Thankful

               I think the person that I would be thankful for in our 7th period English class is Devin O'Banion.  Devin always brings good questions, and very insightful reasons for why something might happen in what we're reading for that day, week, or month.  Devin is very intellectual and positive in our daily class, and his positive mood helps to keep me positive and focused on class.  I don't think 7th period American Lit would be the same without Devin O'Banion, so I'm thankful that he's there, and ready for class everyday.

I Celebrate Myself

               I think that it's important that everyone is proud and happy with who they are.  This is because you are who you are based on the decisions you've made in your life.  From every decision you make, you learn from it, and build more decisions based on past decisions.

               I'm proud of who I am because I know that no matter what path I've chosen to take in life, there are always positives and negatives.  I can't go back and change these choices, so I must live with them and make the best of them.  Right now, I have positive family interactions, and I hope to keep this.  I also have a positive school life and friends.  I celebrate myself for not letting others control my life and decide who I am.  I am myself, and I make these important decisions in my life.

               Everybody comes across difficult decisions in life, and these decisions define us.  Everyone should celebrate who they are based on these decisions.

"Poe"

Background:

                Edgar Allan Poe was born to travelling actors in 1809, and his parents died two years later.  Poe then went to live with a merchant named John Allan and his wife Frances Allan.  John Allan wanted Poe to be a merchant like him, but Poe wanted to be a writer.  In 1826, Poe went to college and gained considerable debt.  John Allan sent Poe to college with less than one third of what he needed to pay.  This debt caused Poe to become a drunk in college.  Poe eventually dropped out of college and returned to Virginia, only to realize his  fiancée had gotten engaged to another man. Poe then went back to live with Allan until they had a falling out.  Poe then published his first book and enlisted in the U.S. Military.  After two years in the military, Poe gets word that Frances Allan is dying, and he rushed back to see her but she is buried before he gets back.  John Allan remarries without telling Poe, and when Allan dies, he leaves Poe out of his will.  For some strange reason, Poe later decides to marry his thirteen year old cousin.  In 1845, Poe published "The Raven," making him famous.  Poe died in 1809, and the cause of his death is still a mystery.

Poe:
            Edgar Allan Poe today is widely regarded as the first mystery writer.  I feel think that Poe often writes in a depressed, Gothic manner because of the early death of his biological parents, and because of the falling out with John Allan, and the failure to see Frances Allan before her death, whom was the only person he really considered a mother.  I also think the early death of his wife contributes to this, and I feel he never recovered from her death properly.  Also, Poe's death is a lot like his stories.  Nobody really knows the true reason for his death, and there is none that is widely accepted as to why he died.  His whole death is surrounded in mystery, just like his stories. 
               Overall, I feel that maybe even though Poe is a great author, he was a weird man in his life.   Poe introduced new radical ideas into his writings, and the fact that he really started the mystery genre is what make shim widely known today.

"What Is An American?"

               "What is An American?"  Hundreds of people could be asked, and many of them would have differing answers to this question.  When asking someone "What are you?", they assume that the question is asking what nations your ancestors came from.  When asking someone in America, they might answer, "Oh, I'm Italian, Polish, and Irish".  If someone else is asked they might say, "I'm African-American", or , "I'm Asian-American".
            If you went to another country such as Germany, one would answer, "I'm German."  If you went to England, all answers would be, "I'm English."  The point of the matter is, in America, people rarely answer, "I'm American."  Even if they are born in America, they wouldn't answer, "I'm American."  I believe that this is because America is filled of people that are not originally from America other than those called "Native-Americans."   Those that live in America are unified because they live in America, but also not united at the same time because of all the different cultures their ancestors come from and because all of the beliefs that they still continue to follow.
               If you are not born in another country, I don't feel that there is really a point in saying, "I am a _________ American."  It only serves to not unify our country farther, and break us apart.  To answer the original question of  "What is an American?", I would say that an American is someone that comes to call America home.  You do not necessarily need to be born in a country to call it home, but be proud of the country you now live in and are a part of.  An American is someone that believes in liberty and justice, and is willing to fight to keep it.  This is an American. 

The Modern Puritan

            Over the past few weeks, we have been learning that Puritans lived in  very strict societies where politics, law, and religions were one thing.  From The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter , we have learned that Puritans were quick to act harshly on "crimes" committed within their society due to their belief that a single act could throw them out of God's favor.  I think that this in part was due to the fact that Puritans thought the "impurities" of others around them and in their community could put them at risk of not going to Heaven if the "crime" was not acted upon quickly, and as severely as possible.  Puritans were also quick to judge people on their crimes, and this judgement usually stuck with them for the rest of their lives.
         
