Journal Entry 3: A Kid Who Gets Bullied

10/30/08

Today was rough.  Just like every other day.  “Hey loser.  Watcha doin?  Why are you so lame?  You suck at life.  What’s the point of you even being alive?”  I hear comments like that all the time.  And sometimes I really wonder why I am alive.

Everyday I go through the same experience, but today was worse.  I sat down with my friends in the morning.  “Hey faggots.”  One of the seniors said as he walked by.  One of my friends gets up and walks out of the cafeteria and gets shoved to the ground.  I know if I get up to help the same thing will happen.  I’m scared to just be in my own school.  I have no idea what to do.

I get up to go to my locker as quietly as I could.  I tried not to be noticed.  I thought I had succeeded until I closed my locker and saw that familiar face.  It was Jacob.  “Hey buddy, you have my homework?”

“No.  Why would I have yours?”

“I thought you understood that you were supposed to do my homework every night.  Well since you forgot I will just take yours.”  He grabbed my notebooks and found the homework he needed took it and walked away.  “Thanks buddy. See you later.”

I’m too afraid to even try and stick up for myself.  And for what cost.  I will just get beat up or made fun of.  This is not how life should be.  What did I do to deserve this?  

After school I hurried to my locker to get my homework and ran to the bus stop.  That was usually the worst part of the day.  I hated the bus stop, and the ride home.  Today seemed to be better.  I saw no one from the usual crowd of “cool” kids.  I thought I was safe.  Just as I was about to leave Jacob and his friend Chris jumped on the bus.  Great.  

“Hey buddy.  What you doin all by yourself?  Come sit with us.”  I knew it was not sincerity in his voice, but hope.  Hope for a possible laugh.  It kills me a little on the inside that they use me for amusement and I don’t do anything to stop it.  My life has to change.  I just don’t know when or how.

Journal Entry 2: A Pregnant Girl

10/29/08

It's been 3 days since I was supposed to get my period.  I've never been this late before.  All  I threw up when I woke up... not a good sign."Could I have counted wrong?"  "What if I'm sick?"  And worse of all "What if I'm pregnant?"  I have no idea what to do.  My parents have no clue that I have even touched a boy.  

   I had to talk to Rob.  I had no idea what to say.  I really like him, but I do not know how he feels about me.  He's the first boy I've ever really gotten close to.  

I saw him all day and couldn't build up the courage to talk to him.  Finally after school I built up the courage to talk to him about what happened.

"Hey Rob, remember two weeks ago?"  "Of course, how could I forget?  It was awesome."  "Yeah well about that... You wore a condom 

right?"

"No. You said you were on the pill..."

Those are words I never wish I heard.

"Rob, I never said that to you!!! I've never had sex before why would I be on the pill?  Are you that stupid.  You said you loved me... how could you be so careless?" Tears started to pour down my face...

"Why are you making this such a big deal... I forgot.  I promise it won't happen again."  And then a sudden silence came over him.  He realized why I was so upset.  "Oh shit, your not....

It's not a big deal... I'm sure you're fine."  I could tell by his voice that he was lying.

After school I went to the store and bought a home pregnancy test.  I saw a little happy face appear.  

That couldn't have been any more wrong.  I have never cried so much in my life.  I have no idea what to do.  God help me....

Rebecca

Journal Entry 1: Depressed person

10/20/08

Today sucked again.  What else is new?  Everyday seems worse than the day before.  Essentially it feels like each new day is the worst day of my life.  I do not know what to do with my life.  Today I woke up late... again.  Of course my mom didn't make it any better by yelling at me and causing a scene.  She always has to cause a scene.  No matter what I do somehow she has to tell me how my brother is better.  I can't do any good in her eyes.  

So yeah I got to school late for the third time in two weeks.  I got a detention.  Well my life really can't get any worse so it doesn't bother me too much.  I would be spending that time by myself anyway so it gives me something to do.  I failed my physics quiz again which wasn't a surprise.  Mom will make a big deal about that too.  She will probably throw in a comment about how Dave never fails any of his tests.  I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT DAVE DOES!!! I'm done listening to her crap about Dave.  Really, I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do with my life.  I don't care anymore.

To make today worse it happened to be freshman beat down day.  I shouldn't be upset about that since I'm a junior, but I still received a beating.  Not because they wanted to, but that no one could remember that I wasn't a freshman.  The worst part about it is that the kids who beat on me share the same locker row with me.  Just goes to show how much people notice me.  I feel like I have nothing to live for.  I do nothing right.  I really don't wanna go through this much longer.  I can't live this way.  No one should.  I need help that I know I won't get from anyone.  Why does MY life have to suck so bad?  What did I do to deserve this?  I really don't know.  Well I'm done for now.  I'll be sure to write on the next worst day of my life... tomorrow.

Brainstorming notes for a depressed person

• make every situation negative
• discuss why people don't like me
• bad grade?
• made fun of by others/ not popular
• parents fight/ dislike me
• abused physically/emotionally
• seem to do nothing right
• always someone who does better
• little bother/sister who always does better; parents like them better
• not good at sports
• can't open up to others
• no desire to achieve anything
• no desire to do anything

Letter to my future wife (5)

Baby,

I love you more than you ever will know.  Ever since the day we met my life has only become better.  Each day I see you, my heart is filled with joy.  I am so lucky to have you in my life.  You are my world.

Everyday I see you; it is the best day of my life.  You constantly make me smile.  No matter what I will always love you.  We both know our lives aren’t perfect.  We have the times where we fight, but what makes a true relationship work is the ability for a couple to recover from a fight.  We have that ability.  We are perfect together.  I love you with all my heart.

There are days where I come home and I hate the world.  I see you and no matter how upset I am, you somehow manage to cheer me up.  Seeing your beautiful face, or hearing your soothing voice brings a smile to my face because I know that I am the luckiest man in the world.  I do not know what I would do without you.  

I wanted to let you know how much a truly care for you.  Many people toss around the word love like it has no meaning.  Those people are fools.  Love is the greatest emotion you can have for an individual person.  True love is the greatest form of love, and I truly love you.  I love you with all my heart, body, and soul.  I want to be with you for the rest of my life.  I love you.  You are my world baby.  I never want you to leave my side.  

Love always your endearing husband,

Andy

Letter From Your Body Part to You (4)

Dear Andy,

You seriously messed me up.  I’m never going to be the same again.  Thanks dumb ass.  You couldn’t have taken a play off.  You fractured me and continued to play. What were you thinking?!  If you had taken a play off maybe I wouldn’t be broken!  Nice job.  I hope you’re happy.

I know that you love playing football, and it is hard for you to stop, but you have to realize how it affects all of you.  Every time you step on the field I hurt, and I know other parts of you feel the same pain.  Your shoulder is still in pain from your freshman year where you conveniently didn’t tell anyone about the pain until after football season was over.  Your head and neck are always sore from your helmet.  Your legs are constantly sore from the running you do, and your arms are always cut up and bruised from the beatings you take at practice.  Why do you put yourself through this almost everyday?  It is stupid.  You should quit and get healthy.

I know you will never do that so my luck is out.  I just hope you will take it easy on me.  I have a crack from side to side.  I will never be able to be straight again.  I am swollen so much bigger than your other pinky.  It sucks so badly.  Every time you try to make a fist I hurt.  Every time you pick something up, I hurt.  Any time you use your left hand, I hurt.  Please let me heal.  I don’t want to be hurt for the rest of our life.  It is not fair to me.  Just because you want to do something I have to suffer.  It is just not fair.  Please take what I have said into consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Left Pinky

Letter from Animal to You (3)

Dear Andy,

I know we haven’t really been talking lately but now are the time.  I’m not feeling the same as I used to.  I’m getting so old.  I used to love to play fetch with you and now I feel like I can barely move.  Life is harder than it used to be.

I age differently than you.  I grow older at a pace seven times as fast as you do.  It is not easy.  I feel like crap everyday.  I can barely get up and down, never mind walk up and down all the stairs in the house.  I know I shouldn't, but I hate being alone downstairs.  Everyone is always upstairs.  I just have to be with you guys.  It’s my job to stay by your sides, but it gets harder every day.

I know I have made your lives difficult lately.  I cannot do the things I used to be able to do before.  I wish I could.  It’s hard for me to do anything now.  I love you all for putting up with me during this time period.  I feel sick, and you have been taking care of me.  I thank you.

I feel as if I do not have a lot of time left with you anymore.  I am about 100 years old now (14 human years).  My time is running out.  I want to spend my last few years happy.  I do not want you all to be mad at me for what I do.  I know I make a mess of everything now and I promise that if you give me the chance I will try my hardest to change for the better.  I really do love you for everything we have done with each other over the years.  I cannot explain the feelings I have for you.

Love man’s best friend,

Bosco

Letter from Devil to God (2)

Dear Big G,

How you doin up there?  It’s hot as hell down here…. I crack myself up.  I’m really bored with all these people down here.  They are so boring.  All they do is compare their evils to each other all day like it’s a competition or something.  Seriously they don’t understand that nothing matters anymore.  All of them are all ready in hell.  What they did doesn’t matter.  When are these people going to grow up?  Everything is a competition to them.  What is wrong with them?

So I have always wondered why I got the crappy job.  It’s hot and smells like ass down here; must be all the brimstone and such.  It is not fair.  I didn’t do anything to bad.  So we saw things differently for a while. Big deal! Like there are not a million other people who did that? (Well looking back on that I guess they are with me now).  But seriously, I really think I should get a chance to redeem myself.  I’m tired of all these people.  I’m really not as bad as before.  Seeing all these horrible people made me look back on this.  Just give me a chance.  I will really try hard.  I’m sure there has to be a different fallen angel that could take my place, and I mean seriously I’m the most fun out of the bunch to be around.  And I promise not to do anymore evil… well maybe.  Write me back.  I really want to talk to you some more.

Sincerely,

Big Red

Letter from Nature to Humanity (1)

  
Dear Humanity,
  
            What are you doing to me?!?!  My life has been changing for me over the past few centuries.  The main cause of this change is due to the change in your lifestyle.  Everything that you do in your daily life affects me and you tend to forget this.  Your lives affect mine, no matter what you are doing.  
  
            Many people do not realize how much I have been changing.  Over the years your technology has been advancing.  You have invented cars, airplanes, boats, and buses.  It has made your lives a lot easier, but has devastated me.  All the fumes that these vehicles are giving off are destroying me.  They make it hard to breathe and are helping to pollute the air and the water, which also affects every part of me.  There are fish and animals completely dying off due to this pollution.  Why are you doing this? Couldn’t you think of a safer way to transport yourself from place to place?  
  
            Another prime example of you slowly destroying me is your development of cities everywhere.  You find an area you think would be good for a settlement and slowly creep in and destroy the wildlife around you.  This is not right.  Eventually you are going to take away all the land for the animals, and the trees.  Without those two, you couldn’t survive.  You need to start thinking before you act.
  
            I hope you use this letter as a warning.  You still have time to change your ways, and I can see that beginning to happen.  There are better vehicles that emit cleaner gases.  This is a very important step into bettering your lives, and mine.  Keep up with the progress.
  
                                                              Sincerely,
  Nature    

Forgiveness Letter

Dear Andy,

For the longest time I have felt this pain that has never gone away.  It has finally subsided, at least enough to express my feelings about the situation.  I have kept my feelings inside for too long and I feel the need to express them to you now.  

There have been times where I have looked back on this situation, and have been crushed on the inside.  For years I had to put up with the way you have treated me.  There are times where you and I get along, but sometimes I feel that you should treat me with more respect.  I am a person with feelings, and it may not be obvious but some of the things you say, even if you are trying to make a joke, hurt.  I do not hate you for this, it is only human nature.  I do however feel bad about everything that has happened between us.

I love you.  You are my older brother.  I look up to you.  It may not show all the time, but you are very important to me.  When you put me down like you sometimes do, it hurts.  I do not know how to feel.  You knock me down but I understand now.  It is not out of hatred.  You do not do it to hurt but to poke fun.  It has made me a better person.  I have grown stronger from what has happened.  You have helped me greatly, even when you weren’t trying to.  I feel like I may be treating Michael in the same way.  Hopefully he will pull out the same goods as I have.  I forgive and understand what has happened.

Love your brother,

Nick

My Endings to the intros

1.) The sound of a bone cracking is an awful sound.  Hearing a scream soon after is worse.  Hearing the words, "We need you to really step up now" is even harder to hear.

This is what i heard after the last scrimmage before my freshman year started.  I thought I had no shot to play that year, and I was fine with that.   After that day my thoughts were changed.   I was the back-up to Bobby, and on the last play before I was supposed to go in the unthinkable happened.  All I hear was a scream and when I looked at the field all I saw was Bobby crawling out of a pile with his leg hanging down.  It was one of the most awful sights I had ever seen.
2.)"Andy, come in here I need to talk to you."  My mom was never home from work so early.  Her eyes were red from crying.  I knew something terrible had happened.

I knew right away what was wrong. My grandfather had been battling cancer for a 

while now. I knew at that time that he had died. My whole stomach dropped. I didn't

want to believe what I was hearing. My grandfather had died and I felt like my whole life

had changed. I never wanted to feel that way again.
3.)"Bang."  I hit the floor with a thud.  I touched my face with my hands and saw nothing.  The next time i saw my hands they were soaked with blood.

I had never bled so much in my life. I had dove for the loose ball and had a knee struck

my face. I quickly checked for blood and saw none.  The next time I looked down my hands

and arms were covered in blood.  Blood was pouring out of my nose. I didn't know what to

do.

4.)"Wow she's cute.  Good job Andy."  That was the first time my family ever excepted a girl I brought home.

My parents always find a way to criticize the girl that I like.  This time was different.  After they met Nicole I expected to hear some kind of criticism, but I heard none.  I was happy, but more surprised by this.  I love my parents to death, but they are judgmental.  I thought something was wrong, but I couldn't have been anymore mistaken.  They genuinely enjoyed being around her.  That made me more happy than I have ever been before.  
5.) My mouth had a terrible taste.  I had just gotten sick.  When I looked down I was not in the bathroom.

I felt so embarrassed to walk into my cousin's room and tell her what happened. It 

was the first time I had ever slept at my cousin's apartment in New York. I had eaten too 

many cookies before I went to sleep, and my stomach was not happy. I woke up in the 

middle of the night with an awful feeling in my stomach. I walked to where I thought the

bathroom was and threw up. When I looked down i was not standing over a toilet, but a 

stove.

Lu Li's cliff hangers continued

1. I looked at the clock – it was already 4am. “I hate myself,” I murmured, “this needs to be stopped!” 

I had to stop doing this to myself.  Every night I i thought about what I could have done differently.  I could have been a better person.  I could have been nicer to him.  I could have shown my true love for him.  I was afraid, and now all I have to look back on is the bracelet I threw, still laying on the floor.  Why did it have to come down to this?

2. “Oh Lord, please help me…” I closed my eyes, but tears still burst out… 

I sat in my room crying, m y mother trying to comfort me.  It wasn't helping.  The tears just kept pouring out of my eyes.  I thought that night would never end.  I had lost my closest friend.  She had died early the previous morning.  When i woke up i still felt the cold tears still falling from my face.  My life would never be the same.

3. I walked into the classroom …and I walked out of the classroom with a long streak of tears on my cheek. 

"I can't believe that just happened" I said with tears running down my face as i was running to my locker.  My teacher humiliated me in front of the entire class.  I had forgotten to do my reading and we were being asked questions.  I tried to BS my way around the topic, but i knew my teacher understood I did not do the assignment.  What i didn't know was what would happen next.  It would be the worst day of school in my entire life.

4. Time is ruthless, I have to say, because it can change a person you know well to a totally stranger.

 We had been friends for so long.  I cannot understand what had gone wrong.  For eight years we were the best of friends.  Everyday it seemed we were at each other's house.  We spent countless hours together.  People eventually thought we were even family.  How can one summer change a person like that?  

5. I wanted to turn around and look at them for the last time, but I didn't have the courage to do that – I was afraid that if I turned around, I would never be able to walk away by myself.

I saw my friends for the last time before i was forced to move.  I hated my parents for this.  I love my friends.  I had a good life.  Why did things have to change?  Right then I realized that My life would be completely different.  I would have to start a new life in a new place.

5 intros

1.  The sound of a bone cracking is an awful sound.  Hearing a scream soon after is worse.  Hearing the words, "We need you to really step up now" is even harder to hear.
2. "Andy, come in here I need to talk to you."  My mom was never home from work so early.  Her eyes were red from crying.  I knew something terrible had happened
3. "Bang."  I hit the floor with a thud.  I touched my face with my hands and saw nothing.  The next time i saw my hands they were soaked with blood.
4. "Wow she's cute.  Good job Andy."  That was the first time my family ever excepted a girl I brought home.
5. My mouth had a terrible taste.  I had just gotten sick.  When I looked down I was not in the bathroom.

Another Unflattering Story

High school is not easy for everyone.  A lot of people struggle throughout the years spent there. Others thrive during their high school years.  It is said it is the most fun that you have in your life.  For some it is the time that they try the hardest to forget.  Not everyone is lucky enough to have a solid four years in high school.

My high school time has been well spent so far.  I have had good grades and have rarely had any problems with anyone.  I have been lucky, but it has not been perfect.  There are always actions that you have preformed that you would want to have back.  

Last year during basketball I had an average season.  I preformed well under the radar.  Our team was very successful and made a lot of hustle plays.  One of the biggest hustle plays was when I dove for a loose ball and broke my nose.  I was bleeding profusely from my nose.  I had no idea what had happened to me.  I really do not remember the play at all.  All I remember was hitting the ground and seeing the blood flowing from my nose.  This was the least of my issues.

My head was rocking the rest of the night.  I said some ridiculous things to people.  I was talking to everyone like they were my best friends.  I believe I was even having conversations with some of the teachers present at the game.  They were not like a normal conversation between student and teacher.  I most likely embarrassed myself and said things I would regret. 

As usual they started to play the national anthem before the varsity game.  I was sitting with a few of my friends from the team.  We were talking as usual and stood up when we heard the announcement.  As we stood they had trouble with the audio system.  I thought it would be a great time to start singing out loud in front of everyone.  I have an awful voice.  I greatly embarrassed myself.  I vaguely remember this happening but I was the laughing stock of the team for the next few practices.  I only wish I had really thought through my action before I preformed it.  

Me Talk Pretty One Day Response

1.) Sedaris made this experience humorous by giving the details of what what happened in the class on a daily basis.  He spoke of how the teacher insulted the students in a funny matter.  He also made jokes at his translations by translating a sentence with only the words he understood and a random assortment of letters for words he did not understand.  The funniest part of the essay in my eyes was when they students comforted each other in broken French.  

Deadpan humor is humor seemingly without emotion.  Sedaris uses deadpan humor throughout the selection.  He makes jokes that the reader finds humorous, but that he made without really trying to be funny.

2.) Sedaris reveals elements about himself throughout the text.  He speaks of his knowledge of the French language, but not really to what extent.  By the end the reader finds out that with the class he has learned to understand the language, but the progress is never illustrated in a positive way.  We learn a lot about the author also through his interactions with the other students, and how towards the end they care for one another.  The author reveals a lot about himself, but without directly stating facts.

Unflattering Aspect Story

Life is not easy for everyone.  People have to deal with many things in life that do are not favorable for them.  People have to use what they are given, and develop it in a way to benefit from it.  Not everyone can change themselves for the better.  Others are adept in the situation.  There are definitely times in my life that I feel I have used my skill sets in both cases.  I love being right, if you are wrong I let you know you are.  There are times when I make jokes about people in a way trying to be funny but do not take into account what their feelings are.  I am not a bad person.  I sometimes do not think everything through.

The time in my life where this is most prevalent is when I am at home.  I love my family.  They are the closest people to me.  I love them so much and feel so comfortable with them that there are certain times when I do treat them more casually than I should.  My brothers get the worst of it.  

I have lots of fun with my brothers.  We play sports and games with each other all the time.  When one of us makes a mistake the other two usually go after whoever made the mistake.  That is how life is.  My youngest brother usually is the one who receives the load of the jokes.  It is not his fault.  He is younger and just not as smart or athletic as we are, but there are times where I make fun of him regardless and do not take into consideration his feelings.

This happens mostly around other people.  I feel like I have to make a joke of his mistakes around others to make everyone laugh.  If those people were not around I probably would not be making that joke.  He has lost in games to me a thousand times.  We are usually alone so I do not make fun of him.  There are always those times when another person is in the room and I feel the need to rub it in his face.  This happens often.  It will be him and a few friends in the room.  I will win and make fun of him.  I will call him names and make him upset just to get laughs.  I do not show that I care for him at these times.  It is not right.  He storms off and makes a scene and instead of apologizing we tend to make another joke.  This happens a lot, not just in my family but in many others also.  

I feel bad looking back at these times.  I feel the need to apologize or make up for these actions.  I try and I feel like I succeed in making him feel better almost every time I make him upset.  It is a bad thing to make fun of others, but a good thing to know when you are wrong.  Admitting you are wrong is the first step towards making things good.  Good things are what life is based around and the more good things or qualities you surround yourself with, the better your life will be.

Shooting an Elephant Response Questions

1.) How is this a story about two disparate major themes? How are these themes intertwined? 

The two major themes expressed in this essay are imperialism and peer pressure.  The two major themes are seen through the officer shooting the elephant due to peer pressure and imperialism is seen through the officers being there to keep the people in order.  They are both prevalent in the story.  Peer pressure is felt by the officers.  They feel as if they have to please the people in order to keep peace.  Imperialism is seen in the story because due to imperialism the officers were kept there, even if they did not believe in the beliefs.  They had to try and please the people to protect themselves.  They conformed under peer pressure and did things they may not have done if others were around.  The prime example is when the officer shot the elephant.  He comes out and says he would not have shot the elephant if others were not around.  He felt like he had to. That is how peer pressure affected the officer.

The two themes are intertwined by the role the officer has to live to.  As an officer there is a certain persona already given to him.  The people do not like them, and because of this some of them changed how they acted when on duty to try and fit in better.  

2.) What tactics does Orwell employ when revealing unflattering aspects of himself?

Orwell reveals the unflattering aspect that he fell under peer pressure when describing the forces that led him to shoot the elephant.  He states that he would not have shot the elephant if the people were not around him.  He felt as if he had to shoot the elephant so those around him would not grow angry or make fun of him.  He fell under peer pressure.  That is one unflattering aspect about Orwell.  He also reveals this aspect when he speaks of how the people mock and tease him and other officers.  It plays a role in his decision making and the final outcome of the story.  He does not dance around the facts and goes straight towards admitting what he did and why he did it. 

10 Ways to be Popular

1. Be nice to everyone.  if you are nice to everyone, they will like you
2. Play sports. when you are on a sports team you gain the respect of your teammates.
3. Speak the current "lingo". 
4. Look good.  good-looking people are usually popular
5. Try to be "cool" with everyone.  try no to have enemies
6. Don't judge a lot of people.  people will like u less and might not want to be friends with you
7. Don't change yourself to try to be popular.  be yourself
8. Don't make it look like you care if you are popular or not.  be laid back
9. Become a good student.  stand out from the rest.  people will recognize you for your accomplishments
10. Step out of your comfort zone in some instances.  do not move out too much but do things differently, but not that you feel uncomfortable

Argumentative Essay

Abortion Should be Legal: Affirmative Argument

Should abortion be legal?  People have varying views on this question and base their views on many things.  Morals, religion and humanity all play into what side of this argument you land on.  Both sides of the argument have a right to their opinion and each side is able to support their argument with facts.  But in my opinion, abortion, although I do not feel it is the right decision, should still be a decision to be made and should be legal.  The basis of my opinion is that people should have control over their lives.  Who are we to tell them what they can do with their lives?  Everyone has the right to make their own decisions about their lives.  Why should this decision have to be made for them?

People who believe in the right to have an abortion are pro-choice.  To be pro-choice does not mean you are for abortion.  It means that you are for the freedom of choice, the freedom to make your own decision.  Everyone should have choices in their lives.  Our lives are based on the choices we can and cannot make.  People have different beliefs about the issue and just because some people do not believe in abortion does not mean that everyone should lose that choice.  Freedom is the basis of our country.  If you take away people’s freedom then how can we truly be considered the freest country in the world?

Another issue to consider when talking about abortion is the situation and living conditions of the person who has become pregnant.  For example if a rape victim becomes pregnant, should that woman be forced to carry that child?  It is unthinkable that she should be forced into this situation.  The emotional stress that would cause that person would be unbearable.  That person should have the choice to have an abortion.

Another example of a person’s life that would give them a reason to have an abortion is the age of the person.  Many teenagers become pregnant.  Sometimes the best thing for that teenager is to keep the child.  In those cases the young woman has a family that will help them care for that child.  In many cases of teenage pregnancy the young woman is not that lucky.  They may live in poorer conditions, or not have a family that would be fit to help take care of the child.  Sometimes adoption would be an option, but what if the young woman could not deal with the pregnancy?  The doctor appointments cost a lot of money.  Also if this young woman is living in poor conditions, school is one of the only things that could help them get out of those living conditions.  Pregnancy would most definitely disrupt her schoolwork.  Abortion is not always the right thing to do, but sometimes it is the best thing in certain situations.

One of the last major factors of abortion is the person’s beliefs.  In some cases a person believes an abortion is not the right thing to do.  That does not mean it is the wrong thing for everyone.  The right to choose to have the abortion should not be taken from everyone.  It should be a choice anyone can make.  It should not be based on other’s wishes.  People vote, march, and protest against abortion.  It is not their choice what others do.  The choice is theirs to make and should not be made for them.  

When you look at how people view abortion it is a visceral reaction in any case.  If you feel strongly that abortion is wrong, no one is going to be able to change your mind, but no one is forcing you to have an abortion.  You have the freedom to stand by your beliefs.  If, on the other hand, you do not have that belief and do not see abortion as immoral, then the only thing allowing you to make that choice is your right as a citizen in this country.  Again, no one is going to force you to have an abortion, but if you take away that choice, you are being forced into not having one.

The Trouble with Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem: Not a Problem

Is there really a problem with self-esteem?  Can it lead to serious issues?  Some think it can, but however there is real proof to what issues with self-esteem can lead to.  Self-esteem may seem like a problem, but to some it is what helps them to succeed in life.  

Self-esteem is displayed as a problem in the essay written by Lauren Slater.  She makes several statements that make low self-esteem and high self-esteem negative.  She says people with low self-esteem cause major issues in life.  “Hijackers and suicide bombers suffer from feeling of worthlessness and that their violent, fluorescent acts are desperate attempts to bring some inner flair to a flat mindscape.  This all makes so much sense that that we have not thought to question it”(Slater 807).  This statement is ridiculous.  Have you ever spoken to a hijacker or a suicide bomber?  No, it is impossible to speak to someone who has committed a crime that took their own lives.  If you can not speak to these people, how can you really tell if they had low or high self-esteem?  It is almost impossible unless y chance before they committed the crime they called a person and let them know they were committing a atrocious act because of there self-esteem.  That is ludicrous.  Low self-esteem does not cause people to do anymore harm than a person with self-esteem.  

Slater also says people with high self-esteem, “pose a greater threat to those around them than people with low self-esteem”(808).  She supports her claim with results from tests saying that people with self-esteem attack those who are more timid than themselves.  These results are also refutable.  She does not state what the people with the low self-esteem do during this test.  They could also be attacking others, possibly at a lower rate that those with higher self-esteem.  

Slater’s argument is strong, but is not perfect.  There is no way for her to say that both high and low self-esteem cause problems, and win an argument.  That is basically stated that all people cause problems.  If that is what her argument is based upon then there really is no argument at all.  She says all types people cause problems, and this is obviously true.  Problems are cause by people from all walks of life.  Their self-esteem does not play a factor.  If you are not supposed to have a high self-esteem because you are more likely to abuse people who are “inferior” to you, and you should not have a low self-esteem because you are more likely to cause a major attack, then what should you think of yourself?