Golden Snowflake Poetry Battle: Part One

Fluttering

Fluttering

Fluttering

Down they fall

With such a magical grace

It is a beautiful sight to see them all

Drifts of white in everyplace

Blankets of down

Are what cover the ground

The brisk day

Ends in a frigid night 

Bells on the sleigh

Can be heard 

Through the silence

And quiet

You fell the chill

Of that winter spill

The crackle of the fire

And the warm desire

And like Lucy told Schroeder

A long time ago

Of the "Santa Claus,

And Ho Ho Ho,

and Mistletoe,

and presents to pretty girls."

It's the creed of the world

It's that time of the year

When no matter who you are

You have a heart full of holiday cheer

I Am a Plow?

I am a plow? With all due respect, I do not consider myself a plow.  I do not see myself with any similarity to a large, old, cumbersome piece of machinery, forced to work and labor all day in the hot sun. There is no powerful horse dragging me towards something with out any power of my own being. Instead of the hopeless and helpless plow, I am the horse that drags the plow.

I am the one in control of the machine that does the work. I go at my own pace, completely at my own will. I can stop when I choose, and start again when I choose. When I complete my task, I am allowed freedoms. I can rest, I can play, I can eat, I can work again. I am unlike the plow in the sense that I am pulling my own destiny, rather than being forcefully dragged behind something else. I am able to go in my own direction, than be led to a place that I might find undesirable. I make the decisions instead of following behind someone who is leading me.

Am I a plow? No. I am much different than that.

A Direction the Class Needs

My blogging this year is because of my third period American Literature class. My teacher, Mr. McCarthy, is having us blog once a week as an assignment instead of writing essays or typical writing assignments. I really enjoy this class - and I'm not just saying that to suck up, I truly do. Although it is a fun and more free form class, I believe there could be some changes to the class.

First of all, I don't see many problems with the class. We receive a fair amount of homework and do enough class work to help us understand the concepts being taught. One thing I think needs a change is the amount of reading we are assigned at a time. Usually, we are assigned at least 25-50 pages of reading a night, sometimes more. This may not seem like a lot, but when you can up to six other classes with assigned homework, not to mention projects, tests to study for, and extra curricular activities, it can seem like a load.

Besides the sometimes monotonous amounts of reading, the class is good. As students, we are given much more freedoms than in other classes, such as being able to sit wherever we would like and work with partners we are allowed to choose, which is a refreshing change. I hope the class remains the same all year because I am really enjoying third period American Literature.

Modern Slavery

When many people hear the word "slavery," the first reference they think of is African American slavery during the 1800's in America. Although the Emancipation Proclamation has been addressed and the 13th amendment has been added to the constitution, slavery still exists in our world today. 

In many communist and third world countries across the globe, there are many people who are forced to work and labor in a modern day slavery. When I think of modern slavery, I think of China. In the United States everything we own seems to have a "Made In China," sticker somewhere on it. Most of our imported goods come from China which are made by migrant workers.

Today, there are approximately 136 million migrant workers in China. On average migrants work 12 hours a day, 26 days a month. Living conditions are poor with up to six people sharing small, cramped bedrooms. Factory conditions are dangerous, and basic health and safety protections are rarely provided to workers. Many thousands of workers die every year as a result of contracting some kind of disease at work.

If this doesn't seem  like modern slavery, then I don't know what is. These people are forced to work for little to no pay, for long hours, to try to make a living for their families and themselves. All this labor and hardship, for what? The next "My Little Pony," horse or a "Nerf," football. We are forcing people to work for us who have nothing, to make us the things we take for granted.

House of the Seven Gables

The Puritans of the 1600's during the witch trials in Salem and the book, House of the Seven Gables, were very strict, pious, theocratic people. Although their way of life and ideals may seem extremely different from the life of current day Americans, the Puritans had a great effect on American culture. 

The Puritans based their lifestyle on three key principals which came from religion and dedication to God, work and labor to ensure their "predestination," and education, in which religion and work was the dominant theme. Simply, religion was the one factor that summed up Puritan existence. These influences, especially education, are stressed in today's society. You work hard to earn a good education so then you can use that knowledge to achieve a better job where you continue to work through the remainder of your life.

