DAY 9 BRYAN "OUR AMERICA"

IN "OUR AMERICA" THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN A DIFFERENT WORLD. THEY HAD THEIR OWN LAWS THEY WENT BY.

**Question ammended by Hafizah and Danielle**

Thinking about the insider/outsider dynamic that we talked about a couple of weeks ago, how is the culture (laws, rules, boundaries) inside your text different than the laws that exists outside of it? How do your characters create their own code of ethics? How can our environment change what we consider to be "right or wrong"?

How has your culture affected your moral code? Your values?

Arie

Marqui:
The goal i have in life is to be famous. The reason i pick this goal is because i don't see my self as a ordinary person. I'm a star and i'm goin to show the world. My passion is modeling and acting and thats what i want to be famous for. I want people to who i am a multi-talented young women. I want to do it all. I also like to be a famous journalist which ever one get me where i want to go will be find with me. I want to be a person who gets up in the morning and love where she's going and doing. Thats why im going to work hard so i can be able to have that chose.

Ahmad:
There was a time in my life where i was in a relationship and i didn't want people to know, do to the fact i was known for not letting a relationship tie me down. So we would be in school and i would act like we didn't go together, when others was around. I wouldn't give him a hug nor act like his girlfriend. By trying to keep my status made him mad. He would say he's tired of putting up a fort when others are around. So it was breaking us apart and i didn't want that. Beside the fact of my status i really liked this guy. So i had to make a chose, lose him or my status. I chose him. Just like Lloyd and LeAlan in the book Our America. They wasn't allowed to show how smart they were do to the fact they always had to act hard. So they had to hide it. Plus people assumed they were dumb just because they come from the projects. It really mad them think and see how people in the world judge others before they get to know them.

Jordan; Day 8

Marqui; My goals consist of working for an urban magazine like i.e Ebony, Vibe or The Source! I plan on going to graduate school after college becuase now a bachelors is not enough. I also want to own a dance studio some where down the line. I would preferrably like to be married by 22. (I know wtf!?) I want four children and a happy life. I plan to excute these goals by attending columbia and working my butt off. Then attend graduate school for either english or journalism. During this process meeting the right guy and getting married somewhere between the two. While im in undergrad i will more than likely intern for a magazine. I want this for my life because these are the things i hold close to my heart.Marjane like me, has big dreams that even seem unreal to some people. She wants to become a prophet and now she wants to fight in the war in her country and she is only like 11!

Ahmad;Well we're reading the same book so, yes Marjane's nanny is being denied to pursue a "dream" if you will, because of her social status. I can not recall a time where i was denied a chance to pursue something i wanted because of social status. I think society should be based on social sclass. I think a less fortuante person could get along with a rich person just as good as another rich person can, or even better. The only thing is, in society when you see people who dont have what you have you look down on them to a certain extent. Even in persepolis, Marjane is not able to become apart of the war because she is a child. (just an example)

Day 8: Maqui
My over all goal in life is to just do God's Will, but how I go about doing that I dont know. I got a idea of how I could do so but i dont really really know. Since I was save by dance and church I was planning on returning to favor to my home town.(Chicago) I was planning on opening up dance studios all over the U.S, teaching young teens to dance, praise dance and other dance like hip hop dance, and Krump ect. Hopefully this will keep them off the streets like it has kept me. I was planning naming it anything with the word saints on there. I will make up a name later down the road. This is not my will but the lords. LOL

Day 8: Ahmad
Well there was a time when I was at the mall out in naperville, and we were standing by a footlocker store you know looking at the shoes. when I turn to look I saw this girl walking pass us. She was mexican but was very pretty so I went to try to get her number..Haha you know use them words. I thought I had her because I was making her laugh and stuff but she turn me down because she said that she don't date black dudes. I was like "What"? In the end I still got here number but she wasn't going. She said "lets be friends". chuck in my book (stranger then fiction) it wasn't what people did but what they didn't do. Chuck felt like he wasn't getting enough attention.

Day8Debbie

one goal that i have in my life, is to show my family that i can do it no matter what i been through. as the third person in my family going to college this is a big deal and i was the one in the family who been through so much stuff so it wasn't really expected for me to be anything. alot of people expected me to fail and probably be in and out of counseling and maybe rebel but i didn't. so i wanna show them that not only can i make it to college but i can also achieve in college. i hear that Lealan is a teacher or coach at Simeon high school he had a goal to speak his piece and become someone and he has. i want to do that too speak my piece and become someone I'm reaching toward a goal to prove that anyway one can make it no matter how messed up your past is. i want to be able to prove you can make it if you keep moving forward and you put it in your mind that you can do it.
i feel that it is wrong to judge someone by their social status because its like judging a book by its color and that isn't right. i noticed most of the time when you when you do judge someone right off the back you're usually wrong about who you thought they were. i most definitely think that society should not be based on hierarchy because then we would be back in 1940 and people need to change and grow up and realize that it is year 2009 and things have changed so much for the better. we all need to come together and stop making things so complicated i just wish everyone in the world would understand that.

Is it my goal to be denied?

Marqui: My goal in life is to be able to live on my own. When i think about my self ten years from now i want to see my self with a steady job, a husband with a better job, and at least one kid. My goal is to own a home not rent one. Husband or not i want to be independent. I know i probably will have debt but i don't want to be in bankruptcy or broke. I want to be able to support my self and kid. My goal is to basically make it in life. Be the person my mother raised to be. In my book chucks goal is to report on people who have accomplished their goals. Seeing them accomplish their dream makes him want to create more goals and he accomplishes them.

Ahmad: Well one time i was looking for a job by my house and i seen a jewelry store by my house on the corner on Central and Belmont. The lady said i couldn't work there because i needed to be Polish. I was soo pissed! I needed a job and i had to be Polish to work at a store on the corner of a neighborhood with polish and Hispanics walking everywhere. In my book Chuck puts on a dog suite and walks around to see what people think and he was denied the right just to walk down the block with out getting criticized. He was harassed and denied entry to stores because of the costume he was wearing. As a white man he never knew what it meant to be denied all those things.

A&M Questions

Ahmad: i would say that i haven't been in that type of situation but i know friends that have. my boys friend that's a girl likes him and her family likes him too,but only to be friends with their daughter and nothing more. as much as they want to be with each other he's respecting her families wishes at no mixed race relationships. still i don't feel that its right because its their lives and i don't believe others should run it for them.
For Persepolis Marjane wants to be out where the action is when it came to protesting. she wants to stand up to the "big man"and being at such a young age she cant go because of her parents fear of what could happen.

Marqui: when it comes to setting goals i have a lot of those. my goals are to go to college and graduate because in my household family my brother went to college but didn't finish because of bad choices. he picked up some bad habits and made decisions that he probably shouldn't have. my mom was crushed that he left school but she came to accept it after a while, but she talks about it to this day that he could have gone back but didn't. that's my goal to prove to my family that I'm nothing like my brother and i don't give up to easily, i may make mistakes and bad decisions but i know i can learn from them and be a stronger person. i want to make my parents proud especially my dad, he never had the opportunity to go to school because he left before he got to high school, and he tells me i can be somebody and that i can go places. i am very grateful that both my parents have encouraged me and make me go a few steps further in my life and how they are supporting me in becoming a teacher.
Marjane had some goals at being a chemist like Marie curie and become a well educated woman in the society. she had theses goals but yet she almost felt they were impossible because of the revolution. but she is becoming a well matured young woman for her age i have no doubt she will be what she puts her mind to.

