Book War

            In the story “Book War” by Wang Ping it talks about a child who grew up in China around the time when Mao Zedong ruled. Mao Zedong forbade all people that lived in China to read anything besides the books that he had made. The author Wang Ping started to read other books like the little mermaid and he found a box of books his mom had buried and read them all. He was careful not to get caught because it could mean a life sentence. His mom eventually found out and burned them all for his safety.  Later on he started telling his siblings the stories he had read from the memory he had of them and he feels like he won because he passes his knowledge down.

            I personally think that Chairman Mao Zedong banned schools and books because he just wanted the people in his country o learn just what he wanted. He did not want people to start thinking for themselves; on the contrary it seems that he wanted to over control his people.

            If I was in the child’s position I probably would have done the same thing because I would be curious of what world lies outside of china. I would want to explore the readings and knowledge of other authors and see the way they think and their view of the world, instead of just Zedong’s thoughts and his strict ruling.

            When Ping’s mom burned the books I felt kind of angry at her at first, but then I understood why she did it. She was just looking after the safety of her child and the safety of her family. Just imagine what could have happened if they had gotten caught with the books. It could have possibly been death for them.

            My last thought on this story is that even though there are strict rulings in part of the world; there will always be someone finding a way around it. This story is a great example of it. The world’s books are very important to the human race and it may make us who we are. Knowledge is power and we can get knowledge from books.

Driving While Stupid

In “Driving while stupid” by Dave Barry he speaks about the horrible driving his state Miami has. He assures that in Miami they have the worst driving because he has driven in other parts of the world; and even though they are bad they don’t compare to Miami. He explains every adventure with a little humor, in one example he stated that in Argentina some drivers don’t turn their lights on at night because the light bulb last longer that way.  

            I really enjoyed reading this short story. I found it very funny when he explained the case about the driver on I-95 who was coming up behind him very fast and was driving in a very dangerous manner because he had been watching a music video on his little TV screen that was installed on his visor. I actually believe some of his stories even though they sound over exaggerated; this is because in my country Colombia people also drive like lunatics and are dangerous drivers.

            The Author was very persuasive about the fact that his hometown had the worst drivers. He led me to believe this because he stated many other situations he had been in around the world and he still did not think it was as bad as Miami. This basically proves to me that there is no worse case scenario to bad drivers than in Miami.  

            While I was reading this short story I found it very funny and interesting, but I also noticed it stated many serious subjects. I believe that people now in days do everything while they are driving except pay attention to the road and fallow regulations. Take texting while driving for example ;It may be against the law to do it here in Rhode Island but many people still do it and it is very dangerous because it can cost somebody’s life.

            I think this story has a deeper meaning than just funny situations the author tries to point out. It is really stating a problem the world is facing, which is uncaring drivers who don’t follow the rules and regulations of driving.

The ways to live in America

In “Two ways to belong in America” by Bharati Mukherjee there are two sisters who live in the same country but see themselves in different immigrant statuses in the United States. Bharati is the one who blends in more with the United States culture and is in acceptance to transforming herself. Mira on the other hand lives in the United States but wants to keep all her Indian traditions. She feels like this country has betrayed her because they were not being fair with the rules. They still remain close family and both have broken traditional rules from their home country for marrying other men besides the men her father’s chose for them. Overall Bharati seems to at least try to blend into her new country, but Mira differs because she wants to live in the United States as an expatriate.

            I have different views on what the sisters are going through. I personally feel like Mira needs to start adapting to the American culture because even though you are from another culture she should at least change her lifestyle a little more towards the American side. I think Bharati is trying more to live the American life and I think it’s good to at least try to fit in with the people you live around.

            Another way I feel about Mira is that if she really wanted to be Indian as much as she is she should have just stayed in the United States for her work or school for a short period of time, then she should have gone back. Don’t get me wrong I am Colombian and I would never let my culture die out within me even if I am here, but I am not here just to live as a resident; I want to live here as a citizen because just as this country has given me many opportunities, I feel like the least I can do is become part of the country and be proud of it. Obviously Mira does not appreciate the opportunities that this country has offered her because all she thinks is that this country has betrayed her.

