No Equality

On a website called http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=S44-4241-0-7089&artno=0000308284&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=Bullying&title=For%20Gay%20Youths%2C%20Middle%20School%20Can%20Be%20Toughest%20Time&res=Y&ren=N&gov=N&lnk=N&ic=N I found out that gays' and lesbians' are still treated differently than others. I feel that gay people are no different than any of us. They should be treated the same beacause the question is:
 'What is so wrong with gay people that they have to be treated so differently?'
There is no flaw with being gay. In this atricle it said that the girl was so aware of her differences, that she cut herself, and didn't even tell her family. That's sad because that means that everyone is just judgemental. That doesn't make sense that gay people are treated like that because some people may only be treating them different because they are trying to hide their differences and flaws, so when they make fun of people it might make them feel better about themselves.So this article explain alot, and I feel like it is sad that that person actually had to go through that for about 6 years.

No Words to Explain It

I found this article on a website called http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-article-display?id=S44-4241-0-5246&artno=0000308066&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=Animal%20welfare&title=One%20Animal%20Laboratory%20Closed%2C%201%2C100%20to%20Go&res=Y&ren=N&gov=N&lnk=N&ic=N

This is so sad. I feel that those people shouldn’t even be allowed to ever se daylight again, meaning that they should die inside of their jail cell. How could they do that to animals, knowing that the animals can’t really defend themselves, or get away from those horrible, sinister, and cold people. Experimenting, and abusing animals, is SICK!!! I wonder what goes through their heads when they are doing that to those poor animals. The fact that they pick up the dogs by their ears and throw them at the wall is ridiculous, and also the fact that they repeatedly throw the cats back into their cages, knowing that the cats can’t do anything, or that they could break a bone. And all of this misery just to test tick and flea products on dogs and cats. WHAT IS THIS?? Why couldn’t they just build a model dog and cat, and then put live fleas and ticks on it, and if the products works, then they could start selling them. But, instead the doctors have to be (fill in the blank), and make the animals suffer. Some people are so stupid and cruel that it doesn’t even make any sense to the world. People forget that animals can’t do anything to fight back, making them defenseless. Animals don’t deserve that and people forget that since animals are animals, some are not able to defend themselves. I just want to go down there and make those doctors suffer the way they made those animals suffer!!!!!!!!! It’s wrong experimenting and abusing animals no matter what the purpose is, and everyone should know that. So I have just one question left: If you were the animal band you felt the pain that they were going through, that you were causing them, what would you do?

Social Awareness: Social Problems and Issues in Music

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Eminem]
I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now it's a steel knife in my windpipe
I can't breathe but I still fight while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right it's like I'm in flight
High off of love, drunk from my hate,
It's like I'm huffing pain and I love it the more I suffer, I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me
She fucking hates me and I love it.
Wait! Where you going?
"I'm leaving you"
No you ain't. Come back we're running right back.
Here we go again
It's so insane cause when it's going good, it's going great
I'm Superman with the wind at his back, she's Lois Lane
But when it's bad it's awful, I feel so ashamed I snapped
Who's that dude? I don't even know his name
I laid hands on her, I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

[Chorus - Rihanna:]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Eminem]
You ever love somebody so much you can barely breathe
When you're with 'em
You meet and neither one of you even know what hit 'em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah, them chills you used to get 'em
Now you're getting fucking sick of looking at 'em
You swore you'd never hit 'em; never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face spewing venom in your words when you spit them
You push pull each other's hair, scratch claw hit 'em
Throw 'em down pin 'em
So lost in the moments when you're in them
It's the rage that took over it controls you both
So they say you're best to go your separate ways
Guess if they don't know you 'cause today that was yesterday
Yesterday is over, it's a different day
Sound like broken records playing over but you promised her
Next time you show restraint
You don't get another chance
Life is no Nintendo game
But you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave out the window
Guess that's why they call it window pane

[Chorus - Rihanna:]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

[Eminem]
Now I know we said things, did things that we didn't mean
And we fall back into the same patterns, same routine
But your temper's just as bad as mine is
You're the same as me
But when it comes to love you're just as blinded
Baby, please come back
It wasn't you, baby it was me
Maybe our relationship isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens when a tornado meets a volcano
All I know is I love you too much to walk away though
Come inside, pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity in my voice when I talk
I told you this is my fault
Look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm pissed, I'll aim my fist at the drywall
Next time. There won't be no next time
I apologize even though I know its lies
I'm tired of the games I just want her back
I know I'm a liar
If she ever tries to fucking leave again
Im'a tie her to the bed and set this house on fire
I'm just gonna

[Chorus - Rihanna:]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
        Eminem is a great rapper and artist, and has really good music, but this song has many examples of Social Awareness Issues. For example, he says ‘lie’ in this song a lot. This song in circulating around a relationship and how it’s tearing apart mainly because they are having problems in their relationship. The man in the relationship keeps on lying, while the woman feels trapped (sort of) and goes and flirts with other men. This is a Social Awareness Issue because many relationships are tearing apart because of this stuff and it’s really sad that it happens.