I GOT GOALS LIKE A SOCCER PLAYER!!!!! MYSPACE.COM/THECAKEWALKER

My main goal in life is to be a provider and protector for my 2 yr.old and to destroy my family's generational curse. Another one of my goals is to build my own school for k-12 and teach morals and ethics rather than american history. I want to show children the truth at a young age. I'm really tired of the youth being betrayed and lied to. How you gone stop people from lying to you when you can't even tell if they're lying. I also want to start my own march to the white house to bring the american slavery genocide to the forefront. Throughout my whole education my peers and i have been denied from jobs, loans, and certain schools. One time I was stranded in utah for 4 days and the mormons denied us of everything; trains, buses, taxi's, cab's etc. because we were minorities and non mormon. People can be really fucked up if your not the same skin tone. I've never felt so humiliated and let down by society, but it is what it is. I promised myself to never be in a situation like that ever again. In the book i'm reading "Our America" LeAlan and Lloyd are denied a better quality of life because of where they lived. Constantly being judged and associated with negative connnotations

My main ambition is my ignition

I change my views on alot of my goals but only one has stood the test of time. I have always had the same dream since I was 6, I had always wanted to become a video game designer. Video games have always been my favorite hobby and have exposed me to so many different things in an interactive way that I seriously owe most of my good traits to video games. I have seen the good impact that they have had on my life and I know the effects they have on others. I want nothing more than to attribute to the industry and one day make my own commercial games. I want to work in a area where everyone around me shares the same passion for video games that I do with the maturity level that isn't usually associated with people involved with games. I want to be able give others goals in life just like hideo kojima or Miyamoto(famous game designers) did for me. I'm not searching for the fame and fortune those guys have but I just want do what I have always wanted to do and do it well. Unlike me in my book persepolis Taji, marjanes father, fights not to become some famous prophet or something like his daughter, but to get to get to a life a normacy. He doesn't want be famous or inspire others persay but to be able to live peacefully.

In Persepolis Marjanes maid wanted to pursue a romantic realtionship with their neighbor and had marjane write letters to him because she did not know how. When Marjames father found out about this he told the man not to go on due to the differences in social status. Although I have personally never had to deal with being denied a relationship with a person due to my "ranking" in society I do however know the what it means to be denied something due to so called heirarchy. Some people say it is in our human nature to feel some what superior to others at times and all though some people are better than other people @ something doesn't mean they are better people. I was not allowed to enter in an area because I was basically told you that I couldn't because people from my social status are known to do bad things and it would better for me not to so I wouldn't have to deal with the looks annd talk I might hear about me. Even So I think there should be a hierarchy in this society because I tink society works best in that way, but at the same time I still think everyone should not be denied to do something based on who they are but atleast given some chance to prove themselves. Obama was able to rise up and show us that given the chance you can make it work and shes showing that to us now

SarahW Knowledge

Marqui

I never really gave journalism much thought when i was younger, it was that dream of game design that had my attention. Even in High School my major was tied to it, Graphic Communication and my teacher Mr.Jones made a great impression. I wanted to create new and envision games and own a gaming company. But it was in my junior year when i met a teacher named Mr.Brown who saw in me the skill of a writer. At first writing was just a hobby now its the career i want to do for the rest of my life. In his class i gained confidence its also where i found my love for history. So thanks to the support and passion of a teacher i realize that writing was more then a hobby but writing is just me it comes natural and i truly love it. Lealan didn't have dreams of being a writer, but through the documentaries and the book Lealan has found his passion. He realize that his voice and words whether spoken or written can help someone else. That people want to hear what he has to say because most don't know or they are living it. At a young age he was presented with an opportunity but it helped him as much as it helped everyone else. So even now he travels from here and there bringing awareness to the ghettos of America. Proving that a dream, can come from any where but only a few step up to the plate.

Ahmad

Sometimes you walk down the street and the person of a different color or even a higher social status may give you a funny look. Even though this is the 21 century there are places in the world or even in your city where people still are judge by they're social status in life. Schooling, Jobs, or just walking through the city you can see acts of this or it may even happen to you. On a personal note it has been the school system for me, i went to school wanting to learn but even the teachers weren't equip with the right tools. So while i am learning one thing and believing I'm ahead there are kids in better schools who are five steps ahead, while i am writing with pen and pencil they have dell laptops set up for class. Just like them i study, make good grades, and graduate at the top of my class but they still have a better chance of getting a job then me. But what can i say most of the schools for minority kids are like that not enough funding to get the advance learning so we have to settle for what they got. Leaving us to play catch up but how can we when we can't afford to get into they're schools or because of where we live we have to go to the school in that area. It sucks because I'm working hard just to still be behind but i stick it out and work with what i got. Lealan and Lloyd where stereotyped before they could even open their mouth. People thought that they would be ignorant or would want to sell or be in a gang, but when they spoke they had the knowledge of any college student. But instead of showing aggression they chose to share knowledge. Now because of them maybe people have a little more understanding to people growing in the ghetto how even though they're living arrangement sucks they can still be highly intelligent.

Day 8 Marqui: Answer

Ahmad: I remember when I was never allowed to go places by myself because I was viewed as a kid. My mom would think I was not old enough to go to the store or just be off on my own because she still saw me as dependent on her. It made me feel as if I could not grow and be a man because of my age even though I knew I was more responsible than most people my age. Society shouldn't be based on social status but on a person character. Le Alan and Lloyd can not leave their violent neighborhood because people may think since that's where they are from they couldn't manage to live elsewhere.

Me: Le Alan and Lloyd are the characters from Our America. Their goal was for others to look at how their America, the south side of Chicago was from their point of view. They interviewed the many people who reside in their neighborhood and gave their own story of the happenings of Ida B Wells and the south side hood. My goal is to get accepted in columbia, learn how to make animation, graduate with a degree, begin a career as an animator, and live wealthy. I chose these goals because I like this school and it seems to be able to offer me what I need in order to learn how to animate. I need a degree in order to get a career in animation and animation is my passion in life. As for the last goal, who doesn't want to be wealthy?

Day 8 Marqui

LeAlan and Lloyd in Our America wanted people to learn about their America, the streets of south side Chicago. This became their goal. What goals do you have in life? How about the characters in your book? Why did you choose your goal?

Day 8 Ahmad

In Persepolis Marjanes maid is denied to pursue a relationship with their neighbor due to her social status. What times in your life have you been denied something based on your social status? How did that make you feel? Do you think that society should always be based on hierarchy? what characters in your book are not allowed to do something based on who they are?

Day 7

Renita:

I think that my character relates to this quote, as well as her family. in the book Persepolis marjane tries to get involved in what was going on around her. she wasn't trying to get involved for success but more so, to be a person of value. In my own life i want to be a little bit of both. I want to be successful in whatever i do, but i also want to become a person of value. i do understand the quote, instead of thinking that i am successful, i should think of my self as being a person of value. something worth keeping. and i think that i will that in the world and in my art.


