Creation Myth

In the beginning there was nothing but darkness and chaos. Out of those two things Baako and her brother Daahir were born. They were also known as the first born and revelation. Together they worked to spread light across the land. Little did they know what lay ahead of them.

Baako and Daahi had a little girl named Maame or nice thoughts.They adored their baby girl and gave her anything she wanted. As she grew to be a toddler she became scared of the dark. Baako and Daahir wanting to please their daughter created the stars out of dust particles dipped in the light on the far side of the land. This pleased Maame. As Maame grew older she became more independent. Baako and Daahir knew this would happen they just didn't know that it was so soon for Maame was only eigfht. Years old. Seeing Maame be less dependeant on her parents made them sad. They solved the problem by having a son named Nakisisa or the child of the shadows. They were all happy at first except for Maame. Not only was she no longer the only child but she had a gift, a gift for her father, the gift of prophecy. When she was six, she had a prophecy that her brother would be born three years later and he would be the one to end them all. She had to kill him before he turned eighteen. She had never killed anyone... So would this plan work? Nakisisa always stayed by his parents, he was a good boy. He always stayed out of trouble. Where as Maame always caused trouble. Nakisisa was their parents favorite child. When Nakisisa's 12th birthday arrived, Maame's parents treated her as an outcast. They all gathered around Nakisisa as he opened his presents. As he came across a circular present, his parents told him he would have to take care of it. He would have to put some sort of creation on it to worship the Gods. They told him that it was to be called Kaafi. Maame was so outraged, she jumped up and attacked her brother. She hated her parents and wished they would burn in the pit of hell.

This fight between the sibilings never ended. Nakisisa stayed on his planet created plants, animals, and fresh crops. The only time he ever came off Kaafi was for his birthdays. His eighteenth birthday was arriving in two days, and he wanted to please his parents. He still had to create humans to harvest the crops, build buildings, and do the normal human thing. He tried to do this with squirels but they were too unintelligent. He created man and woman to replenish the earth. He taught them everything he knew from growing crops to building houses to creating their own happiness in their own havens. Men and women worshipped the gods for they had taught them many great things. As he was walking home for his birthday he felt sort of off. H decided to go the long way home. Only to find that he had become lost. His parents stayed up for hours but he was never found again.

Holden and His Problems

There are many times in the book where Holden thinks that he is a saint and all of the things that are happening to him are somebody's fault other than himself. Holden likes to view himself as perfect person however, in order to do that he must point out everyone's flaws to make himself look good and cover up all of his other mistakes that he has done in the past. He can't accept the fact that it is okay to be wrong every once in a while or to make mistakes because that is a part of growing up and being human. Because of this Holden can be very hard on himself and gets mad that he isn't as perfect as he would like to be.

In the beginning of the book Holden gets into a fight with his roommate Stradlater because he was talking down about this girl Holden likes and just being flat out disrespectful about her. Holden does the same thing and thinks so horrible things right along with it. He may not do it to that girl in particular but he does it to random people like the hooker he picked up.

Holden calls everyone around him a phony and cruel but he is the same way at times. He may not see it at times but he does it often. Holden doesn't like it when people aren't real around him but yet when he talks to his authorities He either acts like he cares and feeds them lies about his life or anything that they want to hear. He will also just be rude and brush them to the side like he is better than them even if he is younger than them. Holden treats people with disrespect but makes an attitude when they do it to him. As you read the book you find out that the more he sort of breaks down that the less he is able to handle it. However I do think that he starts to realize as time goes on that he is very hypocritical and not only hard on himself but also expects more out of others than really necessary.

Holden is a good person at heart overall but at the same time he can be very rude toward people. All people can be that way though. Everyone does judge one another and have bad days where they come across rude or disrespectful. It is about how you go about it though. You can spread roomers, go insane, fly off the wall on some random person at the store, or become isolated and try to end your life because you are having a hard time or you can keep your opinions to yourself, try to work it out with someone, or do what you can to handle things in an appropriate manner. Either way it must come from you and I believe that Holden is beginning to recognize that.

I think a therapist is needed for this one

            I think that Luce is right when he tells Holden he needs to get a psychoanalysis done. At the very least I think that he should talk to a therapist. I think it would help him with his depression and oppositional defiance. If Holden were to talk to a therapist then it would help him acknowledge his problems and to learn more skills in order to help him be successful later on. I’m not sure if he is being the way he is because of something that has happened in his childhood or if this is just a really bad case of normal teenage rebellion.

             Holden has a hard time seeing that he has many problems ranging from attitude and cause trouble with adults to being very belligerent and breaking the law. When he sees that he is getting into trouble he just passes it off as people don’t understand him so nothing is ever really his fault.  He can’t see that his life would go by easier if he would just acknowledge that he is wrong sometimes and that people aren’t always being phony around him. People are just trying to help him and he keeps on pushing them away by being rude or hostile at times. Holden has a hard time admitting that he is the only making his life miserable.

