Paper Friends
The world to me had always been two distinct dull colors for as long as I can recall. Exciting things were rare, as I never ventured outside my confined work area where I felt the safest. I indulged myself in reading coutnless novels, lying to myself telling myself that one it would pay off. However, those lies became the turth upon meeting Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D Salinger and Gene Forrester from "A Separate Peace" By John Knowles. Getting to know them through the pages, they added colors into my life, made me something other than a studious child, and cahnged the views I had about the World.
Much like Gene, studying and academically excelling was not only a skill I naturally had, but also it was a false passion. Nothing in the world meant more to me than studying and getting satisfying grades. However, the 95's and 100's seemed to be only a filled that easily went away, and left me feeling empty yet again. Gene was the same but as I got to know him through the pages and see how he developed from that nerdy kid to something with Athletic talent. I figured out that I don't need to be chained to a life of books and solitude. That I too, amd able to break free from the chains that hold me down. I began to get more active in after school activites, and found myself enjoying the experience I neglected myself from having for a long time. I became more friendly and even smiled more. Even physical education became an enjoyment that I waited for rather than tried to avoid.
A character's influence, such as Holden, had such a positive affect, that it is able to change your views on yourself, muhc like he had on me. As a longer, I felt that no one knew what was going through my mind. No one knew how I functioned or my personality, because I was so hidden away. However, Holden changed that for me. After finishing Catcher in the Rye, I realized something extremely important. And that is: I am not alone. I've learned so much from Holden, and have great respect for the fictional character. I've learned that I'm not the only one that cuts off sentences, or asks questions that don't really have an answer to them, but still wonders about it. Moreover, he has also taughth me to have a strong exterior becuse not everyone in the world is going to look out for you. That you have to be cynical and stand your ground for the reight purposes, and most importantly, to love you family as much as hge loved his little siblings.
To this day, I take what I learned from Gene Forrester and Holden Caulfied to heart. I try my best not to lose the lessons I've learned from them and to not forget how positively they both affected my life. It's because of them I've become a better person. A more rounded person.A person that stand up for what is right. A person that is able to balance out studies and other activites. A person that is outspoken. A person that is capable of going above and beyond. Thank you, Holden and Gene.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Poem. Kevin Toscano & Juanita.
Stupidity
People say America is just so wonderful and a jubilate place.
But some administrations discredit the value of the country.
Past and present Government Officials doing things behind our backs, taking us for chumps.
The suppose 'War on Terror' is so deplore.
Stupefying little kids as to it's actually purpose.
So many people censure the already lost Iraqi War, but the Government doesn't listen.
Stupidity of the Government.
The world we know has gone through many changes.
Bloodshed marks our history; perpetual fighting between ourselves.
Instead of making friends with one another, we suppressed each other.
Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini lauding their people; believing them supreme.
Genocide of the Jewish people, and domination of the Aryan race.
American's, European's, Hispanic's, Asian's.
We don't live in a homogeneous world, but we can stop our hatred.
Stupidity of the Leaders.
Living a long and healthy life can be done.
But smoking, AIDs, driving and global warming nullifies it.
Destruction of the Earth, as if it was our playground.
Gas pollution from cars and spontaneous death relating to deleterious toxic.
People oblivion to recycling, crippling our o-zone.
An incessant number of oddities, happening around us.
Stupidity of the people.
Children are born good, just made demonic.
Small words and phases, which are hackneyed, and seem cute.
Replicas of their parents when they were young.
Smoking, drinking and drugs entangle their minds as they grow.
Ironically finding it cool because the television shows it.
Troublesome children; household becomes discordant, stability crumbles.
Stupidity of the media.
Humans walking so nonchalant, unaware of what is dying around them.
Black and White Pandas, Green Turtles and ferrets dying out.
The incontrovertible truth that one day soon we won’t see them anymore.
Shooting rings, and animals killing for fun.
Hanging the head of the hunted on the walls.
Oh how ostentatious to them.
Stupidity of the Gun users.
Peace and harmony; international laws.
Be perceptive of other races and their cultures and to venerate.
Crack down on drugs dealers.
Embellish the harm it can do to ones self.
Eco-friendly fuel for cars.
Supervision of the people of the future.
Animal protection rights, preservation centers, and awareness.
Amicable of everyone.
People say America is just so wonderful and a jubilate place.
But some administrations discredit the value of the country.
Past and present Government Officials doing things behind our backs, taking us for chumps.
The suppose 'War on Terror' is so deplore.
Stupefying little kids as to it's actually purpose.
So many people censure the already lost Iraqi War, but the Government doesn't listen.
Stupidity of the Government.
The world we know has gone through many changes.
Bloodshed marks our history; perpetual fighting between ourselves.