Sarah: After I'm done reading Persepolis, i think that i will fell satisfied and longing to know more. because in learning more i can learn more about the war going on in my country. years from now i will like to believe that i will have reached my full potential. I also think that i can tap into my full potential, in or after Columbia. and Columbia will help me discover and shape my full potential. i think that me and marjane will better are seleve by asking questions and learning from our past.

sara&renitaday7

When I'm done reading "Our America i expect to be sattisfied with the book. though i must say that I'm almost finished with the book and it doesn't seem like I'm going to be because i didn't think it was mostly about the Eric Morse incident. though i did expect that it would be about the different crimes that happened in the hood but also about Lealan and Lloyd and more about their lives growing up in the hood.the book does shows some of their background but i felt like it wasn't enough of it because i didn't expect it to be the incident of Eric Morse.
I most definitely feel that they made a point writing the book there was a purpose there is a purpose. it was to get people attention on how they feel and how they live and a cry out to America. They were saying we are not invisible we are somebody and we have been walked over and passed by like no one cares. i understand where they are coming from they wanted to be heard and they have because it opened my eyes to look at things a little bit differently from how i thought they were though my thoughts were similar my mind was not that much open like it is now. there was a time when i was in an abusive relationship and because i didn't want my little sisters to know what was going on, and to think that it was ok to have a relationship like that i kept it secret. i struggled with that for a long time because i didn't know what to do but me being me i wanted to handle the situation on my own. i finally told my mother when i had enough and i made her promise not to talk about it in front of my sisters. but one day when i told her about the destruction he put to the house she went off and told my stepfather everything. instantly i started crying and my younger sisters heard everything and just started bawling and crying too i felt so stupid as if i failed them because i didn't succeed in keeping it from them. seeing them brake down like that because i was in some deep trouble it showed me that i need to make different decisions for the future. i also felt like i had to be strong in order for them to be strong like the general to an army or a pastor to a church. that's what Lealan and Lloyd were in their own way two young guys who were able to become the general of the wells. they didn't do it by having the most money or selling the best weed or the most drugs. they did it by speaking up taking charge and being strong for their hood. i would say that they wanted value over success but they started getting both i yearned for success with added value i just wanna be successful.

R&S Questions

Renita: I believe that marjane relates to this quote wonderfully. shes the type of girl that goes out there and imagines her self being a chemist like Marie curie and getting a good education. she is also the kind of girl that doesn't seem to care what others think of her because she knows what she wants and what she believes in. the kind of person that fights for what she thinks is right,when she goes out to protest and trys to in any way to help her country.
but when it comes to me i can relate to it as well because i have always been told "you can be anything you want, just make sure its something your very positive and passionate about". and that is something that i find very true because i know people who work for the money but aren't happy with the work they do. i don't want to end up like that. i do want to be successful but at the same time take value of what i love to do.

Sarah: when it comes to reading the book,i can say it is worth reading because i love to read about true events and i love to hear stories of others past. especially one about a young girl living in a scary enviroment where she feels she isn't free and living in a controling country. i would say i would want to look at my life as being a positive and a bright future. at aplace where i know i will be happy at. all i know is that if God wants me to be somewhere then thats the place i will be placed. God has so much in store for everyone and he wants the best for all of us, i know where ever that place maybe i know i am blessed. i think the way Marjane and i will better ourselves for our future is positive thinking, talking with a positive outlook on the fututre and what it holds for us.

Arieana

Sarah

When I'm finished with my book i expect to feel like i really understand the things people go through in the projects. I want to feel their emotion on how they live in the projects. I want to know where they are coming from and understand their story. The book did make me think about how people live and feel in different areas. It made me think about how I'm lucky to have the opportunity to live in a better environment. To read how these people had to live in filth and with out any penitence made me appreciate what i have more. Years down the line i know i will be where i want to be and that's famous. The reason i know this because I'm to work hard and give all i got. I will better myself in the future. By listening more, learning all i can, helping others and believe in myself that i can be successful. Like the characters from my book Lloyd and LeAlan they want to better themselves in the future by getting out of the projects but also helping other in the projects by letting them tell their story so they can make change.

Well Nita

I really don't know if my characters consider themselves as value but i know they consider themselves a person of success. They are going to be a success for their efforts to make a change in the projects and showing people just because some kids come from the projects their just as smart and bright as the next kid. As well as i consider myself as a success. The reason i say this because i find myself doing all i can that leads me to where i want to be. I want everyone to know what i stand for which is passion, drive , strong minded and a hard worker.

What i have i done to Expect?

Sarah: In my book there was a point in reading it. Chuck shows different people point of views of what goes on around the world and if he knows it or not just him paraphrasing whats going on shows his interest and concern. He reaches out to those who no one else thinks of reaching to. In a way i have done the same. When my uncle had his church i would wake up early on Saturday morning and walk the streets to feed the homeless. I froze my ass off but it was a good feeling to give people who have nothing a little something to make sure they make it threw that day. To me Chuck looks at it as give homage to people who don't get consideration for what they do. He gives an interest to them that probably has them go through out the day thinking " well at least some one heard my story. Who else will".

Anita: Chuck is a person of value and doesn't search for a story to make a successful book but looks for a story to be told and understood. He looks at the value of the story and depicts how much it means to the people telling their stories to him. He brings it out as a priceless value that most people don't see. To me I'm more about a value. Sure being a preschool teacher doesn't make much but just knowing i love children and being able to teach them will bring me happiness is better then being a boring lawyer winning million dollar cases. Chuck Doesn't intend for his books to be award winners but as memoirs of peoples life styles or achievements.

Jordan. . . day6

Renita; Marjane is a person of both success and value.
She is one of the few foreigners that leave their country, come to america and write a memoir considered "A mighty achievement [and] an inspiring coming-of-age story". She breaks the mold of an Iranian woman. Most eastern women are thought of as quiet and scared. She on the other hand was opionated and brave. She is more than likely a role model for many young women (american and foreigners). Persepolis is a brilliant and unusal graphic memoir. She has been very succesful in america. She's had a chance to share her story.She is important to her society and her homeland. She gives others hope. I admire that. She is a valued woman in writing, Iran and america.

Sarah;
I do expect to feel satisfied. This is because the revolution is over so therefore she can tell the end and not leave me wondering what if. I actually like this book, graphic novels are my favorite kind of novels. She tells about her personal sturggles and the people around her. In maybe 10-15 years i do plan to feel fulfilled because i have faith in myself and i know i can do anything i put my mind to. So i plan on becoming successful and leading a happy life. I try to help eveyone understand or learn from me. Because i feel like you can learn from everyone you encounter with. So i thry to show people that there are good people and if there is anything i can do to help them, then i would gladly do it. I try to set a good example for people around me so we can better ourselves and our envoirment. I plan to focus and become more of a perseverer, so when i do get an opprotunity i can be best prepared. Me and Marjane are brave and opionated so that is something that will help us in our futures because we do/say things that others wont.