            Holden can’t see his own problems because he is too busy criticizing everyone around him in order to make himself look or feel superior around them. He is worrying about everyone else before he is taking care of himself. He needs to learn to mind his own business I think because that is what tends to get him into trouble in the first place. That is also why he is getting upset or depressed all of the time which brings on all of the negative thinking causing him to be arrogant to everyone. If he would learn to overcome these things he would be kinder to people and learn happiness.  

Holden’s feelings towards his family

I think that there are times when Holden loves his family but there are other times when he just wants to strangle them. It is a common occurrence among families especially in siblings. He misses them at times though he may not want to admit it except if it is his sister. Holden may not agree with his family but they are still his family and nothing can change that no matter how hard he wishes otherwise. Holden feels like he is the family screw up but I don’t think he is because he just learned differently from his siblings like I was with mine. I had to make so many mistakes before I got something. My siblings just learned from my parents mistakes or just did what they were told because they were afraid of the consequences.

            Hold used to idolize his brother. I believe he still does deep down but wont accept that reality yet. His brother is Hollywood and being successful Holden wishes he was and was acknowledged for what he does well instead of always being corrected. It seems to me like Holden is always secretly jealous of his brother and gets down on himself for not being more like him. He thinks if he was more like him them he would stay out of trouble more.

            Holden loves his sister and is probably the closest to her out of all her family members. He enjoys her company and feels like he can be himself around her. They hardly ever fight and it’s like he understands her just as she understands him. Holden doesn’t get into fights around he and fells like he can talk to her about anything and he won’t be judged by it from he.

            I get the feeling just as he despises his brother for being so successful he despises his parents for not noticing him or showing that they care for him. He thinks that his parents whish he was his brother if he ever crosses their minds. He loves them though as much as he hates to admit it or wants to act like it. His parents are trying to do what they can for him even if it is hard Holden just can’t see it yet. It will pay off in the end though I think.

            Holden is sarcastic and rude and hates showing he cares for any family member s but his little sister. He doesn’t want to admit they are helping him out in the long run because it would hurt to think that they do really care for him. When it comes to his family it’s like one big love hate relationship that he doesn’t really he actually cares about.

Should we really be expelled from schools?

            I think that it would be okay for a Principal/Headmaster to expel a student from a school if they are continuously fighting, selling test answers to another student, or if they are selling drugs to another person.  All of these reasons are in someway or another influencing other kids to engage in a very negative manner. Bringing other people down is probably my biggest irritation in schools. For me school should be a safe place, one where a student shouldn't have to worry about getting hurt or being peer pressured into some situation where their success in life becomes endangered. Some facility members in schools I’ve been in aren't paying enough attention to what's going on exactly and two of my best friends have died due to that neglect. I've even suffered because of that as well. I would rather have a kid expelled from a school then have one of my siblings fall into cheating, fighting, or drugs. If I was doing these things I would expect to be expelled because I know that I was raised a whole lot better than that.

            I believe that Houlden has been expelled from so many schools because he just doesn't care. He also has this “I’m so bad-ass and no one can top that” kind of thing that he puts out to the other people around him so no one wants to even help him through anything. Houlden just feeds people the crap they want to hear so he can leave and do whatever he wants to do. It almost seems to me like he is trying to prove everyone right that he can't do it so people will get off his back. Those that know better are trying to help him but he is deluding himself so hard into believing he isn't worth it so he doesn't have to see or accept the reality that he is only hurting himself in the end. I don't think he realizes that he is affecting other people around him and their success. I don't even think he realizes that if he keeps it up he is gonna fail so badly that he won't ever have the chance at a wonderful life. It almost seems to me like he likes to get into trouble as well. Intended or not that is what he is doing.

            Holding has a lot of things going on in his life right now. Some he brought upon himself I believe. His sarcasm his getting him into trouble, He uses a lot of thinking errors, and I think he doesn't know how to get attention in an appropriate manner so he causes trouble to get that. Holding is also very lazy in a way. I mean you really have to try to fail if you think about it. I’m not too sure on his home life but I’d bet that his parents are like those rick stuck up don't notice you and or have time for you kind of parents you read about in books or see in movies. Don't get me wrong I think that he is a very bright, intelligent person he just acts stupid so he won't have to work as hard. I honestly believe that if knew how to get the attention in which he is seeking in a positive manner without having to work hard he'd do it. Unless it's writing, which isn't very hard to do, he half-asses everything.

