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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Journal # 9 Chapter 28 - 31 Perspective of Boor Radley

It was the night of Ms. Merriweather's Pageant.  Most of the town was going to be there to watch the pageant. It was getting late, and the night was still. I was sitting in my rocking chair and suddenly I heard someone yelling.  I could tell it was the kids, Jem and Scout. I was scared so I ran to the kitchen and grabbed a knife.  I waited outside, but stood still watching them to make sure no harm came to them. They were walking, and every now and then they stopped to listen. I didn't know what the were trying to listen too. I suddenly found out. I saw someone creeping in the background. I kept my eye on the dark figure that blended into the night. It was an inconvenience to night for something like this to happen, because of the pageant that had just went on.  The kids started walking again, and the figure did to. Then the dark figure started running, and I was alert ready to come out to the rescue. Jem looked back and saw the man running and he yelled. "Run, Scout! Run! Run!" Scout was running but she couldn't see through her costume, and she screamed for help. Through her terrified voice she cried out "Jem, Jem, help me, Jem!" The dark figure now had a hold of Scout, and was strangling her. I didn't know what to do. Scout went tumbling , and Jem grabbed her and they started to run, but the man got to Jem.  Jem was struggling, and then there was a crunching sound and Jem screamed in pain. It was his arm. His arm was broken, broken like a bow and arrow. The man was trying to persecute the kids, and then I ran into action. The wind brushed against my face as I ran fast towards the man. The man was now on the floor, and Scout was rolling towards him probably thinking it was Jem. He then grabbed her and started squeezing her. I could hear her starting to breath hard, and I revived myself and started towards the man and got a grip on him. I pulled him back, making him release Scout.  I took the knife that trembled in my hands and stabbed the knife below his ribs. I was by the tree now where Jem was. The man was coughing violently, but I was concerned about Jem. I grabbed the unconscious boy who was allegedly under the tree, and ran him to Atticus's house. His arm wobbling and positioned in a way that I have never seen before. I entered the house and set him on his cushioned  bed. Atticus was surprised. He looked confused. The first thing he did was run to the phone and call Dr. Reynolds. I had forgotten Scout, but she had arrived safely as I heard he voice talking to her Aunt. I leaned against the wall of Jems room. I kept thinking that what had happened tonight was improbable, but I knew it was real. 

Dr. Reynolds was soon here, and so was Heck Tate. I heard his voice. He was very concerned talking to Scout. Then I heard her voice." Is Jem dead?" She entered the room slowly and her eyes went straight towards me. She gave me an uncertain look and tilted her. Then her eyes moved away and found Jem.  We were told to leave the room by Mr. Reynolds as he needed to be a lone as he examined and assessed the marks on the boy. We all left the room and Scout kept a close eye on me. We headed out the wooden door.  Atticus escorted us all out of the house and onto the porch. "As we were outside Heck Tate asked Scout to retell everyone what had happened. As she told everyone what had happened she had pointed at me, and the paused. She looked at me with curiosity. "Hey, Boo," she said.
Atticus replied to Scout, "Arthur." 
I looked at Scout and gave her a little smile, and she smiled back with joy. I was glad for her to finally see my face, for I new she always wanted to know what I looked like before she past. Now she knows, and I happy to now have a part in the lives of the Finches.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Journal # 8 ch 25-27 Perspective of Jem

School had started and Scout and I take walk past the Radley house everyday once again. I was now in the seventh grade and Scout was now in the third. Things were different now. I didn't see Scout often. I would walk to school with her and then see her a meal times, but other than that we didn't see each other.
During the year we had football try outs, and I went out but I didn't make the team. I was too slender and young to try out so the only other option was carrying the teams water buckets.
One day after school I was sitting in my room reading a magazine, and then Scout dropped on by. Scout was talking to me about how her third grade teacher was talking about Hitler and how he persecuted the Jews. Scout went on and asked me " How could Miss Gates talk about equality when she came out of the courtroom after the trial telling Miss Stephanie Crawford that it was about time that someone taught the blacks in this town a lesson?" I became very angry with Scout. I never wanted to hear about that trial again. I yelled to Scout. "I never want to hear about the courthouse again, ever,ever you hear me? Now go on!" Scout walked quickly from out of my room and shut the door softly. I felt kind of bad for yelling at Scout. Especially because of the way she looked at me. I could tell she was shocked. I was so mad though, but in an emotional way. I was mad instead of sad, I guess to hide the sadness that I felt from the trial. I went on reading my magazine, but couldn't read because my mind was focused on what happened the day of the trial. I tried to read but I went get side tracked and kept thinking of what happened that day. The trial played in my head as I kept thinking of the obscure thing that happened to Tom. I didn't want to think of the trial anymore so I thought about what Scout had said to me. It was like a scene replaying as I thought. As I thought of what Scout had said to me, I was now mad at her teacher Miss Gates. I was mad at her because she lied to Scout. I was then searching for that one word that would describe people like Miss Gates, and then I figured out that Miss Gates was a hypocrite. The day had ended quickly and it was getting dark. Every time I looked outside my window it seemed to get darker and darker in seconds. It was bright and then you could see the sun fall behind the housed. It turned to dusk and all that was left to see was the stars. I crept into bed and stared into the darkness. I was sustained, until it turned pitch black.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Journal 7 chapter 20-24 Perspective of Atticus

