Blog 6: Catch Her in the Oatmeal

So I'm going to tell you a story, despite whether you care or not. Warning: This is going to be completely random tidbits of information straight from my brain onto this keyboard. Is it possible for you to think about someone daily, even if you've never met them? I have two sisters, and I've never met either but I always ask myself: Are they happy? What do they look like? What are their interests, etc. And then I find myself wondering how far I'd go to protect either of them from the scary things in the world. Last year in English, a boy in my class defended a pedophile, saying that it's possible for people to change and that it's "not their fault" if they have urges, because we all do, right? But I was disgusted by this and all I wanted to ask how he'd feel if someone had abused him as a child, raped his little brother, or hit his little sister. It's sad, but true that people are ignorant. No one is to be trusted but yourself.

Also, Catcher in the Rye is a very good book so far. I'm really curious about where he is while he's telling the story, although; I don't want to ruin the ending for myself. I suspect that he's in a mental institution because he finally ends up snapping on a "phony." I can see where he's coming from with the idea that everyone's putting on an act. This reminds me of a lyric from one of my favorite bands. They say "all the world's a stage," which is a variation of a Shakespearian quote. This quote is open to interpretation, but I believe what they're trying to say is that everyone is putting on an act. Everyone puts on fake smiles to be "polite" and censors their thoughts when putting them into words to be "politically correct." If everyone just said what they really thought, things would be so much better. I understand that one can have negative and positive opinions about someone, but being offended by either is just ridiculous.

The truth is that, the truth hurts. Some people can't handle it. But we were each put on this Earth for a reason, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant that reason may be. And this may sound contradictory, but there's no reason everyone can't be friendly to everyone else. People need to remember that each of us is going through some kind of personal struggle. You can't judge someone by what they look like today, cause you don't know what happened in their house that morning, or even the night before. The fact is, you'll never know, you just have to assume the worst and hope for the best.

Blog 5: Caulfield's Lasting Voice

After reading this article, I can honestly say that I am looking forward to reading our latest selection, Catcher in the Rye. I have come to the realization that most of my all-time favorite books have something very much in common with Catcher in the Rye. This is that they all have infamous reputations for being banned across American schools. I believe that, not only should these books not be banned, but they should be required to read. Two of my personal favorites include The Giver and The Perks of Being A Wallflower. These two "controversial" novels touch on the most awkward and taboo of adolescent development issues. Not only do these pieces force readers to think deeper about what each chapter means, they also allow for adolescents to think more about life itself.

The few words that the author of Caulfield's Lasting Voice allowed for the girl to speak at the end are wise beyond any high school student's years. With this, she explains why some classes or age groups might be split about the novel. Those students who have experienced feelings and events similar to those of Caulfield are able to see this novel as a "coming-of-age" rather than "depressing." It is expected that some adolescents "just don't get it," as the sixteen-year-old stated. These are adolescents blinded by the poisonous environment that our world has become today. With new technologies, expensive cars, and brand-name clothing, sometimes classic novels like Catcher in the Rye are the only thing that allow for readers to be brought back down to Earth, if only for a little while.

Blog 4: National Day on Writing PVRHS Gallery

Life in its Simplest Form by Allison Lotito

This piece of writing spoke to me the most because of what I have in common with it. Its a beautifully written poem about my favorite season. Phrases like "wind...whispered words into my ear," allows me to create a vision in my head of the colors, sounds, and scents of October. This piece uses symbolism and mature vocabulary, which suggests that it is directed toward a more advanced literate crowd. If I could conference with Allison, I would tell her not to be afraid of using creative and more developed vocabulary. In the poem, she goes in and out of using good vocabulary to better her piece. If she had used "slightly" instead of "a little," her piece might flow eloquently. Although my choice may have been somewhat biased with fall being my favorite season, I truly think this was a beautiful piece of writing about a beautiful time of year.

Blog 3: Family vs. Law

Through all of the trials and tribulations that Frank has caused the Hayden family, Wes comes to the conclusion that he has to do the right thing. What he tries to explain to David is that the hardest thing and the right thing are often the same. The story he tells David is from his childhood. This was when he was chased for stealing golf balls and he never got caught or penalized for it. He believes that, no matter what, justice should be served, but it wasn't in his situation.

Blog 1: Montana 1948, Part I, pgs. 33-38

Wes Hayden is prejudice against Native Americans. Although he does not state it to their faces, behind their backs he refers to them as ignorant and considered them lower in society. "My father did not like Indians. No, that's not exactly accurate, because it implies that my father disliked Indians, which wasn't so. He simply held them in low regard" (Pg. 34) He also displays prejudice when speaking on the phone with his brother, who states that he'll "just go do a dance and beat some drums." Although Wes only contributed to this joke by laughing at it, which is just another way of feeding hatred toward the Native Americans. This view is different than that of the other family members because David and his mother choose not to conform to the hateful tactics of the rest of the town. When David receives moccasins as a gift, his father refuses him permission to wear them. If more people had been brave and refused to conform as David and his mother did, racism would only be a small problem rather than a huge issue in today's society.