Judge DeSalvo

If I was Judge DeSalvo, I would rule the case in Anna's favor. I think that if she doesn't want to, Anna should not be forced to donate to her sister if she doesn't want to.  In result, the family could attempt to receive what's necessarily from a different donor. Sara is being perceived as a mother, and a lawyer in the court room. It's starting to appear that she really wants and needs Anna to give in and call of the court, but for what reason? She may want her for the reason of a mother; to be able to love her daughter in her own home. Or for the reasons of a lawyer; as a donor for Kate. Campbell Alexander is available to help Anna in her best interest, but possibly also in it for publicity.

Designer Baby

I believe that this discovery of 'designer babies' is a very useful and impacting factor of today's world. This not only helps the health of modern humans, but also shows how our technology and medical research has increased. With this creation, health safeties can be improved to help the birth of newborns. Evolving from this, new discoveries can and will be made to branch off from this. This is another step in the medical evolution.

Holocaust Denial and Distortion

Through all the effects and information about the Holocaust, some people still believe that the Holocaust did not happen. To this statement, I would argue that it did. It's been recorded for there to be a death toll of 6 million Jews. There's standing proof of the concentration camps they stayed in, and the gas chambers they stayed in. There's museums and collections of the actual cans from which the gas came from. There photo evidence of the physical effects of the Jews in the camps. On top of all this, there's the evidence from Anne Frank's Diary! There is no legitiment argument in how the Holocaust did not happen.

Questioning the Holocaust

As high school students, we're asked to reflect and learn things about the Holocaust a lot. We do this in many classes, not just in History. But there's a lot to know about the Holocaust. Why somebody would set out to kill million and millions of people. How they could do that for so long, without being questioned. The Holocaust has to be one of, if not the most impacting historical event to happen in the 20th century. Along with the Holocaust was World War II. But, in it's own way, the Holocaust had a domino effect into the United States involvement with Iraq and Al Qaeda. After World War II and the Holocaust, it was to be determined where the Jews would be able to live, peacefully. It was decided and reinforced by the United States that they could move to the land of Palestine and create Israel. However, this land was already controlled by the Muslims. Taking this land in this manner is believed to have angered them into the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Of course, these acts led to war of 10+ years. So, as my reflection, do you think that Hitler, when he originally expressed his hatred, thought all these effects would occur?

Parental Pride

My Parents have done different things to surprise and amaze me. For example, I am proud of how involved my dad is with me and my brother. He helps a lot with our schooling and sports. He especially helps with coaching and helping in wrestling. There really hasn't been any extra significant thing that he's done to make me realize this, because he's just always been there and always helped.

To Kill A Mockingbird Characters in your Neighborhood

If I could transfer the adventures of Scout and her adventures to my neighborhood, it would be similar in ways, but also different. Mine would also contain being with my brother (Although he is my younger brother, not my older brother like Jem is to Scout) and with a friend or cousin (Like Dill). Also, rather than trying to walk up to unknown houses to see who lived inside of them, it would be more of going on bike-rides to see what all unknown places we could ride to and discover for ourselves. I guess that, If Scout, Jem, and Dill lived in my neighborhood, I'd be friends with them, if we were the same age. We could do similar things as they do in the book, like exploring and making new exciting adventures.

Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell about it.

I think these 3 statements are things to live by. Pay attention. Learn about new things and new experiences. Be astonished. Have fun and enjoy what you do, everybody likes a surprise. Be excited about things. Tell about it. This means to live your experiences and be happy to, not exactly 'brag', but to share your prided experiences and fun times.

Constitutional Amendment

If I had the opportunity to add and amendment to the Constitution, I would want to change the driving age. Right now the age is 16. I believe the age should be lowered to 15. But the exception, is that you must be in High School, and maintain a  GPA of at least 3.5. This way, people who need to be able to drive, for things like school transportation, sports, etc. would be able to. But it would be justified through having a 3.5 GPA, because then the kids would have a decent common sense, and would give the students something to work towards, and a better reason to work hard and earn that 3.5 GPA. Of Course, they'd still have to pass the regulation driving test, so the driver would still have to be taught and be able to drive properly.

What do you wish you could believe in again?

"There is a great deal of difference in believing something still, and believing it again." -W. H. Auden
There are many things I used to believe in that I don't believe in anymore, like the Tooth Fairy or Santa. Things were a lot different then though. Kids always seem to be a lot more excited for Christmas, because they actually write letters to Santa and get more hyped-up about Christmas or about losing a tooth, but when you know about Santa its a little different, because you know its your parents getting the presents for you.