Everyone sits as I begin my closing statement giving it all I got. I tried to think of the many things that were said during the court case so that I could use it. I explained that Tom was not guilty in many different shapes and forms. I was finishing going over the evidence of the case, but now it was time to make a more personal appeal to those in the jury. I then stopped and made some obscure gesture. I unbuttoned my vest and collar, took of my coat setting it on my briefcase and loosened my hands with my nervous hands. I turned to the jury with my hands in my pockets and began to speak. As I spoke I walked up and down the jury, with my leather shoes scraping the floor. Every now and then I would look at my feet and the look up to see many faces. As I spoke to the jury it wasn't stern it was nice, easy I talked to them as if we were not in court. I was wrapping my closing statement. I really wanted the jury to think over everything that had happened today and see all the things we have discovered during the case. important evidence that it was not Tom Robinson. I said to the jury " Gentlemen, I shall be brief, but I would like to use my remaining time with you to remind you that this case is not a difficult one, it requires no minute sifting of complicated facts, but it does require you to be sure beyond all reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the defendant. To begin with, this case should never have come to trial.This case is as simple as black and white." As I had said this I looked around as I was not only talking to the jury, but the people outside the jury. I spoke once more of what had gone on. I declared that Tom Robinson was not guilty, but someone in this court room was. I began to trace back everything and make another speech. I wanted everyone to see the truth. I did not want to see a helpless man suffer. So I began and looked at everyone for attention. "I have nothing but pity in my heart for the chief witness for the state, but my pity does not expand so far as to her putting a man's life at stake, which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt. As I paused I couldn't help but to keep going. Everything was racing through my head, I read out loud everything that came flowing around in my mind. I new that it was my job to protect and serve this man at the time and that I could not let him down. And at that time I wasn't going to. I was sustain, I had to keep going and keep this man living. I thought to myself. "I say guilt, gentlemen, because it was guilt that motivated her. She has committed no crime, she has merely broken a rigid and time-honored code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our mists as unfit to live with. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance, but I cannot pity her: she is white. .............. She did something every child has done-she tried to put the evidence of her offence away from her............ What evidence of offence? Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was her daily reminder of what she did. What did she do? She tempted a negro." I went on a little longer until I was finished, and cleaned my glasses with the handkerchief I slipped out from my pocket. I sat down. My mouth was dry so I had a drink, I sipped slowly and turned to Mr. Tom Robinson. I then looked at the the lying hypocrite named Mayella. She was a liar and I new that she believed in something different. I was trying to be inevitable because I new her story was wrong. There was another story. I got up one last time to change any minds that Tom was guilty. In my mind I was apprehensive that Tom would lose. As I finished I muttered under my breath "In the name of God, do your duty."

Friday, May 22, 2009

Journal # 6 ch 16-19 Perspective of Mayella

I am a nineteen year old lady who lives at home with her father. I take care of my brothers and sisters as a mother because my mama died when she delivered her seventh child. My family is pauper. We cant afford much and my father spends a lot of it for himself. We don't go to school either. The only education I had was from first and second grade, but that was years ago. I don't have any friends either so I just stay at home and work. Some things have happened in the next couple of days. They weren't good things either.
The next day I was getting ready for court and every one was crowding in trying to get good seats. Everyone from Maycomb was in the courtroom. I was amazed to see so many people. There were some many that some had to stand. I sat down into the wooden chair and thought as everyone chatted. I zoned out and thought. Will I be able to pull it off, I wonder what will happen. I thought of the things that might happen and began to get nervous.
Before I new it court had begun and Heck Tate was called to the stand. He began on November 21, when my papa ran down to get him after he saw me on the floor. My papa ran to Heck Tate and told him his girl was raped. When he got there I was still on the floor not knowing what happened. He had found me bruised all over, he ran towards be and touched my face with his beating hand from running. His hand was warm. He got me some ice for my bruises as I told him what Tom Robinson had done. Atticus had interrupted to question Heck Tate. He questioned him why he didn't call a Doctor. Atticus kept going at him until the judge told him that was enough. Heck went on and said I had other bruises. He talked about my black eye. Then Acticus questioned him again. He asked him what side of my face was the black eye, Heck stuttered and thought. Then he went on saying it was my right eye. Then Atticussaid "Your right or her right?" Heck Tate jumped quickly saying "Oh yes that would make it her left eye." His testimony went on and soon he was done. He came done from the stand and sat back in his seat. Next up was my Papa. I was scared, but I watched to see what happenedd. My father told his side of the story and what he saw happen. He said that he was coming out from the woods with kindling and he heard be screaming with all I had got. He ran to the house and saw Tom Robinson in the house with me and I was on the floor. When Tom saw my dad coming he ran out the door. Atticus then cross examined and asked Papa some questions. He told him to write his signature on the back of an envelope, and I thought this was irrelevant. Papa looked up as he wrote and his eyes found Judge Taylor watching him with a complacently look. " Your left handed."
"Yeah, and what does that have to do with anything?" said father. Atticus was getting to the point, and now it was starting to look like my Papa had done it. It seems as if it would be more likely if a left handed man would have given me a black eye rather than someone who was right handed. Pa came down from the stand and sat done.

" Mayella Violet Ewell!" I was now called to the stand. I was terrified, shaking and almost sweating. I went stealthy towards the witness stand. My testimony began. Mr. Gilmer told me just to tell everyone what had happened the day of November 21.
"Where were you on that day?" asked Mr. Gilmer
" On the front porch." I stuttered.
"Which porch?" he asked.
"There ain't but one, the front porch." I said
"Just tell us what happened." said Judge Taylor. I could tell he wanted everything to be done now, so I went on. I looked at him as if I were going to speak, and then slowly fell into tears.
"That's enough now. Don't be 'fraid of anybody here, as long as you tell the truth. All this is strange to you, I know, but you've nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to fear. What are you scared of?”
I muttered what I was scared of into my hands.
"What was that?" said Judge Taylor.
"Him." I pointed my arm straight at Atticus.
“Mr. Finch?” he said
I nodded. "Don't want him doin' me like he done my Papa."
Judge Taylor stared at me and said. "How old are you?"
"Nineteen" I replied softly.
“Mr. Finch has no idea of scaring you,” he growled, “and if he did, I’m here to stop him. That’s one thing I’m sitting up here for. Now you’re a big girl, so you just sit up straight and tell the-tell us what happened to you. You can do that, can’t you?”
I sniffled and wiped my tears and began telling my story.
I told him to come help and i told him I would give him a nickel to break up a dresser for me. When he finished I went inside to get him a nickel and he came inside the house and grabbed me and started to take advantage of me. Atticus started to ask me question and asked me about my life. He asked me why i didn't scream, and if I didn't why didn't they bring the kids home runnin'. Atticus was polite, but started telling be how Tom Robinson couldn't have raped me because of his useless left hand, which was torn apart by a cotton gin when he was just a boy.
Atticus yelled to me saying why don't you just admit that you were not raped and that your father had beaten you. I was furious with Atticus and said to the whole court room that they would be cowards for not convicting Tom Robinson of such crime. I then just bursted into tears and would not answer anymore questions, I refused. We had a break and then Tom Robinson was called to the stand. He started his testimony saying that he always passed our house on the way to work for Link Deas. He then said that I asked him to get a package down from my dresser. So he went inside the fence an climbed up to get it. He then said that I had grabbed his legs scaring him, and that I kissed him. When my father came home he said he was calling him a whore. I thought he sounded like a fraud, making everything up.

