Reflection 1

               I’m working toward being a better analysis of what I am reading about if it is in English or World History. In World History we are given readings that are from 100 B.C.E. and the text can be confusing at times. I had to take it to a tutor or my friends and have them read it with me so I could get a better understanding of what they are saying. Now I can read some text in the book and know what they mean and use context clues. Analyzing is also a component in English to  read the reports and essays that were given in class I had to view the reading from the authors stand point instead of our own. It opens our thinking and understand how they feel and the reason why they feel that way. The tattoo identity topic was a good example; a young man covered in tattoos had a hard time getting a job because people thought he was a bad person when really, he is using it to express himself. He had different sketches that represented what his personal ideas are such as the logo behind his ear that shows his loyalty to the LGBT Human Rights Campaign. This also help me open what I believe in and where I’m from and an identify for myself as a person.

            The Red and Blue country we read about helped me see what a blue-collar person view means considering I grew up in a Red America and didn’t receive the full thought from someone that came outside our county. It really took a toll of what people truly think about where I come from even if the people of Red America are still in need in the world we live in. Reflecting on the opposite side of that story was relieving to let out and defend where I’m from and be bold to disagree in what he was saying about the other side. Putting it on my blog then defines me as who I am and what I believe in.

            My blogs and work do show my abilities to read actively, I can relate to both sides and still be able to keep a steady relationship with whoever I talk to. The tattoo museum writing shows the knowledge of what I know about many groups that live in this country. Realizing that bikers, students, and others can go through the same museum and know the same hobby; communicate with one another on their style of tattooing. Understanding “the dumbest generations” story by Lee Drutman and countering the comments he makes on our generation.

            As time goes on writing is coming easier to me, placing the appropriate punctuation in the write spot or learning new form of writing such as the poem. My grammar and punctuation came along as I met with a writing tutor in the Learning Center of the library. We read through my first paper which helped me hear the different sounding way the words were arranged and how different ways were worse than others. Being my first experience, nerves went through my body until she started reading it with a few mistakes and a couple word changing, I knew this will be a routine before I hand in any more major papers. My abilities to write were pushed to a different mountain when we wrote in a poem format. What a time that was, it wasn’t hard but it’s interesting to write in a different style other than MLA format. The class has taught me a lot about my writing from different styles to connecting to different people I wouldn’t normally associate with.

            I would give myself an “A” for participation since I have been achieving all the requirements. I have yet to miss one class assignment and I come prepared for class with my laptop every time class is schedule. I also am involved in class discussions that we have talked about and brought more key points that generated a new idea for the whole class to think about. During small group times I’m not afraid to mix up the groups and try to meet new people and create new friends while doing our work in class. Achieving the goals outside of class supports my “A” mentality by going to the learning center to make sure I get as much feedback as possible from other students who are there or another teacher.

My feeling for grammar is a love hate relationship, sometimes we get along and I don't mess up a lot but other times I feel like I need to relearn the English Language.  I struggle with using the correct punctuation when it's need or I will put punctuation in where it doesn't belong. I also am not very well with applying a apostrophe with plural and some singular words. That's what I want to get better at in spelling and punctuation.

A woman, without her man, is nothing.
Walking aimlessly, Sienna was lost in the park.
Sienna strolls through the park aimlessly, lost in the park.

Feasting on a cheese burger, Alfred made a mess.
Spinning and twirling, the woman enjoyed the playful time.

QDW #1: Dumbest Generation

Prewriting
Technology plays a huge role in my life and its forced upon me more now that I'm in college than when I'm away from it. Since starting college I have needed to use more technology than ever since our school use a website for teachers to communicated with students. This allows me to access the web whenever I should need it and or want to entertain myself. When outside of class I don't depend on it; I use it when it is needed such as getting in touch with someone. I do think that technology is hurting people today because it can be to distracting. Today apps have ads that will amuse peoples minds as long as it looks interesting and isn't boring but really it is just a dumb game with no real outcome.

"The ignorance is hard to believe ... It isn't enough to say that these young people are uninterested in world realities. They are actively cut off from them. ... They are encased in more immediate realities that shut out conditions beyond -- friends, work, clothes, cars, pop music, sitcoms, Facebook.''

I don't think that people are uninterested in world realities, I think they just haven't realized the world realities yet. Its a phase kids go through now and all it needs is time for that kid to understand their is more to the world than your cell phone. Technology is so advanced today that if people have the access at the palm of their hand why shouldn't they be allowed to use it. Social medias help learn about what's going on around the world now. I can use my phone in the U.S. and know what is happening over in the middle east. 

"Lack of capitalization and IM codes dominate online writing. Without spellcheck, folks are toast."

That is all against the person; growing up with the technology I think we taught where "texting language" can and can't be used. If a kid types "idk" on an exam he deserves to get points off because teachers now stress not to use that language in essays. Plus common sense comes in to know its not appropriate to spell like that and look like an immature child in front of your professor or boss. That helps set reality in for kids as well when they mess up once and the person who reads the text and asks why they would do something like this.

