Day 5 Response to Arianna: Kiarah Lazo

Have you heard of the SB1070 Law? The SB1070 Law (Senate Bill) is racial profiling against the Latinos and Latinas by law enforcement. This law was going to be passed on July 29, 2010 in Arizona, but it was blocked. You may ask why was it blocked, well it was blocked because of the many people going against this law and demanding Obama to impeach the law. We Latinos and Latinas needed to stand up for our people but yet it wasn’t just us, there were many races going against this law. When you see a Hispanic person walking down the street, what do you think of them? Most people see us just as people who do not know English, thieves, gang bangers, etc. There are some people who think very negative of us, but they are wrong. Truthfully, there are few Hispanics who don’t deserve to be here in the United States. Then again there are those who have families and jobs and pay taxes, these people definitely deserve to stay here in the United States and become a citizen. The quote from Persepolis on page 76,”She should start learning to defend her rights as a woman right now!” makes me think of a Hispanic woman saying that quote but instead of woman it would say Latina. This also reminds me of this young boy who was separated from his mother due to her being deported. Just two weeks ago I myself and hundreds of other Hispanics including Saul, we went to Washington D.C. to march in front of the white house. Saul and five other kids whose parents were deported got to speak to Nancy Pelosi and tell her their stories. That right there is him starting off young and learning how to defend his rights as a Latino. When I meet new people in my very own community and tell them about this law, some of them go against me and try to bring me down in a way of me not knowing what I’m talking about. Therefore I stand tall and debate with this person that this law is not right, it is racial profiling people right off the street. I once told a man who went against me, what if a family member of yours left one morning to go to school or work and never came back because they were stopped by the police and was taken away, deported back to their country. This man stood quiet, and told me I was doing a good thing. This man made me realize that once your voice is heard it changes things.

Response to Question 1 Day 5 Tony Jackson "Too Many Faces"

I believe that everyone no matter color, race, gender, sexuality, or style should have to deal with being put into a box. I like to dress the way I want I like skinny jeans and cardigans and fitted clothes but in my neighborhood the style is baggy, loose fit, dark clothes that make you look like a gangster. I work for the cook county green program, it’s an organization that helps clean up the community and plants flower beds and gardens along the bike path that runs through Maywood. It was Monday and we were going on a trip to visit another garden somewhere in Chicago. I didn’t know the area that they were talking about but my co workers did and when they found out where we were going they made a big deal about what would happen to me if I went to this certain place with the clothes I had on. They said that I would be called gay or that I would get made fun of. They went as far as saying that I would get beat up. So everyone wanted me to dress more like them, more “ghetto”. I didn’t like that I compromised who I am.
Something that mark said in the book really connects to this situation “having to put on a mask all the time. What does it feel like? How Does it make you as if you lose track of who you really are” (51) the boys in the book have to pretend all the time that they are something that they’re not they have to put on different faces for different things that go on in the jail. My coworkers wanted me to be something I’m not so I told them that I couldn’t do that because who I am is who I am I don’t have to be anybody else but me. They all laughed and tried to warn me again but I stood by it. The next day I dressed in what I wanted to dress in and to their surprise people were saying they like how I dress so because I defended myself and didn’t change I was looked at as an individual.

Day 5 response to Skyler-Arianna King

As many families that were born and raised in a certain place they may seem to be comfortable and not want to leave. “Our country has always known war and Martyrs so, like my father said: ‘When a big wave comes, lower your head and let it pass’! (94)” This shows that they were not going to leave no matter what. The mother and the father seem to feel the same way. Marjane was watching her friends leave for the United States and did not understand why. For example in my life: My grandmother has the money to live in a better place. The house she is in now she has been in for 40 years. She feels comfortable and is somewhat ignorant to what is going on around her. As a citizen of the United States I feel that I don’t have a choice but, to stay and fight for the country I believe in. I feel that fighting for my country is my right and should be taken very serious. If you are living in a certain place and were decelerated as a citizen then you chose to live the way the country is run. If you get to a certain age where you feel that your country is under a tyrant rule then you should leave. You have the ultimate choice in your life. Marjane choice soon was to leave at an older age. She will soon see a different lifestyle in another place as a teenager. Which then had me ask myself should she have stayed and fought with her country for what she use to believe in?

