To Kill or Not to Kill? by Patricia Smith

Capital punishment is a controversial topic. More commonly known as the death penalty, some people favor it, while others oppose it. In the article To Kill or Not to Kill by Patricia Smith, the author talks about the decline in the use of the death penalty in the US. She wants readers to know, despite it being legal in the majority of states, the use of the death penalty isn’t as high as its use in the past.

            Smith uses words like “terribly wrong” and “lethal injection” to express her opinion. She also says “high costs.” Smith says “the high costs of carrying out death sentences has been a factor,” while describing why the use of the death penalty has gone down. I think that both opinions on the death penalty are represented. Smith includes opinions that represent why the death penalty shouldn’t be used and opinions on why it should. For example, the article says, “Other death penalty supporters say that capital punishment serves as a deterrent, stopping would-be killers, since they’d fear the possibility of execution.” It also says people who oppose the death penalty say killing is wrong, no matter the crime.

            I think Smith is trying to get readers to think about the use of the death penalty. In my own opinion, I think the death penalty is wrong and isn’t justice. I think no one should play God, meaning they shouldn’t decide who gets to live or die. I also think that killing the committer of the crime would be much easier than for them to go to jail because there are worse things than death. I think the author leans more to the side that the death penalty shouldn’t be used since she uses words such as “terribly”, “lethal”, and “high costs.”

            After reading this article, my opinion hasn’t changed on whether the death penalty should be used or not. I think New York did the right thing by choosing not to use the death penalty as punishment. I would like to research more cases on botched executions (executions that went wrong) and how they went wrong.

Museum of City of New York: Activist Exhibit

            Goings to the Activist Exhibit made me think about the different ways to protest causes. You can boycott for causes, do something as simple as walk for your cause, you can become more violent, and you can do something comedic. I think for the protest for New York City bike lanes that it was a smart idea to do something comedic. Comedy captures everyone’s attention and people wouldn’t really pay attention to their cause if they didn’t do something comedic. It was a good way to bring attention to the cause.

            The exhibit also made me think of some causes that I didn’t really think were issues. I knew gay rights and gay equality was an issue. I didn’t know that getting more bike lanes and enforcing bike lane laws was an issue. A lot of drivers feel that there should be less bike lanes and that they rule the road. However, there’s also the side of the story for the bikers. There are cars parking in the bike lane which cause bikers to go out into the road. This can cause serious accidents that effect everyone and is a serious issue.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Banning books from schools is a controversial topic. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a book that has been put on the list of books that should be banned. The book is about a boy named Charlie and his journey through high school trying to find himself and dealing with some hidden issues within. One of these issues is being molested. Charlie being molested isn’t the only reference of sexual content in the book. This is why perhaps parents and adults have tried to ban this book from schools. However, I think teenagers, meaning ages 13 and up, should be able to read this book because I think we should be mature enough.

            Charlie being molested is an example of a sexual reference in the book. Sam and Charlie were about to have sex, when something Sam did made Charlie freak out. He soon says “’I can’t do that anymore. I’m sorry,’ I said…But I wasn’t talking to Sam anymore. I was taking to someone else.” Then on page 204, Charlie is dreaming about watching TV with his Aunt Helen. “My brother and my sister and I were watching television with my Aunt Helen… And she was doing what Sam was doing. (End of Dream)… But I kind of figured out that everything I dreamt about my Aunt Helen was true.” Parents and adults might not want children reading this because of the reference of being molested. However, I believe that this scene itself is not graphic. It does not go into descriptive details about what was happening. Therefore, I think teenagers should be able to read this book.

            Another example of a sexual reference is Sam being molested. Sam was asking Charlie if he had ever been kissed and ends up telling him about her first kiss on page 70. “She told me about the first time she was kissed. She told me that it was one of her dad’s friends. She was seven.” Being that the man was her dad’s age, Sam was molested. Parents and adults might not want their children reading this because it does mention and reference possible underage relationships. However, teenagers should be able to read this because it is already implemented into most of our minds that child-adult relationships are wrong and illegal.

