What is a classic?

To me, what makes a novel "a classic" is the fact that the story is powerful and moving, which causes the novel to remain relevant throughout time. If a novel came out and was good, but not great, I think the likeness factor would wear off and the book would not stay as popular. With novels such as Wuthering Heights, the stories we call "classics" captured the hearts and minds of people in the time that it first came out, and are still doing the same now. I think books that tell the classic story of struggles between social classes and love can be considered classics because everyone loves a good story that touches their soul. 

Comments 2.0

1. to Danielle W.

Danielle!!
So, I basically agree with everything you said. It doesn't matter if someone was born into a family or taken in. As long as they are around people who love them and care for them, then they ARE part of that family. Also, I also think that it is completely selfish and horrible to marry someone for what is in their wallets, and not what's in their hearts (wowowow that was completely cheesy). Woman should marry whomever they want because they'll just be happier in the long run.

2. to Alyssa S.

Alyssa!!

First of all, I would like to say that I am so sorry that you had to go through something as painful as that. I have also experienced fall outs with friends and I know how much it hurts. Second, I completely agree with what you have to say. The betrayal of childhood friends can be the most painful betrayal of all. Hopefully, kids will begin to realize that they don't necessarily need one best friend, but maybe a few good friends that he/she can trust.

3. to Isabel

woahh..
you're story kinda freaked me out a little bit. My mom is really into those paranormal shows on t.v., so I sometimes watch them with her, but I never actually believed that any of it was really happening. Now, knowing that someone I know has had encounters with ghosts, I'm not so sure that I'll be able to watch them anymore without getting scared (because I'm a baby when it comes to scary stories). Anyway, about your rich vs. poor subject, I also agree. I think that many women would love to be someone who loves them for who they are, but the thought of someone with more money is more appealing. I don't think that all women are that way, but I think, even if it's subconsciously, that wealth plays a factor in relationships.

Wuthering Heights: Anticipation Guide

While answering these questions, one of them really caught my eye. When I came upon the statement that childhood friends are the most loyal, it made me think about my childhood friends and about how they weren't always there for me. Of course I disagreed with the statement, but it really made me think about my best friends from when I was younger, most of whom I don't even speak to anymore. I have to tell you that I am a very vulnerable, gullible person, and my friends knew it. I would often be misled into believing stories that I should have known would only make our friendship weaker. Sometimes they "forgot" to invite me to a birthday party, or they invited me and acted like I was just someone who was forced to go, but not initially invited. One friend, (from another town) in order to gain popularity status with her friends, decided to prank call me. At this time, me and another best friend were starting to get more distant, it was breaking me in every way possible. My other friend, let's call her Jane, knew about the situation and how much it hurt me. I thought I could trust her with my life, but she proved me wrong when her and her friends pretended to be my old friend, and we'll call her Mary, on the phone. They made me believe that Mary missed me and wanted to hang out. I ended up making a fool out of myself, because I later called Mary and she acted like we were never friends and she would never want to hang out with me. After that day, we didn't talk much. I forgave her, but it just wasn't the same. We haven't spoken in 4 years now. Jane was my absolute best friend, we went to the same pre-school together, automatically becoming best friends. We went to dance lessons together for 3 years, our parents were friends, we both and little sisters. It seemed like we would be best friends forever, however, she was the one friends that ended up betraying me the most. The whole point of this story was to prove that even the best childhood friends can grow up to hurt you. I don't think it happens with all childhood friends, but I think we would be jumping to conclusions if we said that all friends that you grow up with are the most loyal.

My Comments to Others

1.    (Shelby D) I agree, people tend to take every little thing and create an uproar from it. It's really interesting that you remembered hearing about the broadcast from Orson Welles when you read through that section of the book. Although I don't think I personally heard that quote, I do remember someone talking about it. Anyway, I agree that because of their reactions, citizens from all different places are, in fact, creating more segregation that they will have to later deal with.