I believed Day 5

Yes I believed I had to defend my belief in my goals of music and the way I dress I had to defend my sexuality to my dad and other people Music can change the way people act good and bad, music influses the savage beast. The sweet sound has been around since the beginning of time. It started with the caveman using animal bones to make sounds to communicate. people communicate with music there are no barriers anyone can understand it. Music is a way of life, But not for all people. In some counties music is not allowed and some school do not havemusic class.for example in the movie footloose dancing and music was not allowed.I feel that music should be every where music can influence you to do better.when I listen to music in school it distracts me from the comotion going on and I focus better on subjects.
page .She should start learning to befend her rights as a woman right now! (76)

Response to Arianna's post - Skyler Kelly

I've had to stand up for several things in my life but one situation that really stood out was when I had an adult come up to me and tell me that he was in charge and that he had full control over me. I stated that I was a legal adult and I had the same rights that he did to some extent. Referring back to the quote, Marjane's mother says that she is going to stand up for what she believed was right. This is very similar to my situation because I felt like the man was taking advantage of me which is exactly what it was like for the women in Iran during that time period. I felt great after expressing my thoughts about my rights to the man. At first he was speechless because he knew that he was completely wrong and he didn’t expect me to react the way that I did. Surprisingly, I expected him to go on and endless rant stating why he thought he had more rights than I did, but he took my words into consideration. I felt like this was a positive outcome because not once in my life have I ever spoken out against an adult to find out that I was right. If the all of women in Iran spoke out for their rights it may seem like a bad idea, but eventually the government would have to consider changing the law making men and women equal. I am proud of myself for doing this and anyone with the courage to stand up for their rights should feel the same.

day 4 response to skyler (sean Mackenna)

Yes Skyler, i would stay. if there was a war going on in America i would be one of the many who would stay and fight. America is my home and there are people here that i love so if i had to fight it would be for them. just like Kevin said when he wrote his three part paper "i think about freedom and what it really is" (98) freedom to me is not having to worry about me shot at, doing everyday activities like we do now, and being able to walk around and not worry about other people. unfortunately for Patrick after joining a gang he had enemies he never even seen before. the gang life is like a war within itself. gangs always trying to 1 up the other gang and do horrible things just to get a reaction out of someone. although im pretty sure were not going to have a war here in America, i would stay and fight for my freedom and the freedom of everyone i love. theirs a lot of people that wouldn't stay because of there morals, health issues, or are just plain scared. at the end of the day though the U.S.A. is the place i came from and it would be the place where i would die. of course i would be scared. not afraid to die but too actually kill someone. i don't know if i would have it in me but the way i view it is that its either my life or theirs and i have to many people to protect to get killed. i think a lot of people would leave because they are afraid to die. death is part of life. all things die and eventually we will. i would rather leave this world knowing i tried to protect what i know instead of old age. people have wars in there countries and not all of them can get out. a lot of people die because they cannot escape but there are still many people who stay and fight and come out fine. my friend Jon-Jon is enlisted in the military and is going to be shipped off to Iraq soon. the one thing i will always remember him saying was "we all have something to fight for. mine is my brother." this just shows that people are willing to die for what they want to keep safe. come back soon Jonathan Herrera.

Response # 5

As a child i was taught Jesus died on the cross for my sin's and with out god in my life i am nothing. It took me a while to understand the meaning of what that really meant. It took a small thing called faith to believe in something even if it don't seem like it will come to reality. I had a friend in high school that didn't Believe in ANYTHING she thought nothing was possible. i believe that i could try to change the way she felt and by the end of the school year and i did. I fought for what i believe in, and to get her to notice things that seem impossible are possible.
In true notebook on pg. 55 Kevin feels that his life is meaningless and he's not sure if he know what he want to be in life. After he said that Francisco told him "your ain't meaningless the bible say so". Kevin still don't believe he can see his life becoming better after being locked up. Francisco told Kevin " god loves you, homes, you just gotta love him back and then he'll tell you what to do with your life". I believe that Francisco had to do the same thing, he had to believe that god loves him and with having faith you will be alright. Jimmy still have doubts about it because he said on pg 55. "My brother loves god and look at all the good it's done him" Jimmy feels as even though his brother love god, why is god letting that disease kill him. Sometimes god can allow other things happen to someone close to just for you wake and see what you are doing is wrong.
When you believe in something you have to have faith and keep believing no matter what comes your way. Just because you cant feel the air doesn't stop you from breathing and just because you cant see god doesn't stop you from believing.