"Bauerlein also frets about the nature of the Internet itself, where people "seek out what they already hope to find, and they want it fast and free, with a minimum of effort."

The internet does help in many ways and the fact that we do have access to it so quick and easy is a blessing. He thinks that people aren't retaining any of the knowledge they look up, but I don't agree most people want to know something for a reason and have a purpose for learning it or remembering it. This counters his point that people only use it for when they want to just know something for no reason.

"Survey after painstakingly recounted survey reveals what most of us already suspect: that America's youth know virtually nothing about history and politics. And no wonder. They have developed a "brazen disregard of books and reading."

I think kids do need to learn a little more about history but I also don't think it is right to say we "know virtually nothing" when that isn't true. People take up different interests so they learn about what they want to learn, not something forced upon them from their high history class. That's what I do not understand; why are older generations trying to shape youth to grow up like they did instead of letting them make their own decision. 

Journal #3

"And I know that everyone who interacts with me is left wondering how someone so "deviant-looking" can be kind, courteous and hospitable."

     This piece of writing creates a picture that helps the reader understand what he does and why he does it. He uses this interview as a way to teach people that tattoos and piercings can have a deep meaning and look like a "biker tattoo". The man is Ph.D. student, if anyone hears that they mostly think of a clean male or woman who was never a bad person in life. He is just what I describe but with tattoos that show where he's been and what it may have took to get there. The statement that caught my eye the most was this because he is making a mark in the world proving not all tattooed, body piercing people are awful non-creditable people.

"Taken as art, tattoos unite disparate cultures, says Skip Pahl, who displayed Rainer's photographs at California's Oceanside Museum of Art. The images attracted an unusually diverse group of museumgoers : Samoan immigrants, surfers, gang members, U.S.. Marines and devout Latinos, all of who have their own tattoo aesthetic."

     The world is an amazing place to live, the amount of attentions tattoos receive is not credited at all. I never thought of a museum sections to be made up of tattoo pictures, and more importantly the large amount of people who go to visit it. Imagine walking in and seeing a gang member looking at the same picture a U.S. Marine is looking at, its just unheard of. Reading this article and noticing how different people of different tattoo aesthetic can study each others art and get a feeling of what they may be dealing with or have a relatable tattoo. Since I do not own any tattoos I am not well with noticing a tattoo with meaning unless the owner explains it. That's the best part, to listening to a memory or story that a piece of art on their body represents and understanding why it meant so much to the creator of the piece.



 

    Tattoos can be anything to anyone but the only person who can tell you the real meaning behind it is the one who got it. The photo on the left shows an old man who has a guy with a push mower on his bald spot. I love this photo because a man just like him lived in my hometown and went to my church. When I was little I always giggled at the man because as a little kid it was just stupid humor. I never did ask the man what it meant but to me it represents growing old and having some fun with it. By that age most people already have their identity so if ever made fun of for that art work it wouldn't effect his everyday life style. I chose the other picture because it seems like the complete opposite of the first one. I focus on the gun shot wounds that are on the right side of his body the most. To me they mean he has been hurt or in harms way in an event so drastic that it took a toll on his life that he needs to be reminded of.
     People with tattoos do not need to be judged because of what they have on their body instead they should be asked why they did it, find out more about that memory. Everyone feels a different way in life and care about different things. The Ph.D. student does it because he believes in certain ways of life and wants to share that information with the world. All the tattoos in the museums create new ideas for the up and coming generations to really go out and explore what you believe in and how you want to represent yourself. Life is to short to forget good or bad memories its what you do about that, makes you the person who you are and how you want to represent that thought.

Class Asignment

“When I announced to my family that I wanted to add an American name, they reacted with their usual laughter.”

I think the author made a good choice proceeding to change her name I think it takes a lot of strength and courage to be able to change your name and ask your family about the decision. If she wanted to change her name and it makes her happier in life why not, her real name was affecting her job opportunity which can ruin her life. Changing her name doesn’t change her cultural identity it’s just what you call someone she still will be the same person if she’s Firoozeh or Julie

“My names, Firoozeh, chosen by my mother, means “Turquoise” in Farsi. In America, it means “Unpronounceable” or “I’m Not Going to Talk to You Because I Cannot Possibly Learn Your Name and I just Don’t Want to Have to Ask You Again and Again because You’ll Think I’m Dumb or You Might Get Upset or Something.”

I think the stereotyping names is still around even if you think it isn’t it is. It is very sad people will judge someone over their name they were given because a person cannot really change their name until they are eighteen.  I take notice to it at college still a place where students should be growing up and realizing that is childish behavior. I think white people in rural areas can sometimes be more associated to this type of bullying.