            This swiftness in judging other peoples can be seen in modern day throughout the world, even after these people have served time for their crimes.  If you get arrested once during your life, later on when you're looking for a job, it is highly unlikely that employers or colleges will even glance at your application after seeing that you've been arrested.  Employers and college administrators are not the only ones quick to judge you for committing a crime early in life.  Your family members and friends may never look at you the same, and it is extremely difficult for these individuals to gain back trust and love from family and friends.

           Puritans may not really exist today, but people still are quick to judge others based on past experiences just like the Puritan societies.

           

             

John Proctor: Hero or Stooge

          A stooge is "a person who serves merely to support or assist others particularly in doing unpleasant work."  A hero is "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities."

       
         I feel that John Proctor in my eyes is more a of a hero than a stooge for the fact that he displays many "noble qualities."  One noble quality that Proctor displays courage in going to the court house and going against his wife's conviction of witchcraft.  Courage can also be seen when Proctor refuses Danforth's deal for his wife's safety until she gives birth to her child in order to try and help his friends get their innocent wives released from jail and being hung.  When Proctor refuses Danforth's deal, he also has the possibility of being hung for going "against" the court, showing that Proctor knows the risks, and is willing to do the right thing.  Another  noble quality is humility, and John Proctor shows this when he risks his face in the village by announcing to Danforth that he had an affair with Abigail.  This can be seen on page 1333 when Proctor says, "I have known her, sir.  I have known her."  In my eyes, Proctor is a hero.
         
          On the flip side, many in Salem probably feel that Proctor is actually a stooge.  My reasoning for this is that most probably feel that Abigail's lies are the truth.  Danforth for sure feels that Proctor is a stooge in that he goes against his authority, and "challenges" the court.  Mr. Parris also feels that Proctor is a stooge because he thinks Proctor is trying to undermine his authority in the village, and start a revolution against his leadership.

          Overall, I feel that Proctor is a hero, and that he tried to do the right thing, even if it meant his death.   

          

"Arrivals....There Goes the Neighborhood"

Over the past couple of weeks, we've been reading and going over stories that have to do with Native Americans and the effects that European explorers had on them surrounding this idea.  These stories include "Museum Indians", "A Journey Through Texas", "History Of Virginia", "Plymouth Plantation", and Columbus's Journal.  As Europeans began arriving in American during 1492, they learned that another group of peoples was already living there, the Native Americans.

When the Europeans first arrived in America, they treated the Indians like they were savages.  Since Indians believes in many spirits, and were not monotheistic, they were viewed as primitive.  This can be seen in Columbus's journal and the way that he referred to them as "barbarians."  They treated Native Americans like this because they were a thing from the Europeans past, and thus not worthy to be their "neighbors."  Native Americans only used what was needed, while Europeans went out of their way to make the most profit.  The Europeans also tried to changed the Indians' beliefs because they felt that it was their duty to the God, but as seen in the stories and writings that we read, Native Americans didn't bend, making Europeans feel even more so that Indians were nothing more than "savages", and eventually escalating to the point where Europeans began to kill Indians over land and wealth.

Native Americans really never stood a chance against the European spread and the European belief in "manifest destiny" due to their advanced technology, such as guns, and their was nothing they could do to stop the spread of Europeans due to their greed of wealth.  Overall, I feel that while the European settlers treatment was horrifying, it was a necessary evil in making the world is is today, and I feel that it is a great world.

Me

Hi, my name is Frank Fiene. I'm 15 years old. I'm 6 foot 1 and a half. I attend Whitney M. Young Magnet High School as a sophomore, one of the best high schools in the nation. I live in a family of five. I have one brother, Dan, and one sister, Lauren. We also have two dogs, an Australian Shepherd named Sundance, and a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named Joy. I live in Beverly, and went to Sutherland for grammar school. Also, I need to wear contacts or glasses because I'm blind when reading anything more than a foot away. I enjoy going out and being active in general. I really like to play football, basketball, and baseball with my friends during the summer and spring. I like going on trips to places I've never been before, and would like to go on a trip outside of the U.S. I also really like to try out new foods that I've never had before. Last school year, I played volleyball, and I want to play more sports this year, and just be more active with school in general. I was part of a few clubs, but only went to maybe two or three meetings in all. This school year, I want to be more active with school and meet more people.