5 BLOG JOURNALS OF TATTOOS ON THE HEART

BLOG #1 pg xi-xv
-He talks about how he has never spoke about all he has went through. Basically this book is his own personal storage. I must imagine that this guy has experienced a lot. He must have a lot of stories to tell in this book. He was born in a gang city known as Los Angeles. He acknowledges tattoos in the title Tattoos on the Heart.  He understands that men and women he talks to have had gone through many hardships. The last sentence on pg xv "Perhaps,together, we can teach each otherbeams of love, persons becoming person, right before our eyes.Returned to ourselves"(Boyle xv). This shows that he is dedicated to help these men and women. Also he tells us that this book to guide us to react and face the cold hard modern society.


BLOG #2 pg 49-52
-Kids that live in these poor areas are forced to go to school and sadly they do not learn nothing due to distractions. Most of these distractions are found within what goes on under in a house hold. These children live in very violent areas. A child named Lula showed up with straight F's and he offered him money to help motivate him. Children that live in these harsh enviroments often leads to drug dealing and other gang related activities. Often times these children are taught when they are so young, and instead have the mentality that being in a gang is better than going to school.


-BLOG #3 pg 61-65

-He begins to teach English to Folsom Prision. Its shoking that most or all of the class is a gang member or associate themselves in a gang. It is suprising that his students know what the meaning of "sypmathy","empathy" but not "compassion is. A student raises his hand and says "Compassion is God"(Boyle 62). He is really dedicated to teach these people no matter what type of background they come from. He shows that he is very patient with these people and what he teaches him is from the heart.

BLOG #4 pg 111-113
-He started preaching at Camp Munz. At this Camp it is filled with military personel with all kinds of tattoos. Its ironic to hear how friendly most of these people are. I was expecting the people in this camp to be anything but friendly. I was expecting them to be very rude and uptight. It is quiet facinating to see how he goes to different places to preach. He noticed how most of these tattoos had stories to tell but he didnt judge them by how the looked. If anything he accepted them for who they were.


BLOG #5 pg 188-191

-Kinship is what "we refuse to stop and allow to happen". This preacher says kinship is there goal and he focuses on getting these people off the streets and in working jobs. He says that if these people focus on kinship together in a group, they will be closer to god. He realizes that all of these people on there daily life have commited horrible sins, he still maintains the image to create them in a better society. To give these gang members a better future rather than relying on selling drugs and stolen items. One thing stood out was that "kinship-not serving the other, but being one with the other"(Boyle 188). This shows that its not what we allow to serve others, it is being one with god.

                                                                                                      Aaron Mercado

                                                                                                            04/10/14

                                                                                                            ENG 102        

                                                                                                            deWit

                                                     Midterm Paper

Reality isn't what we think it is. America is suffering from the bad economy that the middle class doesn’t exist on a chart shown in this video called “Wealthy Inequality”. It shows the reality that the well off individuals are at the top and those less fortunate are on the bottom.  People think the ideal America is doing better, but in the book The Rich and the Rest of Us written by Cornel West and Tavis Smiley show how people today are copping in todays society. A story of a couple stood out in the book and how they had to survive paycheck to paycheck and one day forced to eat soup for two weeks because they were laid off. Outsourcing increases unemployment, which causes individuals in the US unable to pay for basic necessities such as taxes, their homes, and assets. Businesses go underwater which create a lack of tax money needed to fund essential needs such as public schooling.

            Unemployment rates have risen within past years. People that have lost their jobs often times didn't receive a college education resulting in them unable to get back into the work force. A majority of those laid off rely on the unemployment check as their only source of income. Obama fails to acknowledge those less fortunate. Since he has been in office he has tried to fight for more jobs within the US, but with the increasing unemployment what evidence shows his success with jobs in America? He's made it difficult for the typical person to obtain health insurance let alone increase the job opportunities in the market. Our tax money should be used to benefit those in our community so they may be able to receive an income instead of areas where aren't as necessary.

