Emil And Karl Beginning

The book "Emil and Karl" by Yankev Glatshteyn starts right with action. It begins with men infiltrating Karl's home, taking his mother, and beating him up. He has no idea why these men came seeing as he and his mother weren't Jewish and it was Nazi soldiers who took his mother away. His first action is to go to his best friend's house. Emil and his family are Jewish and the same thing happened to him recently, but the men took away his father. Normally, Emil's mother would tell Karl to go home because she didn't trust him, but this time she let him in without even caring. The reason she was so careless was she was shocked by the unexpected kidnapping of her husband. Karl explained what happened to Emil and his mother, but only Emil reacted. Karl spent the night at Emil's house and when they woke up, Emil's mother was in the same spot as before, occasionally sobbing. After trying to get her attention for a few hours and failing, the rabbi came to their house to check on them. After seeing the state Emil's mother was in, he had some people take her to the doctor. Emil and Karl then went and slept in the basement of Karl's apartment building because they had nowhere else to go. The next day the janitor found the boys and took them in. Both Emil and Karl were now without parents, and had to find some way to get back the family members the Nazis took away from them.

Inferences on Night

Today we read a small passage from the book "Night". In the passage, it describes the ordeal of a group of Jews, traveling to what I think is a work camp. I'm not entirely sure where this passage is in the book but it seem's as if the characters have already been introduced so they don't actually show many names in this passage. Throughout the passage, it shows the problems the group of Jews are facing such as small, uncomfortable spaces on a train, rude German soldiers yelling and making fun of them, and having to endure hours upon hours of being near a madwoman who is constantly screaming "Fire! Fire!". It's difficult to imagine how terrible this situation would be, since the characters have obviously been taken away from their families and are heading into enemy territory.

You Make Your Own Endings

Last summer I read a series known as The Last Apprentice. It's possibly one of the darkest books I've ever read but also the most interesting because it isn't the usual sort of good guy vs. bad guy and the good guy saves the day and they live happily ever after. No. This series is the exact opposite. Everything ends in the hero's favor however there's always some sort of consequence that comes with his victory. I enjoyed that the author wrote a story with a somewhat realistic ending. These books demonstrate that even the darkest parts of life can be fought through. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Regardless of what happens there always is some way of getting through it. It won't always be a happy ending, but then again, there's always an ending. It's your choice as to whether or not it's happy. The outcome is always in your power. You just might not know it, but, the faster you realize you make your own endings, the better.

Kobe

The Meaning of The Flower Garden

Today we read a short story by Shirley Jackson, called Flower Garden. It's about a woman who moves into a small cottage in a welcoming little town. After living there for a short time and hiring a black gardener, she is ridiculed by the town so much until she decides to leave. When I first began to read the story, I didn't know what to expect from it but the main thing that screamed out during the story was conflict. To be more specific, person vs. society.

In this story society gangs up on one woman and eventually insults her to the point of leaving. This story also showed that you have to choose friends wisely. The main character in this story, Mrs. Winning, had the opportunity to keep Mrs.MacLane (the newcomer), in town but feared if she told her people would ridicule her, she would have lost her friend. In this story she decides to pass up the opportunity and she loses a friend and any chance of getting her back. A quote by Benjamin Franklin easily relates to this story. "Leap at opportunities as quickly as you would a conclusion.".

This story's meaning and message to the reader is to always leap at those opportunities and good things will come. It also displayed that society can be very cruel at times. Those who do make choices that will be ridiculed need to stand strong by those choices, however, the woman in this story does not. Individualism is not a crime. You will sometimes be picked on. You may even get hurt but think about this. If you suddenly decide to become someone your not, then you're no better than the people that made you do so. This will also strip you of your individualism, causing you to be another average citizen. Always stand by your choices. Always be yourself. Always be an individual.

Kobe Harvey

Using Simplicity to be a Good Steward

Fulfilling responsibilities is a very difficult thing to do, especially when it’s your choice whether you do them or not. Like taking out the trash, you don’t NEED to do it, but it’s something that you are requested to do and it will benefit you and others if you do it. Earth day uses the same principle. If you DO choose to take action to help the Earth, then you will be helping yourself, and the entire world.


Since our SPICE this year is simplicity, we thought of ways that we could help the Earth using simplicity as our guideline. The connection between simplicity and stewardship is actually very strong. Simplicity involves living life with few material possessions, and being uncomplicated in your actions. Stewardship means being responsible and careful with your possessions or something entrusted in your care. On Earth Day, people use stewardship to try and change the Earth for the better. However, without really knowing it, they also focus on simplicity. When you turn out the lights and other electronics to save power, you are acting simply by not using those devices. Here’s a video to show you how important it is to take care of our planet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-bhphs4QOw

This video tells you that even the smallest differences, like recycling a single can or bottle, makes a huge difference in the world, which is why this week’s query is so important.

This week’s query is: How can we focus on simplicity and be good stewards?

Sources:
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stewardship
www.values.com/stewardship

Simplicity

"Nothing is more simple than greatness; indeed, to be simple is to be great." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Simplicity to me means no extravagant or unnecessary purchases. A simpler way of defining it would be a "cozy" lifestyle. Quakers are a perfect example of simplicity due to their acceptance and peaceful way of life. I wish I lived more like that but I have always struggled with it. However now that I'm beginning to see their attitude I'm starting to work on my greed. So far I believe I've come far but I'm still not there yet.

The thing that seems so blatantly obvious as simplicity for me is nature. I think this due to nature being the most primitive and amazing part of life. If we learned to live with nature instead of using it up for our own personal gain, I believe many people will share my view.

I believe the best example of simplicity from nature is plant life. It doesn't harm anything at all except for us because we haven't learned to live with it. I'm not saying everyone should just drop every thing, have their house destroyed and live outside, I'm saying that if we found a way to live that wasn't so dependent on harming nature, then we'll all live a simple lifestyle. The day we do that is obviously not going to be tomorrow or the day after but it'll be the day that there is a worldwide agreement and peace. That's the day where there won't be any racism, religion, or human conflict. Only peace, friendship and simplicity.

Kobe

Homework

Read the simplicity packet.

Choose an idea from the packet and write about it.

Be sure to quote the article or passage you are referring to and make sure you cite your source.

3 paragraph minimum.

Grammar and mechanics must be correct.