P.S. the picture of Miley and Nick made me really happy. They're going to get back together. :]

2.   (Alexa H) I agree that it was such a selfless gesture for Ella to hand over her money to Malcolm. It's truly amazing that someone can give something that he/she's worked so hard on getting to another person to see him/her succeed. The fact that Ella gave her money up for someone else to take her place on the trip makes it that more incredible.

3.   (Danielle W) I agree with you when you say that Malcolm's idea that the white man is the devil. Every person is entitled to his or her own opinions, but Malcolm seems to take things a little too far sometimes. Malcolm and other blacks have the right to be angry with the way they were treated, but Malcolm puts the idea that we are all acting against God and should be punished for it into the heads of people who can not make up their own minds. Malcolm seems too harsh towards the white race. I feel like his message would have gone better if he had kept his cool, instead of putting such harmful words such as the "devil" onto our race.

4.   (Allison L) Allison! That is such an amazing story, that it makes me want to find out more about my family history. I think it is really important to remember that no matter what you believe in, someone is always watching out for you. Whether you believe in God, or Allah, or you don't believe that there is a God, there is always someone there to lead you down the right path.

Malcolm X Post 5: Racism Right in Front of Us

A couple of days ago in our English Class, we discussed a newspaper comic that showed a monkey being shot of two white police officers. On top of the cartoon, was a derogatory comment regarding our new, black president, Barrack Obama and his position on the economic crisis. Because of racial slurs that have called African Americans "monkeys" before our president was elected, many have taken this terrible cartoon to heart. 

Being a natural blonde, I understand how much stereotypes and rude comments hurt. Blondes are often called "dumb blondes". The idea that just because our hair color is different means we can not live up to the intelligence of a brunette or redhead is disrespectful and inaccurate. I'm sure people don't realize it but after figures such as Dolly Parton and Marilyn Monroe, blondes are also thought of as sex-symbols, nothing more. To be thought of as a woman with no other importance but to stand there and look pretty is unjust to those of us who defy these so called "typical blondes". Although I do not receive as much discrimination as someone with black skin, I can partially understand the frustration and anger that goes through their heads when a racial comment or stereotype is directed towards him.

The newspaper that published it, The New York Post, says that the cartoon did not relate to our president, but a comedic event that took place a few days before. They claimed it to be about a woman from Connecticut who had raised a chimpanzee but had a dangerous encounter with him that did not end well. What bothers me is the fact that they are doing so poorly a job at hiding the true meaning of the cartoon. Obviously, we can tell that the cartoon was not just about the chimp incident because of the caption on the top. There is not doubt that the caption, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next Stimulus Bill," is about our current economic crisis. How could that possibly relate to a chimpanzee attack? At what about the actual picture? Two white police officers shooting at a monkey, which was also cruel slang referring to a Black man? It just doesn't make sense to me that they could get away with something as horrible as this.

My guess is that they had been wanting to get their word out for sometime and when this incident left a door open for them, they walked right into it. This chimpanzee problem, that made world news, gave the publishers and cartoonists a way to get their point across and not allowing them to get punished for it. This was the perfect opportunity for them to make a fool of our president in a way that would not harm them.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/19/chimp.cartoon.react/

As CNN is reporting, this cartoon has earned a 9 on a scale of 1-10 for being dangerous. Considering the Stimulus Bill was Barack Obama's first victory as president, the cartoon can only be seen as poking fun at Obama. 

Malcolm X Post 4: Harlem Trip

Being able to visit the many historical places in Harlem was truly an inspirational and fun experience. One thing that really stuck out to me though, was when our tour guide began to talk to us about the public's general idea of Harlem. He started to explain to us that people were usually scared to walk into Harlem because of the wrong movie portrayals and negative feedback on the area. He seemed to be really hurt by this and it was obvious that such ideas have been created due to Harlem's past. What made me realize the happiness and pride that he carried was when he proudly exclaimed that the crime rate was rapidly decreasing, and there were few reasons for anyone to be scared to visit the city. I have to admit that entering the city did make me nervous. It was a new place and I was seeing things that, in our safe little town, I normally would not have. 

