"Why the M Word Matters to Me"

In the article “Why the M Word Matters to Me” by Andrew Sullivan is about how Sullivan realizes that he is gay when he is a teen. He tried hiding it from his friends and family. His family especially would not accept it. They are huge Catholics and don’t believe in gay marriages. As he gets older he accepted it more. He started relationships, and told friends and family.

                Getting married should be the most greatest and happiest day of your life, whether your gay or straight. It is true what Sullivan said how churches sometimes say no to gay marriages. In my opinion that is wrong. I know Catholics have strong beliefs, but if you love someone and want to devote all your time and energy to that one person, they should have the right to get married.

                I have met a lot of gay in my life time. And I have to say that they are the nicest people you will ever meet. They always love to have fun with both boys and girls. A lot of people are actually offended to be friends with a gay people. They have this thought that they are interested in them, so they try to keep their distance. Also, some people will not even try to be friends with a gay person because they follow the stereotypes. A close friend of mine is gay and people he does not even know from a hole in the wall harass him daily. They harassed him so bad that he had to go to therapy because he was having suicidal thoughts.

                People should really have some consideration for others. Whether someone is gay or straight, they have feeling too. If someone has something negative or hurtful to say, they should keep their thoughts to themselves. I hope that as the years go on, and the generation of kids keeps piling up, that people will be more respectful and accepting of other people’s beliefs and life styles.

"Book War"

The article “Book War” by Wang Ping is about Ping growing up in China. Back in the 1960’s the government closed schools and banned books. If any citizens were caught breaking the rules it could lead to a death sentence. Ping’s mother buried a box of books under the chicken coop so they would not be discovered. But Ping unburied them. When his mother found out she made him rip pages out and burn them in the fire place.

            I don’t think this is right. People in all countries should have the right to learn. Reading books is on of the greatest learning strategies. If countries really want to banned learning and reading, their punishment should not be a death sentence. In my opinion that’s too harsh. They should come up with a punishment that is not harmful to the citizens. If learning was banned in the United States I would try and fight it. I would make a protest with other citizens to save learning.

 If I had children who wanted to read, I would not stop them, even if it was banned. I would let them read in a safe area to make sure they got their education. I would never do what Ping’s mother did! I would never crush my children’s heart by making them rip up their favorite books and watch them burn. I think that wasn’t right of her. She should of went about things a different way. She should have took them away and re-hid them from her child.

            Even though countries have many different beliefs, people still have their rights. I am just thankful we live in a country where the government encourages learning. I wouldn’t change our life style for anything in the world. 

"Driving While Stupid"

          The article "Driving While Stupid" by Dave Barry is about how Barry has driven in almost every major city. He has sen people putting on make up while driving, reading, eating, changing CD's, and even shaving behind the wheel. His most dangerous city was Miami. Between all the reckless driving and speeding, its the worst yet.

          This is very true! Even though I haven't driven in any major cities, I have had my fair share of seeing weird things on the road. I have witnessed someone shaving their face, picking their nose, painting their nails, and plucking their eye brows. It is extremely dangerous to be preoccupied with other things rather than watching the road. I have also noticed that people who are paying attention to other things speed, stop short, and are reckless drivers. These people are putting themselves ands other innocent people in danger. A couple years ago, there was a fatal accident on Route 44 near my house. Come to find out the women was putting on make up while driving. She was speeding and she lost control and hit a tree.

          People make very bad judgments everyday. If you need to shave your face or do your make up, start getting ready earlier so you have time to do that at home. Instead of endangering yourself and other people. People really need to start practicing safe driving. Putting on make up or reading a book at a red light is not as important as your life or someone else's.

"Cell Yell: Thanks for (Not) Sharing"

            The article “Cell Yell: Thanks for (Not) Sharing” by Eric A. Taub is about how society today with cell phone use intrudes on other people’s lives. Back in the 1950’s when people needed to make a call they were able to use phone booths so their conversations were private and excluded to other people. A lot of people are extremely rude, making or answering calls while in an air plane, in the movies, and even in restaurants.

