Speaking of Courage

Hai. 

This chapter was very disturbing and nasty but anyways...here we go. So this chapter was basically about Kiowa dying in a murky pool of sh*t, which is disgusting. But the things is, is that Norman didn't have enough courage to pull Kiowa out of the sh*t.  Courage is defined as "The ability to do something that frightens one" or "Strength in the face of pain or grief."  Norman was unable to pull Kiowa out because he himself didn't want to sink in, so Kiowa died. He seems to be distraught over his death because he feels that it's his fault, because he was being a coward.  Which is a way many people would feel because he died. The unwonted death of Kiowa in this book was hard to take in as a reader. He was my favorite character because of his spirit, I also liked that he had a talisman. Norman needed courage to pull Kiowa out of the sh*t but he didn't have any at the type which is why this chapter is titled that. Soldiers are said to have courage and with all the medals Norman recieved, you would think he would've had a lot of courage. In the beginning of the book when the author was telling us what they each carried he said, "They carried the common sense of cowardice." In this chapter we see a real example of cowardice. I think O'Brien's portrayal of what is courageous and what is not is pretty accurate.

Bai <3 

Memoir Assignment

This one was my favorite memoir: http://teacher.scholastic.com/writeit/readpoem.asp?id=6012&genre=Memoir&Page=3&sortBy=

 Just because it had some spunk and was really cute! I think that there were some good elements of it but there were some elements that could've been omitted. I don't think the writer develops the character well. She doesn't really develop Sam as a character. She doesn't even describe the way he looks, she basically just tells about him.   She's not really telling her story just he memory. She seems to have written it as it has been happening not looking back on it so it's kind of not a memoir really. I think she does do a good job by picking a subject that many readers can relate to. The title she picked made me choose this blog to read. There is really no tension or suspense building in her memoir. The only conflict is the conflict that many girls can relate to, not knowing if Sam feels the same way. Their also it little to know character development, this is a weird composition but I enjoy it. She does a good job of focusing on a particular subject though, but this is not the best memoir. This composition is more like a diary entry than a memoir but like I said before I enjoyed it. I really wish she would've described his personality and his physical characteristics more. This composition in my eyes wouldn't be called a memoir but a diary.  

Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was the longest war ever fought by the US. The war lasted 15 years, from 1959 to 1975. Many people say this was the first war that the US "lost". They started fighting in Vietnam because they wanted to stop the spread of communism. Communism is to many, a depraved way of living because the government has a lot of control. The Americans tried to glean as much information from Vietnam about converting to communism. The US did not want communism to spread in Southeast Asia. They believed that the communist forces would gain control of Vietnam. The US strongly opposes Communism because they feel it is not right. Before this "Vietnam had been split in half in 1954, after fighting a war to gain independence from France. When French forces withdrew, Vietnamese Communists gained control of North Vietnam" (Wiki answers, 2012). The southern part of Vietnam was weak and so that's where we Americans came in. In the beginning we were only giving them military and money support but then that grew into something more. We never did declare war on Northern Vietnam but we did bomb them more then we bombed people in World War 2. We went in also to stop the domino theory.  The domino theory is “which held that if one country fell under communist influence or control, its neighboring countries would soon follow" (Cold war, containment, 2012). In the end we lost the war basically and Vietnam became a communist country. The climate was very murky and hard for the soldiers who fought. Almost 60,000 US soldiers died. Also, Many American's did not support the war for various reasons. 

cited: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_the_US_become_involved_in_Vietnam and http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1965.html 

Let America Be American Again

This poem depicts the two sides of America. Which are the rich and the poor, I believe. He evinces these two sides by his tone and the side he "takes" in the poem. The writer seems to take the role of the poor man in America, and it’s his view that we are told. The America that we have now is that America is said to have ideals of equality, liberty, and land of the free which is not what we have. The America that Hughes calls for is an actual America full of equality and the land of the free. The writer substantiates his view through his tone; the poem seems kind of angry and resentful. He is criticizing all aspects of the American dream besides love kind of.... He is criticizing the fact that in America you are said to have the pursuit of happiness. Also you are said to have money and in this poem and the criticisms of the author of the Great Gatsby kind of argued that as well. You are said to have all of this in America but you really don't. Many believe the American dream is now feckless. I do agree that these criticisms are real, but really is anything ever promised? I don't think things are just given you have to earn them. A prime example of this is the character Gatsby, he had to earn everything he had nothing was given. The American Dream is still reachable today actually, and we can get it and many still want it. It just takes hard work and dedication nothing is just given nowadays you have to work for it. That in my opinion is the coherent payoff of actually achieving the American dream. I believe the dream is still tenable.

