The person I'm most thankful for in this class is...

Mr. McCarthy of course. He's the guy that controls my grade, the amount of homework I get, AND what I learn about american literature. He's the best teacher I know on top of that. Why of course. I am definitely most thankful for Mr. McCarthy. Haha. But all jokes aside, truthfully, he's one cool teacher. For example, one thing I will never forget once I leave his class is what he says every time anyone calls on him. They'll say "Mr. McCarthy?" and he'll say, 'I am' with this really deep English voice. Haha good times.
And a few other people I love having in my class is... Brittany Simone Morris and Lauren Jeon. They are both crazy but funny and let me know what's going on when I space out occasionally. And who could ever forget the prestigious Gordon Bentley haha. One funny dude. If he wasn't there I wouldn't have anyone to talk about or look at with "why are u so stupid face" haha.

I am a Plow.....HUH???

Soooooo...once again here's Mr. McCarthy picking some random qoute out of thin air and wanting me to decipher it. Grrrrr!!! And here he is once again stretching my imagination, becasue at first I didnt know what to say to this. Its a statement. Not a controversial opinionated phrase, but a statement. So here's me trying my best to make this quote mean something to me. The definition of a plow is an agricultural implement used for cutting, lifting, turning over, and partly pulverizing soil and sometimes it is used as a verb and it means to tear up, cut into, or make a furrow or groove. Generally, this word refers to the changing or the altering of something. 
When I substitute this into the phrase given, it makes me think of how I am able to change the opinions, minds, and the condition of the world around me. I am young and learning new things everyday which in turn stretches my mind and molds me into a person of few boundaries. For example, only after one year and a quater at Whitney Young I look at particular ethnicities in a completely different light. I am also exposed to all types of people under the Sun. And I can influence their opinions of my culture. Another way I am a "plow" is because I have the determination of no other and no one can put a limit on what I am capable of. I have a voice that no one can muffle or take away. The sky is NOT the limit. I am in the prime stage of my life i think, becuase I am still under the protection of my parents yet I still have responsibilities and I am dependent on myself to handle schoolwork and make thoughful decisions. It's like the best of both worlds. 
I can make changes within myself and influence the decisions, ideas, and perception of  my peers and youger people close to me. I am... powerful beyond imagination.The real question is will I take advantage of my potential and use this gift? 
   

Mr. McCarthy

Soooooooo.... Im definitely liking this class so far. We have enough assignments for it not to be a slack of class but few enough assignments to keep it chill and the mood of the class relaxed. At first I didnt like the blogs because I thought it was just another thing to add to my homework but its actually pretty cool to express my opinion on the web and anyone ewith access to the internet can read it. Its a quick and easy way to get my point across :). And the people I sit by make the class that much better. (Lauren, Emmitt, Brittany, Porsha.....and last and definitely least Gordon Bentley, I love these guys). But on the downside we've only read one book that has kept me remotely interested, The Crucible. And that was just okay. I think we should just start watching the movie in class and taking notes on that. I think I would retain the details a lot more, because I'm a visual person.

Is slavery completey dead???

Sooooooo.... My opinion is that slavery has not be completely abolished everywhere in the world. It's really sad after all this time that we still haven't learned our lesson to treat others how we want to be treated. No one wants to be enslaved and no one has the right to enslave anyone else. No matter how superior people think they are over other people, nothing gives them the right to demean and strip the rights of any human being. Even though special documents like the Declaration of Independence don't exist in all countries and it only protects the rights of Americans,I think every place in the world should have a document that promises every human being apart at least this one unalienable right: FREEDOM! Slavery I know is still alive because there's always going to be a group of people that feel superior over another. This is the reason slavery will never die, because people will never see all other people equal to themselves. I think in many impoverished countries and places where the government has much control over their citizens' lives is where slavery continues. The citizens are unable to organize and rise up against "The Man" (whoever the higher authority may be). Or the citizens just don't know how to escape this confinement.

Insight and Questioning into The Puritans, Salem, and The House of the Seven Gables!

                    Sooooooooo......today I have the responsibility of commenting on three different topics and Ill try my best to make sure it flows. So, here goes. I would like to first recognize the Puritans. I've learned a lot about them in class and about their lifestyle, but after more research it got me thinking about the logic of their reasoning behind all of it. I already knew that they lived a very strict lifestyle and they could not waver from it in any way. But they also believed that God had a pre-destined place for everyone to go, as in Heaven or Hell. So why would people just not live 'normal' lives, and just do the stuff that they wanted to do because no matter what they only had one, definite resting place. And as in normal I mean commit sins like all other people and allow themselves to make mistakes because no matter what their eternal resting place had already been decided.
                    On to the next subject, Salem. The one and only Salem, Massachusetts. The place Salem itself is only interesting to me for two reasons, the Salem Witch Trials and the House of Seven Gables book but there are other little, imposrtant tidbits about it that are good to know. The city actually was started by a group of fishermen. Back then it was a very important shipping and trading place because of its close location to the water. And this made the town very rich and increased its size. 
                   
  

The times when I know I cant be anything BUT American

Soooooo... I cant choose one day when I realized that I was American. That day was either far too long ago or maybe it just wasn't memorable, but for now I'll just tell you about the times when I just know the things I do, say, or think are American. For example, when I'm riding in the car with my parents and we drive past any fast food chain or just a fast food place, I always see the lines packed with people. The drive- thru and the insides of the restaurant are full. no other place likes fast food like Americans. We love our fast food because its quick, easy, and most importantly CONVENIENT. Us Americans like everything that's convenient and veer towards that more than anything else. Part of the American way is having convenience in your life because our lives are very fast- paced and the quicker we can get something the better. Also Other instances when I know I'm American is when I find myself looking at the late- night infomercial that come on TV. They are always trying to sell you something that makes life more "convenient" and that will make life "easier". They try to sell you all types of things just to make that fast buck. And you cant forget their famous slogans at the end: "Buy now or they'll all be gone"  or "Call right now". They always try to get their product to sell quickly to make the fast buck. These are the few times when I know I'm American because they directly exhibit our fast paced life and one of our top priorities, convenience. 

Conflict and the consequences of NO resolution

               Conflict...bickering...disagreement with no resoltion in sight= DEATH! Now if you ask me this chain of events makes no sense and is completely irrational. Just because a disagreement cannot be settled means that someone has to lose their life? What kind of mindset is that!!! This kind of thinking makes no sense and I fear anyone that thinks this mentality to be right or just.
               This kind of thinking, in certain situations,  is an utter contradicton of the Constitution that our country was built on. For example, The principle of freedom of speech is not just exclusive to one group of people but is given to all people upon citizenship. Peolpe are allowed to say anything they feel and to express their opinion. Undoubtedly, people are going to disagree at times, but life goes on. People get into conflicts over their ideas at school, on the job, and in homes, but no idea is so strong that someone should lose their life. There will always be someone on the other side of the fence of you. No act of murder is justified in the sense of differing opinions no matter what subject is being argued.
              People should also never be persecuted or treated unfairly for having different and unique ideas. If people are in conflict, they dont have to take it to the next level of actually abusing or hurting the person physically. The best way to deal with conflict is to respect the other person's position and moreover to put yourself in their positions. I these two steps are followed a lot less conflicts would end in tragedy.