Then Link Deas the man that had Tom Robinson was working for him stood up and said, that in eight years of working fro him Tom had never been a problem. At that time Mr. Gilmer had the perfect chance to cross examine Tom Robinson. Mr. Gilmer did so and started questioning. Mr. Gilmer then said that Tom Robinson was once arrested for disorderly conduct. Mr. Gilmer also got Tom Robinson to admit that he had the strength to choke the breath out of a woman and sling her to the floor like he had done to me. Mr. Gilmer kept going at him until Tom said he was sorry for me. There was some talk at the end and I was happy. I knew it in my gut that Tom Robinson would be guilty, and I couldn't wait. Just a couple more days till we found out. Court was over an we all got up out of our chairs. I walked away with a smirk on my face, and father and me walked out the door with the light shining on our faces.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Journal #5 Chapters 13-15 Perspective of Dill

It was one day when I wanted to spend time with my mom and my new dad, but they kept saying go play with your toys, and then went into a room and shut the door. I guess them getting me toys was a compensation for me letting them be a lone, but I still didn't like it.I began to notice this happening a lot. I felt so a lone I felt like they didn't like me. It was getting near supper and mother was cooking. I was in my room playing, and she called me down for supper. I ran down stairs and took a seat at the table. We were having soup. She set a bowl in front of me and I grabbed a spoon and started slurping. After dinner they disappeared into a room. I had to do the dishes. I didn't like this anymore and I thought they would do better off with out me. I walked up the steep stairs with my head down watching my feet as I made it to my room. I opened the door and as my hand touched the cold metal door knob I had a thought. I opened the door and jumped onto my bed and bounced up and down. I landed on my butt and thought to myself. I'm going to run away. That night I waited for silence. I waited a while and kept quiet to listen to my parents door shut. I heard some giggles and a faint click. I slowly crept out of bed. I pulled my covers off, and slowly scooted myself off the bed. I leaned on the bed, and the bed squeaked. I tiptoed into the hall and down stairs to mothers purse. I searched for the purse and found it laying on top of a wooden table. I opened it and took thirteen dollars. I held the money in my hand and then tiptoed out the back door. I then ran away to catch the nine o'clock train where I payed for my ticket. It was a long trip, but I had the chance to relax on the train ride. I was dropped off at the Maycomb Junction, and then walked ten to fourteen miles. It seemed endless. I dragged my feet and I looked up. I spotted a cotton wagon and hid behind some bushes. I then snuck towards the cotton wagon and jumped on. The cotton wagon went straight into town. I jumped of the cotton wagon when the neighborhood looked a little familiar and found my way to the Finch's house.
I looked up at it and could hear loud voices. I looked around and went around to the back of the house and entered through the back door. Up stairs was quiet so I ran up the stairs trying to be quiet. I entered Scouts room and looked around. I heard someone coming upstairs so I slid under the bed trying to make myself fit. I heard people talking. It was Jem and Scout. I couldn't make out what they were saying but suddenly I could hear them fight. I tried to see what was going on because it became very quiet. I slid my self upwards to see through the door. Standing their was Atticus. His voice deepened and he started to talk to Scout and Jem about living up to their name, and how they were Finch's. He said that they had to start acting like Finch's now. Atticus left the room and Scout and Jem went to bed. Scout jumped into bed and it startled me so I moved. I knew she heard me because she ran into Jem's room. "Jem, I think there is a snake under my bed," Scout said.
"Are you playing a joke on me?" Jem asked Scout.
They both walked into the room and Jem used a broom and swept under the bed. I grunted. I then decided that I had to come out sooner or later so I emerged from out under the bed and said "Hey!" I was happy to see Scout again.
They looked at me in shock. "Dill, what are you doing here?" Asked Scout with her eyes shocked from what she is seeing. I explained. I first started out with a fake story to impress Scout, but then I told them what really happened. I told the how I acquired money from my moms purse, and then went on. Jem then went and told Atticus about me being here, and I was shocked he would tell. Atticus came upstairs and stared at me with a pensive expression. I didn't know what he was going to do. Atticus then spoke and offered me leftover food. I couldn't believe those words tumbled out of his mouth, although I was pretty hungry. I begged not to tell my Aunt Rachel, but he did anyways and explained to her that I would be spending the night. That night I met another Finch, Auntie Alexandra. I heard Atticus talking to Mrs. Rachel on the phone. I wanted to listen, but I was preoccupied eating left overs. It was a nice night, and I slept with Scout, and as we talked that night I drifted asleep.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Journal # 4 Chapter 10-12 Perspective of Miss Maudie

It was a beautiful afternoon, the flowers were blooming, the sun was as bright as a sunflower, and the sky a fluorescent blue. I was working in my garden, planting some new plant, and Scout came along. She was inaudible as she walked by. I took of my gardening gloves and set them to the side as Scout skipped towards me. Scout stepped in front of me and looked me in the eyes. " Atticus told me that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird, is it true?" She said. I nodded gently and said, " Your father is right." I went on. " Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird." Scout asked another question, and soon we were on a different subject. Scout asked if the neighborhood was old, and I replied saying that the neighborhood was older than the town. "Nome, I mean the folks on our street are all old. Jem and me's the only children around here. Mrs. Dubose is close onto a hundred and Miss Rachel's old and so are you and Atticus." said Scout. When I heard her say Atticus was old I was a little puzzled. " I don't call fifty very old." I said. "Not being wheeled around yet, am I? Neither is your father." I told Scout that she hasn't been around of young people, and she replied saying she did. The kids and grownups at school. I could see how she felt with her father being contemporaries with others than the young parents at Scouts school. I told her if her father was thirty she'd be living a different life. " I sure would. Atticus cant do anything......." Scout said. I gave her a little smirk and said " You'd be surprised. There is life in him yet."

Scout sound interested when she heard that her father could do many things.
" What can he do?" Scout asked. I began a long list of things Atticus could do. It took me a while to start thinking. " Well, he can make somebody's will so airtight can't anybody meddle with it." "Well did you know he's the best checker-player in this town? Acticus Finch could beat everybody on both sides of the river." Scout had a face that looked like she didn't believe me. A yeah right face. She looked contradicting. "Good lord Miss Maudie, Jem and me beat him all the time."
"It's about time you found out it's because he lets you." I said. I went on and on about the many things Atticus could do, and Scout just didn't sound as surprised or as proud as I thought she would be. I had carpenters over so I told Scout she should go home now, besides I would be gardening my azaleas. I went back to gardening fixing my gloves back on and Scout walked away to meet Jem in their yard.

I was still gardening putting in some new plants, and Atticus called to me from across the neighborhood. I got up and turned towards him and he said. " Maudie, I thought I'd better warn you. You are in considerable peril." I looked around and saw an air riffle pointed at me. I yelled across to him, " Atticus, you are a devil from hell." He walked away and I turned back to my gardening. After a while I finally finished gardening and went back inside my house and washed my hands and prepared myself a little snack.