            Even those individuals who are unable to receive a steady income they still have the task of paying taxes. In today's society almost everything you buy includes a tax. There are two types of tax one is income tax the other is capital gains tax. Income tax is a percentage taken from an individual's paycheck. Second is capital gains tax, which is for the increase of stock, bonds, and properties. Often times people get excited when getting a tax refund when in reality they are just getting back a percentage of the money the government has taken from their paycheck. For people who fail to file their taxes they are audited. Being audited is when the government takes the amount of money the individual would have paid in taxes. If a person is unable to pay the amount of taxes that they own they have to report to court. The US government could use our tax money in ways that would benefit programs needed in society such as public education and funding for low-income organizations.

The reason society isn't up to certain standards is due to the high rate of students dropping out of school. The low funding for education in California has caused classroom sizes to double or even triple within the past few years. Most low-income families are given very little assistance. Kids are unable to get the proper nutrition even with “free lunch” provided by the school. Teachers are forced to squeeze the entire curriculum into kids brains, with a ratio of forty students to one teacher there is that lack of individual attention needed for those who might be falling behind. Most teachers have determined it would be best for them to leave as soon as possible so they would be able to have just enough for retirement. In the past I had a class with thirty-five students, the teacher had complained to the principal because he wouldn't be able to give the attention necessary for that class. On the second week of school he was given a notice that he would be laid off within the year due to lack of funds to continue his program. Kids may be having a difficult time in school because of large classroom sizes or other may be moving school repeatedly due to the parents having a difficult time keeping up with their mortgage.

The mortgage crisis has increased due to the economy. Most people have lost their homes or businesses due to the increase in jobs loss causing people to not spend as much money. The term “underwater” is used to define an object that has lost its value. For instance, if I were to purchase a home at $300,000 in 2010, in today’s economy the home would be worth $150,000 or less. About 5 to 10 years ago the economy was in good standing making people more willing to make purchases on things that they wanted. People would buy homes and other necessities left and right, due to the recession people have been having a hard time keeping up with payments causing banks to take people's home. It was already difficult for Americans to find a job, and then came the idea of outsourcing.

            With the bad economy many companies have found decided to take their business to other countries where labor is cheap in order to maximize their profit. An example of these countries is Mexico, China and Bangladesh. China is the location where the famous Nike brand outsources their products. What many people do not know is that the individual who made the product is paid very little then the company in turn charges extremely high prices to those buying them in the stores. Apple, for example, has workers in China sadly working in poor working conditions receiving very little in wages. When the public found out about this they started protesting against the mistreatment of those individuals. Walmart as well has done the same with Bangladesh. In April of 2013 there was an explosion of a garment planet located in Bangladesh but the reason wasn't reported. Walmart was so afraid of the public perception so the company paid reporters to prevent the story from leaking out. The company was afraid the negative publicity would affect the sales. If you were to look at the tags of some of the things you bought you'd notice that they wouldn't say made in the US. It is definitely sad to see people working in such poor unsanitary conditions and getting paid cents. All of these big companies say they have labor unions to support these people, but what we don’t know is if we can take their word on it. Disheartening to say but outsourcing is stuck where it is. If one day the big companies decide to bring those jobs back it would create an increase of job opportunities. This is highly doubtful due to the increase in expenses for the company to increase the wages to be up to the standards of the labor union.

            In the “Wealth and Inequality” video it portrays a chart showing the nations wealth. First they illustrate the world’s wealth in total anarchy, then the graph changes as it goes from high to low from the ideal perspective and what we actually think to what the reality of it is. The reality is that the nations wealth is with the top 40%.  The only way to move the wealth from the left to the right is to outsource less resulting in more jobs, which can create a source of revenue for the economy. With the increase of jobs people would be able to work again and thus have the ability to pay for their taxes. As Americans we need to push and strive for funding in education because they are the future of America.