Social Awareness: Social Problems and Issues in Your Books

           A Social Awareness Issue that I found in the book FADE by Lisa McMann was an issue that included drugs. In this book, a girl named Janie who is a dream catcher, and a narc (undercover student cop), goes on a case that includes a sexual predator. It turns out to be worse because there are three of them. These people happened to be her Chemistry 2. teacher, Mr. Durbin, her Psychology teacher, Mr. Wang, and her PE teacher, Coach Crater. She ends up at a party with all of her other classmates at Mr. Durbin’s house, where he put a drug called GHB inside of the food and drinks that he was serving. On a website (http://www.k-state.edu/media/webzine/Didyouhearyes/GHBfacts.html), I found out that the drug GHB is for the victims to lose consciousness, without ever remembering what happened after they have ingested the drug. During the party, those three teachers interacted with the students who ingested the drug, and the teachers have ingested the drug themselves. Sadly in the book, a girl was raped by one of the teachers (Mr. Wang), and when Janie (though she had ingested the drug, and couldn’t remember a thing) called for back-up, all of the students were taken out of the house to be checked at the hospital, when

Mr. Durbin was found in his bed with three other female students. At the end of the case, each of these teachers went to jail.

            This is a Social Awareness Issue because drugs are bad, and it is even worse that a sexual predator would seduce teenagers into going to their house, and tricking them, for their own fantasies, and desires. I find this to be very sad that someone would do this to a person and it is sick. I find it to be something that only someone with an evil, twisted, and sick mind would do something like that.

Social Awareness Media and News Immersion

Social Awareness: Media and News # 1:         

          On Friday October 22^nd 2010, Lindsay Lohan is once again on drugs. She was tested and her results came back positive. At the Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Elden S. Fox decided that she will be sent to jail after she was positive for cocaine. It was her 5th appearance since May. She was sent to jail a month ago but, another Judge took her out on her 300,000 dollar bail, and volunteered to check herself into rehab 3 days later. She tweeted on Twitter:
"Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn't go away over night," she tweeted. "I am working hard to overcome it and am taking positive steps."
(Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/10/22/2010-10-22_lindsay_lohan_due_in_court_judge_to_decide_if_she_goes_to_rehab_or_jail_.html#ixzz13IMNKZdc)

            Also on Friday October 22^nd, at the Beverly Hills Courthouse, Judge Elden S. Fox decided that Lindsay Lohan would be spending her New Years in Betty Ford Center, a rehab center until January 3rd.
He said this to Lindsay:
"You are an addict," the judge told Lohan. "I hope you understand that."
(Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/10/22/2010-10-22_lindsay_lohan_in_court.html#ixzz13IP6AJAL)

           This is a Social Awareness problem because drugs are terrible. They can destroy a person both inside and out. They harm you physically and mentally. When someone on drugs they may not take care of themselves physically, have poor hygiene, and their health will go bad. Most drug addicts have legal problems, and may suffer from depression.



Social Awareness: Media and News # 2:
           
            On Saturday October 23^rd, 2010 in a local Manhattan diner (Good Stuff Diner), there was a shooting. A man named Corey Scott, who was 28 passed away during the shooting. This shooting was around 4:45 a.m., and happened because of an argument. A worker from 7-Eleven state this:

Raj Gobal was working at the 7-Eleven next door when the early morning calm was shattered by the shots. "A woman ran in screaming, 'I need the phone, someone's been shot!'" said Gobal, 42. "I saw people run out and there was panic outside."

(Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/10/23/2010-10-23_shootout_at_manhattan_diner_leaves_one_man_dead_as_argument_between_two_groups_g.html#ixzz13aorHxu5)


            This is a Social Awareness issue because it is sad that sometimes that some people pass because of another person’s actions. It is also sad because of the fact that some people are dangerous, or don’t want to be messed with, and soon violence comes imbetween one person and another. I feel that violence is a Social Awareness issue because it is not the way to deal with problems, and with problems there are always consequences.