I was cooking my famous recipe of cake as I heard a loud yell about a mad dog in the neighborhood. I put down my cooking utensils and went to the front door of my house to see what was going on. I was surprised to see a dog in the street as I opened my front door. He looked almost inconspicuous.I was surprised because they usually only come around in August. Everyone runnin' around as Atticus, and the Mr. Tate come to the rescue. They wait there targeting Tom Johnson, and Mr. Tate hand the riffle over to Atticus. I am surprised now. Atticus hasn't handled a gun in years. I knew that he could do it. Atticus brought the gun to his shoulder. It was the loudest noise I have every heard in a long time. Tim Johnson had no idea what hit him, as the brown and white heap fell to the ground and stood still. I saw Jem and Scout. I walked down the steps of my house and walked on over to Scout and said. " Well now, Miss Jean Louise, still think your father can't do anything? Still ashamed of him?"
"Noome. " Scout replied.
" Forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the Jews, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time." I told Jem and Scout.
"Dead shot......."said Jem.
"That's what I said Jem Finch. Guess you'll change your tune now. The very idea, didn't you know his nickname was Ol' One-Shot when he was a boy? Why, down at the Landing when he was coming up, if he shot fifteen times and hit fourteen doves he'd complain about wasting ammunition."
" He never said any thing about that," said Jem.
" If your fathers anything, he's civilized in his heart. Marksmanship's a gift of God, a talent - oh, you have to practice to make it perfect, but shootin's different from playing the piano or the like. I think maybe he's put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn't shoot till he had to, and he had to today."
They both seemed to understand what I was saying, and I hope they keep in mind that,"people in their right minds never take pride in their talents."
I turned away and walked towards my house, and every time I looked back I got further and further away. I watched my steps I walked up to the house. I looked out saw the sunset and shut the door closely behind me.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Journal#3 8-9 Perspective of Atticus

It was autumn, and I was amazed to see that it was snowing. Mrs Radley died that winter, and the kids Jem and Scout were wondering if her death was because of Boo Radley. As I returned from the Radley house I told them that she died from natural causes. Jem and Scout looked disappointed that it wasn't Boo Radley's doing. I went back inside the house with Jem and Scout and read the newspaper.


I wake up in the morning to a cold breeze, as I get out of the warm blankets the warmth escapes from me. My feet touch the frozen floor as I sit on the end of my bed to look around and see the windows frosted. Not minding what outside looks like I get up and walk across to the bathroom to get ready for the day. I take out my shaving cream, and my shaving device and I stroke each side as my eight o'clock shadow slowing disappears with each stroke. As I shave I hear a loud scream of terror. The scream came from Scout's room so I ran through the halls to see what was going on.I finally reach the door. I open her door immediately, and as soon as she sees my face she yells to me," The world is endin' Atticus! Please do something!" Scout pulls me to the window and shows me what she is so terrified of. " No it's not," I said. "It's snowing." Jem then asked me if it would keep goin'. My kids Jem and Scout have never seen snow before, and neither have I, but I know enough to know what it is.

We all went down stairs for breakfast, and Calpurnia has already made us a lovely breakfast. We all sit down to eat, and then the phone started to ring, so I went to go see who it was. I picked up the cold metal phone and heard a voice, it was Eula May. She is the telephone operator she is entrusted to tell the town all important public news. I hang up the phone and give them message to the kids. " Since it has not snowed in Maycomb County since 1885 there will be no school today." As soon as I said there was no school Jem and Scout's faces lit up with joy. They were ecstatic about staying home and playing in the snow all day.

The kids went outside in the snow to see if they could make a snow man, but I said there might not be enough snow for one. So Jem and Scout took a trip down to Miss Maudie's to see if they could take her snow and use it. I went to work while the kids worked on the their snowman. I was coming home for dinner and I got a phone call from Jem and Scout that they had a surprise for me. I knew this was important to them so I hurried home. I drove up to the drive way and I saw all the snow from the back yard in the front yard. I stepped put of my car and felt the snow crush under my feet. I looked at the yard and found Jem standing by his snowman, and Scout prancing around. I looked at the snowman in amazement. I was so proud of my kids work, and creativity. I told them that they had done a jim dandy job. I was so proud of Jem. Just from seeing the work Jem had put into the snowman I could see his future right in front of him. I suggested Jem should do something to the front of the snowman so it didn't look like Mr. Avery the neighbor, just so he wouldn't taking any offense.

I woke up early because of a problem with our neighbors. Something terrible had gone wrong. I went into Jem and Scout's room to wake them up to get out of the house. They didn't know what was going on, but Jem found out . We rushed outside and I told Jem to take care of Scout and not to keep her out of his sight. "Jem, Scout go and wait over by Mr. Radley's house. Stay out of the way, and don't move. I ran over to Miss Maudie's house, I looked back to see my worried kids. They looked so isolate, but that is good so that no harm comes to them. I turned my head, and ran down to help Miss Maudie. As I ran down my eyes were burning from a dirty fog, and blazing heat. The light of it lit the whole neighborhood. The fire fighters find a fire hydrant, and water blasts out of the hose, and men move it towards the house. The house's adjacent to one another. I helped some men move Miss Maudie's furniture, and her favorite wooden chair. When she saw me moving her chair she looked fanatical because it was her favorite chair. The scene slowly died. I look at Miss Maudie to see the look on her face. She look at everything around her perplexity. The scene slowly died, and slowly everyone left, with smoke in the air, as Miss Maudie's stays in her yard. She now goes to stay with Ms. Rachel. We go into the house and Miss Maudie's stays at her house observing. Jem, Scout, and I drink our hot cocoa, and Jem and Scout go outside to comfort Miss Maudie. As they leave the house a give them a little smile of hope.

Today was a big day, I was defending a black man named Tom Robinson. I know we were going to loose the case, but I had to try. My kids say what is the point in defending him if you are going to loose, but I say" Everyone has their case, and this is mine." It something I must do to hold up my self respect.

It comes Christmas, and Uncle Jack comes to visit. Scout loves my brother Uncle Jack, but for some reason she starts to cuss in front of him. On Christmas Day I take Jem, and Scout to my sister Alexandra, and her families house at Finch landing. During the visit Scout gets in a fight with Francis and I get very disappointed in her, but she was only defending her family and friends.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Journal#2 4-7 Perspective of Jem

It was nearing summer and Scout and I couldn't wait. It was the last day of school, and I was walking home. I walked down the dirty side walk sprinkled in leaves. I reached home and as I entered my house I spotted Scout. I saw Scout chewing on some gum so asked,"were did you get the gum?" "I found it," said Scout. As soon as she said she found it I almost exploded, it could be poisonous. " Scout don't eat things you find." I said. Scout argued back," It was on the ground, it was in a tree." We were both quibbling. I grumbled because I was getting frustrated with Scout. "Spit it out right now!" I yelled to Scout. My tyranny shocked her, I could see it in her face. Scout spat the gum out and I was furious when she told me she found it hanging in a trees coming home from school. "Don;t you know your not supposed to be touching those trees over there!" I yelled to Scout.


