Extra Credit Blog #1

I love animals, dogs especially and at the beginning of this year in January my New Years resolution was to do volunteer doing something good like at a nursing home. I personally am not as strong to volunteer at a nursing home because I think I will leave sad so I decided to volunteer at the Animal Shelter in Medley, right off the Palmetto. The volunteer composer's name is Aileen Sanchez and their address is 7401 NW 74 Street in Miami, FL 33166. I have done over 40 hours, I believe and I do it for personal enjoyment. Luckily doing some good can give me extra credit and I can use those hours as service learning hours for one of my classes. It always pays to be good and give back to the community in some way.

Blog #16- I Have A Dream

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great leader in American history. He will always be remembered through his legacy and his famous powerful speech of “I Have A Dream”. He spoke about how America was not respecting African Americans and how we needed to change. All they want is what we all have- which is equality and freedom. How they want to be able to walk the streets without people looking weird at them and how they want to stop feeling ashamed and feeling pity amongst them. Dr. King had a great message and although he was killed before he ever got to know how big of an impact he is message was, I’m sure he’s looking down from heaven smiling because he knows that he was a big reason why America has changed and is know as the Melting Pot. He would be so proud to know that racism, although still exists, has dramatically been improved and he was a major reason for that improvement.

Blog #15- Growing up Old

Millions of Americans are impacted everyday by the media and propaganda. There are little girls, 10 years old, having boyfriends, wearing make up and cursing. There are 8 year old boys talking about sex and money, and disrespecting their families. This is a horrible time in America for our youth. Parents are not teaching their kids correctly as they are doing what they please. Of course it is their fault, but we, the adults are also at fault. We make laws that we cannot hit our own children, not even to teach them a lesson because then we can get fined for child abuse. Children need to learn, they need to be hit because if they don't feel pain and hurt they won't know whats right from wrong. If we aren't allowed to teach them, then we have no one to blame but ourselves. Our youth is growing to fast and we complain, but the solution should start with us and the government controlling the laws and what is shown on TV and the media.

Blog #14- Cultural Baggage

Most people think that culture is a good thing, it helps know where you come from, what your ancestors have done, and who you real family is. The truth is that no one really knows their culture. For all we know African Americans were powerful and they overturned people like Christopher Columbus. For all we know the pilgrims fought back and "Thanksgiving" never happened.They were probably killed by diseases or something and the ones that were left were the ones who the great stories are about and they decided to look strong and change the story around. No one really knows their culture unless you were there. The author in this story explains about how culture shouldn't make you who you are, you should know right from wrong and you shouldn't depend on others telling you "well this was done in our past, blah, blah, blah". I think everyone should stop depending on culture and make up their own.

Blog #13- The Holocaust

I think that the author of this essay must have been Jewish or must have some friends that were Jewish because he talks about the meaning of The Holocaust so deeply. He explains how the word Holocaust means "burnt offering" and how that is offensive as the Jews did not offer themselves to be killed in gas chambers. They did not resist but they could have. I'm not saying that I approve of the word, but if you think about it, someone who does not resist and goes is somewhat offering themselves. I think that every event weather it be good or bad needs a name. A name to explain the event that took place so others can know what happned and from the Holocaust, we have learned just as from slavery, that there are certain things that are wrong that we must fight.

Blog #12- College Pressures

While a student is in college they experience so many pressures and it's so hard to keep up with school and your own life. I think the author may have come from a well off family in the suburbs in California maybe because his pressures include having to have his parents pay for college and how there is so much school work students have less time for extra curriculum activities. By the people we are surrounded by in college we seem to come from families that don't have the privilege to be able to afford paying for their kid's school. We have to deal with having to work and financial aid and personal problems rather than how many activities in school we are involved in. Also, the essay was written a few years ago so that should also be taken into consideration and things are always changing throughout the years.

Blog #11- Cinematypes

In the essay of Cinematypes, the author goes on 3 dates. All 3 of her dates have a different personality and act different ways. One was very shy and kept to himself. Another seemed normal but he was very cheap, he would park far from the theater so he wont have to pay for parking and wouldn't mind her paying the movie tickets from time to time. The other was seemed very into her and he was a gentleman, he would open the car door he would only pay and they seemed to have a good time but he was a player- he had a girlfriend. Finally the author went on a date with herself and she explained how she enjoyed it so much better by herself because she was comfortable, she didn't have to dress up, and she didn't have to worry about making a good impression. I personally think that the author is trying to make a point that if you have to try hard to be with someone then its not worth it because the happiest you'll be is with someone you can be your self with and feel comfortable.