As journalist Lylah Holmes has written, a young man named Julian Joseph has experienced the lows and the quickly increasing highs of Harlem. 

http://www.lylahholmes.com/2008/02/27/harlem-crime-drops-amid-revival/

This article shows that people are realizing that enough is enough and the crime throughout not only Harlem, but places all around the world.

Malcolm X Post 3: Racial Norms

Being a competitive dancer, I get the chance to travel around Northern New Jersey and to see other teams. At the NJ State competition yesterday, I realized that I was subconsciously allowing myself to believe the racial norm. As a team that was racially diverse took the stage for a hip-hop routine, I automatically assumed that it would be exceptionally good. I have to tell you that I am not a discriminatory person. However, I am so used to seeing music videos and movies with people of all skin colors, besides white, out-shining others in street dance battles or professional competitions. I did not use facts like this in a negative way, all I did was think that an African American team would most likely win because I was sure that they were going to be amazing. Although I can only speak specifically for myself, I know for a fact that I am not the only one to have thought this. I can honestly say that I am disappointed that our generation has been led to believe that only certain people can be good at hip-hop, or that certain people are better in school or sports. 

Because of ideas like that, it is also thought that people of the white race should not do non-white things, like rapping and dancing hip hop. Most people who attempt to have been made fun of; I have personally seen it. People of other races have to face the same thing. People tend to believe that it is not their place to be if it not considered a normal thing for them to do. 

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1093705,00.html

Tah-Nehisi Paul Coates of Time Magazine has gone through something like this. He explains that growing up he wasn't interested in rap or hip hop music like all of his friends were. Instead, he began to like music made by white people; he says that he secretly listened to their music. No one should have to hide what they like or dislike because they are afraid of what others think. Hopefully, people have begun to and will continue to realize this.

Malcolm X Post 2: Barriers in our Social Lives

Although I am not yet finished with the autobiography of Malcolm X, I have concluded that it is one of the few stories that have had such an amazing impact on me. This story has changed my way of thinking about the past and my everyday life. One thing that stood out to me was how surprised Malcolm seemed to be when he was encountering whites in Harlem. I know that peaceful interaction may have been hard to find when Malcolm was growing up, but he  explains it in a way that makes me realize how strained the relationships between blacks and whites really were.  I personally cannot tell if there were a lot of existing relationships, but I know that it was hard to come by. I can honestly say that I am truly grateful that I live in a time where people of two different races can be friends without any suspicions or problems that they would have to encounter. 

Although I know that I do not have to experience the problems that two different races encounter, I know that there are still some people in our country that think it is wrong for people of two different races or ethnic backgrounds to be friends.mI think it is barely attainable to completely destroy the racism amongst people, especially if it is started early in life, like at school. 

http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9215/racism.htm

When I was younger, probably in pre-school, I didn't know much about the differences in races, except maybe we were different colors. My parents are not racist people, and they did not raise me or my siblings that way. However, in a more diverse pre-school, I became aware of these differences when other white kids would tell me that I shouldn't hang out with the other kids. It wasn't just blacks, put children of a bunch of different ethnic backgrounds. An it wasn't because they were mean, or because we didn't like them. It was because we were different. As 3 year olds, we were naive, we didn't understand many things. It was like a boy vs. girl situation. All of us girls thought that boys had cooties and we weren't supposed to touch them or do what they did because we would then get the cooties.  There was nothing wrong with the other children, we just assumed that they didn't want to interact with us either because they could get our cooties. I can't honestly say that I knew it was wrong then, I was too young, but I can tell you that now, I realize how silly and crazy that idea was.