Summer was on its way and soon Dill would come back to Maycomb. Scout and I couldn't wait for summer. We went to school the next day and were finally let out for summer. Scout and I walked home from school. As we walked home Scout showed me wear she found the gum in the tree. I saw a silver piece of foil and I yelled to Scout "I see it!" I reached for the shiny piece and I held it in my hand and Scout and I ran home straight away. I unraveled the wrapping of chewing gum wrappers wrapped around a box that a ring would come in. I opened the velveted box, and there were to very old Indian head coins. The coins were made in the years 1906, and 1900. I thought for a moment, and Scout asked if the tree we found the coins in were somebodies hiding place. "Na, don't anybody much but us pass by there, unless it's some grown person. Grown person's don't have hidin' places." Scout asked if we should keep the coins. i told Scout what we would do before keeping the coins. I headed towards my room, and looked out the window and stared at the Radley's house, and thought. The I awoke from my wondering and walked into my bedroom.

A couple days later Dill came back to Maycomb for the summer again. Scout and I met Dill and he talked about his trip here on the train. "So what will we do today?" I asked Dill.
"Tom and Sam and Dick."said Dill. "I'm tired of those." Scout said. Dill stood at the porch and looked down the street. "I smell death." Dill said. Scout told him to shut up.""I do, I mean it."he said. "You mean when somebody's dyin' you can smell it?" said Scout.
"No, I mean I can smell somebody an' tell if they are gonna die. An old lady taught me how."
Dill leaned towards Scout and sniffed her. "Jean Louise Finch, you are going to die in three days." Scout got angry, so I stepped in and told them to stop there talking. There would have been a fight.

Dill and I started hanging out more and ignoring Scout. Dill and I were making a plan to try and get Boo Radley out of his house. Scout started to hang out with our neighbor. Then one day I took some scissors and started cutting up the newspaper, and then Atticus came in the room and got mad at me for cutting up the newspaper. He said that if it was today's newspaper he would tan me. Atticus was very mad. When I went outside with Dill, Dill asked if we could still hang out, and I replied, "well Atticus didn't say we couldn't.

I played more and more with Dill, and less with Scout. The more we played the less I saw Scout. We never really played with Scout anymore because we ignored her more, and she hung out with our neighbor Ms. Maudie. Dill became my best friend and we decided to make exciting games. We made a plan that we would write a letter to Boo Radley. We wanted Boo Radley to come out of his house so we wanted to slip a letter through an open shutter in Boo Radley's house. When we were putting the letter through the shutter Atticus came out and saw us. He told us tor stop tormenting him and to leave him alone. Atticus told me to give him the letter. Atticus really mad, and said there will be no more of this. He told us to stay away from the house. We were to stop bothering Boo Radley.

Dill and I spent the last couple of days playing games because today was his last night here in Maycomb. It was sad that my best friend was going to be leaving. I started to do disobey my fathers rules, and did anything Dill waited, because this was his last night. I even asked Dill if he wanted to me with the Radley Place. Scout also joined in with our scheme. Scout was completely unanimous. I teetered as I walked up to the Radley's Place. Dill, Scout, and I look through the old shutter, and we see a man in a hat. We all look at him just for a little while, and all of a sudden we hear a loud sound. It was so loud it made me deaf for a few seconds. We all jumped over the fence. I was the last to jump. As I jumped over the fence my pants got caught. I couldn't unhook them from the fence so I slipped out of them and ran to my house to fetch some pants before anyone saw me. When I ran towards home I saw a circle around Mr. Radley who was holding sniper gun. I decided to get some pants on first before I asked what was going on.

The summer finally ended and Dill went back home again to Meridian. School started, and I was a grade higher and so was Scout. Scout and I thought school was getting more boring as we moved up a grade. After school I was walking home to see my pants neatly folded on the fence
where my pants got caught. I couldn't believe they were folded. I told Scout about what I saw walking home and she was also freaked out. Scout wondered if he some them peeking into his house. She became worried. As Scout and I walked home from school we saw a present in the Radley tree. We didn't take it. Weeks later another present appears. We took the present and the present was soap figures. Oddly enough they were shaped as us. I was a little freaked out now. I didn't know what to think. A while later we walked by and we saw the oak tree was cemented. Mr. Nathan Radley said it was because the trees were dying. It was sad to see the trees destroyed.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Journal #1 Perspective of Dill

I was turning seven when I visited my aunt Rachel in Maycomb, Alambama for the summer. Instead of staying the summer with my mom in Meridan, Mississippi I spend it with my Aunt Rachel. When I arrived in Maycomb Alabama with Auntie Rachel I went to her back yard to explore my surroundings. I love Aunt Rachel's yard, especially the collard patch. I was in the yard one day playing in Aunt Rachel's collard patch, when I felt like something was staring at me . When I turned around I found two kids starring at me through the wired fence. They stared at me for while. I think they thought I was eccentric. I paused to stare and I finally said, "Hey." The older one said hello back. I then introduced myself, and added that I could read. They introduced themselves to me too. Jem the older one asked how old I was. He guessed at my age " four in a half" he said.



"I'm turning seven," I replied. We all then started talking about ourselves. "Scout has been readin' ever since she was born," said Jem. Jem is the older boy who is ten. Scout is the girl who is only six. When I heard that scout could read to I was a little disappointed knowing that she was six and she could read too. Jem then asked me to come over. I struggled to get under the fence when Jem said, "It will be easier if you just climb over it." I then told Jem an Scout about how I won five dollars in a Beautiful Child Contest. " Don't have any pictures here,except Jesus ones in the courthouse sometimes," said Jem. "Ever see anything good?"
"I've seen Dracula before," I said. Jem looked at me with his eyes telling me "Tell it to us."


I began to talk about Dracula, and Jem was fascinated. After talking for a while we became real good friends. I hung out with Scout and Jem that summer, and they told loads of stuff. I was fascinated with the story about a man named Boo who never came out of his house. Jem told more and more stories about Boo Radley. The stories started to intimidate me a little. One of Jems stories talked about how a malevolent phantom haunted the house. People said that the phantom existed, but every time Jem, and I walked past the house we never saw it. Ever story Jem told me fascinated me more and more. I became very curious about what Boo Radley looked like so I tried to make a compromise with Jem and Scout about how we should try and get him out of his house. But Jem made another pronouncement about how he was six and a half feet tall and ate cats and squirrels. Jem went on and on about Boo Radley, I could tell he was afraid of Boo Radley. After talking to Jem for a couple of days he finally went up to Boo Radley's door touched it and ran back. I have made some really great friends when spending the summer with my Aunt Rachel. I have also had many adventures though the summer was ending, and I had to return back home to Meridan, Mississippi.