            The last example of a sexual reference in the book is a graphic rape scene. Charlie’s brother and sister were throwing a party when a boy named Dave and his girlfriend came into Charlie’s room. One thing led to another and this was what happened, “…but it kept going on, and they kept doing other things and she kept saying ’no.’ Even when I covered my ears I could still hear that.” Dave had just raped his girlfriend. There is a more descriptive part that goes into more detail on the page before. This scene is an example of why adults might not want children reading this. On the other hand, teenagers should be allowed to read this because we should be mature enough. Adults expect a certain type of behavior from us. They expect us to be mature enough to not laugh at certain texts if it’s not for comedic purposes. I think the same type of maturity should be extended in this case as well.

            From reading this text, I have learned that there is content that is not meant for the immature to read. There are adult texts out in bookstores and libraries. On the contrary, teenagers should be allowed to read such texts as well because we are mature enough to read these types of texts. Teachers and parents encourage reading into our lives, and yes, there are texts meant for adults in bookstores and such, but the choice should remain with the student of what he or she wants to read.

Hidden by P.C + Kristin Cast

"Hidden" by P.C and Kristin Cast is another installment of the House of Night series. It continues the journey of Zoey Redbird trying to defeat Neferet. These are some of the archetypes found in the novel.

Archetypes:

The Reluctant Hero: The reluctant hero is Zoey. Although Zoey just wants to be normal, it seems that she always has to save someone or try and stop her enemy, Neferet, from causing havoc. She often finds herself wondering why she couldn’t be normal but ends up saving Tulsa from the mess that Neferet tries to cause time and time again.

The Shadow: Neferet is the shadow. She is the person Zoey is always saving Tulsa from. Neferet is always causing problems and trying to hurt or kill Zoey. On page 165, Neferet has just been shunned from all of Vampyre society. “Neferet had, of course, intended to break with High Council, but not before she had divided them and set them at each other’s throats so that they would be too busy with the destruction happening within to meddle in the world she was fashioning outside their cozy little island.: this shows Neferet’s the shadow because she is trying to bring down the council so that they wouldn’t notice the world of destruction she is trying to create.

The Mother Figure:  Sylvia Redbird, Zoey’s grandmother, is the mother figure. She is not only there for Zoey, but she is there for others outside of her family as well. She provides guidance and comfort. Aurox has been controlled by Neferet and has had to murder someone loved by all. Be that as it may, Sylvia still comforts Aurox. On page 44, Aurox is crying because no one accepts him and he wonders if he can fight the power of the white bull and become truly good. “ Sylvia Redbird sat, folding her bare feet beneath her, and then put her arms around him and drew his head to her shoulder….He only knew that as he sobbed, she held him and rocked him gently back and forth.” This shows how Sylvia is a mother figure, for she comforts Aurox and later gives him sanctuary and advice to find himself.

Shape Shifter: Aurox is a shape shifter. He used to work for Neferet, until he started questioning what he is and who he wants to be. His alliance is questioned by Zoey’s group. On page 98, Aurox is trying to warn Zoey that Neferet has taken her grandmother, but Zoey’s group doesn’t believe him. “’ Hang on,’ Stark said. ‘ How do we know he’s not making this all up as a way to get us to go after Neferet?’ ‘I am not Neferet’s creature!’ Aurox cried. ‘You sure as hell were two nights ago. Dragon Lankford is dead because of it. ‘” This shows how Aurox is a shape shifter because he claims one thing, but because of his past, his alliance with Zoey is questionable.

New Understandings: All of the characters archetypes' connect with each other. With each of these characters, their actions really effect each other without them realizing it. 

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

WARNING: CONTAINS A MAJOR SPOILER ALERT

            A cancer book, a book you expect to read about the feelings of the cancer survivor or patient. However “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green, though the main character, Hazel, and her friends, Gus and Isaac, have or have had cancer, John Green writes nothing of the sort. Instead of focusing on how Hazel has cancer, and how it prohibits her from doing things, Green focuses on the romance between Gus and Hazel and all the special moments they have together. Since meeting Gus, Hazel has probably felt more than she has in quite a while and goes through a bunch of different changes in her emotions.