            I completely agree with Taub because I can’t tell you how many times I go out somewhere and I feel like I’m apart of someone’s conversation. I noticed that a lot of people talk loud while on the phone. I sometimes catch myself doing it too. I think it’s because if you are having a hard time hearing the other person that you feel that they cant hear you, so you have to peak up. It’s really distracting when you are out to eat trying to enjoy yourself, while the person near you is screaming on the phone. Another problem is that people are sometimes so inconsiderate that they leave their phones on loud and it rings while in a movie theater and they sit and talk over the movie. People should be more respectful to others. If the phone call is important walk out of the movies or restaurant and answer it. Cell phones have become such a huge part society. Even now texting is becoming a problem. Kids especially will answer a text in class and while driving. Even with the new law in tact, people still text and drive and it’s a huge danger to other people.

            I believe cell phones are a good thing to have just incase of an emergency. But people are taking abuse to it. The society would be a better and safer place if people put them to the side and used them respectfully and when necessary.  

"When Greed Gives Way to Giving"

            The article “When Greed Gives Way to Giving” By Ana Veciana-Suarez was about a 67 year-old man named Bob Thompson who sold his road-building company for $422 million. Instead of spending it on himself, he decided to share his wealth with his 550 workers.

            This article caught my attention because I am surprised someone would share that kind of money. You have to have a big heart to do that for people. In today’s society you rarely id ever hear about someone doing that for their employees. I envy Thompson because of his generosity. I am a very generous person myself but I don’t think I would share my wealth. I am upset with myself for saying that because I love helping people in their time of need. But when it comes to working and saving money, in today’s economy being so bad, you need to keep and save every penny you have to make a living. When it comes down to it I will go out of my way to help people and to make people happy. I am a strong believer in karma and I think that’s where my generosity comes from. I feel that id you help people and are nice to people, in the long run it will help you. Also, while in the process of being generous you walk away feeling good about yourself.

            I agree with Veciana-Suarez when she says “He seems to have mastered what many of us have yet to understand.” Thompson is a very generous man and I think if more people practiced generosity a little more the world would be such a better place.   

"A Risk Free Life"

            In the article “A Risk Free Life” by Leonard Pitts is about a woman getting her unborn child tested for Alzheimer’s. She is worried because it runs in the family. Also, Pitts talks about how in the future you’ll be able to use a check list to pretty much build your child from skin color, hair color, eye color, to height, and weight.

            This article really caught my attention. I love psychology and people’s opinions about the subject are quite interesting. Personally I believe there will be a technique to choose eye and hair color. But as for using a check list to build your child in impossible. From studying psychology I have learned that you can not choose what your child looks like, the 23^rd chromosome of the father chooses the gender. And what ever the mother and father’s genotype and phenotype are chooses what dominant and recessive gene the child will have. The child is supposed to resemble the mother and father that’s why they call it an offspring. If people have the ability to assemble their child that defeats the purpose. Pitts has some pretty interesting ideas about the future, but I highly doubt we will get that technical.

            If Pitts is correct about future technology I would choose not to do it. I would want my child to represent my husband and I naturally rather than how we want them to look. Also, I am all for getting my unborn child tested for genetic diseases. A lot of heart issues are in my family and it seems that a type of mental illness skips a generation. And I would like to know before hand so if my child is positive for any disease my husband and I are mentally and physically prepared for what we have in store for us.

"Good Grammar Get the Girl"

In the article “Good Grammar Gets the Girl” by Elissa Englund tells about how using proper grammar gives you a better chance at life. Just like in the story Englund tells about a dating site she’s on and how she meets a guy that goes by the name Craig. He seems like a sweet guy but all his grammar errors turn her off. And Englund deletes him from her contact list.

I think this is a little too harsh. Even though everyone should use proper grammar, there are also simple mistakes people make. I don’t agree with Englund about deleting people from contact lists, or shutting them out of your life completely because of grammar errors. I make a lot of grammar errors myself, but that doesn’t make me a dumb person at all. You should be interested in someone not just by their writing skills, but how sweet and caring a person is.