Myrtle the goofy!

My character is Myrtle!! So here we go J

I finally was able to go to New York with Tom and I go to meet Nick! He’s such a fine fellow but I don’t think he liked me that much. Anyway! On my way to the apartment I saw some cute dogs and Tommy Pooh bought me oneJ. Once we got to the apartment I called over my sister Cath (Catherine) over and Tom and I’s good friends, the McKee’s. Once we got acquainted we began passing out drinks! Everyone seemed to be having such a jolly good time. I had on my favorite afternoon dress and was looking (if I do say so myself) amazing ;). Mrs. McKee infuriates me always talking about her husband’s photography! Who gives a rat’s ass gosh!  I then began telling stories about my love life entertaining everyone. I do love my husband, don’t get me wrong but he isn’t good enough. After, I got to telling Nick how Tom and I met, he seemed really interested. Then Tom got upset all because I was saying his wife’s name! What’s the big deal? He’s cheating on her anyway! We kept going back and forth then I felt a blow to my nose. I couldn’t believe what happened. After I stepped back into reality everyone was gone. That sucked because we were having such a good time until Tom had to mess it up. Sometimes it feels like he cares more for his wife than me! I could just kick Tom’s behind if I didn’t love him so much. Luckily for him at least, he apologized for hitting me. He didn’t really need to though because I was over it already, although it was really embarrassing.  I got blood all over my favorite dress too! L But it’s okay because I’m still with my Tommy J

The American Dream

I'm a horrible blogger although I have became addicted to Tumblr...Sowwy

Anywayssssss. The American Dream
 Our assignment is basically to find an article on the American Dream recently and then relate it to Great Gatsby.
But the problem is I don't necessarily see that theme very prominent in the book. But here we go.

I found that in 2010 43% of American's still believed it was possible to have the dream. This was after the recession and all, I was surprised for that percentage to be even that much. In the latimes article the author wrote, "The dream is the glue that keeps us all together." I agree with her it kind of is because if all Americans had no hope this country would not be America.  Many people did lose sight of the American Dream after the recession but some did not.  In Great Gastby the theme The American Dream is basically Gatsby life. He has almost everything an American would want. A great house, car, money and the only thing missing is a family. Many American's American dream is like Gatsby's life even without the wife part.  Gatsby throws great parties, has lots of friends and is very respected, who wouldn't want his life? Although many American's dream is very different and more simple.  The American Dream is different for every American and luckily there is 46% of us who believe in it.

Music Review

Ever heard of Jessie J?
Well I loveeeeeee her! She is one of my favorite artists nowadays.


My favorite song by her is Big White Room (live). That song speaks to me and almost brings me to tears everytime I hear it. I have nothing at ALL bad to say about this song.


When you first turn on this song you hear a few chords of acoustic guitars,  the first lyrics are "Sitting in a big white room alone, tilt my head back feel the tears fall down." These lyrics remind me of myself basically, I mean who hasn't cried alone in their room? Then more lyrics, then I get to "I don't wanna be here anymore
I wanna be somewhere else normal and free, like I used to be But I have to stay in this big white room
With little old me." The way Jessie J is singing these lyrics so patiently puts the images in my mind. Sometimes I feel like this and having music that expresses your feelings and sounds good is a winner in my mind. This song brings me to a place where I have been, were many have been. Her words in this song speak to me and probably speak to so many others. Jessie's J's tone and voice make this song much more powerful. Whenever I'm feeling down I listen to this song and it makes me happy.

HOPE YOU LIKED IT! :D

Lyrics:

Sitting in a big white room alone
Tilt my head back, feel the tears fall down
Close my eyes to see in the dark
I feel young, broken, so so scared

I don't wanna be here anymore
I wanna be somewhere else normal and free, like I used to be 
But I have to stay in this big white room
With little old me

I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine
I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine

Sitting in a big white room alone
Close the door don't want the pain to come in
I clench my fist and try to stay strong
I cry, feel sick my hearts beating b-b-b-b-beating neating out of control
Can I run, run faster than you
I wanna feel my body again, feel the wind in my hair - yeah
But I have to stay in this big white room
( From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/j/jessie-j-lyrics/big-white-room-lyrics.html )
Cuz' no one else cares no

I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine
I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine

Everybody's looking at me, everybody's staring at me
What do I do now - smile, yeah, yeah
Everybody's looking at me - everybody's staring at me
What do I do now - smile

I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine
I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine

I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine
I'm going crazy, I'm losing my mind
I'm going crazy, in this big white room of mine