Boom and Bust: Journal 6

One of the most powerful stories I have ever heard occurred in my own family. During the Great Depression, my great-grandfather, Edward, lived in New York. He was a potato farmer. On a walk through the city he noticed how foul the air was. It was a very strong, awful smell, and he decided to see where it was coming from. He followed the stench and came to a door about a block away. He knocked on the door of the house and a woman answered. He asked her what the awful smell was, and she answered, "Sir, we are cooking our dog." Edward looked at her and noticed the small children behind her. He knew these were hard times, but he did not think it was alright for a family to eat their own dog. Edward told the woman and her family to wait; he would get them something better to eat. He ran home and took the supper his wife was cooking and brought it to the family. It was a good meal, one with meat, something even Edward rarely enjoyed. That evening, Edward's family ate thick-n-thop, a meal consisting of potatoes and gravy. 

This story is truly one of self sacrifice. One family helping another in a time of great hunger and need. It is so powerful to think that even though both families were struggling during the Great Depression, one would help the other. How hard would it be for someone to give their only meal of meat a week to another family? How awful was it to eat thick-n-thop for the seventh day straight? After my mom had told me this story, I commented that at least Edward's family had food to eat. She responded that they only had the same potato meal to provide for three meals a day, seven days a week. After a while, thick-n-thop would no longer seem like food. 

Boom and Bust: Journal 5

My life would be greatly changed if something similar to the  Great Depression were to occur today. The location of my home would probably be closer to a nearby city. My mom and dad do work near large cities, and we would have to live close by so they would not have to drive to work and could save money on gas. The size of my home would also be much smaller. I would not have my own bedroom anymore, and we might even be cramped for space. My grandfather would probably not be alive today because we could not afford the costly medical expenses. I would also have to stay home from school and take care of him. This would be the worst to me. I would have such a hard time staying at home and making sure my grandfather does not hurt himself. I would miss going to school and learning, but I would be the only one. My parents would want my brother and sister to stay in school because they are younger than me and do not know how to care for my grandfather. My siblings and I would also have to work. Our jobs would most likely be petty and would bring in only minimal amounts of money. Another thing I would miss would have to be the variety of food my family enjoys. If things got really bad, we may have to survive on soup and bland foods. This would be particularly hard for my brother and I since we love to try and eat all kinds of different food. I don't know how long I could mentally survive on the same exact meal everyday. I would also not see my best friend. While my family would move to the city, she would move to the country with her grandparents because they live on a farm. I would certainly miss my friends. I would have a very hard time surviving the Great Depression if it occurred today. 

Boom and Bust: Journal 4

I chose to conserve the national forests for everyone's benefit. I hope that fifty years from now, Americans will see the benefits of preserving wildlife and national forests. The natural beauty of America lies within its majestic landscape. The coasts, wetlands, mountains, and plains are all so diverse, just like the American people. Americans can live where they choose. They can adapt to cold weather, warm weather, wet climates, and dry climates. Americans can choose to live in any climate, any place. People can adapt to all different places. Certain species of plants and animals can only live in a specific climate. They need to live in specific places in order to survive. We need to protect the animals, plants, and habitats in America. If we do not, what will we have to take pride in? The land represents the people. American soil is a reflection of the American people. The land that we live on represents us in so many ways. It shows our diversity as a nation. It shows that people from all over the United States, from different regions, landscapes, and areas can come together and unite as American people. We are united, and we need to unite and strive to conserve national forests-the same forests that represent who we are as Americans.

Boom and Bust: Journal 3

I think that I would not rely on the company and property to look out for me. It would be a mistake to completely rely on the company and property to supply me with everything I need. The company may seem like a better deal right now, but I would want to take a look at the bigger picture. If the labor agitators were a better way to go, I would most definitely decide to follow them. Although a sense of security and unity may come from the company, this unity and security may fail after a while. If worse comes to worse, the company owners and leaders may choose to only look out for themselves. As a younger worker, I don't think I would be one of the people to get the major benefits that others may receive. I also may eventually lose my job and everything that I entrusted the company to supply. I think that one of the causes of the Great Depression was the reliance on large and very powerful companies. People need to rely on others, and choosing to rely on the big company owners was not wise. The company owners realized how much power they had over people during the Great Depression and used it to their own advantage. People worked for little pay. They endured poor conditions. They worked for food and a place to stay. They forgot about luxuries and expensive items that they wanted or used to own. It is very unlikely that company owers would be able to provide for individual interests. They would most likely be intersted in hard working people who would work long hours for little pay.