            I just think Mira should start looking on the bright side and stop thinking about all the bad things she sees about this country. She should appreciate what has been offered to her and be happy about it instead of complaining all the time.

when greed gives way to giving

            In the story when greed gives way to giving by Ana Veciana-Suarez it talks about a generous man. A man who after selling his road building company for $422 million, gave a portion of his money to his 550 workers. They basically became millionaires with the money he gave away. The author states how it defies all the stereo-types of American people. Better yet it teaches us something priceless which its generosity which many of us lack in today’s world.

            Overall I think what the man did was something very un-expected. I agree with the Author when she states that we can learn something from it, because now in days all we think about is ourselves when we should be giving instead of taking all the time. It blows my mind how this man just gave part of the fortune he worked so hard to build to people he was not even related with. If we had more people follow the example this man demonstrated, the world would definitely be a better place.

            I also agree when the author said that it was rare to see generosity in today’s society. It does not necessarily mean that people just do not want to give; it’s just because many of us cant. It’s hard enough going through a crises while maintaining one’s self; just imagine the people who have to care for others as well. I think that the ones who have and don’t give are a little are very greedy because just imagine if you traded places with some of the people that need your help.

            If I was in that man’s shoes I probably would have taken a similar action. I probably would have donated about 100 million to an organization that helps people out in bad moments. Or a hospital that helps people that need care but can’t afford it. It’s always good to give to people when you have plenty. It can be a way of thanking god for the good he has brought to you and your family.

            I think that this story can be used for more than just entertainment and school purposes; it can be taken as a life lesson that many of us should fallow.

           

           

           

A Risk Free Life

In the story A risk Free life by Leonard Pitts, he describes a case of a woman who’s family is diseased with Alzheimer’s disease and she wants to have a baby. The problem is the baby has a possibility of getting the disease too. So the woman got her baby’s genes screened before she was born for the disease so her baby would not get it. The author then debates that even though he might have taken the same action in the woman’s place, he would still think it is wrong for moral reasons. He thinks that babies should not be like a fast food restaurant and you should not be able to pick him like a meal with whatever you want. Overall the author seems like he has mixed feelings and contradicts himself on the subject.

            The way that I look at this situation is that I agree and disagree with some of the things the author wrote in his story. First of all I agree with him saying that you should not be able to choose every characteristic we want in our children. It simply is foolish and we as a society should recognize that it is morally wrong. The baby should be special to you because it is your blood and your partner’s blood and it should have the qualities of both pairs. Not try to make the baby look completely different to what nature planned for him or her.

            But at the same time I do feel like if we can avoid something such as a disease before the baby is born, we should screen the genes and try to change what is wrong. Personally I would do it. Even though yes, we may face others problems in life like other diseases besides the one we cured at birth, at least we are not guaranteed to be born with the one we have eliminated.

            Changing our baby’s genes at birth may be wrong and go against many things like religion, government, or the way of life for some people. But even acknowledging all this under few circumstances I do approve in the screening of genes and fixing what is wrong if we could.

           

GOOD GRAMMER GETS THE GIRL

In Good Grammar Gets the Girl by Elissa Englund, it talks about how guys should be more aware of the way they spell when they try to talk to a girl online. She had a personal experience on a dating site; of a guy Craig who tried to talk to her, but spelled miserably. She deleted him right away because she felt like that was not attractive at all. Englund goes on giving examples to help someone improve their writing. Concluding that a man should take spelling precautions like combing your hair, and brushing your teeth before dating. “The extra effort shows, and the ladies will notice.”

I agree and at the same time disagree to what Englund said throughout her story, based on different situations. I disagree because I think that what Englund says does not apply to all the men. Now in days even the women are writing in ways which does not spell a word correctly. For example:  “you” is now spelled just with an actual “u” when texting many times. It’s not about spelling the word correctly but actually just getting you point across; even if you have to take shortcuts. But at the same time I agree with her because maybe more grown couples, from ages twenty-six and older, may actually take spelling into consideration. Possibly ignoring you totally if you write a message full of errors.