Anne Frank

            Throughout Anne Frank’s short life, she faced many obstacles in her life like war, racism, self-worth, and abuse from the fascist leaders. Anne was forced to go into hiding because of her religion and race. Anne shows us that just because life is hard and hateful doesn’t mean we can’t be happy and overcome adversity and challenges. Anne learned to grow in many aspects of her life by keeping her head held high and finding the good in most things. Even though Anne struggled to find herself, while in hiding, she was still able to go on with her life in a positive manner. Because of a horrible event in time; a wonderful spirit, Anne Frank, has left and will continue to leave a big impact on many people’s lives.

            As you read Anne Frank’s journals you can see how lively she was; however, as she goes into hiding and becomes a teenager you also see how mature she becomes and the struggles she goes through. You also view how she wants to grow up and be a mature woman very badly as she gets older. Anne was always looking for ways to learn and grow whenever she could without loosing her ability while understanding her surroundings and the consequences of the choices she was making. While in hiding Anne struggles to find herself; but, still learns that life will always have trials, but how we handle them is what really matters.

            Anne frank’s family along with the Van Pels was in hiding in the Annex, from July 6, 1942 to August 8, 1944 before they were turned into the Nazi. During these two years Anne wrote daily in her favorite journal; which she called “Kitty” sharing her inner most thoughts and feelings until she was arrested. She wrote letters in her journal to friends, helpers, and to those she was hiding with; however, she called them by different names to protect them in case someone found her journal. Anne very brilliantly used her journal to figure out who she was and to stay optimistic. Anne used whatever means possible to overcome the hardships in her life and to improve herself in what little time, unknown to her, she had remaining. Anne continued to stand up for what she believed in no matter what the consequences were. Anne used her journal and hiding as a way of not conforming to what the government wanted.

            Anne Frank exemplifies both the ability to overcome adversity and challenges as well as being committed to personal growth in all areas of life. Anne chose not to stop believing in her religion just because Hitler hated Jews. Throughout her life in hiding Anne wrote in her journal about the difficulties in finding herself instead of lashing out at others. She was committed to finding all obstacles in her life and facing them head on without fear. Whether that was through not conforming or just to stay bright and lively regardless how the outside world was going on around her. She tried to help bring up peoples spirits in the camp she was at. The Nazis’ did everything to tear her down. She didn’t let them have her hope or the desire to learn though.

            Anne Frank went through many hardships although she took it with grace. She made the best out of every situation. Anne Frank gave everyone respect and simple common courtesy. If we all did this, this world would be a better place for everyone. There would be no war or racism. Anne Frank did a bunch of little things in the end turned out to add up to one big change for many people today. Everyone's life is already hard enough why would you wish to add to it.

Work cited:

Mullin,RitaThievon. Anne Frank. Hidden Hope. New York: Sterling, 2009.”Anne Frank.” Anne Frank. March 15, 2011. http://www.anefrank.org/en/Anne -Frank/History/All-people/Anne- Frank.html “Anne Frank in the world, 1929-1945 Teacher workbook.” Anne Frank Biography(1929-1945): March 15, 2011. http://www.uen.org/annefrank/bioshort.html

For better or worse

They say they know me
But do they really?
They call me Billy
Yet I feel so ashamed.
After all I’m being blamed.

I feel so small
While everyone else is so tall.
They try to control me
I feel so unlike the rest
Like this is all just a test.

I hope this is all just a dream
Then I could go away
Maybe then I’ll even stay.
I’ll be on my own team.

I will start over in another place
Then it will all begin again
So much for this game.

Schizophrenic Silence

She told me there was no poison
Without my angel I would’ve died
She told me to wash the rags in that poison
I yelled and pleaded for anything but that
I was doomed; I chose to live than die.
I won’t be able to ho home now
The king will send me back to hell
There’s no way out of this.
I will be forced to do worse things now
She will laugh at her games she plays.
I can’t even scream, shout, or cry out
There’s no use now
Maybe I should let her poison me
The worst will be over then.
I won’t have to suffer again…
I won’t feel the pain at the end…

Fahrenheit 451 Final

At first Montag likes to burn things because it makes him happy, like some kind of strange high. Burning is wonderful to him. He is doing what he’s told to do and he believes he is serving his society in which he lives. Life is wonderful or so he thinks. When Montag sets fire to his own house he realizes it’s wrong and that he has lost everything including all of his memories. Montag knows it’s wrong and is just doing what he’s told. At the same time though I think he also realizes he is being set free from Captain Beatty and the power that was over him before.

When Montag first meets Clarisse he notices she is odd. He still believes burning is good. She then starts to make Montag question if he is truly happy and if what he has been taught all his life is the way it is supposed to be. If it is right or not.

Montag then starts to talk more to Captain Beatty. Captain Beatty tells Montag in a very round about way about what happens to those who don’t conform to society. This makes Montag question more if what he is doing is right or not. Montag comes up with what he has been doing is wrong and changes are needed.