I'm Fearless!

                                                                                                            Aaron Mercado

                                                                                                               03/07/14

                                                                                                              ENG 102

                                                            I’m Fearless!

                        Have you ever thought about chasing a dream? What stopped you? Fear? Well in The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian written by Sherman Alexie, a young fellow named Arnold Spirit with a nickname “Junior” who grew up on an Indian reservation that turned his life around after making big changes by using his cartoons drawings to express how he is adapting to a new school and stepping out side of his comfort zone with his social life.  Although, he got nervous and puked everywhere he still managed to get through life with the help of family and friends. Arnold is proven fearless by showing his willingness to stay afloat after experiencing tragedies and achieving goals that not many Indians have opportunities to do.

Arnold achieved many goals, which were so risky that he could have been kicked out and disowned by his reservation! He had transferred to a school exactly twenty-two miles from his home.  After a influencial talk with his former teacher, Mr. P. said, “you’re a bright and shinning star, He said.” You’re the smartest kid in school and I don’t want you to fail. I don’t want you to fade away. You deserve better (Alexie 40).””  Arnold began thinking about his future and the consequences of his actions. Reardan displayed his way of adapting to a “Majority White” school. This is where he instantly fell in love with a girl name Penelope. Arnold had met Penelope when he first walked into his homeroom and introduced himself as “Junior” because that is what he is known as at his reservation. Although, Penelope had “accused me of telling her my real name. Well, okay, it wasn’t completely my real name. My full name is Arnold Spirit Jr.” (Alexie 60).  He had gotten so used to being called Junior that he introduces himself as Junior. Arnold thought it would be weird if they found out his real name. When Penelope and Arnold started talking she “had publicly declared that I was cute enough to ALMOST date”(Alexie 110). This publicity gave Arnold more confidence in his way of looking just like his drawing where he is split in between a white and Indian person where it compares the difference of a white person with a “bright future and an Indian with a vanishing past”(Alexie 57).  Arnold has definitely started to step outside of his social comfort zone to be able to transfer schools and meet the girl of his dreams.

Although the death of Mary his sister and his fathers friend Eugene were dreary; the death of his Grandmother changed his perspective in life and made him do things that he always wanted to do when we younger but feared to do. Before Arnold’s grandmother passed away her last words were “Forgive Him!”(Alexie 157) Arnold was “so depressed that I thought about dropping out of Reardan”(Alexie 173). He couldn’t handle it at one point but realize that his grandmother was trying to leave a legacy of forgiveness since most of the tribe doesn't believe in forgiving.  Arnold couldn’t believe that his “grandmothers last act on earth was a call for forgiveness, love, tolerance”(Alexie 157).  At this point as much as the tribe wanted to prosecute the drunk driver that had run over Arnold Spirit’s grandmother, they had to honor her dying wish. He had trouble grieving this whole process till he came back to school. One of his good friends from Reardan named Gordy defended Arnold as was called out by his teacher Mrs. Jeremy as “she said. ‘We have a special guest today. It’s Arnold Spirit”’(Alexie 175). This was very rude comment to put Arnold on blast, and the teacher should have known better to not say that. His “classmates walked out of the room”(Alexie 175). They showed how much they cared about Arnold by leaving class and proving that the teacher is wrong for putting a student on blast. Although, it was different for Arnold at Wellpinit.