Overall I think either way you do get judged depending to what age group you are talking to. If you are a younger person talking to your friend through text then I may assume it is okay to use letters such as “U” and “R” to replace you and are. But if you’re online looking for your soul mate on a dating site I do suggest you make sure everything is correct. It is just a fact, people judge us for our writing; especially in dating sites, where the first thing that you can actually judge a person on is his or her writing

Only Daughter by Sandra Cisneros

In The story Only Daughter by Sandra Cisneros, she writes about her personal life as she grew up in a hard working Mexican family. She expressed her feelings in the situation about her father; and how she always felt like her father was not proud of her. Every time he would talk about his family, he would mention that he had seven sons; when in reality he had six sons and one daughter. Cisneros had gone to college to become an English writer, but her dad was expecting her to go to college for a different reason, to find her soul mate to marry. At the end of her story she explains how her father finally took interest in a story that she had written, and for the first time in her life she had made him proud.

Reading this story made me feel very sad for Cisneros. She worked very hard in college to be where she was at, and her father never really had taken interest in her career. She wanted to go to college to make him proud, but all he cared about was that she needed to find a husband. It was like that was all she was born to be in her father’s eyes, just a “Wife”; that only his sons could actually be someone important in life.

            I think that wanting to make her father proud also helped Cisneros be where she is today. She wanted to become someone important and successful, not just a wife. Growing up in her six brother’s shadows made her want to stand out and push herself harder than all of them. This disadvantage was very sad for her growing up life experience, but at the same time I feel like it brought the best out of her.

            At the end of the Cisneros’s story I felt very happy for her. It was like she had gotten her reward for all her years of hard work. She had finally made her father proud like she had really wanted for the first time.

            Overall I think her hard work should have been enough to make her father extremely proud. Even before when she was in college she deserved her father’s support in her decision to become an English writer. Not the support to go to college to find her a husband. I personally felt her father’s thoughts were extremely ridiculous; and she is a very strong minded woman that should serve as a role model for many girls who grow up in her same situation.

           

A Brother's Murder

In A Brother’s  Murder by Brent Staples the story talks about the struggle of life in the ghetto, and how it affected his and his brother. His brother Blake died living under terrible circumstances. Staples explained the gruesome events that occurred and he witnessed as a young boy. But staples successfully fled from the bad situation he lived in, just right after graduating his college career, and becoming successful journalist.  His brother stayed ,and staples tried many times to save his brother by explaining that death surrounded him and he could be murdered at any time, telling him he needed to get out. Blake never took staple’s advice, eventually it was too late and Blake got shot to death.

I felt like Brent Staples could have tried way harder to get his brother Blake out of the dangerous streets he lived in. Blake was addicted to the life-style, but like any addiction, it can be stopped with support and help that his love ones needed to dedicate. It seems to me like Staples tried to tell his brother to get out, but never gave him any other kind of support besides words. He could have helped Blake with school, or even with just helping him have home where he did not have to worry about death or any other dangerous consequences.

At the end of the story Staples talks about these dreams that he has been having. How for weeks he awoke crying from a “Recurrent Dream” in which he chases Blake. Staples in the dream is trying to reach him so that he can read a document he has. A document he felt would protect Blake from any harm.  In the story it does not explain what the document says, but by the looks of it probably was something that Staples wanted to say to Blake. Something that Staples wanted let Blake know, but never got the chance to ever say. Perhaps even something that would have changed the outcome of Blake’s life.

Blake’s death could have been prevented, He just needed help. He could not possibly have gotten out from the hell he lived in by himself. He needed someone to be there for him, someone that cared enough to give it their all to save his life. Unfortunately that someone never really came around. Even now in 2011 many people are living the same horror Blake lived before. These unfortunate people just need a sign of hope, something that motivates them to change their lifestyle and take control of their lives.

