A good friend
by: Osamah Elhams
Hidden in the fine ink of the pages, a cultural collision takes place. Such a collision can call a character’s sense of identity out to question. In this case, it would be the uniqueness of a young white adolescent born in the deep Confederate south. The name of this fictional character is Huckleberry Finn. In this particular novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the main characters, Huckleberry and Jim are in a constant moral battle between right and wrong. Discreetly escaping the Confederate territory, Huckleberry Finn, referred to as “Huck” in the story, finds a wooden raft drifting along the Mississippi river; they commence on a long journey through the Deep South and encounter many dilemmas along the way.
Huckleberry is interpreted as a courageous, vigilant and a brilliant young character in the story. Huck always takes the initiative. He is very rebellious against the Confederacy and sees the idea of slavery in a different light. Jim is much older than Huck and is of African descent; a slave who is always anxious to leave the horrible South behind and wants to set forth to freedom. Huckleberry Finn want to help Jim seek freedom from the Southern Slave laws, despite the fact that he is violating the law. The entire story is evidence of this. When huck frightens way the pursuing slave hunters as Jim cowers in a small shack. Later on towards the end of the story, they encounter the two con artists, the Duke and the Dauphin. Hackberry justifies the behavior of the Duke and the Dauphin by stating that history has shown that nobles often lie, cheat and steal. Even so, Huck rescues the Wilks sisters from becoming victims of the Duke and the Dauphin. There are some situations when Huck is always rescuing Jim for whatever reason.
In the story, Huck resists being as he calls it, “sivilized”. Widow Douglas is kind of like Huck’s tutor. Despite her best efforts, Huck rejects her influence and teachings. He runs away from the Widow Douglas who tries to give him a Sunday school education. Huck and his extremely abusive and drunken father don’t have a normal father to son relationship. Feeling extreme hatred for his father, Huck runs away from his only family, Pap, his alcoholic father. He also lies to the Phelps family, in the novel, about being Tom Sawyer so that he can help help set his friend Jim free. Once Jim realizes he’s a free man, Huckleberry decides to head West instead of staying with Aunt Sally and rejoin the society.
Jim, the slave, violates the slave laws in the South by becoming “a runaway slave”. Jim hates living and working under horrible conditions in the South and is wants to begin a new peaceful life with his family. He does not want to be sold off and separated from his family so he befriends Huckleberry. He shelters Huck Finn in an attempt to help him hide from his loathsome father, Pap. He doesn’t reveal to Huckleberry the fact that that the dead body they found in the shack was really his dad’s corpse. When they encountered the two con artists, Jim goes along with the dishonest antics of the Duke and Dauphin because he is afraid that they might turn him over to the authorities as a “runaway slave”. Even thought he risked being captured, Jim returns to help Tom after he takes a bullet to the leg during the escape attempt.
In conclusion, this essay exemplifies the constant moral battle between right and wrong that these characters encounter throughout the novel. Every single walk of life is a constant battle of morality for Jim and Huck but goodness prevails.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Blog #11: Questions for Media Saves the BEach
My three questions for media saves the beach are following...
1. How does polluted water effect sea animals?
I thought of this, because it is important that we have to keep or beaches clean.
2. What is being done by local authorities deter the water pollution?
We need to know what the local authorities are doing to help prevent water pollution. In what ways will they prevent water pollution.
3. What creative ways can the youth contribute?
I think it is important that the children should learn about what is currently going on in our society. Colleges like to see activities being done outside of school. They want to see that you have participated in important activities with the public.
1. How does polluted water effect sea animals?
I thought of this, because it is important that we have to keep or beaches clean.
2. What is being done by local authorities deter the water pollution?
We need to know what the local authorities are doing to help prevent water pollution. In what ways will they prevent water pollution.
3. What creative ways can the youth contribute?
I think it is important that the children should learn about what is currently going on in our society. Colleges like to see activities being done outside of school. They want to see that you have participated in important activities with the public.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Honors history writing (final draft)
A “Modern” America
By Osamah Elhams
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”, argued the 16th President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, pointing out that when a state secedes from the Union then the Union cannot stand. I certainly must take a stand. If it hadn’t been for the Civil War; a reflection of past governmental conflicts, a new “modern” America would not exist. The United States was once torn asunder, like a cataclysmic event, by the Union and Confederacy in 1861 before the Civil War. Slavery in the South was vigorously supported because southern society was mainly agricultural. The north was fighting not to save the old Union but to create a new nation. As many as half a million slaves fled to the union side from the south. Equality was meaningless before “modern” America. Political leaders had to rise up and advocate the principles of equality for all.
