Our Mother Needs Our Help, Don't Ignore It.

"Every argument- that the warmer weather increased ultraviolet is killing plants and causing cancer; that the new weather is causing food shortages-will have us looking to genetic engineering for salvation. And with each such step we will move farther from nature"(McKibben).




        I am a 17 year old girl who lives in America and is concern on whether if I will make it to 70 years old because of the rapid environmental changes that are happening which endangers my health but all living organisms. When I was in the 8th grade I saw a documentary that was about the polar ice caps melting which at that age most would ignore but it stir up more passion that I thought it would. As of now I hope that most Americans are aware of the environments conditions, if not, start paying attention.
    The economy and corporation have progressed so far that now in our every day lives, we live based off the standard of being materialistic. From that progression it guided a different way of thinking for all humans leading us to want more valuable items rather than the more simplistic natural items offered. Even though this progression has shown how well humans have adapted through time and accomplish more obstacles ever imagine. We forget our roots of where we came from, the earth. Humans have become so engrossed with the idea of having more wealth then causing us to think the environment is  endless or simply irrelevant. We constantly choose to throw money at our problems for that reason  we constantly choose to believe in money rather than the bigger forces above us. Indeed, money or any source of currency has improved and enhanced our economy, government, and health of the country. But clearly money isn't God and will eventually run out. Once that has happen we will also would've ran out of our natural resources. What will we be? We will have nothing, the  earth will have nothing, we become nothing.
   Money is used for genetic engineering which helps build utensil ,such as dams, that assist some of nature problems. The environment through this method becomes stable in areas where its needed.
Nevertheless, being environmentally stable isn't the same as directly addressing nature problems(McKibben). Through genetic engineering it will be more of a substitute rather than fixing what we already have. Nature is so valuable to all that it is a being that can't be replace once its gone completely. As humans we have a responsibility to the earth as well as learning to coexist with other living organisms. From dams being built its responsible for the upset in the animal living environment since its not a natural fix. In 1984, there were 10,000 caribou that drowned from trying to cross the river during their migration for the reason that the river was not its usual size and swept by the current(McKibben). All animals have a purpose which is involve in the ecosystem. Destroying animals' living environment or causing their death will influence an unbalance ecosystem.
  Certainly, there are others who are trying to prevent the conditions from worsening and are working constantly to save the planet without giving credit or fame. Overall the planet needs more helping hands than what has been offered. We are all children of earth and our mother needs help. As I am a teenager now I demand more adults to consider the future of the environment and take more initiative. Its funny how the roles are reverse here.

My Three Englishes

Yes, I speak English well, well enough that a Black girl can speak to a White man and have a full conversation without confusion or correction. Yes, I speak English well, well enough that when I'm talking to friends we understand each other by speaking slang. Yes, I speak English well, well enough that my Father, my Mother, and my Brother understand me in our Black slang way of English. All of these are still English may be broken down,words made in replace of others, or the articulation of words. Being able to speak these different variations of English allows me to connect with others because I speak their tongue. From my ability I'm allow to steer people in the direction I want them to go, I'm allow to make them think one thing about me, I'm allow the power over people minds, but just for a moment though never to much for a Black person. Some may even feel that they have been lied to when you didn't show the other side as well. But don't getit twist'd my brothers and sisters I know how to speak "White English" walla keep it cool wit cha. My people use to say to me "you speak like a white person'' and in that time I would consider myself acceptable in the society or trying to gain the permission in society and would consider others not intelligent. For now I have open my narrow view of the world and grasp the knowledge that I once was missing.  For a Black person to put forth their proper side is used as a protection mechanism. This mechanism helps us not to be deem in society as ignorant and ''put back where we belong''. We follow the standards that are acceptable to lead them on and not give them the advantage because we have to take the little we have to fight back from what's been made instead our heads: two sides of the war take back some of their thought and trick the enemy. From the slave days being trained to say "Yes Master'' to now saying " Yes Sir'' our English is form to always respect the White man. So in the back of our heads were train to know how to speak proper English for a black person because speaking how we truly speak, our personal way, is saying being yourself is not enough. We must hide in plain sight using the tactic of giving into the standards and never letting them your wroth because they don't want to see confident Black people. But do not mistake this tactic as weak or giving in but mainly having the slightest change in the way we speak to make them turn the other cheek. Making them think we "know our place" amongst society. It's an ugly truth but important to know. The way you speak English can have so much power behind it that many may think its little. From this lesson do not underestimate a person on the way they may speak English until you know the whole truth. Never underestimate my family and I because were black,yet looks and sound can still be deceiving. 

Metacognitive Reflection

  As a writer I have improve on detailing my analysis on the books we have read in class with strong thesis and connecting to a broader topic. My dad is a huge inspiration to my writing he has help me understand the underlying message to the topics we have discuss. I've made sure that reread my work before submitting to correct myself and find my mistake which have help my writing skills. Also i think adding the seminars in class help me have different perspectives of the topic which brought me to a deeper understanding. I've mostly improve my analysis and connecting to a broader idea. I feel as my understanding of certain topics have expanded and now my mind has open up and reach new perspective. But i do need to improve on connecting back to the theme. I'm not in the habit of doing so which I'll remind myself each time of doing so when writing. I am most specifically proud of my writing assignment on "The Great Gatsby". I had a good interpretation on the characters with thoughtful explanations. In addition adding a broader idea as background on why the character was develop.I think I should continue to talk to Ms. Nagi and ask her questions about my writing, I think she will help push me further into more improvement.

Being Black in America

 They ask us why don’t we go back,  

Back to where we’ve already made a pact. 

Pact is the Black Americans that been through it all,  

But we hold our heads up because MLK said to stand tall. 

A lot of people don’t want to hear about our suffering,  

They want to keep their inhumanity in covering.  

The pain runs deeply through my soul.  

The soul that was once in a hole.  

That hole filled with oppression.  

That hole filled with suppression.  

That hole filled with discrimination.  

That hole filled with segregation.  

Most of all the imprisonment, 

Of which the mind, body and soul was insignificant.  

Think about if the roles were reverse,  

Think about your everyday life being inverse.  

Our stories aren’t the same but have one similarity,  

They wanted their freedom from England have some clarity.  

But what was done to them must be done to others.  

They strip away the Native Americans and my sisters and brothers.  

They were just people with new found land trying to embark, 

But did not realize with the people they left a mark.  

When it comes to color the nation’s ideal rules don’t apply.  

They tell us freedom and justice for all which some of them lied. 

Understand the hypocrisy that is given towards us,  

Have a understanding of what we just discuss. 

“They said that they were going to fight, because they cherished  

The very ideal, of what our government stands for, should stand for, 

And that was being abrogated by what was being done.”  

 Take that moment of what George Takei said,  

And realize why the revolution spread. 

Even though that hole is still present in today,  

We know what this country stands for our civil rights leader kept our way.  

So step inside the shoes of being black,  

And get very comfortable because were not going back.  

Step Inside a Different Pair of Shoes

Hello APEs, 

This week and the past week I have receive some true insight of how the earlier world of America took place. It was a different world then than now even if we are on the same planet. Here’s a short story of an opposite perspective of the past world.  

My named is Annie, I’m 17 years of age and I lived in small town named Salem with my father, mother, and two older brothers. I am the youngest and only girl in the family.   Salem is a small town that sits in middle of an open area and a couple meters out, lies the edge of the forest, the Devil’s foreground. The people of Salem live by the Puritan methods which are a strict biblical regime.  The girls my age work for other families, go to church and only read the bible. I am born a Puritan and must stay a Puritan until death do I part or the congregation exiles me. The Men rule this town even if they are not in the judges of ministry.  All ministers are men, so men are even seen as judge, jury, and executioner. All women are trained to see men in this way including their husbands, father, and sons. As I write to you do not judge me as men judge women who think for themselves and see another way of life. Try to understand I am no witch, but I see this town differently than everyone else who are conform by the church. If women are not married or widower they are often suspected of witch craft. They are the outsiders that oppose the Puritan methods. There’s no such thing of difference here in this town everyone follows the rule to the very last letter. I have never seen witch craft nor have most people either but it’s the lie that is offered for the reason of why such unnatural things happen. Living this way is more of a cage lifestyle for us. From this enclose space the pressure rises and everyone is unbalance and paranoid. When an opposing member of society appears in town, there is punishment in the name of justice of God. Even John Proctor can advocate he stated "I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. There are many others who stay away from church because you hardly ever mention God any more." There is so much punishment that this religion has turned into a cult where we burn women at the stake or cast them out and punishment for not worshipping God enough. I am awake in a town that lives in the darkness but I have no other choice but to keep writing to you for I fear the consequences of the judgement I may face.