"Postconviction DNA Testing Should Not Be Encouraged"

      In the essay "Postconviction DNA Testing Should Not Be Encouraged", Peter Roff argues that "the absence of a particular individuals DNA at a crime scene is not alone proof of their innocence" (532). Although DNA evidence can help win a case it should not be the determining factor. Roff argues that all of the evidence must be considered not only DNA evidence, just because none may be present doesn't prove that the accused didn't have a motive (532). Roff also talks about how evidence can be so old that no matter how great the technology it does not justify being able to take old evidence and examining it for DNA. Once a person is sentenced that should be it. There may not be any DNA present at a crime scene but eyewitness testamounts are very important and should not be dismissed or taken lightly.
      I thought Roff made some good points in his arguments, I just don't think that it was enough to make it a strong argument. I felt like it was missing a lot and that a real example of how DNA does not convict someone of a crime could have been used. I personally disagree with him. Although you should take a motive and eyewitness testamounts into consideration, sometimes it really comes down to the evidence and DNA helps determine that the right person is charged.

"Postconviction DNA Testing Should Be Encouraged"

      In the essay "Postconviction DNA Testing Should Be Encouraged", Tim O' Brian presents the issue over using DNA evidence. In his example a defendant; Larry Youngblood was being "convicted of abducting a 10-year-old boy from a church carnival and repeatedly sodomizing him" (526). After being found guilty Youngblood still claimed that he was innocent and DNA would help him show it. O'Brian argues that DNA evidence is the only credible evidence. Unlike the rest that a lawyer can present, it is not biast. Although Youngblood fit the description and the traumatized boy pointed him out in front of the jury, the DNA showed that is was not Youngblood who committed this crime. O'Brian explains the DNA could be the determining variable for someone who is facing a death or life sentence. Mistaken identity occurs more often than people realize and DNA is the only factor that can help protect a person.
      I thought O'Brian made a really interesting argument for DNA testing. I think I agree with him. It always comes down to the evidence to show whether or not a person is guilty. However in the case of Youngblood you can argue that the boy was so traumatized he picked someone that looked similar to his abductor. Technology is something that is praised now, so I think people should start getting used to technology becoming a defining factor. You can't take everyone's word so I think that DNA testing should be encouraged.

"Illegal Immigration Does Not Threaten America"

       In this essay "Illegal Immigration Does Not Threaten America" by Richard Raynor, Raynor argues that having immigrants here is not the issue when it comes to money and maintaining the United States, but the issue that U.S citizens have is with themselves. In his essay Raynor presents two testimonys from immigrants one a latina and the other from a man from England. The two talk about what its like to be seen as the "villians" in an America where society is not to fond of immigrants. Raynor explains that unlike most arguments that say that immigrants are just taking "free money" it is actually very hard for them to do so. Most immigrants are scared of deportation and won't go near schools or federal offices to receive things such as welfare. "Right now the debate is more emotional than informed" (521) Raynor argues. The economy is looking for people that will be willing to take on low paying jobs and immigrants contribute to the country in that manner.
     I thought this was an interesting essay. I feel that Raynor could have brought up some more points for immigration to make his essay sound more convincing. I do agree with his statement that "right now the debate is more emotional than imformed" which is probably why he chose to include actual testamonts from immigrants. Maybe that is why its so hard to convince people that immigration is not so bad. I personally think that thats what makes the United States so unique is that is a well integrated/diverse country.