Social Awareness: Media and News # 3:         

            On Sunday October 24^th, in New Hampshire, on of it’s biggest newspapers rejected a gay marriage. This makes no sense because New Hampshire is one of the 5 states in the United States that recognize gay marriage. The publisher told the press that the paper is not anti-gay, but that marriage should be reserved for a man and a woman.
It is also said that the Union Leader has opposed the states legalization of gay marriage.

            This is a Social Awareness issue because the Union Leader is not showing equality. It is not right the way some people are treated, just because of their sexuality.

Everyone should be treated equal and it is wrong that he opposes gay marriage, especially when he lives and supports a state that approves of it.

Social Awareness: Media and News # 4:

            On Monday October 25^th, 2010, a man states the he was dragged through the streets of SoHo, for asking a cab driver if he could take him to Brooklyn. This man was Jerrell Horton. He claims that he was entering the cab when he said to the driver ‘Take me to Brooklyn.’

      
"I was getting in when he hit the gas and my jacket got caught in the door," he said yesterday. "I was screaming at him to stop, but he would not stop. I struggled and struggled until I finally pulled free."

He also stated that he was dragged for at least a block, before he finally broke free form the cab. He got scrapes, and bruises on his forehead, the back of his head, and his knee.
Jerrell Horton felt that this is racial profiling, since he is a black man.

 “This is racial profiling and it's sickening. It's ridiculous trying to find a cab that will take you where you want to go if you're a black man."

 (Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/25/2010-10-25_man_says_cab_dragged_him_through_streets_for_asking_to_go_to_brooklyn_in_racial_.html#ixzz13Pdb1lRO)

            This is a Social Awareness issue because this is racial discrimination. We are all equal people, and no one deserves to be treated any different, from any one else. Everyone should be treated equally and live in peace, not having to worry about someone else, which doesn’t like them, or even wants to hurt them. It isn’t right how some people are treated and everyone should treat other people the way they would want to be treated.

Social Awareness: Media News # 5:

            On Tuesday October 26^th, 2010, a woman was stomped on the head. This woman was 23 year old Lauren Valle. She came from a tea party, when some men chased her.

"They tried to grab me and chased me around Rand Paul's car," she said of the politician's supporters. "And once I'm in front of the car, they take me down…I remembered someone stomping my head in the ground."

            While this man was stomping on her head, she was being recorded. On the video, it showed that she tripped, after someone snatched a blonde wig off of her head. Then she was forced to the curb by a man, and after she was placed with her face down on the concrete, another man stomped on her head and shoulder. She placed both of her hands to cover her head. Later she was taken to the hospital, where the doctors told her suffered concussion.

"I think I saved myself from further injury," she said.

(Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/10/26/2010-10-26_lauren_valle_head_stomping_victim_i_saved_myself_from_rand_pauls_tea_party_suppo.html#ixzz13VDgMbR2)

            This is a Social Awareness issue because it is an act of violence. It shows that some people feel that it is alright to hurt someone because of their mood, or even because they do not like that person. It is not right that the men did that to her mainly because it was un-called for.

An Appreciation For Stuart Little by E.B. White

        Stuart Little has been around for decades and loved by reader's all around the world. I found out on a website (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Little) that this book actually started out as a dream. While he was sleeping in a railway car, E.B. White dreamt of a tiny boy who was much like Stuart Little. As he thought about this dream, it continued to develope, soon becoming the book Stuart Little.
         I feel that this book revolves around love, because Stuart's and Margalo's relationship. For example, when Stuart was hiding from a dog inside of a trashcan and under a grove of celery, he actually ended up being dumped and was buried in trash. Margalo saw the incident and felt that Stuart might have needed help. 
   " 'Margalo!' cried Stuart. 'How did you get here?'
     'Well,' said the bird, 'Iwas looking out the window this morning when you left home and I happened to see you get dumped into a garbage truck, so I flew out thw window and followed the truck, thinking you might need help.'
    'I've never been so glad to see anybody in all my life,' said Stuart. 'But how are you going to help me?'
    'I think that if you'll hang onto my feet,' said Mrgalo, 'I can fly ashore with oyu. It's worth trying 
anyway. ...' " pg 61-62
It turned out that her conscience was right, Stuart did need help. Margalo ended up saving Stuart's life.
        This book also shows devotion. Stuart fell in love with Margalo, and loved her so much that he ended up deticating his life to finding her. He shows this on pg. 104 when he says:
   "The highways and byways are where you'll find me, always looking for Margalo."
This is so sweet because it shows that Stuart doesn't care if he had to give up the world, just to see Margalo once again.
       This love and devotion actually reminds me about my family. It shows that nothing can come imbetween anyone, and that's what family is about. You can always count on someone to be there and care about you. It shows that you can always have someone with you, and enjoy lifeand be happy with. This book shows the true meaning of love and family, and that's why I appreciate it.