Friday, April 3, 2009

Project Reflection

Immigration Project Reflection
By: Haileigh Smith
Literature Circles: In the Immigration project I have learned many different things. In the project we read books about immigration. The book I read was called Ashes of Roses. The book Ashes of Roses is about a girl and her family who immigrate. The book talks about their experiences, and what it was like going through the immigration process, and how they came through Ellis Island to America.

I really liked the book Ashes of Roses, because of all the different conflicts that went on. I have learned a lot from this book. I have learned what it was like for some people to immigrate during the 1900’s, and what the immigration process was like. I also learned about Ellis island, because in the book that is how the family entered America.
While I read the book Ashes of Roses, I have found many significances between me and the book. I learned that an immigrant was willing to give up everything they had, and hope to have a better life.

In the LC meetings I think that maybe we could have got together with our group to share our thoughts, and have a chance to agree and disagree on things in our book.I think that if we were to do that then we would understand more of the book. I say that we should do that, because sometimes when you read a book it can be confusing in some parts, but when you have other people that read the book they can help you understand what is going on
.
In this part of the project we blogged about the book. I liked blogging, because it is a lot easier, and I think that is makes it easier to say everything you are feeling about your blog. I also thing that it is easier, because you can just write what your thinking without being interrupted by someone else speaking. I think blogging makes things a lot more organized.

While blogging I didn’t have any problems posting. Blogging was very easy for me, but I do know that others had problems posting. I thought that posting was a good way to express what we thought about the book to our other group members. It was interesting to see the different opinions my group members had towards the book. It was also interesting the way we all talked about the book in different ways.

Art/Literature: In this project we also created paintings with our book. We all made different paintings on either painting an interpretation of the book, a scene that struck you in the book, a cultural component, a famous painting redone of your book, the theme of the book, and a new book cover. I chose to make my painting an interpretation of the book Ashes of Roses. I chose to make an interpretation of my book, because I wanted to show people my understanding of the book, and see if people agree with me.

I think that creating my art piece was a little challenging to me, because I also wanted people to see what the book is kind of an out, and also have them thinking at the same time. I wanted people to see my art as a mystery. My thought was to get people thinking and questioning, what is the book about, and what could this mean?

I think that my painting is good, and it is the way I imagined it to be, and even better. I think that I have created as much as I could trying to make it look interesting. I wanted it not to look so boring, and easy to figure out. I really like that my painting has got to where it is. I am amazed with myself, and the effort I have put into the painting. In the painting I think that the background could have blended more, and the painting wasn’t so dark colored, but the things that I have done to my painting is what makes the painting more exciting.

From the experience of creating a painting to the novel we had read, I think is very creative. I learned a lot from this experience. I learned more about my book by going back and reading some parts, I also learned how to make a water effect.

Interviewing: The last part of this project was interviewing an immigrant. When interviewed my immigrant it was kind of hard. When I interviewed her she was very shy, and she had a strong accent so it was hard to understand. Throughout the interview she was a little more open, and not so shy.

When I heard that we had to interview someone, I didn’t know what to think. I have never interviewed anyone I didn’t know before, so I was afraid when I heard we had to interview someone. I was with the IRC, so I interviewed them only twice. It was interesting getting to interview someone, and it was interesting interviewing someone around the same age as me.

In the interviews I learned many things about my immigrants culture, and country. My immigrant is from Cambodia. I learned that they have many temples there, and that most of Cambodians are Buddhist. I also learned that they ear a lot of fish and rice. Another thing that I found interesting is that in there history they used to wear different colored clothing. Each different colored clothing was a symbolization of a day. Like red would symbolize the day of Mars.

I think that interviewing someone for another country helped us, and me understand the immigration process, because all of the things they had to go through to get to America. I also learned from the interviewing the differences of immigrating from then and now. It also showed me the many differences that America has compared to Cambodia, and other countries. I thought that many countries have everything America does, but ow I realize that from someone else's perspective, there is a big difference. I think now I have learned why so many people come to America.

At the end of interviewing our interviewee we made them a gift that meant something special. I made my interviewee a calender so that she could remember the different temples and places in her home country. I had put a lot of time in effort into my gift to show that I am very thankful that they could take time out of their day for me to interview them.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Ashes of Roses Post # 6: Final Post

Quote #1: "We're goin' to die!"


Significance: I chose this short little quote because it tells us what troubles Rose got into in America. It shows how things happen so drastically. I think that in this quote it says something and grabs our attention because it as something to with possible death, but mostly I grabbed this quote because it shows how the  building caught on fire and it all just kind of happened really fast without knowing in the beginning. Like they just got done with work and they are all like, okay see you late, and then all of the sudden there is a fire. 

Connection: My connection would be like if you are going to run inside the house, but you actually ran into a glass screen door, then you realize that you ran into a door. The connection is that everything was fine until you hit the door, and like in the quote, everything was fine until there was a scream, and flamed appeared. 

Question: What do you think would happen next since they are trapped inside the building?

Quote # 2: " I have to find my little sister."

Significance: I just chose this quote, because to me, it helped me remember where Maureen was. I realized that Maureen started to work in the Triangle, now I wonder what has happened to her. I think that this quote relates to the challenges that Rose might have to face if she doesn't find her sister Maureen. I also chose this quote, because it tells us that she was so scared, that the thought of her sister being in the building too, didn't cross her mind.

Connection: I think that a connection could be ind of like when you are really scared you can't think, and that happens to me when I take big tests, but here in the quote I chose it shows how Rose wasn't thinking about her sister, because she was so scared she was just trying to get her self to safety first, because when your scared, nothing really comes to mind. I think not only when you help yourself, getting out of the mess you were in then do you think of the things you are missing, because you then have time to think.

Question: What do you think happened to Maureen?


Thursday, March 5, 2009

Ashes of Roses Post # 5:

Quote#1:  We are just gong back to get your coat, Rose.  And the pay that Mr. Moscovitz owes you. He can't have us arrested for that."  pg 142 Gussie


Significance: I chose this quote, because it tells us the troubles that the immigrants are facing in America. Rose has had something done very bad to her. I think that in this quote it shows us the new things that the immigrants, such as Rose are learning about what kind of people there are in the world, America. 

