​​What happens to power when control fades to nothing? Do not mistake one kindness for weakness or is happiness for ignorance. The true evil in the world is done under the cloak of good. Freedom is a state of mind. We are molded by the past, shaped by the present, to be admired in the future. Language is very powerful, it's the way we communicate in all aspects of life which means that language doesn't always have to do with speaking. Language is something much bigger, much stronger, much deeper than that.

"Language is people..." as said in my language video. It’s our badge of honor, it’s what sets us apart from everyone else. Also as said in the video, language is a living thing, "it changes, it adapts, it moves it grows, it our identity in the world." I realized that one's language is like his identical twin, it’s born, develops, and matures as you do. You can express language through writing. Monologues are a perfect example because it takes the writer true emotions and feelings and put them on paper. "You are but a vampire, sucking the life from society and those who rest upon." That's from a monologue I wrote. My goal was to use powerful words and comparisons that would give vivid detail along with deeper meanings. I put myself in the place of the character whose point of view I was writing from, which gave it that much stronger meaning.

Action is a way to express ourselves which also expresses our language. We have been learning that we are unique as a people therefore no language can be identical as no language can be identical. We recently did an assignment that required us to use a space to create a scene by using interpretive dancing. The required creativity and originality, both aspects of language. What me and my group did in our scene is perform under a bridge and use train spikes as a prop. We based the scene around the train spikes and made it about two individuals brought together by music. This was an example of our ideals coming together to form a large showing of language. Like language, the preparation was dynamic, the scene required constant adjusting and practice. In the end though, our collective language conveyed the message in the scene and it was successful.

  During the course of year, we've also come to understand that discussion gives you the chance to see peoples insight and point of view. Everyones opinion is varied in some way, so when we are faced with a subject most responses will differ in meaning or understanding. Throughout the year we have been making journal entries about a given subject. We were then asked to voice our opinion based on what we wrote. In one of my entries we were given a list of non- violent strategies to revolt and make change. We had to write which strategies did we think were most effective. I didn't really think any of them were effective in a revolution because "these methods could be used to start a revolution, but a dictator will not be quick to give up his power..." Another discussion we had was about sports in America. We were asked why are sports such a big deal in our country. My thought was "sports are such a big deal in this country is because it's one of the main things that brings us together." Another entry we had was when we were discussing how the past and how it changes us in the present. We were asked to write about a point in time that changed who we are or defined us in a strong way. What I wrote was "when my dad started talking to me about the truth about the world." Before this assignment I used to think that the past doesn’t matter, what happening here and now is what is most important. After this discussion I came to realize that what happens in the past defines and creates what happens now. That was my defining moment in my life.

That is some of the things I have learned and experienced in my English and History class over this year. These lessons I will take with me for the rest of my life and has defined me as a person.    

The Lucky One

  (Sitting in a chair twidling his thumb.) You are scum. You (Pause) are scum. A sick, vile virus among the population of humanity. You think your riches or your big fancy house makes you special, makes you unique? You are nothing more than a mosquito, sucking the blood out of society and those who depend on what it gives. You and everyone similar to you are meer insects to people who’ve had to crawl and struggle their entire lives to get by. People without chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, or fancy butlers serving them five star meals. Those are people with real riches. I can sit in this chair all day and lecture you on this. The sad part about it is people don’t care as much for human riches as much as they care for small green slips of paper with dead white leaders on them. And for those who do have it use it to hide from the real world like cowards while they watch us struggle through life from their high placed pedestals.

  Why did I try to steal from you? What would you care or understand? I’m going to prison regardless. Hmmp well if you must know I’m no criminal. A thief, but not a criminal. No, they are not the same thing! A criminal is someone who purposely breaks the law because they are too lazy to get a job and make something of themselves. Now there are two types of thieves. People who steal because they want to or people who steal because the have to. I steal because I have to. The funny thing is it wasn’t always that way.

  It was about a year after that pipeline was made. I lived in a rural area not too far from the pipeline and my family business was around that area to. I worked as a tourguide, take people through the forest, let them experience nature, stuff like that. It was called Natures buddies. Of course you’ve never heard of it, probably not good enough. You’d be that one person who had no one to come with. (Pause) Oh yeah, you married? (Pause) You have any kids? Yeah (mumbling) I bet even your parents be too ashamed to come with you. Anyway! I made a good salary, settled down, got married. Hmmp, I remember when I first met her. She came in for a tour one time with her friends, we talked for a little bit after the tour and we just connected ever since. I knew she was the one from that first hour we talked, but I guess you wouldn’t know about that would you. Soon after she gave me something to live for... two kids. They were my pride and joy and I really felt that it was just gonna get better from there. Thats when... it happened. (Pause) The pipeline burst. You probably heard about it. (Pause) Yeah but the only thing was they were sugar coating it. The the pipeline spewed thousands of gallons of oil a minute and ravaged the wilderness and everything else around it for miles, including our business.

I was out of work. Soon after I lost my home. In the blink of an eye I had no job, no home, and my emergency money was running dry. I felt like a boy in a book I read called House of the Scorpion when he was locked in that room because they found out he was a clone. I tried for months to get a job but no everyday job wants to hire someone who tread through the woods talking about trees and animals. Hmmp, you’d think people be more grateful for the tour’s we gave. I tried everything, I learned that those fundraising things they have on commercials are all bullshit. Just a bunch of people who steal from the public and barley give any of the money they raise toward people who need it. They’d much rather take almost all of that money for their own self purposes. Another thing I realized was that those who had plenty of money to give to a corner full of the homeless are the one’s who most likely would give us the finger and drive off.

My money was running dangerously short. My families ribs slowly began showing more definition everyday. I knew I had to do something. Then it hit me, Robin Hood stole from the rich to help the needy. As bad as it was I had two option, either steal food until I can find a real job, or watch my family wither away. That’s why I’m here now. This isn’t what I wanted, this is the life I was forced into. I know you have to call the cops, just please whatever you do keep my family out of it. They deserve better than me anyway. (Pause) What?! Your giving me this? But... but... this is ten thousand dollars, your just giving me this? (Crying) Thank you, from the bottom of my heart thank you. Ever since that incident I’ve thought I of myself as unlucky, but now I see I have a loving family and now I can support them. Thank you.