The name that has been given to you is very important and represents you as a person. Your name could be apart of a family tradition or represent some something that meant a lot to one of your parents. I think if someone feels that bad about their name they should be able to change it, their should make them happy and if a name change makes it better do it.

Journal #2

1.) "The outdoor guys are heavily accessorized, and their accessories are meant to show how hard they work, so they will often have a gigantic wad of keys hanging from a belt loop, a tape measure strapped to the belt, a pocket knife on a string tucked into the front pants pocket, and a pager or a cell phone affixed to the hip, presumably in case some power lines go down somewhere and need emergency repair."

I don't agree with this because I've met many people that are Red Americans and they don't dress like this at all. Yes, they're people out there that do dress like this but what is the big deal what they wear, if someone is comfortable with what they are wearing why does a person feel the need to talk down on them. I think the other side just makes the assumption that everyone is like that and it would be like someone from Red America saying everyone in Blue America only wear suits. I really hate that people have to think like that and can't just get along, because how someone dresses shouldn't make someone think differently about what they do with their life. I wish this author wasn't so bias about being in Blue America because he only seemed to write about what Red America is like and didn't explain the Blue side as much as I hoped he was going too. He said he was from Blue America too, but left out what his life was like and what he usually does on a daily basis.


2.) "And in a flash all the jokes about and seeming hostility toward New Yorkers vanished, to be replaced by an outpouring of respect, support, and love. The old hostility came to seem merely a sort of sibling rivalry, which means nothing when the family itself is under threat."

I like this statement he makes I think it really shows what Americans can really do when their country is on the line against terror. He makes a good reference to family which really reinforces his statement, because if your apart of a family you would or should do what you can to have each others back. The two pictures show two totally different people and one wouldn't think they would team up but they do, plus achieve a lot of work at a short amount of time.

3.) "People have come to understand that they will struggle financially. It's part of their identity. But the economy is not their god. That's the thing some others don't understand. People value a sense of community far more than they do their portfolio.

The author used this as a quote and was one of the parts of his writing I really liked. He did use sources that represented a good group of people instead of people thinking they're just close families who keep to themselves and dress funny. That takes a big person to be able to admit their is a good side to those Red America. Of course some people are bad but that's in either side I'm sure some Blue American people are bad as well that's just life you most deal with.

Red America is described as a person who wear's t-shirts with out sleeves, old ripped denim jeans that are washed twice a year. They are bigger people who do manual labor who car a lot of keys tape measure, pocket knife and with a Van Haleon hair style.

Blue America is described as a person who is very neat and clean, likes to wear a suit or nice outfits. Drive high end cars, Coastal living, independent, up to date in the world. nontraditional

I think they are just cracks in a whole, because a country under attack should be able to put aside all those differences  and realize what actually people should be doing. Once people choose to fight over the differences during a serious event instead of worrying for those who need help is when that crack becomes a chasm.

I'm From The Eagles Nest

I'm from a top of a hill that over sees a lite up stadium,

where we walk down a steep black paved path together,

To a band like no other with loud proud music.

I'm from a place where greasy, vinegar, salty fries are common,

with a large cup of ice cold coke.

I'm from a place where thick white lines can be seen a mile away

grass cleaned cut and designed with stripes.

I'm from a place where chain link fences

Separate fans from athletes.

I'm from a place of being center of attention,

But hearing soft side talk is common.

I'm from a place where rules need to be followed,


Or pay the consequences.

I'm from a place where my view is four inches wide,

Covered in thick protective equipment.

I'm from a side that can be screamed at,

But can't say one word back.

I'm from a team who all wear flags on their helmets,

Play together and always have each others back.

I'm from a football team,

Where family is everyone.

Brain Storming

Growing up I drove an old rusty dirty gold 1998 ford contour. A burger with the grease popping and sizzling on the grill with a layer of a thin sliced piece of American cheese. I like to listen to Kendrick Lamar a rapper who writes up beat tempo songs but also has a couple slow tempo songs.

My high school football field
When you walk in from the top hill through the shinny chain link fence you get a full glimpse of the well taken care of eagles nest. Freshly painted white lines you can see a mile away with the fresh cut grass from the day before that makes it look like a checker board. Then when the orange sun sets the lights appear and you are living a movie on the field as you take center stage.

Listening from the very beginning to the wonderful up beat music the marching band plays as they make there way to the field. Hearing all the small conversation echoing through the stadium with thunderous cheering from the school student section. The high pitch whistle right before the thud of football being kicked and a few seconds later a crack of violence from two players facing off.

Smelling the concession stand famous fries that you could smell from the other side of the stadium. The sweat that drips from each player at the bottom of a dog pile and the odor similar to an old gym locker room after a class.

The fans screaming with pride for their team. Shouts of joy from fans watching their team dominate or the famous "hip hip booo" chant from the kids to the people on the field that look like zebras. Coaches spiting with anger.