I do not think that a world without prejudice is completely unreachable, I just think that it is going to take a lot of commitment to make it happen and I think people are really going to have to want to change our world. I can only hope that people realize what needs to happen to make our world a better place where all are equal with the same rights and without having to worry about the effects their skin color will have.

Malcolm X Post 1: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Reading this story by Peggy McIntosh made me realize all of the different privilege I, as an individual, receive. I'm not oblivious to the fact that whites are held up higher on the status quo than blacks are in America, but I never would have noticed all of the little things if it weren't for this passage. Little things such as flesh colored bandages. Until this passage, I never realized that the flesh colored bandages were only made for whites, there are no such things as black, flesh colored bandages. To find something like this out is just plain confusing. Whites are not the only people on this world, everyone should think about other races' needs. Just because discrimination isn't as prominent in our lives as it once was does not mean that it doesn't exist. The little things that white people generally wouldn't recognize are probably what other races realize the most. 

After I read this passage, I kept my out for little discriminatory actions that I encountered throughout my day. I was surprised to see how many I could find. Not only was I able to see racial discrimination, but gender discrimination also came up a few times in my day. It's really sad to see that people make racist or gender remarks, but don't realize that they could be hurtful. In lunch, a male friend used to joke and tell another friend to "Make me a sandwich woman!" Although I knew it was a joke, it bothered me to know that he could say something like that and not even feel a little bad about it. I have never personally had someone say that to me, but I know that it would hurt me on the inside. 

I also feel that people who are less outgoing or crazy get the shorter end of the stick in public places such as school. Being a naturally shy and to-myself kind of person, I've never had many advantages in my classes. I notice that some teachers tend to unknowingly separate the class into the more fun, talkative kids, of whom they like to call on, ask for favors, and help more often. Students like me, who may be too self-conscious to speak in front of a class of their peers would probably agree that the help we need is not always given to us, but often handed out to students who make themselves known in that class. 

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/272355/favoritism_in_public_education_the.html?cat=9

In one of my old classes, I realized that my progress report said that I was missing an assignment. The only reason it was missing was because I was absent when it was due. I had the assignment and made the mistake of showing it to my teacher while a more popular student was talking to her. She nodded in acknowledgement that I had the paper but continued to talk to the other student. Our next progress report, I found the same assignment was still missing. My teacher was "too busy" to jot down that I had the assignment and had completely forgotten. My whole grade was affected because she was not particularly interested in what I had to say. It really hurt me and made me feel like I was less important or not worthy. After that, I rarely talked in the class because I felt like my opinion didn't matter. 

Ethnic Notions

This video based on racial discrimination was a huge eye-opener to me. I knew that the way certain races were treated was a very horrible thing, but there were some things in this video that I would never have imagined. One thing that not only confused me, but frustrated me was how blacks were portrayed in movies and television shows. Even if the smartest, most proper black man was to be portrayed, the white society would probably have shown them as idiotic and uncivilized. Then, when blacks were allowed to act as themselves in films, they had to make their faces "blacker" by putting soot on them. I don't understand why white filmmakers would make someone who is already black, do that to themselves. I think something like that is very degrading to not only blacks, but all different ethnic races. What disturbed me even more was that the white society had the nerve to discriminate against black children in the ways that they did. Their ideas of the African-American children being dirty and inhuman should not have resulted in pictures of them being eaten by animals such as alligators. These pictures of Black children trying to escape from savage animals should not have existed, and nevertheless should they have been on a postcard. The fact that people would actually buy these and want to send them to others is something that I will never be able to understand. Discrimination against different races and ethnic groups is something that personally makes me sick. Not only was it existent in the past, but it still exists today. Everyday I hear stereotypes being made against Blacks, Mexicans, Asians; it is not okay. I do understand that the white race has privileges that others may not, but just because whites may hold power over them does not give them the right to treat others the way they do. As much as I wish that I could remove these horrible actions, I know that I will never be able to completely remove them. However, I will do my best to keep it out of my personal life and my family's.