             In the beginning of the book, we see that Hazel was withdrawn. Hazel doesn’t want to go to Support Group. “Me: I refuse to go to Support Group.” Hazel then gets into an argument with her mom about going to Support Group. Hazel goes to Support Group but doesn’t share or express her feelings. She doesn’t really talk with anyone either, until she meets Gus. Gus comes to Support Group one day and when Gus shares his biggest fear, Hazel finally has something to say and expresses her thoughts. This shows how Hazel was withdrawn until she met Gus.

            Towards the middle of the book, Hazel becomes more involved in things since she met Gus. For example, when she gets to Amsterdam, because of Gus, to meet an author, Peter Van Houten, of a book she’s loved ever since she was a little girl, she says “’ MOM, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!’ I shouted and she came to the bed and let me hug her.” This shows how ecstatic Hazel was and was more involved in doing more ever since she met Gus. If she hadn’t met Gus, perhaps she never would have gone to Amsterdam. Without Gus, the trip wouldn’t have been possible.

            Towards the end of the book, Hazel is devastated by Gus’ death. “’ Hazel, what can we do for you?’ And I just shook my head. I started crying again. ‘What can we do?’ Mom asked again. I shrugged. But she kept asking as if there were something she could do.” This shows how Hazel is devastated and had she not met Gus, she wouldn’t have felt this emotion of losing someone she loves. At the end of the book, Hazel finds closure with Gus’ death. Gus sends Hazel’s eulogy, which he wants read at her funeral, to Peter Van Houten. “’ You don’t get to choose if you hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers.’ I do Augustus. I do.” Hazel’s content with the thought that if anyone had to have hurt her, it was Gus. She doesn’t regret letting herself get close to Gus, even though she was worried at first. This shows how she found closure with Gus’ death.

            “The Fault in our Stars” is a brilliant story. It shows the emotions, good and bad, of Hazel’s experience with Gus. How happy and sad and overjoyed and content she was with Gus. This book has now become one of my favorites.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

            “The Jazz Age”. This is what F.Scott Fitzgerald labels the decade of the 1920’s. It is also the time period The Great Gatsby takes place. This novel is through the eyes of Nick Carroway about a man named Jay Gatsby who is in loved with Daisy Buchanan. The story follows what Gatsby does to get Daisy’s attention to spark the flame they once had, though Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan. While Nick is around Tom and Gatsby, I can’t help but notice the difference between Gatsby and Tom.

            One difference between Tom and Gatsby is their dedication to Daisy. While Gatsby has always been faithful to Daisy, this is not the case with Tom. On page 24, Nick is describing the train station in the valley of the ashes between East Egg and West Egg. “There is always a halt there of at least a minute, and it was because of this that I first met Tom Buchanan’s mistress.” Tom Buchanan’s mistress refers to the woman that Tom is cheating with on Daisy. Tom has his own apartment with Myrtle, his mistress, and everyone knows about it. Gatsby has always been trying to get Daisy to notice him again and has never cheated on her.

            Another example of how Gatsby and Tom are different is Tom is abusive, while Gatsby isn’t. In Chapter 2, on page 37, Tom and Myrtle are fighting about Daisy when Tom has had enough. “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” Tom hit Myrtle without any remorse. He didn’t apologize or try to help Myrtle. There are no actions by Gatsby that suggest he has ever hit a woman in his life.

            The last example of how Tom and Gatsby are different is the way the present themselves. Gatsby is insecure about himself. In Chapter 4, on page 65, Gatsby is showing Nick his new car. “’ Look her old sport,’ he broke out surprisingly, ’what’s your opinion of me, anyhow?’” This quote shows how Gatsby wants to know what people think of him. He values their opinion. This shows how he’s insecure. To, on the other hand, is arrogant. Tom thinks he knows everything and his opinions are what are right. He thinks his opinions always to be heard and matter.

            Overall, Gatsby and Tom are very different people. Why did Daisy choose to run away with Tom? Gatsby has proved to be a kinder man than Tom. How Daisy went from loving Gatsby, to marrying Tom, I will never understand. Though, in my opinion, Daisy doesn’t deserve Gatsby, Gatsby does deserve to be happy, and he was happy with Daisy. With that said, what happened towards the end of the book showed Daisy’s true colors and perhaps Gatsby could’ve found a happier ending without her if he got the chance.