The "American Dream"

In response to this article http://www.marketplace.org/, I think that the poor side is correct. In the article a "rich" man claims that he earned all his wealth. I think that it is great, but, its not always the fault of the people who are poor and live in there cars, or in the streets. Many wealthy people say that it is "there own fault for being homeless," but its not. In that same article, it talks about a lady with six kids who lives in her car. Since she thought she would be married forever she didn't work, therefore didn't make any social security points to get money after retirement. So a lady with six kids is living in her car. The "rich" don't know anything about being poor, most of the rich people today always had a roof over their head and a full stomach, so they don't truly know what these people are going through. They shouldn't speak if they don't know!

The gap between the rich and the poor happens for many reasons. When someone becomes disabled, and can not work any longer, money troubles start to kick in. First it is the late rent. then they get kicked out, forcing them to sadly live on the streets. Also many rich people are born into rich parents. "Well isn't that convenient!" Some are born into homeless parents. And some are born with a disability that prohibits them from working. Many reasons, but no answers to how it can all stop.

Who would be responsible of stopping the gap between the rich and the poor, might you ask? Well, its nobodies responsibility. Even if it was the duty of a certain group in society, they would not take care of it. Everyone is too self centered and selfish to think about anybody's problems but their own. Also if everyone was at the same economic level, there would be no hope, and most importantly no, "American Dream!"

Rich and Poor.

     What are the rich? What are the poor? Is there really an appropriate definition?

Many people say they're poor because they don't have the things they want or they say it so that people can feel bad for them...it's not right!! Say your poor when you have no food, no clean water and not even a car to live in. I think that rich people should share the wealth...like don't you have alot to go around? 

I'm not saying give the poor your life savings or something but just $5 would help! But the thing i don't like the most is people who pretend to be poor. I've heard of many stories of people dressing up like a homeless person just so they can make a few extra bucks. It's sick if you ask me. Can you seriously live with that on your conscious? I wouldn't be able to....

I honestly think that everybody should help to fill in the gap between the rich and the poor. It's sad to see what some people have to go through.....help make a difference.

Rich or Poor?

The terms rich and poor have been mentioned a lot whether it be in the news or by mouth. However no matter which category you fall in...you earned it.

Some people claim to be in bad positions due to health problems or being born into a poor family. Well believe it or not Mel Gibson, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill all suffered from bipolar disorder and they did not end up to bad, did they? Or double amputee Oscar Pistoris who competed in the Olympics despite his obvious disadvantage.

Most of the time a disorder or body defect should not keep you from following your dreams and becoming 

successful. Most people who are rich did not stop with little set backs. Think of all the fast-food restaurants you eat 

at. Once upon a time they were just ideas in somebody's head. Now the owners are millionaires! 

The gap between the rich and the poor happens because some people do not try hard enough to get what they want.

To do that you most likely need to do good in school, have a job, and be nice to people.

I don't think this gap will ever be fixed. No matter what happens there will ALWAYS be somebody who is 

poor and somebody who is rich and I do not think anybody can fix it. No politician can pass any tax or law that could

makes us equal in the amount of money we have. I am sorry, but that is the truth.

The Gap

There are many wealthy communities that have, of course the wealthy people, and the penniless people. No matter what community this is in, the gap seems to be getting bigger. But why does this gap seem to be getting immensely huge? Some say the poor are just asking for handouts and some say the rich need to give more advice to those that want to achieve a wealthy status.

Some of poor get to where they are for a reason. Like Kathleen Krantz who became homeless after divorcing in this article. “Because I was a wife and did not work, and did not build my Social Security because I thought I would be married still, I ended up with a very mere $288 in Social Security benefits.” Before the divorce, she did not work. Therefore, without her working, it was crucial to act upon her social security.

Some think that all of the prospering people are jerks and are greedy. And they say that the rich need to be more helpful towards the poor. Some of the rich receive their wealth by inheriting it through family members or others. And some of the rich become wealthy by building from the ground up. They start a small business and then they progress into what their business will be. Successful or unfortunate.

The gap between the rich and the poor is growing as we speak. However we should not be pointing fingers at each other, we only have ourselves to blame. We need to be more independent. 

Speak: Free- Writes

1.     1.  We sometimes don’t like people who are good at sports, art, or music because we don’t want to think that they are better than us. Also we sometimes wish we were as good as them, it’s pretty much jealousy. This is not fair, people should not be looked down upon because they are good at something, and they should actually be applauded. This is not going to change the fact that most people hate on the people who go above and beyond just because they don’t want to feel inferior to others. Adults are probably more jealous than kids. Adults are pretty much all about who has the best job, who owns the best house, and the best car. Adults talk bad about the people who have, or can do better than them simply because of jealousy.

2.    2.   It means that you can say and think whatever you want. You can think the weirdest things that is what free speech is. It is definitely not, oh you can think this, and this, and that, but don’t you dare think that. Sadly that is how it is now.

3.   3.    Yes, we may have the weirdest thoughts, but on the outside we might be quiet. Melinda fits this description like a glove. Even though she is depressed on the outside, people don’t really actually know all the hurt she has inside her. People just think that she’s just acting like that because Melinda is going through a “phase”. I think that people do this because they want to fit in. They think that if they show who they truly are, people won’t accept them.