Day 5 Answer Christopher Johnson

I'm not reading the book Persepolis but I can most definitely relate to the character defending her rights as a woman. Many times in my life I've been discriminated against because of my sexual orientation and I've had to stand up for myself to prove that I'm not an easy target. During my junior year in high school someone spread a rumor that I was having sex with people in public restrooms but of course this was completely false and of course I was pissed. When I confronted the boy about the rumor he proceeded to attempt to intimidate me and of course this resulted in me hauling off and punching the kid in the face. I do not condone violence in any way, shape or fashion and in truth I think its dumb to fight but sometimes you have to stand up for yourself so people will know you mean business. Junior year in high school was pretty rough for me and alot of things happened but after that situation I had no more problems. In True Notebooks the young men in jail always find themselves having to defend themselves. For example in the creative writing class Francisco Javier is the self proclaimed leader of the group but when Nathaniel Long joins he must flex his muscle in order to keep in his title. "Read it."(82) is what he says to Jimmy when it came time to share because he wanted Nathaniel to know that he was in charge. He takes this writing class seriously and refuses to allow Nathaniel to make a mockery of it.

skyler's blog day 5

Despite the ability for Marjane’s parents to leave, why do you think they ended up staying? As stated on page 84 in Persepolis, "I was all wrong about dad, he loved his country as much as I did." Do you have enough pride as a US citizen to willingly stay if we had a war?

Day 5 answer to Skyler (tationa)

I have read the book before, so I think the parents stayed but Marjane didn’t because the parents wanted best for her which would be moving to Vienna. They saw how much the war made an impact on her and the parents wanted a better and peaceful up bringing than what they had when they were children. In my opinion, I believe that if there was a war I wouldn’t stay. Wars are dangerous and almost any and everyone can get hurt. I have enough pride to live in the US, but if it’s something that may hurt me or my family then I would leave and never come back until things get better. People would understand that leaving for a better life would be much better than living in a war. However, in True Notebooks leaving a gang for a better future is the opposite of facing a war. “If you turn your back on the gang, who do you go left? By the time you’re locked up, how many people you think still care about you? Your family, maybe and that’s it. And they can’t do the time with you. If you leave the gang, you’re a buster, and everybody hates you” (76). If you turn your back on them, then they would look at you as a traitor and in some cases come after you. Gangs are like war you either stay with the group or die by the hands of your gang family.

Day 5: Answer to Arianna King (Jorgina Kelly)

It is nothing major but one time I had to clean the kitchen for a whole week. Usually my sisters and I take turns everyday cleaning each part of the house but this one week I had to clean up for the whole week. If we don’t clean up when we are suppose to then we have to clean up the kitchen for a whole week. When my mother has company over, play cards and drink, then it is an exception that my sisters and I can wait until the next day to clean the kitchen because most likely we will fall asleep before they do. So on a Friday; I had to clean up that day. I went out to my friend’s house and came in after my mother’s company had left and went straight to sleep. The next morning, it was my little sister turn to clean up and she felt that since the dishes was left over from last night then I should clean them up. We tried to work it out amongst ourselves so that our mother would not have to get involved. Somehow she heard us arguing and told us to come here. I explained the situation; she listened and made me clean the kitchen for a week because I could have cleaned the kitchen before I went to bed that night. I was mad to the point where I cried because my mother and everybody in my house knows that my little sister is lazy and tries to get out of any cleaning she can but I also understood why I was cleaning for the next week. In the novel True Notebooks, the juveniles defend themselves by writing on paper. “You write about the negative, then. If you can write about it, you get it out in the open. It eases the pressure,” says the guard. Jimmy states, “It doesn’t change the reality, though. You’re still stuck in your fucked-up life. Nothing changes.”(p.51) I defend myself by actually getting up and saying something but in some way or form we actually both get to the process of defending ourselves.

Day 5-Answer to Skyler-Jamahl Jackson

If america was filled with war I would not stay!I would go back to the filipines in a heartbeat.I wouldnt want to look at the disatster of this country.This country would fail it couldnt survive because of there sense of everything is going to be okay and the way that they are living.Other countries would be better equipped to deal with a war because the have been taught that its okay to fight for what you belive in to stand up for what is right.I believe that other people from diffrent cultures are so in tunned with their culture and beliefs because they are taught from birth to believe one thing and one thing only.I also say its because there living situations might be worster than our current living status .So this in a way makes them richer in knowledge and better equppied to live in a world that has so many problems.