Religion, once again, was the key part in the life of a Puritan. They were very small minded when confronted with the idea of religions other than Protestant. This closed mindedness results in religious exclusiveness which is a part of society that they develop.

Though it might not have always been a good addition, the Puritans have added many factors to the lifestyle and society we came come to be familiar with in present day America.

The Moment I Knew I was an American

The moment I knew I was an American occurred 9 years ago. I was in kindergarten, and was 5 years old. The date was September 11th, 2001. 

My dad had dropped me off at school around 8:00. I was completely unaware of what was going on and probably wouldn't have understood the seriousness of what had happened. But all day I knew something wasn't right. I can remember very vividly the looks on my teacher's faces; the look of distress and fear. The phone in the kindergarten house rang continuously through out the day. My teacher would flinch when she heard it ring.

After a few hours, we all walked outside. I still didn't really know what was going on. The entire school was gathered around the flag pole which was at half staff. Everyone was quiet. We were told to bow our heads and say a prayer. I knew then that something was wrong.

Later that day, my mom and dad had the same feeling. I wanted to know what was wrong. My mom had told me that there had been Everywhere I went, American flags began to appear. On the news, reporters started talking about America and the country. 

That day around the flag pole, people were singing. I didn't know the name of the song until later. They were singing, "God Bless America." The strength and togetherness of the people is what showed me the power of our country. That was the moment I knew I was an American.

Us Vs. Them.. Them Vs. Us

Conflict is what fuels the anger with in us all. (I am angry that I have to retype this because Blogger spontaneously refreshed and my writing got deleted.) Conflict can lead to war and problems within a community, nation, or on an international status. Depending on the scale of the conflict, it can lead to serious injury or death in some cases. In The Crucible, the conflict arises between the people who believe in witchcraft and are accusing others of being witches, and the non-believers; the ones who believe they should take the blame for their problems rather than blaming others and "witchcraft." Like in The Crucible, the problems stem from controversial issues within the town.

There are many controversial issues in the United States today. One of those issues is abortion. There are many who would like to say they have no opinion on the topic, but other see it as the most heated issue in the United States. The radicals on both ends of the spectrum are very one sided and biased. They are not able to agree with one another. Because of this, many may feel like they are in a, "Us Vs. Them.. Them Vs. Us," situation.

This is how people though during the times of The Crucible. If people did not agree with each other, they felt as if they were being attacked - or you were a witch. If you were always at odds with people, everyone would have a, "Us Vs. Them.. Them Vs. Us," disposition.

John Proctor, Hero or Stooge?

John Proctor is a character in the play we are reading in class entitled The Crucible. The Crucible takes place in Province of Massachusetts Bay during 1692 and 1693. During this time, the area was heavliy populated with Puritians who believed that there was witch craft with in the town. Because there was sickness and things they couldn'tunderstandor explain, they automatically blamed thier problems on someone else by acuaing them of being witches.

Unlike the other charaters in this play, John Proctor does not beileve in this talk of witchery. Rather than blaming others for the problems, he believs they should take the blame themselves because he himself does not belive that there is witch craft. Many people in the town disagree with his beliefs, such as the town's reverend,who seems to be in the middle of all the witchery with his daughter, niece, and slave seen "conguring spirits," in the forest.

I believe that because John Proctor does not agree with the rest of the town, that makes him a hero. Although the town may be against him a think he is a stooge, having his own thoughts is what makes him smarter than everyone else. Though he is not perfect and the town may accuse him of following the devil, having freedom of thought is the herioc trait of John Proctor.

I believe if I was living during the late 1600's in the middle of all of this, I would follow in the footsteps of John Proctor. I would want to have my own belief rather than follow the ideas of others. I would stand for what is true and not submiss to the general assembly.

Sinners in the Hands of Angry God

        Sinners in the hands of Angry God. I am sure you are all very aware of the words of colonial american preachers.. Kidding.