Instead of making friends with one another, we suppressed each other.
Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini lauding their people; believing them supreme.
Genocide of the Jewish people, and domination of the Aryan race.
American's, European's, Hispanic's, Asian's.
We don't live in a homogeneous world, but we can stop our hatred.
Stupidity of the Leaders.
Living a long and healthy life can be done.
But smoking, AIDs, driving and global warming nullifies it.
Destruction of the Earth, as if it was our playground.
Gas pollution from cars and spontaneous death relating to deleterious toxic.
People oblivion to recycling, crippling our o-zone.
An incessant number of oddities, happening around us.
Stupidity of the people.
Children are born good, just made demonic.
Small words and phases, which are hackneyed, and seem cute.
Replicas of their parents when they were young.
Smoking, drinking and drugs entangle their minds as they grow.
Ironically finding it cool because the television shows it.
Troublesome children; household becomes discordant, stability crumbles.
Stupidity of the media.
Humans walking so nonchalant, unaware of what is dying around them.
Black and White Pandas, Green Turtles and ferrets dying out.
The incontrovertible truth that one day soon we won’t see them anymore.
Shooting rings, and animals killing for fun.
Hanging the head of the hunted on the walls.
Oh how ostentatious to them.
Stupidity of the Gun users.
Peace and harmony; international laws.
Be perceptive of other races and their cultures and to venerate.
Crack down on drugs dealers.
Embellish the harm it can do to ones self.
Eco-friendly fuel for cars.
Supervision of the people of the future.
Animal protection rights, preservation centers, and awareness.
Amicable of everyone.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Speech on Geronimo
Information Technology High School
Kevin Toscano
April 8, 2008
Ms. Hyde.
English 6
Speech - Geronimo
Late one afternoon when returning from town we were met by a few women and children who told us that Mexican troops from some other town had attacked our camp, killed all the warriors of the guard, captured all our ponies, secured our arms, destroyed our supplies, and killed many of our women and children. I was confused. How could this have happened, and why our land? I didn’t know what we did wrong. However, I found out that my aged mother, my young wife, and my three small children were among the slain. My tribe did nothing to deserve this treatment. However, there were only eighty warriors left, and as we were without arms or supplies, and were furthermore surrounded by the Mexicans we could have done nothing. So, our Chief gave the order to return to our homes in Arizona, leaving the dead upon the field. At my tepee, there were memories of my family. Little toys which our children played with, and tiny objects that reminded me of my wife. I burned them all, even our tepee. I also burned my mother's tepee and destroyed all her property. I was never again contented in our quiet home. How could I? My family was brutally murdered in vain. They were supposed to live. Have healthy long lives. But no, Mexican troops didn’t think of that, and just killed them. We are people as well! People with feelings, hopes and dream. They had no right to take that from us!
http://www.nativeamericans.com/GeronimoHOS2.htm
Kevin Toscano
April 8, 2008
Ms. Hyde.
English 6
Speech - Geronimo
Late one afternoon when returning from town we were met by a few women and children who told us that Mexican troops from some other town had attacked our camp, killed all the warriors of the guard, captured all our ponies, secured our arms, destroyed our supplies, and killed many of our women and children. I was confused. How could this have happened, and why our land? I didn’t know what we did wrong. However, I found out that my aged mother, my young wife, and my three small children were among the slain. My tribe did nothing to deserve this treatment. However, there were only eighty warriors left, and as we were without arms or supplies, and were furthermore surrounded by the Mexicans we could have done nothing. So, our Chief gave the order to return to our homes in Arizona, leaving the dead upon the field. At my tepee, there were memories of my family. Little toys which our children played with, and tiny objects that reminded me of my wife. I burned them all, even our tepee. I also burned my mother's tepee and destroyed all her property. I was never again contented in our quiet home. How could I? My family was brutally murdered in vain. They were supposed to live. Have healthy long lives. But no, Mexican troops didn’t think of that, and just killed them. We are people as well! People with feelings, hopes and dream. They had no right to take that from us!
http://www.nativeamericans.com/GeronimoHOS2.htm
Power Point for Geronimo
Geronimo: A Great Native American
By: Kevin Toscano
Ambitions:
Bibliographgy/Sources:
By: Kevin Toscano
Ambitions:
- One of Geronimo's ambition was to get revenge for his family, who were slain pointlessly. Get the Mexicans and then the United States off the Native American's land.
- To be returned home after he died a Prisoner of War.
- For the Mexican’s and United State’s respect his people and the culture.
- Geronimo was the leader of the last Indian fighting force.
- Raided multiple Mexican Settlements.
- He became a famous Apache for fighting the United States against the odds.
