A Time to Be Thankful

So I am supposed to pick who I am thankful for. . . well, I really don't want to, because in reality, I am thankful for everyone. Think about it. . . If our class was missing even just one person (and I'm not talking about if someone is absent or something like that), the class would be completely different. Some things would not have happened and some of the discussions that made us think a little deeper may have not been started by that person who asked that random question. It would be a parallel world!!!

But, speaking of deep discussions, this topic is getting a little deep. Also, I came up with this spur of the moment as I was thinking there really was no EXACT person I was thankful for, and I came to the conclusion that I do not want to answer this is the way it should be answered. . .

So! I am thankful for the person who gives insightful perspectives, the person who doesn't read, the person who makes everyone laugh, the person who is always quiet, but surprises everyone with amazing questions and answers. I am thankful for the girl who sits behind me, the guy who sits behind her, and so on. In short, everyone makes a difference, no matter how big or small.

I. . . Am a Plow

*Yawn* As I start my day waking up in the field, I look around and wonder what's in store for today. Ugh, I'm probably going to be pulled by that smelly old cow again. How many beans do these farmers need to plant anyway. Their useless and they smell like the cow. I've never understood farmers, or humans in general. First of all, they talk to me (as if I would talk back-ha!), so you can tell they are a little mad. . . Second, they just leave me out here and don't even bother giving me a blanket. I mean, I know I can't talk, but show some love people. Plus, (this actually makes me jealous) they can walk in the rain and not rust!! What is this?! They just get all the luck! Pfft!

Arrg, here comes the cow and the 'human'. So now I'm just EXPECTED to do all of this work, while the farmer gets to guide the cow and chew on his wheat. Well, the work is pretty simple, I shouldn't complain; all I do is stay put. My perfect form (not to toot my own horn) is just so awesome I can just be pulled along and my work gets done. Its boring, but it gives me time to think.

The thought has come to me several times that sometimes those humans use me as a metafloor, or metapour, or something like that. The big farmer will tell the smallish farmer that he is a plow when he makes and cultivates new friendships. Or the humans on the P.V. will report that someone, somewhere is a plow to foreign places, paving the way, or something like that.

You may ask me how I know all of this. . . It could be true and I could secretly be spying on those pesky humans. Or, I can be making this all up. Well, really, what do I know? I'm just a plow. :)

A New Class. . . .Its All Quiet on the Western Front

Ah, American Literature. The tedious study of literature written by Americans. Sometimes the reading can be hard to understand and a pain to read; that's just how the cookie crumbles. But, the class itself is awesome. Of course, I can only speak for Mr. McCarthy's class, but however, I say only good things.

I can't say I love the House of the Seven Gables, but I can't say I hate it either. Something Mr. McCarthy said sticks out in my mind, "These were the first people to write novels; they had to figure it out by themselves and tried new things. They paved the way for the rest of America's great writers." Those may not have been his EXACT words, but when you think about American lit that way it gives you a new perspective when it comes to reading hard-to-understand-and-sometimes-boring-American-literature.

That's what I love about this class, it gives me a new spin on things or ideas I may or may not like and it makes me think more extensively about the topic. There is not much I would change. . . not much at all (I mean, I wouldn't mind not reading THOTSG, but. . .it is a requirement and I can live with that). The one thing I feel we need to do more of is vocab/grammar. I like doing vocab and things of that nature, and I absolutely hate doing grammar exercises (suffered through enough of that in grammar school. . .haha, and that wasn't supposed to be a pun-but hey, it's a literary term!). But, I think putting an emphasis on grammar (in papers, assignments, etc.) is really helpful and it will come in handy later in life.
So yeah, I really like my American lit class and have little to no complaints! It's allll good.

Modern Slavery

Slavery was common in the United States during the 19th century, but people eventually came to their senses and realized something was wrong. Thanks to President Lincoln, slavery was legally abolished. Or so we thought.

Today, the United States STILL has forms of slavery, but, not as severe as the 1800's. Latinos come to America looking for work to have a better life, but, big corporations and businesses take advantage of them, paying them below minimum wage for long, strenuous hours. In some states, workers are brought into the U.S. and FORCED(!!) to work.

All around the world, there are still forms of actual slavery. In many countries humans are sold into forced labor; they are forced to work for their "employers", which is just a nice way of saying 'master'. These slaves are forced to work long, tiring hours for no pay; and on top of that, many are frequently abused and threatened either mentally or physically. Many of these slaves are also children, obtained through trafficking, bought from traders, and bought even from the child's own family.

One of the examples I know most about comes from India. About a year ago, I read the book Sold. It was about a young girl who was went to go work in the city so she could send money back to her family. But, what she did not know was that the man that set it up was really selling her into a brothel, where she was forced to be a prostitute. This may not be a exact true story (names, dates, etc.), but it is based on what does happen to these kids in India.

Its unfair, unjust, and inhumane. Slavery is just WRONG. There is things we can do to help, though; organizations like Anti-Slavery, and Amnesty International work to protect human rights and abolish slavery once and for all. Working together as a race may be just what we need to finally create everyone equal.

(pic from: iwka.wordpress.com)