Historical people like Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, and President Barrack Obama have enormously strengthened the African American society. Martin Luther King stressed the importance of equality and Americans had a new vision of America through his writings. Obama, half white and half black, was elected by America to become its first black President and that has brought down many racial barriers. His inauguration brightened the minds of many Americans by allowing a diverse President into office. If it hadn’t been for the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves wouldn’t be free men and women. If this proclamation had never been implemented, then someone like Barack Obama would never been elected. If the supporters of the Confederate states could have seen future events unfold as they have, they would have been angry. Obama’s inspirational story has made people believe in equality for all in America. This is proof that the Civil War created revolutionary changes for slaves in the South. Just as early American colonists were trying to overthrow British rule during the Revolutionary War, so too were Southern slaves trying to overthrow the tyranny of the white man.
The country remained whole in spite of the attempt by the Confederate states to tear the Union in half and secede from the United States of America. After the war, the states of the Confederacy were restored to the Union. A shattered country was rebuilt. Together, both black and white men remade America even better than before. President Lincoln pardoned many elite Confederate leaders in the hopes of unifying the nation. After Lincoln’s death, President Johnson demanded that the Confederate States ratify the proposed Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. Black men who were once considered slaves were now able to own land and prosper. Eventually, these new freedoms lead the way for many to get an education and be given the right to vote. In the beginning some states imposed “Black Codes”. These “Black Codes” were meant to put a limit on the individual rights of black men. After the Civil War many black men who had been freed wanted legal names and their marriages to be legalized. Newly freed, some black families became sharecroppers and shared profits of their crops with white land owners.
“Modern America” is now a product of what happened as the result of the Civil War that brought about enormous changes for its citizens. The idea of slavery in “modern America” is not acceptable. America still has conflicts erupting. There are still some advocates of slavery living in the South, individuals who are proud to wave the Confederate flag and challenge the freedoms of African Americans. “Modern America” is completely diverse. African Americans are able to achieve more than ever before. Now, they are no limitations to what they can do. Achieving the pivotal role of the President of the United States just shows how far African Americans have come since the days of the Civil War. Now all United States citizens are able to enjoy the same inalienable rights that were not guaranteed to all before the Civil War. Rights like access to courts, education, the right to own land and the right to vote. Martin Luther king’s dreams of America with equal rights for all, has come one step closer to becoming a reality. Unfortunately, Martin Luther king did not live to see his dream come true.
Through his role as leader of the greatest nation on earth, Barack Obama, has made every attempt to appoint and recruit persons of all diverse backgrounds to serve in the Judiciary and other influential government positions. His recent appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor is evidence of this. He also appointed the first African American to the position of Attorney General. People of all nations have witnessed first- hand how the policies created to protect the rights of black men after the Civil War has become reality. (Epilogue)
By Osamah Elhams
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”, argued the 16th President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, pointing out that when a state secedes from the Union then the Union cannot stand. I certainly must take a stand. If it hadn’t been for the Civil War; a reflection of past governmental conflicts, a new “modern” America would not exist. The United States was once torn asunder, like a cataclysmic event, by the Union and Confederacy in 1861 before the Civil War. Slavery in the South was vigorously supported because southern society was mainly agricultural. The north was fighting not to save the old Union but to create a new nation. As many as half a million slaves fled to the union side from the south. Equality was meaningless before “modern” America. Political leaders had to rise up and advocate the principles of equality for all.
Historical people like Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, and President Barrack Obama have enormously strengthened the African American society. Martin Luther King stressed the importance of equality and Americans had a new vision of America through his writings. Obama, half white and half black, was elected by America to become its first black President and that has brought down many racial barriers. His inauguration brightened the minds of many Americans by allowing a diverse President into office. If it hadn’t been for the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves wouldn’t be free men and women. If this proclamation had never been implemented, then someone like Barack Obama would never been elected. If the supporters of the Confederate states could have seen future events unfold as they have, they would have been angry. Obama’s inspirational story has made people believe in equality for all in America. This is proof that the Civil War created revolutionary changes for slaves in the South. Just as early American colonists were trying to overthrow British rule during the Revolutionary War, so too were Southern slaves trying to overthrow the tyranny of the white man.