When natural disasters happened in the U.S it seemed like their whole world was diminished.American sense of prosperity had vanished.But in other countries like Africa and Saudi Arabia these things are happening everyday and Americans dont even hear about them.

In persphilis her country is filled with war and revolution (page 10) "She says the revolution is like a bicyclcyle when the wheels dont turn it falls."In iraq there is a war going on as we speak.But as american are we protesting against it , are we writing letters or are we sitting in our homes just waiting for it to all stop.

Believing

There are times that I have conversations with lesbians and I would tell them just as well as homosexuals that what they are doing is wrong. It's my belief and opinion but I defiantly have ways to back up what I'm saying. In the bible God had destroyed a who town because of this same sex things. So what makes people think it's right now? I'm not homophobic or anything,I'm actually cool with some lesbians and bisexuals but I just think the whole thing is nasty. People that do participate in these endeavors, always have disagreements with me but they can never back up there part of the argument. A different time is some people have a different mindset with me about dating outside your race. I don't think there's nothing wrong with it. But some people, even some in my family, says "If they can't use your comb, don't bring them home", which is funny but a horrible thing. A different situation is the argument about me putting my music in front of certain things. My family sometimes don't think it's nessary for me to practice the way I do or put everything in a music form. Like I could be having a conversation and beat would just come in my head and I would just begin to air play the drums. I believe the hard work that I'm putting into my craft will pay off when the right time is near. I feel as long as I have my prospectives in order( God, family, school, music), i should be good.

Day 5- Answer to Arianna

Back in my 11th grade year I had to defend myself physically against a group of people. It wasn’t so much as me believing in something and they believing another; it was a misunderstanding, I guess. People fear what they don’t understand and boys, most likely, have to defend themselves physically. There’s this thing called pride which gets in the way of our peaceful thinking. We see someone “disrespecting” us and immediately have to stand our ground instead of thinking about the future and what could happen if we retaliate. “Some fool from M/N was talking stuff to him in school and Hall talked some stuff back. What’s he supposed to do?” (90). Nathaniel Hall’s actions resulted in him not being able to attend the writing class or come out his cell. He did not think of the future, he didn’t think of the consequences. He believe that if someone talks smack to him then he should talk smack right back to him; he believed in defending himself physically instead of taking the high road and ignoring whatever was said. His surroundings made him believe that if he chickens out in any way then he’ll be considered a punk, and a punk is a bad thing to be because everyone picks on you. It’s human nature to stand up for oneself. That’s what my mother taught me, if someone hits you then you hit them back. No one likes to get picked on and pushed around and bullied, we all want to be respected. Once we find something worth fighting for, we fight for it, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Day 5 Answer Dacia Hill

I am An African American woman. In my life there have been many times where I had to defend myself I failed sometimes but I never stopped trying. Although I felt like I was living in a shell I was alone but I realize that only made me stronger in the end. A few years ago I went to visit a small town with my father and his wife. A woman I was told that the books I read (adventure novels) were point less. They also felt my race was a useless one. How do I begin to tell you have worthless I began to feel? At first I didn't know what to say. Should I leave, I was lost in her words. I then told her that I was a wonderful smart open minded girl and there is she could do to stop me from living my dreams as a proud Black woman. She was wrong. Like in Persepolis the nun told the parents "your children have no respect for anything ...The basis of education (98)" She told me I was disrespectful. I stated to her that respect is earned and at this point she will never have it from me. Then I left. When I told my father he responded: “I went through the same types of problems” nothing else. I wanted him to go back and defend me also but no luck it’s been 2 years since I last visited him. I never forgot that day. I truly felt proud of myself and my race because I did it on my own I never needed my fathers help. I knew who I was and I was okay with it and I still am. That day Just like Marjane I learned no one can make you feel inferior unless you let them. Words are sometimes just ignorance displayed by the ignorant.

Arianna King Question Day 5

In the book Persepolis the mother stated, "She should start learning to defend her rights as a woman right now!" (76). Have you ever felt that you had to defend yourself in what you believed in? Describe the situation, how you felt and the outcome.