If I was Englund I would have gave Craig a chance. He seems like a really nice guy. He graduated college and has a full-time job. Even though his grammar was way off, he doesn’t come off as a dumb person. He is probably a really smart guy, just his writing needs some help.

"Only Daughter"

            The article “Only Daughter” by Sandra Cisneros is about Sandra being an only daughter in a family of nine. Her father believes girls go to college to find a husband. When Sandra graduates college, and is still husbandless her father is disappointed. Sandra proceeds in writing books and after getting them published, she lets her dad read one and he is very proud of her accomplishments.

            Even though different cultures look at situations differently, I think it was wrong for Sandra’s father to be disappointed with all her accomplishments because she did not have a husband. Sandra was very successful in school and she was passionate about writing.           

            If I had a daughter like Sandra I would be so proud of all her accomplishments even if she was not married yet. The most important thing to me would be how successful my daughter is and that she will be going far in life.

"A Brother's Murder"

     After reading “A Brother’s Murder” by Brent Staples I thought about all the crime rates that have happened throughout the country. A lot of people believe that they are safe in their neighborhoods. But you never know what can happen. Just like in the story, Brent’s younger brother, Blake, just twenty two was shot and killed by his best friend. All because of a fight over a girlfriend. Usually fights and murder occur because of pointless reasons like, girls, drugs, money, a pool game, etc.
      I grew up in a bad part of Pawtucket and it was scary. Hearing fights in the street in the middle of the night, hearing gun shots quiet frequently, people getting arrested all the time for drugs and stealing. It wasn’t a safe environment to live in. Especially with young kids. My family was up and out of there once I got a little older.
      Kids and young adults should stop turning to drugs and violence. All it is doing is ruining their lives. If they don’t stop they will either be next victims of murder or spend life in jail.

Dear Dads: Save Your Sons

     After reading "Dear Dads: Save Your Sons" by Christopher N. Bacorn. I started to think about kids in todays society growing up without fathers. It's sad knowing that children without dads turn to drugs and violence. Just like the boy in the fifteen year old boy in the story. His father left four years ago, and the boy turned to alcohol, gangs, failing school and violence. His mother, heartbroken, tried to get him help from a professional. But the boy just turned everything down.
      I feel if more children turn to professionals and listen to what they have to say, and try their suggestions maybe they will get back on track with their life. It's hard to say when you grow up with a father figure the problems you'll be stubling on.
     This article gave me an idea of what some kids go through. I have always been really close to my dad rather than my mom. And I can't imagine going through life all that pain without my father to be there to support me in every way.

The Flip Side Of Internest Fame

    I knew internet harrassment was one of the huge problems in this generation of kids. But after reading "The Flip Side Of Internet Fame" by Jessica Bennett I didnt realize how many kids lives were being tourchered by the internet. By reading this article it has really opened my eyes. Just by posting a video so minor and so innocent, can lead to harressment and tourcher. Just like Ghyslain Raza from Canada. Filmed himself making a Star Wars reenactment and a bunch of kids added music and special effects to his video. It got posted all over a bunch of different websites. Ghyslain Raza got badly harrassed by kids.
     I liked this article. It brought a lot of attention to me. I know quite a bit of people who video themselves doing stupid or funny things and post it on youtube.com and other websites where people can get a hold of them.
      Over all I think more kids should read this article to help them see the danger and damage that other people and the internet can do to a person's life. It's really not worth trying to impress other people by posting videos of yourself becuase it can lead to harrassment.

Hunger

   When i first read the title "Hunger" by Nilsa Mariano. My first instinct was that the story was about poverty in third world countires. But as I read I realized the story was about a women named Taina and she was an insperational speaker to children. At first the story had no interest to me. But as I read on it kind of hooked me.
    The story is about children who hungered for exceptance because of their nationality. Tiana talked about no matter what nationality they are, that they were beautiful. At first the children were shy about their nationality. But as soon as Tiana mentioned she was spanish, the children became more lively.
    The story was kind of confusing at first, I didnt really understand what I waas reading. The story was confusing because it kind of jumped around and had some random thoughts in it that shouldnt have been mentioned. Over all the children felt excepted about their nationality. Because of Tiana the children feel more confident about thenselves.