Upfront Chloe ELA

Upfront

          

  I recently read an article called, “Crossing the Racial Divide.” It was a wonderful article about a white couple that lived in the country with a nice house. They decided to move into a poor town with black people for a month. In the shack where they lived they stayed, they had no electricity or running water. They even brought other family members. They brought the very minimum. Such as a couple of mattresses.

            I found this very inspiring for many reasons. For starters, I found it incredible that this happy couple took time out of their normal lives just to see how these blacks lived. It was very brave. Lots of people agree with me, while others didn’t greet the idea as warmly as I did. Some people posted hatred on twitter.

            What I didn't understand about the article is why people were not so supportive of the idea that this white couple were doing this. They weren't being mean their black neighbors. But now I realize that maybe they just aren't ready for change like I am. They think of it as something that isn't supposed to happen. 

                                                                                                                                                                   The couple thought of this as a changing experience. Witch makes me think about doing it someday. It will open up ideas for me. But it takes a level of confidence and braveness to conquer the quest of “Crossing the Racial Divide.”  

Chloe Of mice and men

*spoiler* I just finished reading an excellent book known as, "Of Mice and Men." It was an amazing book. It had me so interested. It was only 109 pages but the context was so thick and it was so beautifully written it felt like 1000. It was a dark book but I was hooked. I often find older books less interesting but this book is a #1 read.

To begin, one of the reasons this book so amazing is the imagery world the author puts into the readers head. I looked out of my window and I pictured the ranch with the men.  I imagined poor Lenny in the barn, horses worked up and feet stomping, lying next to a fragile puppy, dead. I could see the men in the bunkhouse crystal clear. I, for one love imagery. It makes me search for ideas and helps me set the mood.

The second reason I was mesmerized by this book is the twist of events at the end. I never expected George to kill Lenny! I gasped out loud. I thought about how deep this is. Now that George killed Lenny with his own two hands he will never be the same. I mean, they were like brothers! But he had to do it.  If he didn't do it the rest of the boys that lived there would.

What truly enchanted me was how Candy actually went through the same thing. His dog was killed and there was nothing he could do about it. It was a sad ending, but without this ending it wouldn't leave me thinking.

In my book, "The Outsiders,"a church was burning with little children in it.  The two main characters, Ponyboy and Johnny started the fire on accident with their cigarate so they felt like it was their fault.  they saved all the children but in the event they got burnt up pretty badly. Ponyboy managed to survive but Johnny wasnt so lucky. He died leaving the rest of the characters depressed. I cant even picture how much pain Ponyboy must be going through due to the loss of his dear friend. Not only did Johnny's death hurt him but it hurt all of the characters. It was such a strong book that it make me smile, frown, and get so upset about what happened. The thing is, in this book you feel like you become a greaser and are invited into their society and feel their difficult way of life. I was soon a greaser too so I could to relate to them and understand everything. I absolutely loved it. Once i finished the book I wanted to cry! I loved to book too much!
My personal opinion about what the author was trying to tell me (the reader) is that love is the most powerful thing in the world. Which is the last thing that someone would expect from a book about though hoods and gangsters that jump each other. But all the hard things these characters went though brought them together, and made them love each other. (They never said it because they are gangsters)

Chloe Ivey: Upfront Magazine

     I believe that due to the levels of violence and deaths the Arab Spring has indeed failed. Citizens are dead or dying and even the military was sent to attack their own people. Just because their peoples beliefs were different then their own, Syria declared attack on their own people. Not only is the idea of taking weapons and not only threatening your own people, but actually firing sickening, but it's cruel.     

     I do believe that after plenty of healing and lots of work that Syria has some hope of achieving democratic reforms over time. But it may take generations for Syria's people to trust their government. People in the U.S truly have a gift. We have the gift to choose who we are. Its ok to practice whichever religion we believe in. Its ok to be black or white. But if Syria can somehow lean to be as accepting as we are when it comes to religion, then maybe someday they can pull their government together.

     To conclude, Syria has made a terrible choice. Not only do we gawk in horror of the terrible choice they have made but their people suffer and will never be the same again. Hope for a happy life in Syria is very unlikely now. lets just hope they can pull themselves together before it is too late. 

Chloe Ivey's New Reading Response! :)

     The author uses craft moves to reveal character in my story in many ways. The book is, "Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer." The way the author revealed serious characters was how he showed them at court. The main character knew everything about everyone, so when he introduces the character in a bias point of view. For example, the judge is a respective kind character. But if it were to be from Pete Duffy maybe he would think of the judge as unfair and cruel. He also gives the reader opportunities to make their own opinion to new characters. But since Theodore says he thinks that Pete Duffy is guilty, but has no proof the readers mind is obligated to think the same thing. And the character could be overacting in his mind about Pete Duffy smiling or smirking or being happy. He could be happy for other reasons. But what really made me think is that it was clear since the character was trying so hard to prove that Pete Duffy was really guilty that he was going to win the case. But what if Pete Duffy was really not guilty? Then your aspect of the characters in the book would change completely.