Meghans Corner

    While reading this excerpt, i found it to be quite interesting what Julie did.  While working in a bar she recorded and wrote down several conversations between the bar goers.  She took note of the difference of class identity and how people act around other people.  Julie felt that when she was recording conversations, people were discussions that were more the just “mere-talk”.  People go to this bar and their discussions are more about the connection between them and their share on values and the way they think.

I was raised to never change myself for anybody.   So i dont agree with people when they feel the need to change themselves just to “fit-in.”  You should be okay with yourself and what you’ve been given.  You were given your life for a reason and i think you should be grateful for what you have.  If you are from a lower or middle class you shouldnt have to change the way you present yourself of the way you talk, just to fit in.  The higher class, i feel, arent better then anyone else in any way.  Maybe they do have more money,  but money doesnt them better then you.

    I found Richard Rodriguez’s story to be very interesting.  I liked how he showed the differences between his home and school lives.  I found it to be interesting how when sharing his thoughts about his school interests at home his parents felt threatened and humiliated when listening.  I disagree with him on the bilingual point of view although.  He says that, “..classes conducting Spanish will only reinforce Spanish-speaking students’ separteness from mainstream American life.”  I feel being bilingual is extremely important in todays world.  Our country keeps getting flooded with imigrants who speak spanish.  I feel it should be mandatory in all schools to teach kids other languages.  If it wasnt for my High School i wouldnt have got through my job.  Ive worked at the Watermill Catering Bussiness for almost 2 years now and everybody that works in the kitchen is Mexican so you must know atleast alittle spanish to get by in that place.

    Rodriguez insists that he isnt only writing about his own experience, but about more universal and general experiences as well.  He says that we are all changed and re-formed by education.  That we all move away from our past to some extent as we gain in our future.  I completely agree with Rodriguez.  You are brought up by your parents in the house so most of the time your influenced by their beliefs, values and opinions at a young age.  When you move your way through school you start to learn the facts about things and begin to gain your own opinion.  For instance with the presidents, as a kid i kinda just agreed with what my parents said and didnt have a care in the world to who our president was.  But as i grew older and learned the facts and truth about such things as our presidents i began to disagree with my parents.  I grew my own beliefs, my own morals and values and started to shy away from what my parents thought.

    At 1:01 am, October 23rd 2006, Tom Herzberg was pronounced dead.  One of Sachem High Schools alumni from the Class of 2006 was shot in a car chase due to a drug – related problem.  My graduating class was 1500 students, in my sophmore year we had 1 taken from us, in my junior year 2 were taken from us, in or senior year 2 more was taken from us, and now we are all off to college, one more was take from us.  As well as 3 teachers throughout my years through High School.  Tom Herzberg (besides hanging out with a bad group of kids), dressed well, was very sports oriented, and had very good grades.  In our senior year he was involved with the typical stereotype of “dirtbags”.

    This past Monday Tom Herzberg and a passanger were driving down Patchouge-Holbrook road in Holbrook, Long Island.  It was around 10:30 when 911 was called and the passanger reported that they were beeing chased down and being shot at.    The police say that Tom was shot in the head and while being shot, lost control of the car and crashed into a patch of trees.  He was rushed to the hospital was announced dead at 1:01 in the morning.  It is to be said that it was due to a drug deal.  RIP Thomas Herzberg you will be forever missed.

RIP Thomas

As taken back as i am with parts of this excerpt i also can relate to her in a sense.  I found it to be unbelievable that she went from being a heoirn-addicted prostitute to being a teacher.  Thats incredible.  I feel that writing for her was her gateway to happiness.  It had made her realize many things, even though she may not have sent any letters, it did help her.  Many would think that its so crazy to write and write that may letters and never send them.  I, myself do/have done something similar to this.  I’ve sent things known as “Unsent Letters” to my friends, family, boyfriend, etc.  It helps me to vent.  Say i had an issue with such a person or wanted to tell them something but never actually “reveal” it, i’d write.  It helped me to express my feelings in a sense that, thats what i’d like to say but never really could.  It really helped alot.  Overall, i liked the excerpt Love Letters.  This, just like What I Want My Words To Do To You, shows that even though you my mess up in life, you can learn from your own mistakes.

      I know i had a article about Darfur in here a few weeks ago but im really interested in it and very involved so i like to be updated.

       This article touches on the subject of how ill-equipped and undermanned troops are while trying to protect Darfur.  They dont stand a chance in fighting any other group of troops.

Out-gunned soldiers

        Posted on Ocotber 4th 2006, it was said that a baby-sitter, her first day on the job, messed up roayly.  Not knowing she had picked up the wrong boy from school.  Check it out

        When i found this link i was shoked!  Thinking to myself, 1) How does a child just willingly walk away with a complete stranger? and 2) How does a resposible adult baby-sitter mess up that bad?  When i was a child i know i was told never to go off with strangers even let alone TALK to strangers.  As one grows you would think they get more intellegent.  Your going to tell me that the baby-sitter didnt even think to ask the little boy his name?  I mean come on, how careless cn you be?  I know it may have been a “careless mistake” on her part but that is defintely the most terrible mess up i’ve ever heard off.  I wouldnt be able to trust this baby-sitter ever again.

Baby sitter picks up wrong kid