Montag’s own wife Mildred even makes him think twice. She has attempted serveral times at taking her own life by over dousing on her prescribed medications. She does nothing but talk to the parlor walls which are TVs the size of a wall or she talks to her friends. He wonders if she even loves him and if electronics is part of what society does to keep people from seeing the wrong in which they are doing. The kids are constantly going though out the day that by night falls they crash.

Montag finally realizes that burning was wrong when he leaves the city I think. He knows he is doing something right when the government doesn’t like it and sends the hound after him. I think he also knows it when his gut is telling him that burning is bad by questioning everything that happens. Montag knows that the society in which he lives is wrong when he if forced to burn a lady and all of her books. I believe that is when he realizes for the second time in a very clear way that things are screwed up. No one should die because of a book. It is not the same as murder so why should people suffer.

Censorship

To me censorship is something that someone does when something in the media isn’t appropriate for a certain group of people. For example if there is a lot of violence or sexuality in a movie someone may censor it so that it is PG-13 or R rated. I think that people do this in order to protect little kids for being too exposed to the world. But to me everyone is different; they have different maturity levels at certain stages of their lives. Why do we censor if we are just going to see it later on in life.

I think that there should be a point, a line drawn about what should and should not be on television. Some people tell me that is what censoring is for. I am talking about just not showing it at all. Some people don’t have good judgments so we shouldn’t show it. When certain things are rated PG-13 I think that it’s not a really good way to say when things should be censored because everyone is at different maturity levels. What may be PG-13and is appropriate for me could not be appropriate for some of my friends.

I think that you should censor naked people including babies because you have no idea who is going to watch the movie and if they are a child molester or something like that. I also think that you should censor violence. If you are going to rate something and put an age rang on it you should at least put what apparent thinks is an appropriate age for it or put it as maturity level. People are seeing things that are hurting people. The movie director is the one that chooses what it is rated but the parents are the ones who should decide in my opinion.

I think though that you should not censor things on the news because we need to be informed with no sugar coating because that will only hurt people more in the end. People will stop trusting the news and then not listen to what it says. Like if you should evacuate the state because terrorist are going to blowup the state or something like that. We need to feel like we can trust at least on thing right?

Is Censoring Books Right or Wrong?

I am not really sure if schools should be allowed to censer books or not. My reasoning for this is because I feel that kids should be able to feel comfortable in schools because everyone deserves the right to feel safe. I also think that parents should have the right to choose what their kids read because after all they are one of the primary influences in child’s life. Though every parent has a different opinion on what is appropriate for their kids and what is not. My foster parents allow me to read The Hunger Games and Enders Game. However my friend’s parents think that those books are not okay and he is the same age as me. Everyone has a different take on books.

At the same time I don’t think it is okay because since people have such different opinions that if you take away one book you are punishing other people who would be allowed to read it. I wouldn’t want my favorite books to be taken away from my school just because my friend’s parents don’t approve that book for my friend. Some books are swearing or saying racial slurs but the author put it in there for a reason and that is to prove a point. I think that teacher’s have a pretty good judgment of what will and will not affect the kid’s in the classroom because they are around them more then the parent is most of the time. I believe teachers should get to choose what they have the class read or not read.

I think that schools and parents should have a little bit of say but you should not ban a book just because you don’t like it or you don’t think it is appropriate because that just punishes kids in a way. When you sign up for a library card if you don’t want your child reading or watching certain books then you can put it on there and when the child goes to check it out it won’t let them. We should do that in schools so that there isn’t that issue and we won’t have to ban books at all.

Why do people hurt people?

“A good reputation is the most valuable thing we have. If you steal my reputation, you’re robbing me of something that doesn’t make you richer, but makes me poorer.”

I think in a way this is true. My reasoning for this is because people react to you differently based on your reputation in your community. People tend not to like or hang out with you if your reputation is bad. People think a lot of times if you hang out with a person with a bad reputation then they will earn a bad reputation as well. When you talk bad about another person it doesn’t help you in any way it just hurts the other person more. You may get people to believe you and mad at the other person for a little while but it’s not really worth it is it? Things will take its play out and things will go back the way they were in the end. When it’s all over, people will eventually find out what you did and your reputation will go bad and back fire on you, do you really want that?

On the other hand the other person may end up getting hurt so badly that they end up lonely and bullied. People may not want to have anything to do with them. The person may end up committing suicide because of how badly they are being treated.

To me when you leave this world the only two thing people will ever remember you for is if you had a good reputation and if you kept your word. When a person takes that a way and you die labeled as a bad person, it didn’t help them in any way but it did make life harder for you. People don’t realize what gossiping can do to a person. I’ve been hurt badly by rumors before and it didn’t help the other person, but I didn’t want to show my face at school again until it was over. A reputation can be what makes people want to be your friend or stay away from you. If hurting someone’s reputation doesn’t help you very much and if it doesn’t help the other person why do we do it in the first place?