"America Must Take Stronger Measures to Halt Illegal Immigration"

      In the essay "American Must Take Stronger Measures to Halt Illegal Immigration" by Michael Scott he discusses how he feels that immigration should be abolished because it will only benefit our country. Scott demonstrates how the costs of illegal immigration is hurting us. He purposes that our country would have more money to fund schools and take better care of is citizens if there were no expenses spent on immigration. Scott argues that too much of the taxpayers dollars are spent to imprison illegal aliens and to support welfare for those who don't pay any taxes. He also presents examples of how the U.S. should further enforce border patrol and law enforcement should "prosecute employers who hire illegal aliens" (514). Scott also talks about the idea that "Americans won't do the work that illegals perform" (515) needs to be removed. That more uneducated U.S. citiznes will have job opportunities but the U.S. would have to raise wages "to attract those native born" (515).
       Scott's essay was interesting. I think he argues his poistion well and brought up really good examples. The example of saving money to have better schools is really persuasive because many people are persuaded by money. I thought Scott made a very good argument even though I didn't really agree on it. The issue about immigration I feel is a very tough subject because although I agree that are tax dollars will be going towards better funding then to imprison illegal aliens there is also a lot that immigrants contribute to our country.

"I'm Not Willing to Settle for Crumbs"

      In the essay "I'm Not Willing to Settle for Crumbs" by Kim Severson, Severson talks about gay marriage and her viewpoint on them. She also more importantly talks about her own personal relationship and the obstacles she encounters with her girlfriend. Severson talks about how although there are some states the accept a domestic partnership it is still really hard legally to deal with. She feels the "for gay couples like us, (her) marriage is about collecting paper" (507). By this Severson means that their commitment is measured by the size of the legal files that relationship has. She has to worry about a lot of financial issues, which people don't take into account. She argues that as much as its nice that gay marriages are a little more acknowledge there is still a lot that needs to be worked out for the legal process to go more smoothly for them.
       I thought this essay was really interesting because Severson brought up a good point that many people overlook; which is that although domestic partnerships are a little more acknowledge now, people don't see what a struggle it still is legally. I never thought of it in that way that their relationship is measured by the size of their legal files. I think it will always be hard for society to accept gay marriages and relationships because most people are taught that one man one women is the way it should be. It will be interesting to see what the view points on this subject are in the next few years, as the younger generation is a lot more liberal I think. I know I have gay friends and to me thats okay but to my grandparents for example that is unacceptable.

" We Are Training Our Kids to Kill"

      In this essay by Dave Grossman, Grossman talks about how the world today is a much more violent place. He first introduces his background a bit and how he worked for the military and studied how to enable people to kill (497). Using this knowledge he points out that children and military soldiers are now conditioned in different forms to associate violence with pleasure. Today's society of young children experiance a form of violence everyday of their lives; whether its through television and the media, or video games. Video games have now had a great influence on children. Grossman argues that it not only does it teach children who have never picked up a gun to be good shooters, but since it's a game that's how they see it in reality as well; a game. Through television children experience violence and are "unable to distinguish clearly between fantasy and reality" (500). Grossman also points that as a human race it is hard for us to kill our own kind, so when it comes to military soldiers they are either classically condtioned or through a form of operant conditioning trained to "kill or be killed". They are trained to associate killing with pleasure and trained to making shooting at something and killing it a reflexive skill. Grossman argues that the "virus of violence is occuring worldwide" (497).
      I thought this essay was really interesting and Grossman made a lot of good points when it came to the violent affect of children playing video games. Children cannot yet distinguish the difference between fantasy and reality so parents and future parents need to be careful what they expose their children to. I think its really sad about the soldiers and what they are put through so that they can fight for the country. I have friends that joined the military and to read that they are pretty much being "brainwashed" to accept murder in their lives is horrifying. Grossman wrote " we have raised a generation of barbarians who have learned to associate violence with pleasure" (502) is a line that stood out to me because it put what he is arguing into perspective. Its a very scary thought.

"How Bingeing Became The New College Sport"

     In the essay "How Bingeing Became The New College Sport" by Barrett Seaman, Seaman argues the cons about having an over twenty-one drinking age limit, and how it would benefit our society to reduce that age. He talks about how most accidents happen due to the restrain on college students and not being able to drink legally in public. If the legal drinking age were to be eighteen than many students wouldn't find the necessity to get drunk behind doors and then go out, which will result in less accidents. Since students are forcing themselves to over drink in dorm rooms because they can not drink in public more accidents and even deaths have resulted in the over consumpiton of alchol. Seaman argues that "tighter enforecement of the minnimum drinking age of 21 is not the solution. It is the problem." (491) Students are already drinking and especially in a college enviroment that instead of restricting them which only makes students want to drink more, we should allow them to drink so that they can do so responsibly.