Connection: I don't really have a connection, but the lesson that was taught to Rose. If you watch television, you learn about the dangerous kind of people that are out in the world, and my parents tell me that I need to be aware of my surroundings, and the people I meet, and the people around me, because you never know. I think that from this you learn the mistakes, and to be more aware. 

Question: Who is Gussie?

Quote#2: "No. I think I'd say Rose hurt him instead."pg 14 Gussie

Significance: I chose this quote, because it shows us that what Mr. Moscovitz only made Rose stronger, even though what Mr. Moscovitz did was very wrong. I think that from this Rose will be stronger to support her family, or at least her sister.

Connection: My connection isn't close to what happened to Rose, but I think that when people say mean things to others, it just makes that person want to do it more. I know that when someone tell me to be quiet, but in the "shut up" kind of way, it makes me mad, and I just keep talking. That also gets me in trouble though, which isn't good. 

Question: Why did Ma, and the other little sister, I think Bridget leave the country? 

Question #2 Don't you think Ma is worried about them? 

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Post # 4 : Ashes of Roses

Quote#1: "You're in for it now. When Papa comes home, he's going to throw you out on the street, where you belong." Pg 100 Hildergarde


Significance: I chose this quote, becasue it shows hoe much the Americans care about most mmigrants. In this quote and in the scene of this quote the Nolan Family, Oatricks family is real annoyed with Rose's family. Elsa and the girls take the whole rose paper thing as the last straw, they have had enough.  Lately Patrick hasn't been talked about, so I wonder how he feels. 

Connection: I guess a connection could be that everyone has that last straw, everyone always gets mad and says things that they might regret. i'm not sure, but I think that maybe the girls will rgret what will happen next, what ever comes next.

Question: What do you think Patrick is thinking about this whole thing?

Quote # 2: " I just can't take any more of this. I want my husband. And who knows what's become of poor Joseph? The family should be together. We had a good life in Limerick. We never should have left."

Significance: I chose this quote because it shows how  everything has gone for Margaret's family, the Nolan family. It shows the struggles the Nolan family has gone through coming to America, and what they have experienced being in America. In the quote it talks about how the Nolan family is being treated, and how she is feeling about this new country.

Connection: I can connect to this becaUSe some people never give things a chance. Some people think that soMEthing they see will be something they don't like.  I think that people just need too take a chance, and in the scene of the quote Patrick Nolan says that Margaret has not even given America a chance, because she is thinking of leaving.

Question: Without have read  further, what do you think will happen?

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Post # 3 : Ashes of Roses

Quote # 1: "Learn this then, fast learner. It took me five years as an apprentice to learn this skill. There's a boatload of you greenhorns landing every day,and you all think you're going to make a fortune in America. Well, don't hold your breath, girlie, because it's not going to happen." Man in the shoe shop, pg 68

Significance: The significance here relates to how Americans treat immigrants. In this quote a girl name Rose, Margaret Rose, is just looking for a job, and she walks into a shop and this man tells her that she basically should have never come here because they aren't going to make any money here. SO this basically shows that some people don't like immigrants. In the quote he also says that everyday more and more immigrants come. So far the man has only treated one character in the book unwelcoming, but what will others do? 

Connection: I;m sure I cant really compare my connection to what people have done to Margaret Rose, but I think that everyone has been treated somewhat like the way Margaret Rose has been treated. My connection with the quote is when people tell me things. WHen people tell me things like "oh you can't do this." I think everyone hears something like that. People are told that like they have no chance, and that is what is basically happening in this quote. This man is telling Margaret ROse that she will never make it in America, she will never find any money. Comparing to my connections, people tell other people that they can't do something, like they can't do this, you will never be a star, things like that.

Question: What does greenhorns mean?


Quote # 2: "So ye think ye might have work for me?"
Margaret Rose, pg 71

Significance: This is relating to the challenges the characters in the book are facing and are going to face. In this quote it shows that someone is looking for a job, and that someone is Margaret Rose. Margaret Rose is looking for a job to support her family, and also so that her family can live somewhere else, because she doesn't like living with her snooty aunt and cousins. So far Margaret Rose hasn't found any work, but she is still looking. Margaret Rose is young to work, but because her father isn't with the family in America she has no choice. Soon  her mother is going to look for work too, but Margaret Rose wanted to try first. 

Connection: I really don't have any connections, but Im sure getting a job is really hard. Sometimes it isn't that hard, but to get a job where you actually want to work, that has to be hard. So in the book I'm learning more about Elsa. I learned that this character isn't trying to really get rid of the Nolen family, but she is just trying to help. Actually she is doing both at the same time. I also think that she can be snobby. She tries to act nice, but she gives a tone that shows that she is faking. 

Question? What is the place that Mrs. Murphy told Margaret to go to? 


Friday, February 20, 2009

Ashes of Rose's Post # 2

Quote# 1: They are better than us, aren't they? I mean, they have such nice things,they must have a lot of money. "

Significance: The significance is how the Nolan Family faces their arrival to America. The Nolan Family have arrived at their Uncle Patrick's apartment. The Nolan family was unexpected because the letter Margaret Rose's father sent takes at least weeks to get from Ireland to America. It is kind of tough for the Nolan Family to fit in with Uncle Patrick's family because his wife and children don't make the Nolan Family feel very welcomed. Uncle Patrick's girls Trudy and Hildegarde are very rude and act as if they are better than Margaret-Rose, Bridget, and Maureen. Trudy really doesn't want the Nolan family staying with their family. It is hard for the Nolan family because I think they feel like they are not welcomed. I also feel like they want jobs s they can get their own place in America so they don't cause any trouble at their Uncle Patrick's apartment.

Connection/ My thought of the Characters : I don't have a personal connection, but the character in this book i feel like are okay. Maureen is a little girl with black hair and blue eyes, I learned that she is a talker. I think some of her action are not to wise, but since they have arrived at her Uncle Patrick's house, Maureen has been doing pretty good. Now Margaret Rose is around 16 or so, and she takes on a lot of work. She does a lot for her family. She has been helping out a lot and she is very wise. Then their Mother Margaret. Margaret is very serious, and she gets worried easily. I think that she stresses a lot. Margaret is a seamstress who used to work in a fancy shop on O'Connell street in Limerick Ireland.

Question: Why is Elsa so rude to the Nolan family. (It seems like she doesn't really respect Patrick either.)

Quote # 2 : "You children get it into your heads right now, there'll be no fallin' away from Church. I don't care if we're the last practicin' Catholics in all of New York. Is that understood."