LIFE IS ABOUT PRICE TAGS....CAKEWALKER RADIO LIVE ON MYSPACE.COM/THECAKEWALKER

Years from now i would like to be halfway through with leaving a legacy and being inducted into the hall of legends. I hope to have all successfull possibilities that didn't work exhausted and start on the one's that will work. At home they call me the hood humanitarian, either giving kids candy, advice, quality time and leadership, and teaching them about jesus christ and the truths to the world at a young age.......to the adults my services go alot deeper like helping with credit repair, being a peer mediator I run a studio that is open to people with no money. I work for free with jesse white and his rainbow push coalition. I give back to the community every chance i get, which sometimes causes destruction in my life and relationships with women. In our america LLoyd's father isn't a man of success but rather a man of values and morals. He took time for granted and now he is in a position that contradicts everything he has ever believed in. i believe both of the boys will be better for themselves in the future and myself, once we are on one accord financially, spiritually, intellectually and emotionally.

I consider myself a person of value. With that being said I have come to find out that humans put very expensive price tags on things which usually leads to depression, stress, anxiety and/or violent acts of crime. For instance, women say "if my boyfriend breaks up with me i dont know what I'm going to do," this simply means that they put a very expensive price tag on their boyfriend which gives their boyfriend the power of control. We are a society that is driven by want. The more you want something the bigger the price tag (value) you place on it. Success can come and go like the wind. A person can aim for success for 50 yrs. and when they finally get it and it's gone in less than 6 months, they usually say wow....thats sux...thats because they aren't people driven by value, love and grace. i dont want to become a person of success i want to be a successful person.

Blossoming SarahW

Renita

First that's a very good question some people may think that with success follows value but that's so not true. But at the same time there are some who have been blessed with success but they also have values which they broadcast to the world. So many people expire to be rich and famous sad to say most of them end up alone. There's an old time belief that one can have all the money in the world but all that glitter and gold means nothing when there's no one to love and to share it with. My values, morals, ethics at the end of the day is all i have to stand on. Yes i want to be successful that's why i am in school but that doesn't mean i have to put my values on the back burner, in fact they should shine as brightly as ever cause without them i would just be a dreamer never taking action to actually do. At times people start out having values but put them down because it's not the popular thing to do or because of the money. But i hold close to my chest the belief that everything popular isn't right and everything right isn't popular it keeps me in check. People judge Lealan and Lloyd because they chose a different route, the sight of kids dealing, cutting class, made them even more determine share they're story with the world. At young age they learned a lesson that takes most well into there mid 20 and so on. That it takes more to stand then to sit any day of the weak. So yea i am sure people had jokes called them names but at the same time that negative energy was out phased by the positive. Showing that no good deed goes unpunished.

SarahW

I ask this question because i believe that when reading you should always get something out of it, and not that it was just a good book but maybe gain some knowledge or a new found prospective you maybe didn't have before. Our America opened my eye's to how intelligent young kids can be. Tupac once said a rose can grow from the crack even in a place where there is no sunshine. The story was witty, informational, real to the heart, and had Superior writing skills for someone of there age. It inspired me to stand strong and never give up on my values even when faced with a tough crowd against me. Going to Columbia is just a stepping stone to the things i want to do with being a journalist. For such along time it seemed that i was stuck as the world was passing me by, so i have another chance to prove to myself that i deserve this, that i belong here and i am ready. Yes there will be times i want to give-up but that's life with all its twist and turns, to me life is a person greatest teacher and i want to learn. I am ready to be here as a student with all the work, stress, and times when i would just want to be lazy. But the key is to know your weakness and fight pass them to better yourself. To me that's what i have in common with Lealan and Lloyd the fact that their living arrangement was seen as a weakness by the rest of the world because it was the ghetto. They understood that and fought pass it everyday not to prove something to others but for themselves. At the end the in better themselves and a nation hopefully i would have done the same in the future.

Answers to it all!

My question-

My character is a person of value. She trys to show her parents that her knowledge can be valueable. Anyone can be successful by knowledge if they put their mind into something, but is your knowledge valuable? Anyone can can say that they can do something but is it valueable? i think this is how jobs choose who they want to work for them. Say for instance theres 2 resumes for the position of creating the chicago suntimes website. 1 resume says they have web design graphics design and have taken media classes and worked with photoshop. The other resume says they took a graphics class, journalism class, cermaics class, and interned at a studio. Resume 1 offers more than resume 2. I relate to this by saying i choose to be a renassance woman having skills in different areas. I consider myself a successful person of good value with my knowledge and skills

Sarahs question-

I think the book to me makes me feel sad yet happy for MArjane. It tells about her losses and how a child so young can have so much wisdom and motivation to be like the adults around her. I like how in the book they tell stories from back in the day and she realtes to herself and how she thinks. All this little girl wants to do is help!!!!! I enjoy helping others. Though i may be a lazy person inside it feels good to help someone out, like a good samaritan. Just because I always like to help doesnt mean I look forward to something in return. Its better to give than recieve and when the time is right you'll recieve a special gift from God.

I just wanna be successful

"Try not to become a person of success. Rather become a person of value."
In the graphic novel Persepolis Marjane's father doesn't look to achieve success but, looks to be of value to society. He took photos of the demonstration so others could see it in hopes of informing more people of what was going on. It was forbidden and hen even was arrested for it. Taking the photos for him wouldn't bring him much wealth, publicity, or anything but he was contributing to his people, which to me is more important on a grader scale. he sacificed himself for the improvment of society. Although I think others being of value to society is great and all but I want to be more successful than anything. Not in the sense that I want money and all that stuff but being succesful to me means having an achievement and completing it. I want to succesfully achieve my goals and if it changings the industries I want it to change then it will be of value to others. I think that Being someone of value and being someone of success go hand and hand. I think anyone of value is sucessful. As of now on a grand scale I have little to nothing in terms of being "successful" or what I define it as... I think I am of value to my family friends but now I want to keep that value and combine it with the success I want to have.

Currently I'm about in the middle*maybe little closer to the end* of persepolis and even though it does have a storyline and point to it all... I can easily see myself wanting more. Although it is story driven it has just little extra adventures such as that maid attempting to send love notes to the neighbor. I could easily see this being a weekly comic strip or something but alas it is based on a true story so it must come to an end. I think it should wrap up events nicely but knowing that more probably did happen kinda irritates me. Besides all that other than the laughs it gave me I was able to learn a little more about middle eastern people and see that theyare, humans just like us... and arent just crazy bombers who pray all the time. I hope that I can be able to look back on my life as Marjane has and be able to want to write about it. I was talking to my brother yesterday and he was just saying that hes starting to lose his interest in music after quitting his job and moving back to chicago and hes only 23, my other brother isn't so happy either and hates his job. After looking at them... I really would like to be atleast somewhat on my way to my career and I hope I can be able to just be doing what I love. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and want to get on with my day. I hope that at 28 I haven't had my best days behind me. I want my life to constantly be getting better. I will try my best to pursue my happiness and try to understand the world around me as Marjane looks back on her past mistakes of her own and her parents and tries not to repeat them. You always want to be better than your role model.