     I really liked this essay I thought that Seaman made a good argument. I do agree with what he is talking about. Being part of the college environment I definitely see a lot of fellow friends and students "bingeing" or "pre-gaming" because they cannot legally drink. I think that it would be a good idea since young students are doing it any way. Its easy to see why it would be a good law to pass if you are in college, you are already exposed to an older crowd of people/students. At the same time you wouldn't want to bump into eighteen year olds who can act immature at a bar. Maturity has a big part in what the legal drinking age should be, because it depends on the individuals.

"Is Your Workplace Personality Out of Birth Order"

      Ben Dattner's essay "Is Your Workplace Personality Out of Birth Order" talks about how the order you are born in defines your personality. He talks about how success can be determined through your birth order. Dattner's theory explains how as the first born child you are more likely to be a natural born leader and that are constantly taking your parents into consideration. First borns care more of what their parents think of them. Second born children or "later borns" (334) are more flexiable. Middle children "tend to be more diplomatic and poltically skilled"(334). Since they are middle children they are able to negotiate well with their parents and older and youger siblings. Dattner explains his theory for twins and only children as well; only children are more achievement oriented. Dattner explains that the sequence in which your born determines the success you will have in your future because of the characteristics you develop because of your birth order.
       I really enjoyed Dattner's essay, I thought he brought up some really good points and think that it definitely does have a big impact in shaping your personality. I am the oldest of four and can say I related a lot to his prediction about the first born child. I am really independent and take on the responsibility of looking out for my younger sisters. I would consider myself a leader and I do like to boss people around. I think Dattner's theory holds a lot of truth but there are also other factors such as culture and enviroment that have a big influence in shaping a person's personality.

"Homeplace"

      In the essay "Homeplace" by Scott Russell Sanders, Sanders talks about how "psychologists tell us that we answer trouble with one of two impulses either fight or flight"(339). Sanders talks about how as humans we decide to either station ourselves in a particular place or we allow ourselves to explore the world. As people we don't let are minds expand by staying in the same place which is reflecting in the the way we treat our enviroment. We have choices yet we choose to standby when one of the greatest things we are capable of is make change. According to Sanders we only have ourselves to blame for destroying the world, he says that in the furture people "will demand to know how we could have been party to such a waste and ruin"(343) meaning we see things going down hill yet we do nothing to change that. Sanders points that as a race we have a lack of commitment to a certain place which can be both good and bad. On the bad going place to place shows our lack of commitment and how we as a race don't confront our problems. On the good side moving so much allows a person to expand and gain a better awareness of the world.
      This essay was interesting, I thought it was very true about humans that we either to chose to fight or flight and thats what in a way defines us as individuals. We all chose to interpret the world around us in a different way so I think Sanders essay is really a matter of opinion. I liked how he talked about the human race destroying the world, I think that is true and that since this is our home we should do more to take care of it. The American society needs to be more greatful to everything they are given and that is something I think we take for granted.

Multi- Colored Families

      The essay on "Multi-Colored Families" by Tamala Edwards is an informative article about the pros and cons of raising mulit-colored children and having integrated families in todays modern society. Edwards points out that although its great that society has evolved and adoption and intergration of multi-colored children is great. Many families tend to forget that its still a delicate situation of raising a child that is outside of your own race. As children parents are the most influential people one could have. Edwards includeds testaments of how difficult it can become for both children and parents growing together in an intergrated family. Children will always raise questiones as to why they look different from their parents and how the parent needs to be able to answer such a question carefully. Edwards shows how familys often have to chose a special type of enviroment where it is more diverse so that fingers are not pointed at their intergrated family. They can raise their children without having to deal with the rude remarks people make. The article was written to raise an awareness that people probably don't think about when they are getting ready to take on the role of the intergrated family.
      I like this essay a lot. It was like "food for thought" and sparked my interest a lot. I felt that although Edwards talked about greatly intergrated families, I was able to relate my own personal experiance to it. I am Mexican and Spanish and although these two ethnicities can seem the same or very similar to people they are two very different things to me. I never knew my biological father and as a young child that bothered me but not that much anymore. Even though I grew up having a great father figure through my "step" dad I still saw that I was different from the rest of my family. They are all tanned and dark like the people from Mexico are and I grew up really faired skinned and with really curly hair like my father's side. The skin color always threw me off as a child but I thought the Edwards made a good point. People should consider the pros and cons of the responsibilty they are going to take on when raising multi-colored children.

The Barrio

      The Barrio by Robert Ramirez is an essay about the world that natives create from the Barrio as opposed to the Anglo community. Ramirez depicts the Barrio lifestyle and how it can be very beautiful in tradition but it also comes with a lot of hardships. Ramirez shows how the Barrio lifestyle is a lot more traditional and family based. Family is a very important aspect in the barrio. Ramirez uses a lot of sensory language so the reader gets a vivid picture of how The Barrio is different from the Anglo community. He uses the example of fences to show this difference. In the Anglo community fences are tall and made of wood and you can not see through them; they are built to keep things/people out. In The Barrio the fences are made up of wire or bushes and you can easily see through them without feeling like your invading someones space. Ramirez uses the fences as a metaphor to show how different the two communities think. The Barrio is filled with cantinas and panaderias. Its a place of family and tradition, a worn out neighborhood where running water is a luxury, and culture is something to be proud of. 
      Ramirez  essay was pretty good, I liked how his descriptions gave me a good image of The Barrio looks, what I might see and smell if I was there. There was a line that I especially liked "The old the child, the greater the responsibility to help the head of the household provide for the rest of the family". I felt that I could relate to this line a lot because in my Mexican culture that is definitely true and especially since I am the oldest girl in my family I get the responsibility of taking care of my younger sisters.
      

"Belief about Families"

      Mary Pipher's essay discusses the notion of family in today's society and how different the definition of family is now as opposed to back in "traditional times". Pipher defines the difference between a biological family and a formed family; how they each bring a certain strength and flaw to a person's life. A biological family is important because you are tied together through  blood. They are the ones that most likely help you out when things are going bad for you. A formed family may not come through for you and can easily walk out of your life. The bond is always stronger in a biological families " blood is thicker then water". Pipher however doesn't believe the problem is the family institution but rather "commitment and inclusiveness" (409). She believes that what a person defines family to be is the most important. Today's society has a big impact on the way we perceive our own family. For example Pipher say's "when teenagers most need their parents they are encouraged to distance themselves from them". Society in Pipher's eyes has showed children to grow up  rude and arrogant. Money and pop culture have become more important and influence people's belief's tremendously.
       I liked Pipher's essay I thought it brought up some really good points about family, and it brought some awareness to me. I felt that she thought formed families were more important then biological family's. I personally think they are both really important. There have been times where my formed family was more important then my blood related family, but I do see how even in that my blood is still there for me after all the down falls. I liked that she said "What tiospaye offers and what family offers is a place that all members can belong to regardless of merit". I agree with this statement.

Hey Nostradamus! Reg 2003

      The last section in the novel is about Reg. In this chapter Reg talks about his past and current relationships with each of the character's, in a form of a letter that he is writing to Jason. We also get to see Reg's childhood and the reasons for all his actions. Ironically just like Jason, Reg aspired to grow up opposite of his father. He saw that his father was an angry man who had little faith. Reg resented his father's fierceness towards him and didn't understand "a God who would create an animal like my (his) father, a religious man without faith".(233) Reg also confesses to Jason that he was envious of him and saw him as his "competition". He was upset that he had become a "massacre hero" and God had given his son a mission rather than him. This letter to Jason is Reg's liberation of confessions. Reg talks about his relationship with his wife and why he felt like a coward in front of her because he thought she could see right through him and see the truth, that although he portrayed himself as religious he has a lot of self doubt. Reg moves on to talk about his girlfriend he had, Ruth. How Ruth accepted Reg and saw how he could be a great person. However because of his own arrogance and commitment to his religion, their relationship didn't work because marriage was till death for him and he refused to get a divorce. Ruth didn't see a future with Reg and so she left him too. Feeling lonely Reg reached out to Heather and despite Heather's way of thinking when it came to religion and faith, the two had a lot in common. Reg tells Jason that after Heather found out the truth of the psychic she quit her job and went on to make stories about all the imaginary characters she shared with Jason. Finding Jason's letter gave her more hope. Reg finds out from the RCMP that they have found a piece of Jason's flannel shirt and debit card in the woods. Although it seems that there is little hope that Jason might still be alive Reg has not given up. He is going to take the letter he is writing and make a thousand copies to pin on the trees in hopes that Jason will see one and read it.
      Reg's chapter by far was my favorite. It was just a chapter of pure reflection and I think that since Coupland made it like a reflection chapter he was able to make it a lot more intimate. I got to really see Reg's reasons behind his rationalizations and it made me like his character and not see him so negatively. I still don't know wheather I personally think if Jason is dead or alive but I hope he is and Coupland makes another book so I can keep reading. Reg doesn't know that the twin's are not Kent's but I think he suspects. Reg's chapter was the ultimate revelation of the novel and I think Coupland tied everything into this chapter to make the story clear. Although there was a whole story about the massacre I felt that Couplands main message was through Jason and Reg and their struggles to make amends with themselves and each other.
    

Hey Nostradamus Heather: Part 2

      In the second part of Heathers chapter she is anxiously awaiting another message from Jason through Allison. However as opposed to before Allison is now charging Heather large sum for each of their "sessions". Heather has become a wreck, she feels herself slipping back into depression due to Jason's disappearance and has become more then obsessed with Allison's "visions". In this chapter we are introduced to Heather's past and how she was once depressed because she was lonely. Heather talks about her depression being so severe that she had to take medicine just to help her get back on her feet. Heather is at the edge of her insanity in her struggle to keep hope that Jason is still alive. Feeling that Allison is her key to finding Jason she begins to do her own investigating and takes down Allison's license plate numbers. Heather then discovers that Allison's real name is Cecilia and follows her home. After hours of watching Cecilia, Heather discovers that she has a daughter and her obsession drives her to follow her. When Heather and Cecilia's daughter finally come face to face Heather is informed that Allison who is really Cecilia has been lying to her the entire time. She is not a psychic and knows all this information because months before he disappeared Jason left her a letter to open if he "should so happen" to go missing one day. After Heather finds the truth she storms back to Cecilia's house and demands that she gives her the letter from Jason. Heather then realizes that this is probably going to be the last concrete item she will receive from Jason ever again.
      I thought this chapter was really intense. I like that Coupland went more into depth about Heathers life it helped me spark a better interest in her character like I did with all the other characters. I was in shock when the truth about Allison (Cecilia) was revealed, and felt that that was a really low thing for her to do seeing that she knew the immense grief one can feel when they lose someone really dear to them. I like that Coupland was able to change my point of view about Reg through his relationship with Heather. He showed a more compassionate side to him and that he was changing for the better.

Hey Nostradamus! Heather

     In this chapter we are introduced to a new character, "Heather".  Heather met Jason at a Toys' R Us and since then has been his girlfriend. Heather is seven years older then Jason and works as a stenographer for the court. Unlike Jason and the rest of his family Heather has managed to have and keep a decent relationship with Reg. In her section of the novel Heather tells the story through her point of view as if she is keeping a diary. Rather then dictate the case before her, she vents to the reader about her relationship with Jason on her typewriter in court. Heather's relationship with Jason is based upon made upon characters and they seem to have been in a common state of depression when they met. In this section of the novel we find that the main focus is about the random disappearance of Jason. Heather is contacted by a lady named Allison who introduces herself as a phony psychic. Allison however, has had a recent encounter and keeps receiving messages from the world beyond that has lead her to Heather. When Heather finds out that the messages Allison is receiving are from Jason, she becomes obsessed with Allison because it is her only connection after months that she has had with him. It is still a mystery weather he is dead or alive. Heather is determined to find Jason no matter how crazy her approach may be. She tends to vent with Reg and we start seeing another side to Reg. Still his rationalizations are based on religion but in this chapter he is not perceived so much as a radical and "seems" more understanding.
      This chapter is really interesting because I felt that Coupland changed the mood completely. Maybe its because rather then focus on the massacre Heather is introduced and its about her experience with Jason and the family. I feel that every page is more interesting and Coupland keeps finding something new to add every section. Jason is now missing which I feel Coupland removed to show more thoughts about his new girlfriend and especially to talk abut Reg more. I didn't like Heathers section as much as I liked Cheryl's and Jason's. I think that the disappearance of Jason is what kept her section of the novel more interesting. 

Hey Nostradamus! Jason: Part two

In the second part of this section Jason shows more into detail about his current life and what happened the days that followed the massacre. As he continues the letter to his twin nephews he tells them how he received three letters himself, one from each member of Cheryl’s family. The two letters from her parents were similar as the both wrote to Jason in an apologetic manner for not being there to support him after being accused as the "master mind" behind the whole massacre and for not letting him go to Cheryl's funeral. However when Jason reads the letter that Cheryl’s brother Chris wrote to him it contradicts everything that Cheryl’s parents had wrote and Chris tells Jason that he had known what the three shooters were like and knew Jason could not possibly have had any part with them. Suddenly Jason receives a phone call from the hospital that tells him his father Reg is ill. After picking up a couple of items for Reg Jason goes to the hospital and decides to deliver the items personally. Finally Reg and Jason are together in the same room for the first time and Jason confronts his father about his comment after the school massacre about him being a "murder". After a few words Jason leaves because he feels that still his father has not changed. Then, after days of drinking, partying, and blacking out Jason wakes up to find himself in a situation familiar to him before. He is in a “kill or be killed” situation and as he walks along a river to possibly meet his demise when he picks up a rock and is ready to launch it his "opponent”, he realizes that they are the same actions as the day of the massacre. Jason has an epiphany and suddenly feels that all the hate and bitterness from his heart have just left. After the week of black outs Jason reveals a secret to his nephews. He tells them that the letter he is writing to them is important not because they are his nephews but they are secretly his sons. After the death of his brother Kent, his wife Barb was desperately longing to have children. To her is was something that would keep her closer to Kent, since he could not have children Barb asks Jason for the favor and  agreed on the condition that they get married. They go to Vegas again and it seems as if time keeps repeating itself as he is put in similar situations that he had back in 1988.

            In this second part of the chapter I feel that Jason’s life might be changing for the better in ways that besides the obvious epiphany he does not realize. The fact that he had the courage to finally ask Reg about his comment was a turning point because it was not only the first time they really had a conversation in awhile but it was a conversation that I felt allowed them to vent to each other. I also think that despite Jason trying to grow up the opposite of his father he seems to be growing up just like him. Jason refers to God a lot more in the second section and still analyzes some of his situations in terms of religion which I thought was interesting because he had supposedly denounced it. In this second portion I found out the twins are not his nephews but his sons. It was not that much of a shock because I was curious the whole time as to why it was so important to write a letter to his nephews and finally the big secret is revealed. I have a feeling that maybe Reg knows that they are Jason’s sons and not Kent’s because he had said Barb was sneaky and wasn’t the right one for Kent. Maybe he doesn’t like her because he knows the truth.

Hey Nostradamus! Jason

     In this chapter Jason is further introduced into the novel and the section is now being told through his point of view during and after the school massacre. After being shocked by Cheryl's news of her being pregnant Jason continues his day in somewhat of a daze and is anxious to continue his talk with Cheryl during lunch. Jason is also part of the Youth Alive! group and unlike Cheryl who has chosen to remain silent and ignore their irritating "friends" Jason can't take it anymore and lashes out at one. As Jason makes his way toward the cafeteria he hears the gun shots and runs towards the cafeteria despite many teachers trying to stop him. When he gets to the cafeteria and sees the shooters Jason picks up a rock and launches it at one of them killing him instantly. After that fellow students work up the courage and take the other two down since they were already killing each other off. Jason runs to Cheryl to find her dead. After the massacre Jason is in a daze and taken home where his father Reg who is a radical Christian accuses him of being a murderer instead of a hero for taking down one of the shooters. In the next few days Jason is then publicly accused of being the "mastermind" behind the whole shooting scheme. He becomes the neighborhood outcast and feels betrayed by everyone who knows him. Jason is telling his section of the novel in a form of a letter that he is writing to his twin nephews; which are his older brother Kent's sons. As an adult Jason is quiet and to him self. He has never been able to get over the death of Cheryl and the negative words his father constantly cast upon him. He works as a type of home furnish-er and is a single thirty year old whose best friend is his dog Joyce. After finding out the his older brother Kent has died he battles with the decision of going to his brother's memorial. Jason ends up going where he sees his father for the first time since the day of the massacre. Still bitter towards his father Jason ignores him as he has a conversation about cloning with some of Kent's old friends. When Reg comments that clones can never be human because they have no souls and therefore the twins being clones of each other, one must not have a soul. Reg is kicked out of the memorial by Barb, Kent's wife and Jason sees that his father still has not changed since they has last spoken.
     I like that Coupland is not just sticking to Cheryl's point of view and switches to Jason so that the reader can really see all around what happened that day and the days that followed. I feel really bad for Jason having to live through that and not having his father's support. I think that Reg is the perfect example of how Christianity can seem hypocritical throughout the novel. He has taken the bible to its literal context and therefore his views are looked as arrogant. Jason section of the novel was a lot more sad which I found ironic because I would think Cheryl's section would be more sad since she is the one who died not Jason. Dealing with a loss of a loved one is always hard and since Jason got ridiculed and looked down on after the massacre instead having the support that one needs during hard times like that made him the depressed man that he is now.

Hey Nostradamus! Cheryl

     The first section of the novel Hey Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland starts with one of the protagonist Cheryl who is writing in the year 1988. The story is being told through Cheryl's point of view who we find is telling her story from beyond the grave. In the beginning Cheryl starts off the chapter by giving the reader a mental picture of her whereabouts in her house and what she is thinking as she is getting ready for school. This is important because she is able to connect more to them by letting them know what she is feeling and seeing step by step. Cheryl is seventeen and part of a group called Youth Alive!; a group of very faithful young Christians; which she joined being the new girl in town to get close to a boy she likes named Jason. After falling in love with Jason they begin to date and then secretly runaway to Vegas to get married. It is October 4th 1988 and she has just found out she is pregnant and is on her way to school to tell Jason. After a short and sour discussion she progresses through the rest of the day having to deal with her fellow Youth Aliver's who have been continuously inquisitive about her relationship with Jason. That day Cheryl decides to have lunch in the cafeteria to continue her talk with Jason, instead of going out with her Out to Lunch Bunch; a group within Youth Alive! that is made up of only girls who go off campus to have lunch and confess their "sins". However a terrible accident happens that day and three fellow students walk into the cafeteria with guns and start a massacre that kills many students including Cheryl.

     I am really enjoying this novel so far. I feel like by Cheryl giving details step by step of her whereabouts in the novel I can really get a feel of what is going on. Through out the chapter Cheryl includes small prayers to God by her and other students and parents of students. I think that by doing this it has allowed me to really feel the grief of what is going on while the massacre is taking place. I feel that it puts a lot of the Christianity portion of the novel into perspective without Coupland including any of his own judgement. I thought that it was interesting to see the way the Youth Alive! students acted I felt that it was hypocritical because they are supposedly living life the way God would want them too but they are the most judgmental towards Cheryl and judgement is not something that their faith tells them isn't right because only God can be the one to judge. Although the story is fiction I feel that by Coupland letting his protagonist tell their stories step by step it makes it seem like it is real, and also because this is something that can really happen. He lets Cheryl show her last thoughts and feelings before she dies.

The Library Card

“The Library Card” by Richard Wright is a fictional story about an African American boy who stumbles upon an artical written about H.L. Mencken and is suddenly intrigued by the name. The essay takes place during segregation therefore he can not go out to a library and check out books on his own. Richard knew that the white men in his workplace have asked him to go to the library to check out books for them before, so he began to analyze each worker to see who he was going to ask for their permission to check out books under his name. Richard finally comes to the conclusion of asking Mr. Falk who is an Irish Catholic feeling that he would be the less judgmental and not question him to much as to why he was so curious to read books about Mencken. After Mr.Falk gives him permission he was free to check out books on Mencken, however once he read the first two he couldn’t stop wanting to read more and more books by him. Richard became passionate about reading and felt like reading had become his own personal drug. At his own risk Richard continued to check out more books despite being frightened what his fellow co workers both black and white would say about him reading such material. He felt that reading such books was like carrying a secret or “criminal burden”. After having read so much Richard noticed that he was starting to look at the world differently. He began to feel distant from the people he had once thought to be the same as him. He was intrigued by the new outlook he was starting to have but also sad and mad because he had finally opened his eyes to what the world around him truly was and felt like he had been lied to “to feel that there were feelings denied to me” he almost resented his new point of view. By reading so much Richard longed for a better life where he could become a professional a thought that once seemed so foreign to him. After obtaining so much new information from all the books he had read on books not only by Mencken, but books also by Sinclair Lewis; Richard felt like he had become so distant from the world around him and scared because the distance had only been increasing with each new day.
     I really enjoyed this story and how literature changed Richard’s life. I think its true that books once you start reading you become so intrigued that you just want to keep reading them. Once you start engaging your mind to new ideas like he did by reading Mencken you do start looking through a different point of view. I liked how he took reading and the knowledge it gave him used it as a weapon to use in the world and was able to take a lot out of it. I think that when a person reads like that and is able to take something back out his/her reading that’s when your truly becoming a good reader. However I felt that he should have not been scared despite the times he was growing up in because nothing should stop you from expressing what you believe in.

Only Daughter

In Sandra Cisneros essay “Only Daughter” Cisneros shows her audience how being an only daughter in a Mexican working class family of nine, of which she is the only girl; has influenced her as a writer. Cisneros emphazies that instead of telling people she was just the only daughter in her family she should be more specific in saying that she was an only daughter of a “Mexican” family because this detail was very important on making her who she is. It is being part of a Mexican family that creates the bases of her writing. Cisneros explains that she was constantly looking for father’s approval not only as a writer but as the “daughter” in her family. She highlights the importance of being Mexican and how that separates her writing from the rest. It is in seeking her father’s approval and being a Mexican women that she set the bar for herself to prove that college was more then a place to go find a husband like her father thought. It was in writing that she would distinguish her self from the rest of her family and their traditional way of thinking. She wanted prove that she could be as equally successful as her brothers who were always getting the support and approval from her father that she had wanted. It was in this aspect of her life that she is now the successful writer that she is today.
     I really enjoyed this essay because Cisneros really shows how different education and being a young women in a traditional Mexican family separates her from the rest. Being a young Mexican women myself having your families approval is something that is constantly at the back of my mind in everything I do. It’s almost what creates the bases of all the decisions that I make for myself. When your part of traditional family it definitely makes doing something “untraditional” a lot harder, especially now living in an era where tradition is not something is followed the way it once was. The examples that Cisneros uses in her essay were easy to relate too and I think why I liked this essay better then the second because I was able to connect to her on that level. I do not have any brothers but I am the oldest daughter out of four so the standards are set really high for me. I can understand Cisneros constant strive for approval because since family is very important in Mexican tradition your family’s approval is that much important as well.