- The Apaches believed that Geronimo had the qualities that were important to be a true Apache such as aggressiveness and courage.
- A military leader.
- Never gave up for his people, and always went against the Governments trying to take over his people's land.
- Stood up for his fellow Native Americans because the United States Government was unfair, dangerous and were taking there land.
- Killed many Mexican’s to show that his people weren’t weak.
- Has a book named “Geronimo: His own Story” where he talk about his life. And how bad Native Americans were treated.
Bibliographgy/Sources:
- First Picture: http://www.indigenouspeople.net/images/geronimo10.jpg
- http://www.indians.org/welker/geronimo.htm
- http://www.bookrags.com/biography/geronimo/
- http://www.nativeamericans.com/Geronimo.htm#Origins%20of%20the%20Apache%20Indians
- Second and Third Picture: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/american-indians/pictures/apache/geronimo.jpg and http://www.sonofthesouth.net/american-indians/pictures/apache/geronimo_small.jpg
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Excerpt: Cheif Joseph.
How is the art of rhetoric evident in Chief Joseph’s speech?
The art of rhetoric is evident in Chief Joseph's speech because of the simple fact that he wanted to make the U.S Government back off of there land. He used his words carefully and in a way to persuade the U.S Government.
Who is he addressing in this speech?
In his speech Chief Joesph is addressing the White people that were taking there lands by force, even though the Indians were there first. He is also addressing the Government.
Who is he indicting and why?
He was indicting the Government of the United States, for taking there land unfairly and kicking them off and no respecting Indian beliefs. He was probably also talking to his own people for signing the treaty and not protecting mother Earth like they should have.
Identify any heroic characteristics?
There were many heroic characteristic, especially in in Chief Joseph. He stood his ground against the Government and all the other white people that were invading there area. He didn't back down and refuse to give into the the Government offers. He died with dignity, knowing that he did everything possible to keep the land that had no owner stay that way.
Why is this speech Protest Literature?
This speech is Protest Literature because Chief Joseph was saying that the U.S Government doesn't 'respect other people's beliefs and that is wrong of them. That they should take into consideration the beliefs of other and not just take and take especially things that aren't theres. He is also showing how injustice the Government was.
The art of rhetoric is evident in Chief Joseph's speech because of the simple fact that he wanted to make the U.S Government back off of there land. He used his words carefully and in a way to persuade the U.S Government.
Who is he addressing in this speech?
In his speech Chief Joesph is addressing the White people that were taking there lands by force, even though the Indians were there first. He is also addressing the Government.
Who is he indicting and why?
He was indicting the Government of the United States, for taking there land unfairly and kicking them off and no respecting Indian beliefs. He was probably also talking to his own people for signing the treaty and not protecting mother Earth like they should have.
Identify any heroic characteristics?
There were many heroic characteristic, especially in in Chief Joseph. He stood his ground against the Government and all the other white people that were invading there area. He didn't back down and refuse to give into the the Government offers. He died with dignity, knowing that he did everything possible to keep the land that had no owner stay that way.
Why is this speech Protest Literature?
This speech is Protest Literature because Chief Joseph was saying that the U.S Government doesn't 'respect other people's beliefs and that is wrong of them. That they should take into consideration the beliefs of other and not just take and take especially things that aren't theres. He is also showing how injustice the Government was.
D.N, Questions: March 7-27, 2008.
March 7
Do now: What is a myth? Do you know of any? What is a Folktale? Can you recall a Folktale?
Do now: How is your folktale representative of Native Americans?
Do now: How can you connect man and nature from your researched folktale?
Do now: What do you think is the meaning of the word "activist", and give an example of an activist through the works we analyzed and discussed.
Do now: What is a myth? Do you know of any? What is a Folktale? Can you recall a Folktale?
- A Myth is a story that is passed down from generation to generation, which is totally fake, but many people think that what a the myth is, is actually true.
- A folktale is a supernatural explanation of the World's Origin. It is also used to explain thinks that can't easily be explained.
Do now: How is your folktale representative of Native Americans?
- My folktale represents Native American's because they always used stories to explain why certain things are the way the are. They also used them to identify morals in a person, or that should be in a person. This story shows that.
Do now: How can you connect man and nature from your researched folktale?
- It connects with man because the Hummingbird was so full of himself, and believe hje was going to win. That he didn't take the Heron seriously because it was so slow. This is the same with people that are too proud of themselves. They're always full of themselves, however fall apart and lose at the end
Do now: What do you think is the meaning of the word "activist", and give an example of an activist through the works we analyzed and discussed.
- An activist means to be active against something, and be strong about it. Chief Joseph is an activist because he was against the U.S Government, from taking there land. He would always try his best to keep the Government away, and tell his people to take and to not listen to the United States.
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