The country remained whole in spite of the attempt by the Confederate states to tear the Union in half and secede from the United States of America. After the war, the states of the Confederacy were restored to the Union. A shattered country was rebuilt. Together, both black and white men remade America even better than before. President Lincoln pardoned many elite Confederate leaders in the hopes of unifying the nation. After Lincoln’s death, President Johnson demanded that the Confederate States ratify the proposed Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. Black men who were once considered slaves were now able to own land and prosper. Eventually, these new freedoms lead the way for many to get an education and be given the right to vote. In the beginning some states imposed “Black Codes”. These “Black Codes” were meant to put a limit on the individual rights of black men. After the Civil War many black men who had been freed wanted legal names and their marriages to be legalized. Newly freed, some black families became sharecroppers and shared profits of their crops with white land owners.
“Modern America” is now a product of what happened as the result of the Civil War that brought about enormous changes for its citizens. The idea of slavery in “modern America” is not acceptable. America still has conflicts erupting. There are still some advocates of slavery living in the South, individuals who are proud to wave the Confederate flag and challenge the freedoms of African Americans. “Modern America” is completely diverse. African Americans are able to achieve more than ever before. Now, they are no limitations to what they can do. Achieving the pivotal role of the President of the United States just shows how far African Americans have come since the days of the Civil War. Now all United States citizens are able to enjoy the same inalienable rights that were not guaranteed to all before the Civil War. Rights like access to courts, education, the right to own land and the right to vote. Martin Luther king’s dreams of America with equal rights for all, has come one step closer to becoming a reality. Unfortunately, Martin Luther king did not live to see his dream come true.
Through his role as leader of the greatest nation on earth, Barack Obama, has made every attempt to appoint and recruit persons of all diverse backgrounds to serve in the Judiciary and other influential government positions. His recent appointment of Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor is evidence of this. He also appointed the first African American to the position of Attorney General. People of all nations have witnessed first- hand how the policies created to protect the rights of black men after the Civil War has become reality. (Epilogue)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Blog #10: Reconstruction
The reconstruction era post-Civil war began in 1865 and ended in 1877. Everything from policies being implemented to the abolishment of slavery. Essentially, creating a new America.
Technically, the Civil War ended in 1865. Factions like Red Shirts and other hate groups began to form. These types of people are anti-government and want to implement their own policies. The KKK are the remnants of the confederacy. These remaining members of the confederacy are split up into groups and are considered paramilitary groups.
Essentially, reconstructing America and amending the U.S constitution. The idea of slavery was abolished when the emancipation proclamation was in effect.
There is an organization known as the Southern poverty law center. They battle against paramilitary groups; that try to discriminate against black citizens that were freed after the civil war and were given full legal rights after the reconstruction era. Whenever their is a southern poverty law victory, they take away the funding of some of these hate groups so that they can no longer operate, recruit new members to support their cause and spew their hatred.
Reuters New Service, Feb-26, 2009. Southern Poverty Law Center; hate group numbers up by 54% since 2000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS222404+26-Feb-2009+PRN20090226
Technically, the Civil War ended in 1865. Factions like Red Shirts and other hate groups began to form. These types of people are anti-government and want to implement their own policies. The KKK are the remnants of the confederacy. These remaining members of the confederacy are split up into groups and are considered paramilitary groups.
Essentially, reconstructing America and amending the U.S constitution. The idea of slavery was abolished when the emancipation proclamation was in effect.
There is an organization known as the Southern poverty law center. They battle against paramilitary groups; that try to discriminate against black citizens that were freed after the civil war and were given full legal rights after the reconstruction era. Whenever their is a southern poverty law victory, they take away the funding of some of these hate groups so that they can no longer operate, recruit new members to support their cause and spew their hatred.
Reuters New Service, Feb-26, 2009. Southern Poverty Law Center; hate group numbers up by 54% since 2000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS222404+26-Feb-2009+PRN20090226
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Blog #9: Media saves the beach 2
Last year, for one world week, I was with a beach clean up crew with Chris Wakefield. We had to scan the beaches for litter. We found so many cigarette butts, bottle caps, bear bottles and etc. We picked up all the trash left on the beach and threw into these plastic bags. Its just terrible how we had to clean up someones else's mess. Think about the wildlife first before you make the wrong decision; littering our beautiful beaches. People should consider throwing away trash into the nearest recycling bins that they can find. One by one, we our saving our earth by keeping it clean.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Blog #8: Media Saves the Beach
For this project, I'm really interested in photography. In middle school, we had this thing called intersession. Mine was photography. I kind of like taking pictures using my creativity. I usually take pictures of random things and do some cool stuff in Photoshop. I don't know but I might just do a picture book or something for this project.
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