Boom and Bust: Journal 2

I think that if I were a worker in a sweatshop, I would be a completely different person. I would not have much respect for people that made more money than me and worked under less intensive conditions. I would most certainly be jealous of people who had laid back jobs or jobs that allowed them to have the freedom to choose when they wanted to work and for how long.
Since I am a teenager, I think that working in a sweatshop would be harder for me than for an adult. First of all, I am not physically capable of doing hard physical tasks such as operating large tools. The labor itself would be too much for me to handle. All of the money I earned would probably go to my family. All of the long, laborious hours that I had endured would probably supply me with little money, most of which would be used to purchase food. My younger brother and sister would also probably be working with me in the sweatshop. Between the three of us, we could probably supply our family with enough money for a day's worth of food. My family would not be covered by medical benefits. My sister and brother may even have lost fingers if we were using sewing machines to make the shirts. I do have experience in sewing, so I think the job would be easier for me than for someone who is inexperienced in sewing. I would not like the idea of working fast to get as many shirts as possible done. This would be both dangerous and I think that the shirts would not be made as well. I like to take my time while I work, so working in a sweatshop would really be hard for me. My home after work would probably not feel safe and secure. I would always be afraid to lose my job. I think that having food to eat would cause me to continue to go to work each day and deal with the poor conditions and low pay.

Boom and Bust: Entry 1

One of the most imported 19 century inventions is the incandescent light bulb. It was invented by Thomas Edison over a hundred years ago, and has greatly impact the was society lives today. Without the light bulb, we would literally be in the dark. We use light bulbs today for so many different purposes. One practical use is to see in the dark. Outside lights enable people to walk or drive safely at night. People can also stay awake longer and continue to work and play at later hours. Outside lights also enable us to watch sports events clearly, even in the dark. After school, children can do homework almost anywhere. The light bulb also makes this possible. I would have a hard time doing my homework if we did not have light available late at night. Light bulbs are also very practical when cooking and cleaning. Lights illuminate the counter spaces when people are handling sharp tools that enable them to cook. While preparing meals, my mother always has a few lights on. If she does not, she usually cuts her finger or burns herself. The light allows the human eye to see everything clearly. Without the light bulb, many people could not work. It would be especially difficult to do hospital procedures, such as surgeries and checkups.

African Americans

African Americans have almost always been subjected to prejudice. When they arrived on slave ships they were sold at the docks, separated and torn from their families. They were treated like animals and livestock on the large plantations where they worked. They were forced to follow the rules of their master, and if they did not, they were set before the whip, beaten, and killed. After the American Civil War, African Americans were given a great opportunity to a new start. Acres of plantation land from the South was given to the freed slaves. They were given livestock, the right to vote, and a chance for a new life. They were declared citizens, as every person born in the United States becomes. They were not treated as equals. They were still seen to some as slaves. They were still beaten and hurt at the hands of violent gangs that preyed the South. The Klu Klux Klan was one of the many organizations formed to "exterminate" African Americans. During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans really stood up for what they believed in. They showed the world that what they believed was right. They protested peacefully and sought to bring equality to all races. Caucasian Americans still proceeded to treat African Americans as inferiors. They abused them in public places, drenched them in the streets with fire hoses, and beat them until they had no more breath. The peaceful protests did get African Americans somewhere. Although they were hurt then, their children and grandchildren now have the opportunity to a better life. They are free to be equals, and although there is still racism and prejudice in America, we have learned to live side by side, together as equals.

My grandfather was born in 1912. He has lived through many wars and has seen many events in history. I do not know if he supported or was against the Civil Rights Movement. I will probably never know since he now suffers from dementia. It is so hard to speak with him. It is hard to understand his mumbled sentences, as the words are lost in his breath. He does not even know my name. My grandfather does know that we have an African American president. He remembers his name. I think this is wonderful. My grandfather knows who our president is. It is great to see him know about and be a part of something so great in American history.