Day 7 SarahW

When you are finished with your book how do u expect to feel satisfied, dissatisfied, lost, longing for more, did the book make you think or just feel like there was no point to reading it? Spend some time writing about that in detail then think about yourself and how you would like to feel about your life years from now. Do you think you would have reached your true potential or just scratch the surface? what things in your life have you done to not just help yourself but others? Spend the last couple of lines talking about how you and a character from your book will better them selves for the future ahead.

Renita- Day 7

"Try not to become a person of success. Rather become a person of value."
How does your character relate to this quote? How do you relate to this quote? Do you consider yourself a person of success or value?

Arieana

Jessica

In my book the charaters deal with their problems by telling their stories in a report they tape record. They also go to different places where they feel comfortable and find peace so they can talk and clear their minds.

I remember a time of my childhood where i would try to fit in with my boys cousins. I was the only girl a round at the time so i didn't have to many girl cousins around me. So i had to act like a tomboy. I would follow them around they didn't like me to where they went because i was girl and they thought i could keep up. I show them i could keep up and even beat them. When i finally got attention they would ask me to go with them. I just learned how to be myself and people would accpet you much faster than you pretending you are

somebody you are not.

Well, Debbie

You are right in my book our america LeAlan does seem like he don't want to know who his father is but yet he does ask question. He know deep he want to know the other part of him. He know it's whole in his life and he want to feel it but he don't want look as if he want to know this man and his father don't want to get to know him which who left him and act like doesn't exist.

Anybody would act like that. Iwouldn't show feelings for a person that doesn't care if i walk the earth.

I had to deal with a hard truth with my father getting remarried. I say i want him to be happy but deep down inside i don't want him with another women other than my mother. I really don't like his wife but i don't want to be selfish toward his feelings. So i just have to bite the bullet and be happy for him.

The Hard Truth

Debbieh: My book doesn't reflect the authors struggles or realizations. It focuses on others peoples realizations of their talents and unique abilities. You never know how much a person puts into their hobbies until you listen to their stories and see their struggles. Since each chapter is a different city or town, a different sport is all people talk about how much more different their hobbies are then anything els. As they get closer to the end of their statements some realize that they wont be doing it for the rest of their life. Whats funny is that people realize things late in the end, but its usually a lesson learned or a experience that will last for ever.
In my life i had to come to realize i had a older brother. I found out about him when i was 15. I had always wanted a older brother. The problem was i wasn't allowed to find him. My father was worried what could come from it. He didn't know where he lived tho. Don't get him wrong he paid child support the whole 18 years but was never allowed to see him. to cut my story short i found him and as much as i do love him i realized this isn't the big brother little sister relationship i had always prayed for.

Jessica: In my Book stranger than fiction the struggles are those competing to be the best at what they do. No matter if its not the most popular thing where ever you go people are going to try and be that number one. They face the obstacles with abusing their body to be that number one or just breaking a few laws to get a book signed. The things people do to over come failure is amazing. From cauliflower ears from wrestling to stealing from a store just to write a book on stealing.
When i was younger i went through a lot of shit. I cant imagine when i felt calm. As i grew up i faced challenges in school academically and socially. When i had transfered schools i had to go threw peer pressure. That was the worse but they were lessons learned. That's the best kind of experience. A bad one. Because after it happens if your smart you wont do it again. Other than that when i got older it was just school i dealt with . If you ask me that was a huge obstacle. High school!

Debbies question(jessica)

Marjane the little girl in Persepolis,is going through a hard time dealing with the fact the only uncle she knew that seemed like a hero to her was her uncle Anoosh. he was in jail for 9 years until he came out and came to meet back with his family and then he met Marjane. they hit it off pretty good, her uncle Anoosh told her stories and she would hang on to every word that came out of his mouth. they had a very close bonding, it was instant that he became her favorite uncle and she became the daughter he never had. he had a family but his wife broke his heart and he hardly saw his own daughters, so Marjane was as close he's ever got to a daughter. everything was great in Marjane's life, until the day she came home and her uncle was gone. she later found out he was taken back to jail. she paid him a visit,they talked and he told her how much he meant to her, that was the last time she got to speak with her uncle Anoosh. he was executed.
in my life i think the hardest thing i ever had to deal with was letting go of something that at one point meant something to me. old friends,old loves,and just facing the fact that life is not the way you would always expect it to be. but then at the end you just know it was bound to happen and then all those bad times you went through all that pain and hurt you once felt,you just find yourself a stronger and better person. you find out a little more about yourself and what kind of person you are on the inside. its almost as if your just finding yourself every step of your journey through life. so in a way its the worst feeling of letting go you once felt close to your heart but once its gone its like you know its only for the best and know you can walk away a stronger and a new person.

Debbie:

This is a wonderful Question. It really touches home for me, because In my younger years i had to deal with hard truth. as a young child i didn't have the best living internment. my mother has always been a very positive role model in my life, but not my father. even though he lived with me he wasn't the best role model. for as fare back in my childhood i could remember my father has been addicted to Crack cocaine. He Tried his best to hide it from, me and my other siblings. but it was to evident. As a young child, being teased about having a father as a crack head was not fun. So, as a result i tried to block every thought of him being a crack head, out of my head. I hard truth. Thank God that now my father is clean and we have a wonderful relationship, hes my papa bear. Much different from my situation, in Persepolis, marjane deals with the hard truth a little different. in the book marjane is excited to learn about the things happening around her, but when her parents something that she doesn't want to hear she gets made. for example, in the book her parents tells her that the man that ran there country, was not placed by God. Marjane, ( who was always told that the ruler was always picked by God) didn't understand, and did not believe it. In my situation, it was closer. then in the book.

Jessica:

Marjane deals with the things that are going on around her by communicating with god, and telling him all of her problems. and like most young children, she turned to her imagination.

More answers for your questions...

In Persepolis, Marjane has to deal with everyday life as a 10 year in a time of revolution. She adapts to this by becoming somewhat more mature and keeping her same childlike view on on the situation. First she learns about exactly whats happening! she keeps her self informed and and current in whats going on around her. She asks alot of questions to her parents and others while digging deep into it and studying it. She even dresses up to help her solve problems. She spends a bunch of time speaking with God in a kinda direct way... Something I know as a 10 year old I rarely did. Marjane seems to just adapt to her everchaning life and maintains.
I'm used to alot of change..infact throghout my life have been moving around alot. I have been to 6 different schools through my entire life. in each of those changes it was a pretty different setting everytime. In each of those moves I have had to overcome gettingg to know people and this has been able to help me become a more diverse person. The biggest challenge in my life has been my grades... I don't think I have had grades I could really be proud of since....6th grade and that was mostly because my mom worked at the school so I made sure to do my best because she was constantly watching me...which is terrible. I picked up some bad habits from other students I used to hang around and its been increidibly tough to dig myself out of this lazy hole. During my sophmore year I joined the track team and I remember that I couldn't have any Fs so I worked and didn't have any problems throught... as soon as track ended my english grade dropped to an F and I had to go to summer school. The next year I was failing @ the begining of the semester so I couldn't even attempt to join I worked my ass off until I was able to join but by the time I did it was too late. I had already lost out and I will forever regret not working harder at the start and missing out on what could have been a great time for me. IN my senoir year I made sure this was not the case and had a mostly a strong finish and end I was able to join the track team and even more so won the Catltholic League 4x100m relay as well as go down state...
If that has taught me anything its to get have a stron start and strong finish.

