Same Sex Marriage

     
        Since many people have blogged about their opinions on same sex marriage I thought it would be appropriate to share my perspective as well.
        I know a lot of people that are uncomfortable in the presence of homosexual people, and although I can understand their perspective I don’t necessarily agree with it. The way I see it is, you are in control of your own life and no one elses. So what gives people the right to tell individuals they cannot marry the person they love because they are the same gender? If an individual wants to marry someone it should not matter their sexuality just like it should not matter their race, height, weight, beliefs, hair colour, interests and so on. Marriage allows individual to make their love official and take the next steps in their lives. Therefore I do not believe it is fair to restrict individuals from such a meaningful event based on their sexuality.

What is your perspective on same sex marriage?

Sarah`s Key

Although I have already done my ISU presentation, I would like to take the time to summarize the novel I read, Sarah`s Key, because I think it was an amazing book and a great way to remember those who lost their lives during world war two. This novel is written from two perspectives.

One perspective is from the eyes of a young Jewish girl named Sarah who is taken away in the middle of the night by French police. Before being taken away she locks her little brother in a secretive closet because she thinks he will be safe here. Throughout the novel Sarah struggles to escape the concentration camp in order to save her little brother.

The second perspective is written from the eyes of a journalist named Julie. Julie was born after the round-up and is writing a report on the events that took place in 1942. After coming across Sarah`s story, she becomes determined to learn the truth about what happened to Sarah during this horrific time.

            Without giving away the ending of the novel, the above is a quick summary of my ISU novel. I would recommend this book to everyone in the class as it was a truly amazing novel that I will never forget. May we all remember those who were affected during the holocaust and the Vel` d`Hiv roundup (round up of Jewish families by French police).

Holocaust

''We played, we laughed we were loved.We were ripped from the arms of our parents and thrown into the fire.We were nothing more than children.We had a future. We were going to be lawyers, rabbis, wives, teachers, mothers.We had dreams, then we had no hope.We were taken away in the dead of night like cattle in cars, no air to breathe smothering, crying, starving, dying.Separated from the world to be no more.From the ashes, hear our plea. This atrocity to mankind can not happen again. Remember us, for we were the children whose dreams and lives were stolen away ''(Barbara Sonek).

While doing my ISU on Sarah's Key, a book about Jewish families being taken away to concentration camps, I found this poem. Although I used this poem in my ISU presentation I decided to blog about it in order to see other peoples perspectives. In my opinion this poem symbolizes a dark time and is used to remember those whose lives were changed for the worst. I think it is important to be reminded of the holocaust and other horrific events in order to remember the brave indivduals involved and prevent such events from occuring again.

What do you think of this poem ? Do you think it is important to be reminded of our past?

The Importance of Shakespeare

In my opinion Shakespeare should be taught in high school English classes because I strongly believe that by reading Shakespeare our English skills are improving. The reason I think this is because Shakespeare`s writing force students to reread, analyze and decipher the text in order to understand the events that are taking place. By getting in the habit of looking for the deeper meaning, analyzing characters or determining how the plot is advancing, it forces us to read between the lines rather than see the text as simply words on a page that tell a story. (For example: The Book Theif- we can read this book without having to analyze every line – the words simply tell a story as opposed to Shakespeare where the words force you to think and analyze). Therefore Shakespeare`s writing teaches students how to analyze text and look for the deeper meaning in situations which are important skills that can be transferred into other aspects of life (not just English class).

What is your opinion about learning Shakespeare?

 

Ambition

How does ambition impact people?

In my opinion ambition is what dictates individuals actions. Meaning throughout life individuals have motives behind there behavior that drive them to act the way they do in order to reach their goal(s). The difference between a positive ambition and a negative ambition is drastic and is what shapes us as individuals.

Examples:

Positive Ambition:
         Reaching your desired goal(s) through hard work and dedication.

Negative Ambition:
         Reaching your desired goal(s) by using others negatively (i.e. cheating, stealing).

How do you think ambition impacts people?

Symbolizing the Hammer

While reading The Rez Sisters I have noticed a consistent symbol that has been brought to my attention. You may remember from our previous reading that many of the characters are associated with inanimate objects, such as Philomena with a toilet, or Annie with country music. However for my blog post today I would like to focus on Pelajia and the hammer, more specifically the hammer itself. Throughout the play my perspective has allowed me to perceive the hammer as a symbol for power and control. 

''Control yourself or ill hit you over the head with my hammer'' (Highway, 40). 

''Banging her hammer on the counter...alright, alright. Its obvious we've got a problem here'' (Highway, 58).

''She bangs the hammer regularly throughout the meeting'' (Highway, 62).

The above quotations represent situations in the play where the hammer has been used as a way to gain control over a situation. The fact that the hammer is a threatening weapon allows individuals to use it as a way of scaring others into behaving or doing as they say. In the third quotation I posted the hammer is used regularly throughout a meeting, almost as if it were a court room and the characters are using it as a wooden mallet or gavel, in order to restore control. 

Therefore in this reading I see the hammer as a symbol of power, and I  feel it is used to control situations in the play that get out of hand. 

What is your perspective on the hammer in this play? 

Indians Vs. Cowboys

For my first blog I decided to do some further research on the rivalry between the Cowboys and Indians. Looking on YouTube I was able to find a video that I found raised an interesting point. If you watch the first minute of this video we learn how in most motion pictures the Indians play the ``bad guys``. Hollywood films portray the Indians as killers with no remorse for their actions. If Indians are being promoted as the ``villains`` in movies it leads others who are uneducated on the topic to assume this is true. With only one perspective exposed stereotypes are placed on both the Cowboys and Indians that could be inaccurate without the knowledge of factual events.

Why do you think the Indians are constantly deceived as the bad guys?

 If you watch the last 30 seconds of the clip this saying is stated, ``A nation that does not know its history has no future``. In my opinion this is a very powerful and relevant quote stating the importance about knowing where you as nation or individual come from in order to be properly perceived by others.

What other meanings could this quote have?

Do you think this quote is relevant to the Indians in this situation?