Dear Dads: Save Your Sons

In Dear Dads: Save Your Sons by Christopher N. Bacorn, it described how boys need their fathers to help them through life. How lonely mothers are struggling in raising their sons; because the child has no father he can look up to for the right guidance. They get into gangs that take them in, and eventually they end up in jail.The Author also states that if a boy had a father in the family, some families might even save themselves from sinking below poverty. Also their sons would have a greater chance of avoiding trouble. The Author feels anger for the fathers of many young man who are cowards, that are never there for their son that need them.
I Agree with a lot of the things that the Author said throughout the story. Personally i feel like young males do need that role model, which should be their fathers to help them while they go through different stages of life. To give them the advice to make them a better person; and to give them the love and care they so desire. If not, the child will look for someone or something to take place of that need and eventually make a wrong choice like joining a gang.
I can relate to many of the young boys who don't have a father that is there to support them. When i came to this country it was just me and my mother. I felt like there was no one there to be my dad and guide me in many situations, that my mom could not help me in. It was hard to play soccer to my full potential, seeing all my teammate's fathers cheering them on, while i had no one. Eventually my mother married my step-father who has been there for me many times when i have needed him. Ever since he has been in my life, i feel like i have someone to rely on, someone that supports me, and gives me confidence.
To sum it all up i think that a son does need his father. For some, not having a father may determine their quality of life; and for others even something as extreme as life or death. Lets face it, a mother may raise a child, and provide for what he needs. But it is not enough for a young man growing up. What he really wants and needs is a father who is there for them.

The flip Side of Internet Fame

The Flip Side of Internet Fame by JESSICA BENNETT was an interesting little article. It talked about how the Internet is just not a place where people interact and post things like videos, pictures, comments etc. that everyone enjoys. But it is a place where people get humiliated and are known world wide because of their humiliation. Some are humiliated because of videos others pictures and others are humiliated simply just because someone writes something about the tormented person and everyone believes it. The author describes many examples one being the "Star Wars Kid" about a chubby Canadian boy who filmed himself acting out a fight scene from "Star Wars". But it wasn't meant to be funny and another student found the tape and posted it all over the Internet. The video became a "viral Frenzy" and he was humiliated. Basically anyone with a grudge can humiliate someone on the Internet and that is not right and many think it should not be legal at all. But the law cant do anything about it unless the victim shows that his or her prosecutor intends malice. It is hard to to blame someone as well because in order to sew someone you need them to go to court. Just think it would be hard to find the person who posted something about you that had an anonymous IP address. this is because many people share these addresses and also many websites hide individual addresses so who do you point the finger at if there is no evidence. Many of the humiliated victim's have tried to fight back through the government courts but basically all have failed because there is lack of jurisdiction.

I enjoyed the article very much. I really didn't recognize this Internet problem or took it into consideration only after i read this article. I believe no one should be humiliated in any way shape or form. What other individuals do as something fun i see as something that should have its consequences because the victim's life can suffer a great amount of damage due to the action the tormentor took. No one deserves to have something he or she does not want about them on the Internet

In my personal view i think that the prosecutor should have consequences for the actions he or she makes for humiliating someone on the Internet. i think its wrong and if it happened to them they probably would not like it either.

Hunger

This story was very interesting overall. It made me think about the past of when i first had come from Colombia and how different i felt everything when i got to this country. i had never seen streets and communities like the ones here. In a way i can relate to the way the young Latino students felt in the story. The story explained how there was going to be a great cultural Latino day at a school. All the students were very excited and made cultural posters, had cultural items, and also made cultural foods. There was also a story teller and a musician who's name was Nate. they had come to this event to share stories with the students and teach them many things. One being a little of his own culture and another lesson he was trying to teach was for the students to feel proud of their backgrounds and their heritage. As a young child its hard to feel normal around people that you are not accustomed to. The same feeling that the young children and the young adults experienced in the story i also felt when i was a child. all that one tries to do is blend in with society and feel like every other student. We feel like our culture is going to make us stand out and its not necessarily a bad thing but we feel like it might be when we are young. At the end of the story it explained how the students felt happy to share their culture and be proud of who they are. In my opinion cultural days like the one they had in the school are very helpful because they help us to learn about ourselves and be happy for who we are. It was a day like this in my second grade class that made me understand that to live in this country happily i didn't have to be like the other American students. i didn't have to hide the fact that i was Colombian because it didn't make me feel less of a person. its situations like the one in the book that makes us recognize who we really are and helps us understand that being different is not bad at all and if it has to do with your Latino culture or anything that relates you should be proud of it.