The Judgment of Accents

People who come to America are judged by others. Immigrants are judged by their education, social skills, standards, goals, achievements, and character. They are also judged by how they speak and their accent.

Everyday, I receive a telephone call from at least one telemarketer. Most of them speak with such thick or heavy accents, that it is very hard to understand what they are saying. When I hang up the phone, I find myself wondering why they do not have a different job. Why do they speak with such a heavy accent? When my younger brother answers the phone, he often tries to mimic the accent. It was amusing to hear him speak like the telemarketer at first, but then I found myself wondering: Do others feel the same way as he? Why do we judge telemarketers and others with accents with such ferocity?

When I went to Hungary with my family a few summers ago, I found that I was stared at when I went to public places. I can not speak Hungarian, so my communication with others was very limited. When I spoke to the members of my family in English, I found myself wondering what others were thinking when they stared at me. Were they jealous of my American accent? Did they think I was too stupid to learn their language? What were they really thinking? It really hurt when they tried to mimic how I was speaking, and I found that when I did not understand what they were saying it made me very upset. In this way I could really relate to the telemarketer who calls everyday.

When my father came to the United States from Hungary, the doors of opportunity opened up to him. He had the chance to do and be whatever he wanted. As I grew older, I found myself embarrassed whenever we went out to eat. The waiter or waitress could almost never understand what my father said. He would have to repeat himself several times, and then someone from my family would eventually tell the waiter what he was trying to say. I could not understand why other people had such a hard time understanding my father. When I discovered that his accent was the barrier that kept him from effectively communicating, I tried to smother it. I tried to correct his English. I did whatever I could to stop him from speaking with an accent. I felt he was inferrior to society, and I felt that because I was his daughter I was subjected to the same social standards as him. Over time, I discovered how intelligent he really was. He was very accepted in his workplace, and many people looked up to him for answers. It was not fair for me to judge him by his accent. I now know that I am proud of his accent because it is the true mark of his culture and our heritage.

Native Americans

Ever since the first settlers arrived in America, barriers have been made between the groups. The first settlers encountered difficulty in sharing the New World with Native Americans. They found that in order to survive the harsh winters, they needed the guidance of the Native Americans who had lived on the same land for many generations. They found that working together benefited both groups of people. They came together to survive. The settlers needed food and guidance, and the Native Americans needed remedies for the strange diseases the settlers brought.

Eventually, the help the Native Americans offered to the settlers was forgotten. During the first hundred years as a united nation, American citizens worked toward moving Native Americans west. They moved the people from their homelands and made room for immigrants coming from Europe. Eventually, it was found to be too crowded on the East coast, and Americans were encouraged to travel west. Again, the Native Americans found themselves trapped. They were placed on reservations, killed at the hands of fearful settlers, and made to attend Indian Schools. The Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania was the first Indian School to be established. The ultimate goal of the Indian School was to "Kill the Indian, Save the Man." The Native Americans that attended the school were not allowed to use their native language or contact their relatives for several years. The were also made to wear specific uniforms to make them "civilized." Boys wore military uniforms, and girls wore Victorian dresses. The children at the school were also victims of disease. A graveyard was eventually constructed at the school because the cost and effort of sending the bodies of children home to their parents was too great.

Today, Native Americans still have many struggles with American citizens. There are disputes over where Native Americans should live, and how they should live. Their race is dipicted on the uniforms of sports teams nationwide. Children across America dress as Indians for Halloween. Schools are sure to study the First Thanksgiving, the story of Pocahantas, and the Trail of Tears. What we do not learn are their stories, their cultures, and how they see what happened. I am sure their views are very different from ours, and we should try to learn, understand, and accept their culture as much as we want them to accept and be a part of ours.

Japanese Americans

I never knew how awfully the United States treated Japanese Americans. It was shocking and disappointing to discover the truth behind the hatred towards other Japanese Americans. I thought that the hate towards other races would not be as strong as it was during and after World War II. The presentation of the hardships that Japanese Americans endured opened my eyes to something that I had never known before. It was very interesting to learn how the United States, a tossed salad of many cultures, treated Japanese Americans.