Significance: Some hardships the Nolan's are having a hard time with it seems is that their Uncle Patrick family doesn't go to Church and the Nolan family does. The mother seems very mad that their Uncle Patrick's family not only goes to church, but called the Nolan's ways of going to church "the old ways." I think Margaret, the mother might have a hard time keeping up with church because everyone around Margaret and her family doesn't go to church.

Connection: I think my connection with this quote is that sometimes when your around people that don't do the same things as you it changes you, and I think that Margaret Nolan is afraid that might happen to her family, or her daughters might skip church, I think this because back in Ireland a lot of people around her went to church, and she might not be used to what some people in America do. I guess the connection is with the people around us, and how they can change us.

Question: What is the difference between Mass and Church?

Monday, February 16, 2009

Field Trip Reflection

From Haven to Home:


The purpose of this exhibit was to learn about the Jews, and how important they were. We were to learn about their culture and the amazing things some of them had done.  In the exhibit I learned many things. I learned that underneath the Touro Synagogue is an underground railroad for Jews. Another thing I found interesting was in one of George Washingtons letters, he promised the Jewish Congregation of New Port, Rohde Island  that the federal government “shall give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.  I also learned that American Jewry  divided over the issue of slavery. Those in the North generally opposed it. In the South, Jews sided with their fellow white citizens. Jews nation wide mobilized to ask  president Lincoln to intervene slavery. Some other things I learned were that The first Jews sat in Congress in 1841. Oscar Strauss became the first Jew in the United States Cabinet in 1906. Another thing I learned was that 9,000 Jews fought in the Civil War for the Union and that 3,000 fought for confederacy. I thought the most interesting thing was learning about the letter George Washington wrote. 


Children of Immigrants:

One of the photographs I liked was called “ Boy from Albania is fingerprinted upon arrival.” This picture is about a boy from Albania and is getting his finger printed. In this picture there were his parents behind him, and a man holding his finger helping his finger get stamped. In this picture the little boy looked scared, and sad, he looked like he had no idea what was going on. I chose this picture because I thought that it showed a lot from the boys emotion throught the picture. To me the look on the boy's face showed me that the boy was very confused. It looked like he didn’t know what was going on, which made him look scared.  

A quote I found interesting by Tamara Parnick, Poland said, “America has everything we need: technology, goods. At least one person from  every nation lives here. People immigrate to America because they know its a land of freedom and a better life. I see America as a land of opportunities. 

I chose this quote, becuse it gave me a picture that immigration is different to everyone. Everyone has their own experience, and in this quote it showed what her experience was with immigration, and what it meant to her. From this quote I have realized some of the different meanings of immigration. I chose this quote because of what it told me, and how it reached out to me and other people in the museum.  

In the museum we read personal essays, and one of the personal essays I read was called “ The Untold Story of a Chinese - American. This essay is about a boys father and  how his family immigrated from Vietnam, and coming to America. This essay told me that being an immigrant can be hard, but in the end it works out fine. Immigrants have to go through a lot even though it might not seem like it, but through out the many essays written, it shows how immigrants had some very rough times coming to America. This is why I chose this essay, I like the essay becasue of what the story had told us about what immigration is all about. 

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Ashes of Roses Post # 1 :

Quote # 1:  Margaret Rose  "Please, Ma," I said, pressin' my cheek against hers. " Nothing can be done. Ye're only makin' it worse fer all of us." I knew I was doin' the right thing, but it felt as if I was breakin' apart all the links that held our family together. 


Significance : To get into America you can't have any disease, and what is happening here is the mother had just lost her baby Joseph. The mother's baby Joseph won't be coming to America with the family because he has trachoma, and anybody who has that disease cannot come into the country. So the father is taking a trip back to Ireland with the baby. The family is now split up and the mother and the rest of the children our finding a place to stay at their Uncles house.


Connections: I don't know if I really have any connections to what is going on, but my moms family have experienced immigration. I guess another connection is with my little brother. When we were trying to get into an elementary school everyone such as my brother,  sister and I were excepted to the elementary school, but my little brother was not because there wasn't a spot available. The someone dropped out and my little brother got to attend the school. The connection here is that in the book the baby Joseph couldn't got to America with the rest of the family because he had a disease. So my little brother couldn't get in because there wasn't a spot available. So the baby wasn't excepted to America because he had a disease, and brother wasn't excepted to the school because there wasn't a spot available. 


Question: My question is why did the baby get chalk writing on his jacket, and what does it mean? 


Quote # 2:  " Yer husband is waitin' for ye in that city, Da said grinnin' 


Significance: The significance to this quote is why the family came to America. The Nolen  family traveled to America for more opportunities. The father and mother wanted their children to get married to someone and have kids, have a nice job, and have a good life in America. The Nolen Family  also came to America to make some money to support themselves. 


Connection: My connection to this quote is with my mom family because her family immigrated from Holland to America for more opportunities job wise, and to get away from the cold weather. This connects to the quote, because the Nolen Family wanted to come to America to give their kids better opportunities. My moms family came for the same reason, to give their children more opportunities. 


Question: The question I have relating to my quote is, why does the father of Margaret Rose want Margaret to get married so soon?

Saturday, February 7, 2009

IMMIGRATION

I think that from what I know, an immigrant is someone who was born, or is from another country that has traveled to somewhere else. So if someone was from the Netherlands coming to the United States, they would be an immigrant. This is what I think an immigrant is. If they don't have a green card and they have come from a different country, then they are not a citizen, and they are illegal. If they have a green card, then they are a citizen of that country, which make them legal. 

My connection with immigrants is with my mom and her side of the family. My mom and her family are immigrants, they came from the Netherlands, also known as Holland. My mom’s parents and her and her siblings moved to the United States because it was to cold in Holland, and her parents wanted their kids to have more opportunities in life by moving to the United States. They moved to San Diego where it is nice and warm. 

I don’t have any friends besides my parents friends that are immigrants.

 I don’t really know why immigrants move to the United States, but I think that many immigrants move to the United States, because they want to have more opportunities, like business opportunities. They also probably want to have the freedom we have here, because most countries don’t have the freedom we have, and other countries don’t have amendments, like our first amendment.  Sometimes they move because they don't like where they live, or to start new, and live a new life. Also because maybe something is going on in their country,like wars. Many people move to the United States to be in a 

safer environment.  Almost similar to when kids move to a new school. They make a new start by moving schools.

 I think that the effect in San Diego, because of immigration is in the different races around us. Many different people of different races come to San Diego. I think that immigration is a wonderful thing because of the different people we meet, and the different cultures we learn about. I think that Immigration has taught everyone a lot of things about what is going on around us, and to see what other people have experienced from where they have come from. I think that it is a good thing that people from other places are getting the chance to start new by immigrating from one country to  another country.