Last Chance...

Mostly in persepolis Marjane is only dealing with the hard truth that her having any affect on the revolution is possible but much more imporabable. She has to deal with being ten and not being taken seriously. The only hard truth I really recall is that I can't screw up on this bridge program. I have been given a chance and there are no 2nd chances with this so I'm going to make it in one go. Even though my grades haven't been good I know that I'm still in a position to get where I wanted to go and this is my last chance.

Jordan; day 5

Jessica; Well we are reading the same book "Persepolis". And in this book Marjane is growing up during a very rough time, Iranian Revolution. Her main problems are that she has a hunger for knowledge that is hard to obtain, about her family history and reasonings for events that take place in her world. She wants to know why the terrible events going on, are happening. But being so young there are certain things that her family thinks she is not old enough to understand. Like when she wants to know about her grandfather, she is brushed off.

When i was young, i didnt really go through any problems. My life was mostly carefree. Except, in 2001 when 9/11 happened. I was ten, when it first happened i dint understand what was going on nor did i understand the extent of it. As days went on i started to understand and i got angry that the media kept showing the attacks on tv and the victims family had to see i over and over again.

Debbie; In Persepolis the book starts off in school. Marjane learns in school that "The Shah" was picked by god to rule the country. So one day after her parents got home from protesting against the king, they were complaining. Marji said she loves the king, he was chosen by god. Her parents were flabergasted. They told her that what she thought she knew was in actuality wrong. She didnt want to listen nor believe anything they had to say because it was written in a book. So her father had to explain how he became the king. She soon understood the real truth.

As for me, well when i was younger I loved to watch "Friday" and during the movie when they are smoking and the song " Mary Jane" by rick james comes on. So of course i knew it. It was my jam!! So one day im in the car with my sister and it came on ( i was like 8) so i was like " aww snaps, this my jam!!!' She was like "huh" . . . so i dtarted to sing it and she cut it off and asked did i know what it was about and i thought the song was about Mary J. Blige. I thought it said "Mary J." so she told me that back in the day when the song came out they couldnt say "weed" so they called it Mary Jane. SO then I refused to beleive it, because that was my favorite song. So after i got older i realized she was write. That was my hard truth.

SarahW Past,Present,Future

Debbie H

Past,Present,Future

Growing up without a father for a man is hard, there's no one to show you how to ride a bike, tie your shoes hell even see you take your first steps. Lealan may act like he doesn't want his father around but at the end of the day he's longing for that figure. But that is what happens when there's no male presence in the house. Some grow up to want to be a better family man then they're dad and others rebel. Now days there are so many fatherless homes i feel sad for the guys who have or going to have to grow up without a father. Lealan acts tough because of where he lives and the things he has seen, but he's still just a little boy longing for his father. My mom has become both mother and father to me since my father isn't around anymore. I haven't seen my father in 12 years and i have love and anger for him it's something i still can't explain. Given the opportunity to see him again i don't know how i would react, one part of me would want to cry and hug him the other would want to punch him. Like Lealan i hide my pain and just live my life for me and the people who are here with me.

Jessica

Lloyd and Lealan talk about everything its in those moments that they feel free from all the drama. Yes they love they're families and even in the hood they find beauty but its their talks that let them wonder beyond the stretch of the sea. Its beautiful in all its amazement and down falls their talks gives them the power to live outside they're America and have dreams beyond the rainbows. At a young age i saw the beauty and ugliness of the world i saw death, abuse, and drugs. But like Leanlan it was my mind that helped me to move pass all the pain. The past to me is just that yes it hurts but i still like to think i am better for it. The past makes me the thinker i am today not saying it was easy very much far from it. But my family is stronger than ever and so am i, my family is my heart they are my foundation they check me when i don't check myself they have itched alone my maturity. Like all families we have issues but like a lesson learn the family that prays together stays together. So the past helps me to stay on track and to not repeat the same mistakes and how to be strong.

Wellll My main character chuck didnt have problems in the story, howevery the people he interview and told about had obstacles that they overcame. One was charter 4 when there was tractor battle. Each tractor had to take each other down. The main character wasnt in the battle, once again just observing. That remind me of me. I was always the observer. I always watched others stuffer and make mistake, like the character i learned from them. Theres a saying that goes "experience is the best teacher but watching someone else it experience it is even better." (naw I made that up) but its another one that goes "Better you then me", thats to harsh but its true.

Day 5

Debbie: Im reading the same book but for the other question where you ask if I ever had to deal with hard truth. My hard truth is the same as LeAlan. I don't know my father and I don't want to meet him the reason being because I feel like he should of been there from the beginning. If I was to meet him today I would honestly beat his ass for dipping out and for me not meeting my two sisters that I have never met before.

Jessica: The characters in my book deal with their problems by doing something about it. They don't just sit back and feed into whats going on around them. In my childhood I have been through alot of tough times and I know they're not going to stop comming. One of my most toughest times was after my grandfather passed away, 5th through 8th grade whenever my mother got mad at something or someone else she always tooked it out on me. She tooked it out on me by using extension cords, belts, shoes, hands, whatever she could got her hands on to attack me with. In 8th grade I wasn't putting up with it no more so she got arrested for a few days and my uncle bailed her out. And a few months later after all that happened my grandmother passed away. That was the toughest moment of my life because I thought my life was over, she was the only person I could communicate with. The doctors say she had cancer but I think it had something to do with the stress she went through because of what I was going through. I overcame it by not letting what my mother did hold me back from trying to move forward. I know I wasn't the best student but I stayed in school and now im still trying to move forward.

Debbie's questions

Marjane from Persepolis doesn't want to accept the truth that she is young. She wants to do what her parents do and other adults. She's nosey so she constantly hears stories about whats going on and all the latest news. She hears and read about how people are taking action to stand up for what they believe in. How people aren't afraid to go to jail or die for what is right. When she approaches her parents they tell her she is to young but she doesn't believe it. A 10 year should not be put in that place.

A hard truth I had to deal with was the break up of me and my boyfriend of 2 years. Everything was perfect we were best friends before anything but every girl knows when things change, and for us things were changing. Then 1 day he sent me a text breaking up with me. Yes it was heart breaking and I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to talk about it with my friends, mom..... I didn't even want to hear his name. Eventually I got over him but now he try's to get back with me but i know that I would never want that because he put me through hell through that process. It wasn't easy to turn him down but hey you gotta do what you gotta do.

Jessica's question

Marjane deals with her stress by questioning and her curiosity. She goes to her room and think of questions, then approaches her parents with the questions. Through out my child hood Ive had problems with math. My mom would get me the best of the best tutors but i just didn't comprehend. I began to get the hang of it eventually but my grade still suffered from when I didn't understand it.