Big vs Small Apearences

Do you know anyone who looks 'big' but acts 'small'? Or vice-versea? Its kinda like saying someones "Bark is more than their bite". They may seem big and tough, but on the inside, they're actually soft and not as intimidating as they seem. It goes the same the other way around; some people that look small could actually be 'tougher' or more than they seem. This also ties into the saying of  "Don't judge a book by it's cover". I think that sometimes physical appearances are related to their personalities, because they could change their appearance to match their personality, but there's also many times where its the opposite. Often times, people that may originally look big, aren't really. Once you actually meet them and find out who they are, you learn that they're different than they seem.

Saving Vs Spending

I think that I'm a saver rather than a spender. I usually like to gather up my money and wait until I have enough to invest it into something bigger and better. That way what I'm spending and wanting to buy is more worthwhile. I agree with the article, saying that when your young, you can be taught to be a saver and be more careful with your money. I think that in my generation, there's a little bit of both savers and spenders. But, compared to people of other generations, I think that as a whole, my generation spends more than we save. This could be from a few things, including that our grandparents lived near a depression, so money was tight. They learned to be smart with their money and be a 'saver' rather than a 'spender'. But our generation didn't as good, because our parents never really had as much of a problem, because they didn't live during a depression  so we haven't learned as much from them about saving and spending in that sense.

My 'Tribes'

I believe that everybody is apart of 'tribes'. Maybe not necessarily legit tribes, like in India or Africa. But in the sense of groups you belong to. I belong to the tribe of people of Italian heritage. Of students who play sports, and of teenagers who like to hang out in their free time. I belong to the tribe of those who like to play music unnecessarily loud. And the tribe of people that like to play football, run track and cross country, and wrestle. I'm in the tribe of people who enjoy free time, and dislike mountains of homework. And the tribe of those who like enjoyable midnight snacks for no particular reason. I'm apart of the tribes of my characteristics and things I like.

Hard Work Pays Off

I Believe in Hard Work

Extrovert vs Introvert People

In many cases, there are two types of people- extroverts and introverts. I think that I'm an Extrovert, because I like to be with people rather than be alone all the time. If everybody in the world was an introvert, I think It'd be pretty quiet. However, if everyone was an extrovert, the world would be really wild and crazy. It's pretty good to have a good combination of both, it keeps everything good; loud and exciting, but also calm and secure. The same goes for your friends; its nice to have some outgoing extrovert friends, but also some calm introvert friends to be serious with. Extrovert leaders are pretty good, in my opinion. They're more up-beat enough to get everybody's attention, and get people to get stuff done, where an introvert leader is more quiet and doesn't communicate as much to the group on the needs to complete a project. It's the same for teachers- its nice to have an outgoing and fun teacher to help make the class more enjoyable.

"You have to name it before you can claim it"

One of the most important things to becoming successful is making goals. These help you to set the bar for your achievements and to reach out to your full potential. Plus it gives a self reflection, and theats always good to see what your good at and what your not, to fix and improve that. Goals help you to "name it before you claim it" and work towards claiming it.

"There is Power in Forgiveness"

The crazy thing about life, is how people can do one small simple thing, and make a huge affect. It may not seem to be as significant at the moment, especially if your the one doing the damage. But little things, if not solved and tended to, can grow out and lengthen to become long-term problems. That's why people need to learn to accept, move on, and forgive. Without being able to do this, life completely changes, as you could be living in a life of unnecessary emotions. But being able to makes life a lot more fun, happy, and enjoyable.

"There is no reality, only perception"

Life in general has a lot of twists to it. In high school at least, there's the need to maintain grades, extra-curricular activities like sports, and having a social life. But despite all this, we're expected to be outstanding and show tedious work and behavior. There's a lot of things going on that can distract you, but you have to just keep working hard and persevere to get better and keep moving on.

Life Rewards Actions

"Should of, would of, could of, doesn't cut it."
Actions speak louder than words. You need to actually do what you say, not just to be lazy and sit around, saying and thinking you could be doing this or that, but not doing it. In order to make something out of your life, i believe you need to go out and do something about it, and actually better yourself.

This is a poem written by Walt Whitman, Called "To A Stranger". I think its pretty interesting because, in my mind, it talks about knowing a stranger. By that, I mean you know everyone has a life story to them, and everyone has a story to tell, its just hidden by a lifetime.

Passing stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,

You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me as of a dream,)

I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,

All is recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,

You grew up with me, were a boy with me or a girl with me,

I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become not yours only nor left my body mine only,

You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass, you take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,

I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you when I sit alone or wake at night alone,

I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again,

I am to see to it that I do not lose you.

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was an American 18th century poet. He was born in 1819 and passed away in 1892. He also was a nurse during the war. Walt Whitman was a realist, because he used great detail to describe the characters and used real life situations. Here is one of his poems, which was featured in the movie, "Dead Poets Society".


O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has a weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells i hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops o red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead...