Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong

  What transformed Mary Anne into a killer is not the soldiers but Vietnam itself. Mary Anne who is a 17 year old girls travels to Vietnam and completely changes her personality. First, she was all innocent and lovely;however, as the story went on she turned somehow not like an American girl, rather a Vietnamese. It can be said that the constant violence and fear made her change but that was not the major reason. For someone as young and pretty, nobody expected her to become so in love with a humid jungle. This just shows how one's potential can lead one to show their real face inside the mask.

  I believe that gender doesn't matter in this chapter because this book illustrates how someone young and vulnerable get mixed up with the War, and never return to their normal self. When Mary Anne arrived in Vietnam, she was the dream girl every soldier wanted to have in their camp but one could see how a young person during War can change in a matter of weeks. 

  O'Brien lets Rat Kiley tell part of the story because Rat is known for his exaggeration when talking his perspective. A true War story is actually really different from what people think because with all the information told, the public will not be able to understand. Therefore, yes, Rat Kiley's story fits O'Brien's criteria for how to tell a true War novel. Exaggerated stories during conversations are normal as it is proven by psychologists that everybody make up their personal fairy tales. 

Field Trip

 In England, a town near Chelsea, there was a massacre in the streets when the police where given permission to fight against government protesters with force. This happened about 25 years ago when one of the government protester shot a police officer. The police officer named Bob Wilkinson was a good friend to the minister of England. When the minister heard that Bob died during a protest, he conspired with his guards to carry out a massacre on the protesters. This was for his friend's revenge. The occurrence of this horrific event started at 7am in the morning of Boxing day. The police fired their guns at the crowd and beat them with their clubs. There were at least 200 casualties. After this incident, the police department checked how a massacre happened in such a peaceful land. Investigations after investigations, the police department found some names they have never heard before. They tracked the names down and found out that the people were the minister's specially trained personal bodyguards. The minister was convicted of mass murder and was sentenced to life in jail with his bodyguards. This disaster is not seen today and now there is a highway where the protesters died. It left no trace, only history.

Ambush/The Man I Killed

 The Man I Killed is written in the first person point as Tim O'Brien is standing next to the dead boy. Tim knows myriads of intimate details about the man he killed because the dead man was the first man he killed in war. Usually, when someone does something for the first time, they put more time into it and examine their work carefully. Tim feels remorse about the boy and that if he hadn't killed him, the boy would've had a bright future ahead of him. When Tim O'Brien is talking about the boy's future, he explains a whole lot about how he might have been a math teacher and other very personal details. This, I believe, is from Tim's own life as too much personal information about the boy is said. Maybe he was the one who wanted to be a math teacher and have a wonderful life with a girl next to the motorcycle.

Spin

  In the chapter Spin O'Brien writes in his "peace story," "All that peace man, it felt so good it hurt. I want to hurt it back." In my own words, I believe that this quote tells the reader that peace is different for a normal person and a soldier. In the oxford dictionary, the word peace is defined as freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. For us peace can be reading a book or lying on the sofa without any noise. However, for a soldier, peace can be described as death. A soldier who is fighting in a war cannot be in rest as there are enemies surrounding them; they become paranoid. The only way they can close their eyes and think about nothing is death. This shows the desperateness of the soldiers as they only wanted an exit door out of Vietnam. From the statement above, we can also see that the Vietnam War had very unpredictable emotions as peace changed over a matter of seconds; like how Tim O'Brien defined War as a ping pong ball as it changes when one puts a little spin to the ball.

The Things They Carried: Two Items

  In my backpack I have: Bandages, cell phone, glasses, calculator, notebook, binder, pens, pencils, eraser, folders, USB, head phones, gum, dictionary, and three water bottles full of water.

  From the items above, I would like to take bandages and three water bottles full of water. First of all, I would like to take bandages because if one is hurt or wounded, a bandage can help a lot as it blocks other germs from entering the scratch. Although it is not necessarily going to help cure the small wound as one needs other medicine to provide fatal cases, it will stabilize the scrape. Secondly, I would take three water bottles all filled up with water. Water is very important for all living organisms and without it we will not be able survive for more than three days. Even not drinking for few minutes makes one thirsty and scientists have proven that water is key to how our blood flows, which states that without water, blood doesn't flourish in our bodies making our brain not be able to function. Finally, these two items are related as both materials are handy when treating a small scratch. To remove the germs and blood, one has to pour water on it to clean it. Then they can put a bandage on it so no more germs enter the wound. These are the reasons why i would like to carry the objects with me wherever I go; they have their own usages and they work well together too, it is like killing two birds with one stone.

Vietnam War: What I learned

  Today in English class, we were introduced to the Vietnam War because we had to have some background knowledge about the book we were going to read: The Things They Carried. The class students were asked to jot down some information about what they already knew about the War. I wrote that the War was against the North and the South, the North being Communists and that the United States entered the War assisted South Vietnam, stating that they wanted to abolish Communism. Also that the War happened during the 1950's to the 1970's. I knew the outcome of the Vietnam War as i have read some books about it. The result of this clash influenced America greatly as they had to drop out of the unpopular war. These are the facts I knew about the War.

  In class, i learned some very interesting facts about the tactics the Americans used to abolish Communism in Vietnam. One of the tactics I found very fascinating was the Agent Orange. This is a chemical that kills anything that blocks its path and was used to wipe out whole villages, killing many innocent lives. The way some Americans think is to me somewhat very sad as they think that if one thing happens the next will follow. For Example, the Domino Theory, which states that one country after one country while become Communists. This is similar to what they did to the Native Americans, thinking that if they have a particular land they get to conquer the rest of it. Another very amusing information is that the Vietnam War was the first "living room War"--people watched real footage of combat on the nightly news. Also that the majority of the soldiers in Vietnam were lower to middle class men. I never looked at the Vietnam War so deeply, knowing the  new information makes me wonder what other factors made America join the War.

War Letter 2

Dear Elizabeth

  Elizabeth, this is Yu-Jin, your brother's best friend. Sorry for what happened to Tom... my life is a candle without a fire now; I have no mean of life without my closest friend. We got into the same camp and went to the same school from the point we were in Elementary. I had Tom next to me when everybody was against me; even my parents. Tom was a lad I could depend on and talk about anything and he will take it and talk it through with me all day long, even if he had a very important project to do in high school; he always put his friendship before anything else. Before we were separated in War, he told me to survive and later meet together and go back and make a company together. He had lots of brilliant ideas. His bravery shown in training was immense. We had a training session and there was a fake hand grenade, your brother was right next to it, instead of running away he jumped on it to save the other soldiers. After this, he became a commander of troop C. Tom did everything as a commander and cared his soldiers more than anything. Tom and his troops were called to participate in the Battle of Long Dinh. Tom had the choice to reject the call but he decided to go. He went and the next day the soldiers came back; but Tom was missing. I asked one of the troop members, but all they did was cry. I asked the soldier again with anger and he told me that Tom died after taking a bullet for him. This is what I didn't like about your brother, he cared more about his men than himself. Stupid Bastard.... ㅡ ㅡ . I will go to Tom's funeral very soon. Elizabeth, I'm truly sorry for Tom's loss.

Sincerely Yu-Jin 

Free Verse Poem

Middlemindz.blogspot.com

Color Poem

Watermelon Red-- Benjamin Moore-- 2087-20

 By Yu-jin Son

In a field of tulips I stand

The color is strong as the smell

Air waves push the flowers all together

They look like fans celebrating a victory in Manchester

The sun is bright in the horizon

The wind is blowing on my cheeks

The tulips move on the beat of my favorite songs

About glory and winning streaks

A girl stands next to me

A red scarf is around her neck

Peacefully and quietly floating in the wind

As she stands in the field and stares back at me

Celebrating quite indeed

And happy to be in the field

We feel the crowd around us

But they are nowhere to be seen

The energy is always there

And the happiness is everywhere

Joy of the fans and players

But coming from the two people present

She smells like red ripe round watermelon

She flows like air

She tasted like watermelon

When I kissed her lips

Electricity is released

In my head and into my blood

The tulips lay on the wind at ease

As we face we face the sun

Watermelon red her lips were

Watermelon scent her skin expelled

Watermelon sweet her lips tasted

As Watermelon fields that are far away

Red are all the tulips

Red is the wave of fans

Red is the scarf that warms her

Red is my vivid heart

Just one kiss of hello

And now a wave of goodbye

Celebrating a common goal

And now is the end of the rite

The field is like a stream

Of blood from my fervent dreams

Ever pumping with Exhilarating joy

Faithfull to my heart serene 

As now I stand alone

Crowds of people I still sense

With the tulips that smell of rout

Defeat from the other side of a fence.

The sun is a still quite bright light sight

In my dreams, there is never night

At this field of winners I shall wait

For another victory in the present tense


MiddleMinz.blogspot.com

Where I'm From

I Am From

I am from the all different kinds of sports fields, from dirt and grass

I am from the soft wooden floors with warm heaters

I am from the Rose of Sharon, the red maple leaves falling off the trees

I am from respect for elders and small eyes, from the Sons and the Hwangs

I am from the work-it-alls

And the never-give-ups

From respect and take one slow step at a time

I am from the cross where Jesus was crucified

I’m from cell phones with K-pop music,

I am from Kimbap heaven, kimbap and kimchie

From the trust of my parents whenever I needed it,

The lungs my father filled up with blackness to educate me and my brother

I am from my parent’s hard work

I am from tents that me and my brother made in out bedrooms,

That we lit with lamps and read books

I am from schools where teachers were

Strict

Mean

Boring

I’m from the memories of my youth  

England

Korea

Holland

England where I could smell the fresh air every morning

Korea where I felt safe

Holland where I could eat all sorts of cheese by just walking for a few minutes

I am from the English playing style

And the Korean playing style

Which are very different playing styles from each other

 I am from both sides the English and the American

I am from a small journalist club,

Going around Europe, Asia, America and South America

I am from a family that scarified many things for their next generations

Nature Poems

Selected by Yu-Jin Son

Description

Poems about mother nature and how humans miss treat it and how the Earth is hurt by us polluting and exploiting our natural surroundings.

Synopsis
The opinions from people that support nature and who express their feeling about mother nature.

Poetry

Mother Nature’sCry by Susan Chen

Humans and Nature by Ayesha Raoof

I warned you by Jessica

Nature-The BestGift by Ann Joy Poulose

The Beauty Of Nature by Kathye D.Perry

We Are destroying Our Nature by Natalie Sapphire
Awareness by Sylvia Stults 

I Was Dreaming by Surega Rajan
Mother Nature by Edith A. Phinazee
The Earth is Crying by Maria Boland

English Essay

Since the beginning of slavery, “The Blacks” were treated unequally. By the look of the society during the past few decades; it seemed that racism was on the verge of ending, but againㅡracism appeared in the headlines, “Parents Of Slain Florida Teen To March In NYC In Call For Justice.” This article is about a black teenage boy named Trayvon Martin who gets shot and killed by a Hispanic man named George Zimmerman. He was a community appointed watchman and the reason he shot the boy was because he thought Trayvon Martin was acting “suspicious”. I believe that an incident like this will repeat itself for the following reasons.

First of all, color usually affects one’s perspective in regards to an individual. Trayvon Martin was misjudged because of his racial background. Solely, this proves that prejudice always leads to injustice. Just take this incident as an example: A white Hispanic male shooting and killing an unarmed, under age, and an honored student just because he was black and wearing a hood under the rain. Guess what was so suspicious? Trayvon Martin was hooded and was carrying a can of ice tea and a bog of skittles under the rain. If this behavior alerts a watchman, then any kid would look dangerous to him.

Secondly, we have failed to be better than those who commit these violations by not acknowledging the errors or by toning down the incident. It does not lie only on the shoulders of the police or authorities, but also on neighbors, witnesses, and society to raise alarm and push the cart to go on the right direction: Liberty and Justice For All. (American Allegiance to the Flag)

Also, I believe that the gender influenced the reaction of the watchman. Think of like this; if the watchman would have been a woman, the approach on the boy would have been different. A woman’s advancements towards the stranger would have been more calm and subtle than a man’s because a man feels superior and inclined to cause violence. Therefore, we will see many other incidents that will contain such injustices and disputes because it is assimilated into our society with stereotypes that do not fade away; it is also coded in our genes as we are men that are prone to violence and letting our pride get the best of us.

We shouldn’t take action if we are unable to make any kind of intelligent judgment. Unfortunately, our pride and stubbornness would always lead us on the wrong direction: the racist and sexist that will eventually end in a calamity. We do not understand or ignore part of a whole; nevertheless, we jump to the conclusion and execute a “solution” that will in most occasions be incorrect. Although many people believe racism was over, it is always going to be an issue in every part of the world.

To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 8

Time elapsed in Maycomb County and it is now the middle of summer. But a bizarre thing happened today—it was the middle of a sweltering summer—and it was snowing. I thought that the world’s end was imminent after looking at the snow.

Jem and I went outside to make a snow man; we were meticulous moving the snow from Miss. Maudie’s front yard to ours. We made the snow man, and when we ran out of snow we used mud instead.

Time passed and it was nearly time to eat dinner. Jem and I couldn’t wait for Atticus to come, therefore, we called him. When he came, we showed him the snow man. After looking at it for some good minutes, he lionized Jem for his creativity in mind. However, there was dissention over the snow man we made in our neighborhood. Our neighbor, Miss Maudie, had a different opinion: “…. Erected an absolute morphodite in the yard!”