Everyone goes through a hard time in life you just have to find your way of solving it. Another problem I faced was riding a bike. Everyone on my block knew how to ride a bike with 2 wheels but I was still on training wheels. My next door neighbor would make fun of me and I'd run inside and cry to my mom. So 1 day i practiced in my basement. My basement was crazy huge. I practiced for hours, I remember my grandmother yelling down stairs "Renita if you don't come upstairs and eat dinner you wont have a bike." She just didn't understand how motivated i was to learn how to ride this bike. The next day I went outside while all the kids were outside. As I walked passed them I could hear them laughing saying "Renita cant ride a bike, Renita cant ride a bike". I got on my bike and proved that I knew how to ride a bike. It felt so good! I didn't learn how to ride a bike just to prove it to them and not be made fun of, I did it for me! I wanted to prove to myself that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. No one is perfect just always remember "practice makes perfect".

A KID, NOT UNDERSTANDING

A YOUNG KID NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HARD TIMES IN THEIR LIVES. I HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH FORGIVING MY MOTHER FOR GIVING ME UP TO HER SISTER WHO I NEVER KNEW WAS MY BIOLOGICAL AUNT. WHEN I FOUND OUT FROM SOMEONE TRYING TO GET BACK AT MY MOTHER I WAS SAD AND I FELT LIKE NOTHING LIKE I WASN'T IMPORTANT. I ALSO WAS A LITTLE MAD AT MY MOTHER (THE ONE WHO TOOK ME IN) FOR NOT TELLING ME ESPECIALLY SINCE I SEEN MY MOTHER BEFORE. I WAS CONFUSED WITH WANTING TO LIVE WITH HER AND HATING HER AT THE SAME TIME FOR GIVING ME UP SO EASILY. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT SHE WAS SICK AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW LUCKY I WAS TO AT LEAST STILL BE IN MY BIOLOGICAL FAMILY. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT 2 OF MY OTHER SIBLINGS WERE FAR OFF ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY. I SHOULDVE FELT LUCKY BUT HOW COULD I WHEN I FINALLY GOT A CHANCE TO SEE HER AGAIN SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO I WAS I CRIED ALOT WHEN I WAS LITTLE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT SHE GETS WELL. MY OLDEST BROTHER EXPLAINED TO HER WHO I WAS AND HE EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT WAS WRONG. SO SLOWLY BUT SURELY MY CHILDISH GRUDGE WENT AWAY BECAUSE I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND I HAD TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT THE DEVIL TOOK HER SOUL AND IT WAS HARD TO GET IT BACK WHEN HE GOT YOU LIKE THAT. I FINALLY COME TO REALIZE THAT GOD PLACED ME IN THAT HOUSEHOLD FOR A REASON WITH MY MOTHER WHO RAISED ME, EVEN THOUGH I'VE HAD SOME TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. I WAS BLESSED TO BE THE FIRST ONE OF HER CHILDREN AT LEAST WANNA TRY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND IM #8 OF 9 SO THATS BIG. ALSO I LEARNED THAT TRUTH HURTS BUT ITS HOW YOU FIX IT AND DEAL WITH IT THAT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER SO IM HAPPY TO SAY THAT SHE HAS BEEN CLEAN FOR 2 YEARS AND ITS BEEN ALL ON HER OWN!!!!

Day 5: (I think) MM

Jessica: LeAlan & Lloyd deal with violence in their neighbor hood by talking about exactly what goes on in Ida B Wells. They use the method of voicing out the problems of living in the south side of Chicago to relieve the stress that comes with it. When I had problems with things that went on in school, the work, teachers, and maybe people who acted like jerks in general, my best method of dealing with it was talking to someone about it. When someone hears me complain about my dislike of things in school I felt better because it was my way of letting it out. I was no longer stressed so now I was able to go through the next day in order to do what I had to do.

Debbie: I have the same book so I would say it's very similiar to what I think. LeAlan is dealing with a hard truth of not knowing who his father is. Not to be too personal, but like many I know, I don't know who my father is neither. To me it's not much of a big deal but the truth is like LeAlan I don't wish to know him because he wasn't there in my life. Knowing that I don't need to know the truth is my way of dealing with it enough.

Day4 Questions DebbieH

In my book our america lealan makes it seem as if he doesnt wanna know who his father is but he keeps asking questions about him lealan is dealing with a hard truth.
Is someone in your book dealing with a hard truth? If so, explain
Have you ever had to deal with a hard truth if so what was it?

Day 5 Jessica

In the book Persopolis a young girl named marjane has to deal with a lot of troubles having to do with her town and how people are causing her to stress out about it. How do the characters in your book deal with the problems they go through? Now tell us about your childhood if you have ever gone through some tough times in your life and how you overcame those obstacles?

Day 4

Robert; Marjane makes sense of the world around her by asking questions and listening to her uncle and family. She also reads a lot to try to understand some of the things her family wont answer for her. When her uncle is released from prison she learns a lot from him about their family. He tells her about how he was arrested and left the country and married a russian and two children. How he was beat in prison and so forth. She usually talks to god to get the meaning of somethings.

I usually listen to all sources and try to figure out whats really going on based on the information given to me. Most things i can figure out when i sit down and think about it.

Me;In Persepolis Marjane is a young girl that wants to be a prophet It seems like a way to escape in her own lil dream world.

I cant relate to Marji about wanting to become a prophet but i can relate to her place to go when she wants to be by herself. Her room! I also go there, sit infront of the fridge with it open or most of all the track. I like to go run around the track when im feeling stressed. Working out is one of the best ways for me to get away. It makes me feel peaceful and its great excerise also! ;)

What About My Book?

Robert: I'm my book my book Chuck Palahniuk tries to bring together different worlds. In reality they aren't worlds but cities closer then what we think. Each city is different with a different sport to represent it. First he describes a city called Rock Creek Lodge. He then goes on to talk how wrestling is a dying sport all together in the U.S. The next chapter describes how farmers have a combine derby. In a small town called Lind, Washington. So he tries to make sense of peoples drives and interest in a sport.
In my own life I'm fighting a war of growing up. Its scary. I'm No sure how I'm going to survive the war. Financially I'm going to be into so much debt. Then me moving out and leaving my family is a war. I need my mom what will i do? But i guess i have to man up and take care of what i have to do. Its all worth it in the end.

Jordan: I love my book and how it doesn't run from reality but digs deeper into the countries reality to show people its roots. He digs so deep he recovers peoples traditions that have been going on for years. Evolution and all people still stick to their traditions not caring what people think. My author doesn't bother to leave and details or sensor any quotes. This is our America spoken right from America its self.
When its time for me to escape my problems i keep to my self and head to that big red couch i have or talk to one of my friends. If its hurting my soul i speak to God . There is no one better to ask for forgiveness then him. So i give props for the little girl because she knows who she needs to speak to.

Stepping Up

In my story Our America the two main characters LeAlan and Lloyd live in the projects and they way that deal with it is by not letting their surroundings break them down and get them. Instead of following in the wrong path, they followed in the right path by stepping up and letting their voices be heard and try to escape the harsh reality. The way im reacting towards the war is i feel like we didn't have a legit reason to go over in Iraq and invade their space anyway, and now our government wants to pay billions for the damage they have cause over there by raising taxes on us. I relate to LeAlan and Lloyd because in my world its a whole lot of stress and instead of letting it break me down I stepped up and found a quiet, relaxing place to go to and just sit back and think.