The internment camps were very awful to hear about. They seemed comparable to a concentration camp in Europe. The differences I found were that the people placed in these camps were not working as brutally if they were working at all. The camps had over 120,000 people living in just a few locations nationwide. The people lived in poor conditions. There was no plumbing or cooking facilities. The people stayed warm with several blankets since there was no heat. Each person only received 48 cents for food each day. These conditions are very surprising and brutal when compared with today's standards. Even more shocking is the fact that half of the members of these camps were children.

I did not like how the death and destruction of Japanese people was promoted in cartoons during World War II. The hate that Americans show toward Japanese is inhumane and very stereotypical. Americans compared people of Asian race to monsters and beasts that were considered savage. This is so wrong. Americans repeat their wrongs. Their hatred and lack of knowledge and consideration for another culture different from them is wrong. We need to destroy the bonds that separate "us" from "them." We need to let stereotypes and judgments of others fall apart and be lost within generations. We need to continue to study our wrongs so that we do not repeat them. Let us not forget how far we have come and what it took us to get thus far. We can and will be a stronger American if we knock down the barriers that segregate us.

Working as a Group

Researching about the lives of Native Americans today was very interesting. Our group found a lot of good information on several interesting topics. We found information on the mascots, the first Indian school, and the general history of the struggles that Native Americans have endured. I found that the communication within the group was very limited. Once and a while there was a little discussion over what someone else had found. Most of us did not even know what everyone researched until it was time to put the entire project together.

Communication also played a major role when we tried to put the project together. The group members creating the PowerPoint presentation seemed unsure of what to do. While presenting, the PowerPoint presentation’s slides seemed out of order. The order of presentation was also confusing. Most of the group members did not know when their slide would appear, as the order of the slides were rearranged after all of the information was put into the PowerPoint.

Overall, working in a group proved to be a lot harder than usual. It was very difficult to know and understand what the other group members were doing and when they were presenting. The information we found was very good and interesting, but the organization of the information was ineffective. If the information we presented would have been organized through better communication, than we could have had a more effective and interesting presentation. 

Walking a Mile: A First Step Toward Mutual Understanding

“Do not judge a man until you have walked two moons in his moccasins.” We could learn so much about another person if we just walked a mile in his moccasins. If we could experience another person’s heartache, troubles, joys, and sorrows, we could learn so much about another culture. We could experience what others feel when we judge them, and maybe even realize that our stereotypes and judgments are very cruel and wrong.

The study of views between the two cultures was good to read. It expressed how little Americans know about the men and women who once made a home on American soil. We forced the Native Americans away and we still do not fully understand who they are and what they believe. Native American and Americans alike crave the knowledge and understanding of the other culture. Each side wants to know the other, but generations of abuse, the lack of understanding, and constant stereotypes and judgments stand in the way.

Native Americans have been hurt for many years. They were removed from their sacred lands and forced to venture west. After this their children were sent to schools such that “killed the Indian, and saved the man.” Today, Native Americans are depicted on the uniforms of several national sport teams. The media depicts Native Americans to appear savage and even uncultured. Even American children are stereotypical when they dress as the “savage Indian” for Halloween. The hurt will not disappear, as many Native Americans will still be hurt and wary after so many generations of abuse, but we may have a good chance at ending it. We should never forget what Native Americans went though, what they are still going through today. Choosing to understand someone else and walk a few moments in their moccasins may give us the opportunity for peace and understanding. 

Abortion

Many people disagree over the matter of abortion. It is very hard to dicuss and there seems to be no right or wrong answer. Some people say that at the moment of conception, the zygote is alive. Others state that when the embryo is three months old and develops an audible heart beat it is alive. Still others state that only when the child is born it is considered alive.

Abortion is wrong in many cases, and in may be right in others. If a woman is pronounced pregnant after rape, the woman should have the right to abortion. Hundreds of years ago, the unwanted, unborn child was destroyed through poison. If women were not allowed to abort a tragically concieved child they would most certainly find other means of destorying the unborn child. It may not be right, but the woman should be entitled to the decision of abortion or birth after rape.