        

        I feel that the poem Mother to Son by Langston Hughes is very touching. Alot of people, or almost everyone would be able to relate to this poem, because not everyone's life is either perfect or close to perfect. This poem tells how a mother is telling her son not to give up, but to keep on going and working towards his dream. To live a better life.

       In this poem, the mother is explaining to her son that she didn't give up, so he shouldn't give up. If you give up in life, then you won't move forward, or take the next step, or you won't get anywhere. But, if you keep on going, and don't quit, then you will get to better places. Also, in the line:
"Don't you fall now--
For I'se still goin, honey, "
I wrote a note saying that the mother is trying to tell her son that he won't be able to get back on the track he was on before. That he will always be a step behind.

       Lastly, in this stanza:
"But all the time
I'se been a climbin' on,
And reachin' landins',
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark,
Where there ain't been no light"
I wrote that she is trying to tell her son that when you go on in life, you can make it to new places. Places where you haven't been before and experience new things. Alot can be accomplished in life if you just keep moving forward. That's what I appreciate and have learned from this poem, Mother to Son.

An Appreciation For Stuart Little by E.B. White

          Stuart Little has been around for decades and loved by reader's all around the world. This book actually started out as a dream. While he was sleeping in a railway car, E.B. White dreamt of a tiny boy who was much like Stuart Little. As he thought about this dream, it continued to develope, soon becoming the book Stuart Little.
         I feel that this book revolves around love, because Stuart's and Margalo's relationship. For example, when Stuart was hiding from a dog inside of a trashcan and under a leaf of lettuce, he actually ended up being dumped and was buried in trash. Margalo saw the incident and felt that Stuart might have needed help. It turned out that her conscience was right, Stuart did need help. Margalo ended up saving Stuart's life.
        This book also shows devotion. Stuart fell in love with Margalo, and loved her so much that he ended up deticating his life to finding her. He shows this on pg. 104 when he says:
   "The highways and byways are where you'll find me, always looking for Margalo."
This is so sweet because it shows that Stuart doesn't care if he had to give up the world, just to see Margalo once again.
       This love and devotion actually reminds me about my family. It shows that nothing can come imbetween anyone, and that's what family is about. You can always count on someone to be there and care about you. It shows that you can always have someone with you, and enjoy life with. To be happy with.
       Lastly, I found out that E.B. White made Margalo to resemble his wife. Margalo has all of her characteristics of being helpful, sensitive, curious, joyful, and independent. This book shows alot of meaningful content and that's what I appreciate about Stuart Little.

How Was Stuart Little First Created?

       The author of the book Stuart Litle, E.B. White shows his creative imagination in his books. He lets it take control of his stories. In his stories, he includes interesting and wonderous topics about things that can't possibly be real in our world. But, his his stories he teaches lessons, and shows loyalty, intelligence, freindship, and love, and how none of those things can be too powerful for anything.

       For the book Stuart Litle, on the website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Little, E.B. White explains that one night when he was sleeping in a railway car, he dreamt about a tiny boy much like Stuart. As he thought about this dream, Stuart Little continued to grow in his mind. This is very interesting because all of our dreams help us in a way to tell a message, or in any other way, they will also always help to let someone's imagination grow and wonder.

      For Stuart to be normal (or to be treated normally) by his family, Mr. and Mrs.Little decided not to use the m-word around him (mouse) so that he didn't feel out of place. Many were surpised that Mrs.Little's new son was very mouse like, so in the movie, Stuart is said to be adopted, rather than being born by Mrs.Little. An interesting fact about Stuart Litlle was that when it was published, many people that were actually named Stuart Little actually sent E.B. White letters saying how they were amused. But, one was furious and said that he would make a book called E.B. White! (http://www.factmonster.com/spot/stuartlittle1.html)

Stuart Little Goes Back In Time

           Stuart Little is a book that tells a wonderful story of the most adventurous mouse, Stuart Little. This mouse is riskful and intelligent, yet has an accent. He says somethings that people rarely even say no a days. The things that he say substitute another word for him. Here are some examples of these words:

Nix- mainly a word for no, or nothing at all; or a word used to warn someone.
" 'Nix on swiping anything,' suggested John Poldowski, solemnly." pg. 93

Nip- to compress (pinch, or bit) tightly between two surfaces; snatch away or steal
" 'How about a nip of brandy?' said Stuart. 'I'm chilled to the bone.' " pg. 49

Byway- a private side road
" 'The highways an byways are where you'll find me, always looking for Margalo.' " pg. 104

Thwarts- a seat across a boat esp. one used by a rower
"Taking a piece of thread from his pocket, he lashed the paddles to the thwarts, swung the canoe lightly up on his head, and walked off with it as calmly as though he were a Canadian guide." pg. 112

Swindled- to cheat (a person, business, etc.) out of money or other assets
" 'Darn it!' said Stuart, 'I've been swindled.' " pg. 113

Sulk- to remain silent or hold oneself about in a sullen, ill-humored, or offended mood
"... 'I don't see why you have to sit here and sulk.' " pg.123

          This book is very old-fashioned, but shows courage, adventure, risk, and love from this mouse, Stuart Little. It shows that out of the littlest things, there can be great outcomes. This book goes back into time, but will always have a special place in many of it's readers hearts.

Stuart Has Fallen In Love With Margalo

“She and Stuart became fast friends, and as the days passed it seemed to Stuart that she grew more and more beautiful. He hoped she would never go away from him.” Pg. 57

If Stuart feels that way about Margalo already, then that means that when Margalo leaves, Stuart will be heartbroken. Stuart will be heartbroken because he has already grown too close to Margalo. If Margalo is everything to Stuart, and also is growing more beautiful everyday Stuart is with her, then Stuart would be miserable when Margalo were to just fly away. Here is some textual evidence on Stuart becoming heartbroken, when Margalo decides to leave:

“Stuart was heartbroken. He had no appetite, refused food, and lost weight.” Pg. 72-73

            When Margalo left, Stuart felt like his life was over. If he lost what was the world to him, then he felt that he couldn’t do a thing. He felt this way because Margalo was a treasure to him, something that he admired. And if what he admired was gone forever, then his life would be ruined. But, instead of holding a grudge on himself for the rest of his life, he went out and into the world, just to look for Margalo, the one and most precious thing to him.

Templeton

The other animals at the barn did not like Templeton because Templeton was a rat. Rat’s have many characteristics like sneaky, intimidating, dirty, and greedy, but those are not the only reasons why they did not like him. Here is a quote from the book on why the rest of the barn animals do not like him:

“The rat had no morals, no conscience, no scruples, no

consideration, no decency, no milk of rodent kindness,

no compunctions, no higher feeling, no friendliness,

anything. He would kill a gosling if he could get away

with it-the goose knew that. Everybody knew it.” (page 46)

           

            If Templeton did not have a soft heart-he would have never helped Charlotte save Wilbur’s life. This shows that Templeton actually really did care about Wilbur. It shows that he cared about Wilbur because he would have not helped Charlotte if he truly did not want to. But, Templeton might have helped Charlotte so that maybe he could make a friend, and have no enemies.

‘Besides his bad physical appearance, I think that Templeton has a soft heart.’ Page 91, 98, and 57.

I think that Templeton is a nice rat because he does things to help someone else, but it also helps him. For example, at the end of the book when Charlotte was dying and Wilbur wanted to at least save her children and Templeton helped when Wilbur promised that Templeton can eat his food first.     

            I feel that it was not fair the way the other animals in the barn treated Templeton. He was treated very rudely, and in the end, he only got two Thank You’s, which were from Wilbur and Charlotte. I think that some of the other animals should have said Thank You to Templeton too, so that he might start to feel included, not excluded. Sometimes people are treated badly or rudely because they have a bad reputation or because of bad stereotypes’, but that does not mean that they are bad people. They could be the kindest and/or nicest person that you could have ever met, but, you would have never known that because no one will give them a chance. That is exactly how the rest of the barn animals treated Templeton. Just because rats have a bad reputation of being sneaky, greedy, or just being a rat, does not mean that they can be the opposite.

It's Time to Blog

One of my favorite books of all time is The Lovely Bones. My favorite line out of the whole book is 'When was it all right to let go not only of the dead but of the living-to learn to accept?'. I like that line because it is very poetic.