We recently read a passage in our textbooks with the respective title. Johnathon Edwards preached this moments piece on July 8, 1741. He portrays a completely different image of God than what I have grown up knowing. I have grown up following the Catholic depiction of God; a God who forgives, a God who understands, a God who loves. Edwards preaches of a much different image of God; a powerful master who holds your life in his hands, who is willing to drop you any minute. According to Edwards, God "is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it." His goal is to see you slip and fall, to drop you out of his palm. If you do not follow the strict lifestyle of God, which Puritans like Johnathon Edwards believed in, he will easily cast you into hell.

I find this exaggeration extremely preposterous. If I was a young Puritan listening to Edwards during a church sermon, I would be terrified! not only am I forced to follow this simple, theocratic lifestyle, but if I fail to, I will be banished to the deepest abyss of hell. This opinion may be influenced by today's society but this intensely serious doctrine would give me chills.

And "Angry God?" Seriously? The last thing God should be is angry. He is God. He has nothing to be angry about.

There Goes The Neighborhood

Blog post number two. There Goes The Neighborhood. I feel like my last entry was very cold and proper, maybe because I was unaware what my English teacher was expecting, maybe because my mother forced me to.

There goes the neighborhood. A mass exodus. A flight of one by the entry of another. There has been many instances of this in the past, however, near the community where I live, that wasn't the case.

Many years ago, during the 1960's, there was segregation in the United States. Neighborhoods were either black or white. When one race would enter the neighborhood - if the had the courage to - that would leave to the flight of the other. Even is Chicago, segregation was present. Many neighborhoods followed this same pattern, but one, on the Southwest side, did not.

The Beverley Hills neighborhood, acted in the exact opposite way of the other neighborhoods during that time. A once predominately white area, is now one of the most diverse communities in the city because of the actions during the 1960's. When African Americans moved into the neighborhood, the white people did not flee. There was no relocation, no exodus. The two races managed to live together peacefully and with out flaw. Surprise? Don't think so.

Today we know that diversity is good and necessary for survival, but then, it was brand new. Black and White weren't meant to mix, as seen before in previous neighborhoods. Beverly was a big hop, skip and a jump towards civil rights and it effected everyone. The fact that there wasn't a "There Goes The Neighborhood," effect was a big deal that lead towards civil rights which changed the world.

Introductions

Introductions are what occurs when you meet someone new, the beginning of every relationship, when everyone seems nice and likable; before you get to know the person you have just met. The, "Hello's," and the, "Nice to meet you's," and the, "I've heard a lot about you's." I have the slightest of hope that my introduction will be more than just a, "Hello," or a "Nice to meet you." I hope it explains some of who I am.

My name is Nikki Pietrus. I am a high school freshman at Whitney Young High School. I have a great family and great friends. I have many special qualities and interests that make me who I am. I have grown up living on the far South West side of Chicago. Prior to attending Whitney Young as a seventh and eighth grade Academic Center student, or Ackie, I attended Morgan Park Academy, a small private school also located on the South West side. I attended first, second, and third grade at Clissold Elementary in the Montessori program. You can say I have done a lot of school hopping in my day. I think because I have attended various schools, each very different from the other, it has encouraged me to become a more outgoing student and person. I have friends from my childhood and all over the city who I have fond memories with because of the experiences I have had the privilege to enjoy. 

Outside of school, I have many extra curricular activities that I am involved in. Sports are a big component in my life. As my mother likes to say, "It keeps you in shape, and it keeps you out of trouble." The two sports I play are volleyball and softball, softball being my favorite. I am currently on the junior varsity volleyball team at Whitney Young and playing competitive travel softball. I am very dedicated to my teams and always play to win. Also, during my spare time between school and practices, I manage to play the piano. I have played since I was three years and have become very passionate when I sit down to play. It helps me be a more well rounded person.

Another important part of my life is my family and friends. My family consists of my mom, dad, and I. I have no siblings. I have one dog. Her name is Belle. She is the most spoiled dog you would ever meet. My mom, Debbie, is a second and third grade Montessori teacher at Clissold and my dad, Bob, is a engineer for the Chicago Fire Department. We love to travel as a family over the summer and during school breaks when both my mother and I are both off. This previously summer, we traveled to Tennessee, Florida, and California. We spend a lot of time together which makes us very close. We love each other and help each other everyday.

Although this is some rather basic information, I hope it has given you some information and an introduction to me.