4.   4.    I think she is relieved because she didn’t get invited to go with someone, and if she goes alone it’s going to be weird with her all alone and other kids in groups of friends laughing and having fun. I think she is sad for the same reason that nobody invited her to go with them. To me it’s just a part of growing up. Personally I have never gone trick or treating, so I wouldn’t know. But I think people need to suck it up and acknowledge that they are growing up.

5.   5.    People do that because they are selfish and they only think about their own needs. They also don’t worry about other people’s feelings. No, the Marathas are just using Heather for what she can bring to the table. At first the Marathas didn’t even know Heather existed, but Melinda befriended her.

6.      6. I think that, “You must walk alone to find your soul,” means that you can’t rely on what others think, you have to be you. If you think something don’t let people change it just because everyone is thinking the opposite.

7.  7.     His words should mean that in order for Melinda to be free from that night, she has to speak up. Melinda needs to tell someone what happened to her.

8.   8.    It could mean that Melina needs to let go of the secrets that are weighing her down. She needs to let go of them, like a pruning tree, she needs to chop them all off so she can have another chance at living a happy life.

Artistic Visualization

For my Artistic Visualization project I chose a picture of my club volleyball team at out latest tournament in a frame with volleyball stickers on the front because volleyball represents me. I am playing volleyball anywhere from 4-11 hours a week. I play for Pac Juniors on the 14-2s as a middle blocker. I’ve had a love for volleyball ever since third grade. It has made me laugh and it has made me cry. But no matter what happens on the court I will continue to try my hardest and love the sport.

Speak Free Write Assignment

Question #1
I think that people that don't like people who are really good at things are just jeolous. They must be jeolous because they can't do that certain thing and when they see someone else doing it perfectley it might make them mad. I don't think this is fair, but I see where this person is going with this, He might be embarrassed to ask for help or advice, or maybe he might just not like that person. Adults are also like this. Awile ago, my mother and I met this lady at a park and she and my mother just so happened to have they same hair stylists and the lady just complained about her. She told us that she's stuck up and full of herself all because she know's how to do hair. In my mind, I was saying yeah right and that she's just jeolous that she doesn't know how to do hair, my mom didn't like her either.

Questiom #2

 I think freedom of speech means that you have all the rights to say what you think is right. Like how David Petrakis stood up for his beliefs and won the battle between himself and and with his teacher Mr. Neck. Mr. Neck was saying how his son couldn't get a job as a firefighter, and that he should have because his ancestors were the first ones in the nation to come to America and all this nonsense. A student replied by saying how maybe his son didn't get the job because he was lazy or unqualified. Mr. Neck didn't want to here of it so he demanded that the discussion was closed and they were moving on to something else. David didn't agree.

Question #3
Are We Sometimes Different People On The Outside Then We Are On The Inside?Which is the true people, do you think?

I think that we are truelly different people on the inside than on the inside. That person might be embarrased
by how they really and make themselves into a whole different person to just fit in. I think that the people that live a happy life and dosn't give a hoot about what people think about them is the truer person. Like David Petrakis, he wanted to have a discussion in class and he didn't hide what he felt about how the teacher handled things. I liked David as a character because he spoke his mind, and in doing so accomplished so many things.



Question #4

When Mlindas parent first tell her that she can't go trick-Or-treating I think that if Melinda wants to do it let her. I think Melinda is both happy and sad that she can't go is because she probably dosn't want to go but she is sad that she dosn't get the oppurtunity to argue with her parents about wanting her to go. I personally think that when I leave childhood traditions behind I'll get sad. Like when the year comes for me to stop going trick-or-treating, or stuff like I might be a little depressing, because you are so used to having so much fun.


Question #5

I really don't like people that "like" us only to get something out of it. Like if people only liked me because I did their homework or bought them things, and they only act nice to me only for me to do something nice for them, then that's when you know that they aren't your true friends. I think that the Marthas' arent good friends to Heather because I think they only want her to help them with things. Like the school events and helping around the nieghborhood. I think that Heather and Melinda were good friends until the Marthas stepped into the picture.

Question #6

One of Mr. Freeman's "words of wisdom" is "Art is about making mistakes and leaning from them," this one was my favorite. I like it the most because art is about making mistakes. When you have a piece of clay you try to mold it into something, the first couple of tries you look at it and it dosn't lool like what you intended it to look, but by the 8th or 9th try it looks perfect. It's the same in life, when it knocks you down you have to pick yourself back up and find another way.


Question #7

David is a truelly true friend to Melinda. He tells her that "people have to speak up for rights." To Melinda these words should mean that she needs to tell someone about what happened at the party. He parents, a counsler, anybody. That she needs to take a stand a protect other girls from "It." Even though she tried to when she talked to her friend about him. But he did lead her to the idea of writing it down in the bathroom stall, where other girls agreed with her that "It" was  not a person to be hanging around with.

Question #8

When Melindas father explains to her that the arborists are cutting off disease and damage to make the tree grow again I compare it to Melindas life. I think that she has to cut cut off her angerness and and depression and let it go. She has a future now and what happened is now in the past. When Melindas father mentions that the tree is getting cut down, I think of how if Melinda cut all of the sadness and depression off she would be back to the way she used to be, the happy Melinda with lots of friends, new friends, and a not very quiet girl.