On the other hand, women who accidentally become pregnant should not have the right to abortion. Pregnancy against one person's will is one argument, accidental pregnancy after consent on both sides is something else. The mother should not be permitted to have an abortion. It is not right to take a baby's life. It is wrong to kill the baby just because it is unwanted. Mothers who decide they do not wish to have the baby should give birth. They should give the baby to another family, put the child up for adoption, or decide to raise it themselves. Who knows? The baby may be the next Albert Einstein, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Jefferson, or Harriet Tubman. If there is an abortion before the child is given a chance at life, we are depriving our society of all of the gifts the child may offer.

In Our Community

This past weekend I discovered how close the demand for equality was in my own life. I did not realize how many people of different races, genders, religion, and cultures were being judged and persecuted today. I did not realize that the struggle for equality exists in the United States everyday. It is unfair how religions and beliefs are judged; and people are thought to be cruel, dirty, and frightening because of a common stereotype.

            This weekend I lost much respect for an older, Christian woman because of a truly cruel and stereotypical remark she made. A teenager in my youth group at church was discussing how he had recently met a teenager at school. The teen and his family were from the Middle East, and the boy in my youth group had recently befriended him at school. The boy from the Middle East was different, as most Americans are. The two had become friends instantly and today they attend a local school together.

            The older, Christian woman was the mother of the boy who had befriended the young man from the Middle East. Her son had tried to invite his friend over many times, and this Saturday he had tried once more. After another decline from the teenager, the mother started to question her son about the teenager. She asked many cautious questions, but the one that made me angry was a reference to the teenager’s religion. Her son had just finished telling her that the teenager’s religion was Muslim. She made the following remark: “Oh, that’s scary. You better be careful.” I was infuriated upon hearing this story. The mother had judged the teenager based on his religion! She had never met him, and did not know that he was very similar to her own son. The only difference was his beliefs and his culture. I spoke up after she had made this comment. Even though she was older than me by about thirty years, I felt the need to say something. I told her how wrong she was to judge anyone. I reminded her that she never had even met the teenager. I then went on to say that people who judge others find themselves hating other people they have never met. The hate leads to the extermination of all kinds of people, from all over the world.

I wanted to say so much more to this woman, but I was so angry and frustrated that I just could not find any words. How can a Christian woman say something so cruel about another person? I wonder if others are saying that all Christians are just like this woman. I am a Christian. Does that make me a better or worse person? It is not our place to judge. We as Americans are to live freely and bravely. It is not our place as Americans to judge others based on their race, gender, religion, and culture. We need to be strong and together as one accepting and free nation. 

Holocaust Symposium

The struggle for equality can truly be seen in the hearts, memories, and lives of the survivors of the Holocaust. Erica Herz Van Adelsburg is one of the many Jews to survive the terrors of World War II. Her journey is very similar to Anne Frank's. She did not emphasize the ways in which she was mistreated during the discussion we were privileged to have with her. She did not discuss the terrors and awful happenings in depth. Erica told us the journey she was forced to take with her family. She emphasized the ways she stayed alive. It was so powerful to hear that just the sight of one of her family members in the concentration camp brought her the will to live. Her brother, mother, and father all survived because they were permitted to see each every day. Even if their time together was short, it must have been strong and satisfying enough to keep her alive. Erica Herz Van Adelsberg also spoke of the youth group that she attended at the concentration camp. She described it as a way to interact with youth just like her. She said that attending the youth group also brought her the will to live. It must have been so relieving to discuss the griefs, joys, and troubles with others her own age. When forced to leave the concentration camp to be deported, Erica Herz Van Adelsberg wrote a beautiful poem to her youth group. The poem illustrated the strong connection and hope that Erica was given through the members of the youth group. It was so powerful to hear a survivor of such a terrible event in history to speak about the deep connects and willpower that ordinary people can find in their families and friends. 

Reflections on the Speech of Martin Luther King Jr.

The speech of Martin Luther King Jr. truly describes the passion and power behind freedom. He wanted people of all skin colors to have the same freedom. The speech describes freedom in such a way that is simple and powerful. It allows people from all over the United States to relate to his one message of freedom for all. The United States was founded after taking freedom in a Declaration created in 1776. Freedom was taken and achieved through hard work and much sacrifice. Martin Luther King Jr. felt this passion when taking freedom for African-Americans during the 1960s. It is because of his integrity, passion, and dream that his goal is very much accomplished and the "walls of racism" are falling.