At night, Atticus woke me up and told me to get dressed. I didn’t apprehend why he woke me up but I followed him. I walked with him for a few meters, then suddenly, I noticed Miss. Maudie’s house burning. Her house was a total calamity! Atticus told Jem and me to go to the Boo Radley place. When we were going to the place we saw Mr. Avery shackled in one of the windows of Miss. Maudie. I was shivering like mad because I was scared that Mr. Avery was going to die. Some villagers conspired to get Mr. Avery out of the window and some were helping the state fireman put the fire out. When I heard that Mr. Avery was out and safe, I could relax and breathe easily. We stayed there until the fire was out. Atticus called us in for a hot cup of hot chocolate.

Jem and I went home and the first question Atticus asked us was: “Were did you get that blanket?” I looked at Jem, but he looked even more puzzled than I was. Suddenly, Jem’s face changed and he started to spill out all the secrets that he, Dill, and I had kept. He told Atticus about the Boo Radley games and everything. All Atticus said was: “Do, not let this inspire you to further glory, Jeremy.”

I felt like throwing up went Jem held the blanket in-front of me. Today was full of mixed emotions because I was disappointed at first because I didn’t see Boo Radley sneaking up behind me but I was glad that Miss. Maudie and Mr. Avery were alright. I wish that a disastrous day like today will never again happen in Maycomb County.

Letter to Lily

Dear Lily,

  It has been four years already since we’ve seen each other. Time elapses so fast…. Lily, I’m now a high ranked lawyer in Tiburon, all the colored villagers lionize me. I was thankful for the villagers’ support but without Mr. Forrest’s help, I wouldn’t be a lawyer in Tiburon. As you know--work for Negros like me were shackled in Tiburon. Eight-teen years ago, he assisted me by giving me law books that he finished using, although being a lawyer was a bizarre thing to do at that time.

This “lawyer” thing was the second idea that came in mind after you when desegregation seemed imminent. I always had a meticulous check on my back to see if someone was following me because some of the white villagers had dissensions about a Negro lawyer like me. During the days, when I was studying to be a lawyer, there was a point I felt scared. I felt villagers around me would conspire to have my dreams of becoming a lawyer halted. There were newspapers that said “A Negro person tries to become a lawyer but gets apprehended by the police,” also it said that many others were arraigned, interrogated and beaten by the white villagers. Some days it seemed like we lived in total anarchy. This was assimilating all the bad impressions, it was frightening for me and I nearly gave up because I didn’t want to end up like those people, tangled in a calamity brought on me due to my pursuits. Nevertheless, I was going to be a lawyer—as long as you are in my mind. The one that motivated me was you. You told me that one day we will be together, I was thinking about those words and made a turbulent journey—look at me now; I’m a high ranked lawyer.

 Tiburon is as usual with sweltering summers, but without you I feel a hole in my life. I miss you terribly Lily and by the way, I read your new book “The Other Side.” It’s great! I liked how you put my name as the main character. I hope to see you soon Lily, and come and visit—me, August, June, Neil and the bee house—over the winter!

Love Zach

The Problems We All Live With

   

    The painting The Problem We all Live With is an image drawn by an artist named Norman Rockwell during the period compulsory integration of blacks and white into the same school system and when racism was at the highest point in the country, 1964.

This is scene is of a six-year old girl named Ruby Bridges who doesn’t know anything about racism, walking to a school that is only for white children. She is protected by four U.S. Deputy Marshalls because of the threats issued by the KKK and other white extremist organizations. One can see that Ruby Bridges has a blank face. Also, one can read slangs painted on the wall “Nigger” and “KKK” on what seems to be the route she takes to school, and that people were throwing tomatoes at her on her way there.

When the fruits were thrown she could see that she is not wanted at the school. The “Body guards” don’t actually protect her; they are not even trying to block the fruits that were thrown towards her. The Marshalls escorted her there to make sure she was allowed to enter the school grounds as the law ordered.

If someone took a guess about this picture the impression of the viewer would be, that a young African-American girl is walking to school with some materials and four men with a bandage around their arm. The bandage says U.S. Deputy Marshalls; they seem to be protecting her. Also, the tomato that was thrown on the wall was thrown not long before she was there because of the mark of the exploded fruit and the tomato has not decayed yet. The words “Nigger” and “KKK” will tell the viewers that this picture was in the periods when white and black people were segregated.

The artist’s intention of drawing this picture in my opinion is to show the American society in the 1960’s and how even someone as young as Ruby Bridges was threatened my white people. Also, the sign Nigger’s intention is to show how white people were racist.

The reason for the choices of perspective was so the viewer could see the whole scene, and also the artist purposely removed the heads of all of the Marshalls in order for the viewers to focus on the girl. In the image the colors are dull and cold. The only bright colors he used were yellow and red, which got the attention of the viewers and showed that she was a student. With a light colored background intended for the girl’s skin color to stand out. The forms are negligible and flat, and guide the viewers’ eyes to look at the girl, a girl that is a silent victim of her time.