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Should the USA Continue to Celebrate Columbus
Article posted June 16, 2010 at 02:22 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 336
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In the year of 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean in search of Eastern Asia, but found North America instead. The second Monday of October is when a bunch of kids get a long weekend, Banks close, and major sales take place. This day, is also known as Columbus Day. There is no reason to celebrate or honor Columbus Day because Columbus didn't mean to find America, didn't set foot in North America, and disrespected the Native Americans.
Columbus Day is a pointless holiday because Columbus didn't discover America like they say he did. In fact, he didn't even set foot on North America. He was also wrong about almost every aspect of his navigation, except the idea that the earth is round; but that idea was no longer new. Columbus also disrespected the Natives and stole their land, religion and culture. He forced them to join the Christian belief and immediately enslaved them. Columbus and his crew also accidentally brought diseases from Spain with them, killing some of the Natives. He was the cause of the destruction of some of these advanced and strong civilizations, and its just disrespectful to the Natives of our country. That's not worth closing banks or schools. Its not worth anything. Christopher Columbus does not deserve a prize or a big honorable celebration in his name for doing that.
Christoper Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. But he wasn't Trying to find America, he was looking for Eastern Asia. We shouldn't honor someone who accidentally found somewhere, took all the credit, and then disrespected the Native people who were there first. Columbus shouldn't receive an award for doing that. We don't give the other Explorers who found new routes and countries a special day and celebration, so we shouldn't celebrate Columbus Day.
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Article posted June 16, 2010 at 02:22 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 336
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Book Recommendations
Article posted June 15, 2010 at 06:53 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1574
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 Book Recommendations
Fallen Lauren Kate – Fiction
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas John Boyne – Fiction
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies Sonya Sones - Fiction
What My Mother Doesn't Know Sonya Sones - Fiction
What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know Sonya Sones - Fiction
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Article posted June 15, 2010 at 06:53 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1574
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Bridges Poem
Article posted June 11, 2010 at 06:12 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1316
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The Bridge I Saw
As I was walking in the dark
on my way
alone
from the park
I saw the most peculiar bridge
sitting
alone
in the dark
The bridge was in the woods
over a small dark stream
amongst the trees
and the long lost dreams
alone
except for me
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Article posted June 11, 2010 at 06:12 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1316
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Rye Goes Green Essay
Article posted May 12, 2010 at 03:05 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1128
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Film Festival
During the Film Festival at our school I learned a lot about how to help the environment, and what the companies do to get you to buy. Not only did I learn all that, but I also learned some very shocking facts.
The first film in the Film Festival was called “The Story of Stuff”. This video spoke a lot about how we take too many of our natural resources and use. I learned that some of the real costs involved with the distributions of products, it that the companies are constantly creating new products for people to buy. Then they over advertise it, and the people who maybe just bought a computer last year, want a newer, better one.
The second film my class and I saw was called “Consuming Kids/The Commercialization of Childhood”. This film taught me about product placement. Product placement to when companies influence people to buy their products by putting them in movies, or television shows. Kids want to buy the product because they see their favorite stars or role models using it, and automatically think its cool. Companies also use the method of symbolic advertising. This is when the product is not advertised in the commercial, but other things to make it look cooler and more fun are show. Then, at the end of the commercial, they show the logo of the product they were supposed to be advertising. The main focus of most companies, is the “tween” generation. Tween is simply a meaning for the time when you are no longer a child, but not yet a teenager. Over the years, tweens have went from about 10 to 12, to 6 to 12, to where we are now; from 4 to 12 years old. Some people would like to say that companies have increased this change by releasing adult or teenager dolls, making the kids want to grow up even faster. Markets also tend to use gender stereo types often. Like they use pretty and fashionable girls so that you will envy that girl, and think if you use that product that yo u will be more like her. Then for boys they use strong, tough, and violent boys to let them think if they use that product they will be strong and cool. Companies have even started to target babies, and their mothers. These products are rarely tested for educational purposes, and only teach new babies two things; how to sit in front of a screen and play video games. Some people will complain that food companies have increased the levels of obesity in America by advertising excessive junk food, while they are already slumped down on the couch watching television.
In the thirds film that we watched was called “Trashed – this is the story of garbage...American Style” We learned a lot about how much trash Americans throw our everyday, and how much waste we produce. I was surprised when I learned that New Yorkers throw out about 50,000 tons of trash every day. There are people called freegans. They don't believe in their fellow New Yorkers wasteful ways. Every night, instead of making dinner bough from the store, they go out on the streets of New York and eat from the trash bags. I was surprised by how much healthy, and fresh foods were thrown out by restaurants, grocery stores, and just regular people. I also was realized that while I was watching the video, that we consider throwing stuff away a luxury. Its a major benefit in our culture, but is it slowly becoming a problem? I think that companies are most aware of the trash problem because it will effect their businesses if people are unhappy with their attempt to help the environment. Another major trash problem here in America, is the North Pacific Gyre. This Gyre has 6 times more trash than wild life living in it. It is known as the “plastic plague”.
“Laws change, Men die, The land remains” - Abraham Lincoln. I think what Lincoln was trying to say, is that our laws will change in the future, and people will die someday, but the land will always be here, so we have to take care of it now. I really took in a lot from this festival of films, and I hope to help the earth in this life time.
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Article posted May 12, 2010 at 03:05 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1128
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Crispin MRRE
Article posted April 19, 2010 at 03:07 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1525
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I have a peice of bread to represent the food he ate. The playmobile people represent the main charecters, and the important ones. the brown background represents the dirt roads he walked, and the coins represent the money he and bear earned preforming their tricks. The cross represents the necklace from his mother with a cross on it.
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Article posted April 19, 2010 at 03:07 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 1525
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Stock Market Spread Sheet edit
Article posted April 2, 2010 at 03:10 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 68
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 This is my Spread Sheet about our stock market unit. We are Presently on week 20. The Companies I "invested" in were American Eagle Outfitters (AEO), Starbucks Coffee (SBUX), and Walt Disney (DIS). We satrted out with 10,000 pretend dollars to buy shares and stocks, and i have made $180.15 more than that since I "invested" first in October of 2009.
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Article posted April 2, 2010 at 03:10 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 68
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Matter Wordle
Article posted April 2, 2010 at 02:18 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 60
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Article posted April 2, 2010 at 02:18 PM GMT •
comment • Reads 60
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