Back at Wellpinit, Arnold’s old school he made best friends with one of the bullies named Rowdy. Once Arnold transferred to Reardan, Rowdy thought he betrayed him since he moved. They finally faced each other in a basketball game. Arnold knew that Rowdy is taller and quicker but it didn’t stop him because he knew he could beat them. Arnold said he “felt like one of those Indian scouts who led the U.S. cavalry against other Indians. But that was okay, I guess. I wanted to win. I wanted revenge. I wasn’t playing for fans. I wasn’t playing for white people. I was playing to beat Rowdy”(Alexie 182,183).  Arnold wanted revenge from Rowdy from that last injury Rowdy gave him. Arnold said, ‘’“Rowdy smirked at me as I took my postion next to him.-‘‘I’m guarding  you’ I said.  You can’t stop me. I’ve been kicking your ass for fourteen years,” not tonight I said.“ Tonight’s my night”’’(Alexie 191). Arnold meant every word and he knew that Rowdy “wanted to humiliate us on the opening play. After Arnold faced Rowdy in that basketball game Arnold had stepped outside of his comfort zone. Arnold is willing to do thinks like skip school.

Arnold values family over school, although school is very important family comes first. Arnold drawings named “Why I did actually miss a lot of school…1) wakes and funerals 2) Couldn’t find a ride. 3) No money in the house. 4) Mom wanted me to stay home because she was scared 5) Mom and I had to go search for my father so could bring him home and keep him safe”(Alexie 174).  It is that that Arnold can’t go to school because of no transportation. In another drawing he writes, “Junior gets to school. MON) No gas money. TUES) Gas money; car isn’t running WED) Dad gives me a ride; car breaks down 1 mile from school. I walk and get to school 30 mins. Late.  THURS) Mom gives me a ride; Dad too hung-over. How he would get transportation. FRI) no gas money; nobody stops to pick me up NEXT WEEK: start over but in a different order)!” (Alexie 88).  This shows that Arnold goes through so much hassle just to get to school. His motivation and courage leads him in a way to not to be submerged in life.  Arnold loves to go to school but has trouble due to not having any money or way of getting to school.

 Arnold Spirit is fearful for their death of climbing tall trees with his best friend Rowdy. They knew it would be dangerous but also knew that it would be such a sight to see at the top of the trees. They did not let fear get in the way of it so “I spit on my hands, rubbed them together, and reached up for the first branch. I pulled myself up to the next branch. And then the next and next and the next. Rowdy followed me. Branch by branch, Rowdy and I climbed toward the top of the tree, to the bottom of the sky”(Alexie 225).  Arnold was at first doubtful of Rowdy and his ability to climb trees, but it was all worth once they were close to the top. Once they were “near the top the branches got thinner and thinner. I wondered if they’d support our weight. I kept expecting one of them to snap and send me plummeting to my death. But it didn’t happen. The branches did not break”(Alexie 226). They were expecting to die and get really injured; no matter what the cause Arnold trusted the tree and his best friend.

                        Arnold will forever be an inspirational character that will inspire young minds. Its from puking all over places, climbing trees, playing basketball and all sorts of things that went on in his life. At the end of the day Arnold Spirit Junior knew that he was who, he was but he also knew that he or anyone he knows can follow their dreams no matter how much fear stops them he shows that if he can do it, they can do it as well.  Junior has proved that fear cannot stop him from presenting his eagerness to stay afloat after experiencing tragedies and achieving goals that not many Indians have opportunities to do.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               WORKS CITED

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York:

Hachette Book Group, 2007. Print

RE: SAMPLE PAPER 3

            I believe that sample paper 3 is best of the three papers. It starts off with a strong hook and ends with a supportive thesis, which keeps you to interested in what the writer is going to say.  This paper has well-developed paragraphs that leads in and leads out when it’s supposed to.  Although, they are well developed they could use a little more juicing! When I say, “juicing” I mean more explanation to the writers points. This paper is written very well and is understandable. The writer needs to fix his citation. Rather than (Alexie ,6) its just (Alexie 6) without a comma. This paper is pretty persuasive as far supporting the writer’s thesis. The writer argues his point of view correctly. The first paragraph after the introduction, could use a lot more evidence. The writer clearly understands how to lead out with explaination. this paper was written very thoroughly but I believe it has a little more work to put in. This person that wrote this has read the book to know it well and explain his thesis throughout the paper, which is great. Their conclusion made you want to read more.