uprooted from their homes. Another way that war affects societies is that in the places that the refugees are relocating to will be affected. In my article it states, "... the programme 'changes people individually, it shapes societies'". This is explaining that the program that Canada is using to move Syrian refugees is giving society a different outlook on life. With the more refugees going into these communities the more people are going to be exposed to how hard it is for refugees.