TONGUES ARE SWORDS!!!!!!!! by THE Cakewalker...... myspace.com/thecakewalker

Growing up I have always had to do things I didn't want to do, and I was always physically forced to put a smile on my face by mama. If I gave her the impression that i didnt agree with her should would beat me half to death. I couldnt get mad and beat her back. I just had to smile....hahahaha...thats so fucked up. Life is not about what people do or say to you, its about how you react. I'm really big on politics and I spend most of my time researching what is right and what is not. With that being said, I have become very aware of how i watch how I react to the world. I have come to find out that in a broad explaining, everything we have been told has only been a piece of the truth. I live in my own world with regard to mother earth. The world will make you feel on a day to day minute to minute basis that you are not unique. We all should be rich kings and queens, but we have let other human beings persuade us, lead us, dissapoint us and so on..... (dot, dot, dot,) ie.RITA!! jk...We are living a very depressing time already, a recession. I've been reading this book called "Our America" and my two characters spend large amounts of quality time together talking about escaping the chicago projects together. Everyday devising plans and thoughts how to get up out the situation they are in. There are certain types of stigma's that everyone is categorized under. When i catch myself being stereotyped etc....I pay no attention and give it 100%. Thats how one could really react in a positive way to the things that happen to you in the world. Pay no mind to negative connotations and conversation, it will only make you doubt yourself. Words have POWER.....words have the ability to kill a person emotionallly, spiritually and could force a person to react and turn to suicide. with that being said, keep ya head in the clouds and if you have to look down (stoop down) from the clouds to talk to the world, dont do it. Dont sacrifice your morals.....CHUUCH!!!! Cakewalker Radio.....myspace.com/thecakewalker.....listen to my song called fly away....its deep....

Observing and Understanding

Robert: My character Chuck visits and observe different places to make since of it. One way he observes is by putting some people through a interviews. One story he was interviewing the wreslers about injurys, how they felt about wresling, and what do other people think about it... So thats one way my character made since of the world. Just by him doing that that teaches me to obsearve the world by listening to stuf like the new, and T.V period.

Jorden: My character doen't escape from anything bacause he was never into something like that, rather just looking at it from the outside. To me thats a life lession. To just watch things and learn from others mistakes..

The Great Escape SarahW

Robert

Violence begets violence and Lealan and Lloyd understands that, even after the death of Eric Morse they don't blame the boy's who committed the act. It is felt that they were just a product of they're environment so what could you expect from them. True this fact is sad and the boy's are wrong, but they never had the chance to grow up right. For existence if you put a child in a good school, neighborhood, and family living they will most likely grow up to treasure those values. But take that same child and put them in the projects in any city with poor schooling and family living they may be forced to adapt to the ways of that hood. Yes the child will have to take responsibility for any actions they do, but can you really blame them when there's no one to show them wrong from right.

Jordan

Sometimes the safest place to go when things are in a craze is your mind. Writing about life has always been a great comfort to me. It helps me to get my views and how things should be out on paper, whether our youth, or community, or national problems writing is my key to letting out my thoughts. Sometimes I share the things I write with others to maybe get they're thoughts and views. While doing that it helps me its my way of giving and receiving knowledge.

Jessica

My character marjane is a dreamer that girl is. she makes sense of the world by talking to God because she knows he will guide her in the right direction. she has big dreams and hopes for her future and the future for her country. she believes there will be a change and there is when the king is no longer the king. the king was making nothing but the town of Tehran miserable.
if i were in the shoes of marjane, i dont think i would be that brave i just know i will be scared a little more just having to think about all that's happening right down my block. i would so afraid just to walk out of my house or even go to the store, with all those riots going on.

Roberts question "Rocks"

ROBERT LEE JEFFERSON KING OF THE FUNNY PEOPLE
the main character marjane, makes since of the world around her by asking thousands of questions. she uses every opportunity to find out information about the things that are happening around her. She also Gets involved. she sometimes dresses up, and play out things that are happening in the war. because she is a younger girl i can understand why she does this.

the war does not scare me, i don't know why but it doesn't. i guess its because i feel protected, even after the whole 911 thing. so i don't think that i am having a real reaction to that subject. but as far as the violence in the community's around me, I'm reacting. I often try to explain to younger children that they don't have to follow in everyone Else's foot steps. they can be them self. teaching right from wrong. i often see that young kids, say things like " I'm just going to shoot you", because that is what they have grown up around. but that's enough about that because i can go on and on..... ON TO THE NEXT......



JORDAN SPARKS:


Most of the time in the book the main character escapes her harsh reality, by talking to God, having fun with her imagination. i can relate to this because i sometime escape with I'm dealing with, and just talk to god. and also have fun with my imagination, and write a play. writing plays really relaxes me.

so you might ask your self one day, do i have a charter as you lay in your bed not being able to sleep at three in the morning looking at the clock by your bed side. You might wounder do i have a place in this world, how do i adapt with my surroundings, how am i getting viewed as from other people. Really in the long run its not about trying to be the center of attention, having nice things to hide behind your fake wall of dissolution. Just be the best that you can be. As said by Chris Cornell of audioslave be your self is all that you can be. Don't worry about other people and how they live there lives, or else you'll get caught up in a world that's not your own. so i would like you to ask your self, do i ever feel alienated, do i ever want to be alone and why, do you do things to help you get by in life. How laid back are you, ect...

Arie

Well Ms. Jordan

In the book i'm reading the characters escape from their reality by just accepting where they live and doing something postive with their time like telling their story through reporting. I relate to charaters escaping as a postive move and respecting them for not just excepting negative ways . My way of relaxing and escaping is just doing something I enjoy like hanging with friends or just go to a qite place so I can think and rest my mind.

Robert:

My characters in my book look at the world as being a place where there are different people and surrounds, so all you can do is try to enjoy your life and make the best of it. They say there are problems all over the world and they suggested if you aren't going to try to come up with a solution to the problems there is no sense of complaining about.

I react t things in the world as if i'm in no position to change things. So it's like it's hopeless and you try to think of ways of changing things but lets get real it's all about who you are and who you know!!!!!!!!!!

How I deal with the world around me...

In perseoplis marjane had to directly deal with a violent revolution happening around her. Violence was literally right outside her door and really directly affected her everyday. As a child thats a huge burden to have in life but she delt with it like an adult in a childlikeway. She shows maturity and shows that shes still a kid. Marjane deals with most of her problems by going to her room and speaking with God. She tried her best to try and feel exactly what her grandfather felt when he was in a prison of water by staying the bath tub. She wants to feel empathy which at that age is weird. She even wants to be a prophet to better her own world so she @ the age of ten is forming opinoins and views of a poltical situation.
I don't deal very much with the war that the US. is involved in. I'm very removed from most politcs. I never watch the news and when I do hear about something about the war it usually goes through one ear and out the other. from what I know I'm not able to make this into much sense, SINCE the acutal meaning for the war in the first place is unclear. I don't have many ppl acutally involced in the war so although it probably has some affect on me it goes unnoticed. But even when I have to deal with other events in life such as korea I take a page out of persepolis and go to my room.