I really enjoyed the movie we watched in class.  I felt it was easier to connect to themes that happened through out the movie because it was “on our level”.  There were many interesting characteristics about the characters through out the movie.  

Through out the movie I was paying close attention to Derek’s character and Ben’s character.  After the movie during our discussion I was very interested in talking and listening to everyones opinions in the movie.  The “Break of the cycle” was a HUGE deal in my eyes.  It was the reason for Steve’s death.  I just felt like it was so out of character to kill Steve, because Ben seemed like a good kid who concentrated in school and just wanted to get into a good college, and might have just got mixed up in the wrong crowd.

 Virgil on the other hand always seemed excited in the movement but was the only one who really focused on the after affect.  We saw this for the first time after they beat the kid up at the party, pulled the gun on him, and kicked him a few times while he was on the ground.  Virgil then proceeded to be worried that his dad was going to kill him if he found out.  You also see this when they are killing Steve.  Virgil had a hard time holding steve down so that Derek could put the paint thinner in his mouth.

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Brittany and Paige’s page.

While reading this article I became very frustrated because for some reason my computer would not print it, the font was small and blurry because I tried to enlarge it so many times, and I had to keep scrolling back and forth.  After finally get through the article I did not want to write this blog.  But …. it was basically about and describing four films, which were casted by Asian American who were in a film festival.

-Yellow

-Shopping for Fangs

-Sunsets

-Strawberry Fields

Being that these movies came out in the late 90’s and I am pretty sure I was not interested in Asian American Films I had no idea what any of these films were about.  The film Yellow seemed the most interesting from the article, state on page 21 “It focuses on eight teens and their misadventures on their last night together before they scatter for college”. I feel like I could have connected to that movie a little bit.

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-Jess and LeAndra

After watching the videos on Margaret Cho I must say I was some what dragged into them.  I am usually dragged into tv shows that have humor in them, but there were a few things in Margaret Cho’s videos that I was surprised at. 

Her parents shocked me!! They seemed to be somewhat embarrassed by Margaret and proud of her at the same time.  During the scene when she came out in the body paint dress her parents did but out their words of concern in her outfit and that their friends were going to be there and question them on how they let her go dressed like that.  But they also did not put their foot down and say this is not allowed.  I understand they feel as though she is a grown women and can make her own decisions.  Instead of giving her a sense of direction and a state of we really would not feel comfortable they just laughed it off.

I am not really sure where to focus for this post since we read sooo much information.  A key point that stuck out in my head was:

-when Lelia and Henry were cleaning out the house, and she found a recipe for beef stew, which brought back old memories. and lead them to sleeping together.  This was the momemt I realized my prediction was wrong =[ and Lelia and Henry were going to be getting back together and living perfectly ever after (well kind of).  At the end of the story we read that Lelia and Henry set up a “school” in their house to teach children English.

I really enjoyed working in groups this time, I think it helped to share ideas and hear what everyone else was thinking.  The part of these chapters that I found most interesting was on page 153, where it directly relates to Asian American History.  ”I am speaking of histories that all of us should know.  Remember, or now know, how Koreans were cast as the dogs of Asia, remember the way our children could not speak their own language in school, remember how they called each other by the Japanese names forced upon them, remember the public executions of patriots and the shadowy murders of collaborators, remember our feelings of disgrace and penury and shame, remember most of all the struggle to survive with one’s own identity still strong and alive.”  This quote really stood out in my mind and made me think and relate back to Helen Zia.

These next few chapters have drawn me into the book a little more.  and I stress a little in that sentence.  I liked learning more about Henry and Lelia’s son Mitt’s death of how he died at his own party and Henry found him dead after a bunch of kids were pilled on top of him because they were playing a game.  I found it very interesting that later on in the chapters Lelia begins to talk to Henry about Mitts death after never discussing it and states it may have been because Mitt was not white or yellow.

Also the chapters touched more on Henry’s obsession with the English language.  I found it very interesting that Henry does not like his father and puts together memories and words that show his hatred.

When I first started reading the Native Speaker I was confused and not really “pulled in”.  It seemed like words were just on the page and I was not able to make a connection.

The two main characters Henry and Lelia share a very “weird” and interesting relationship.  I began to realize their relationship was interesting was on page 10 when Henry was introduced to Lelia.  He states “I was immediately drawn to her.  I liked the way she moved.  I know how men will say this, to describe the womanly affect they find ineffable.  I am as guilty as all of them… I noticed how closely I was listening to her.  What I found was this: that she could really speak”.  While I was reading this I was wondering how many guys are attracted to women because of the way they speak?  

On page 5 Lelia makes a list of Henry’s flaws.  This struck me as well because she was such a “speaker” and now she was throwing words out against Henry.  Many of the things on the list are contradicting one another.  For example Lelia writes that Henry is great in bed and then a few lines down writes anti-romantic.

Overall I semi-enjoyed the first few chapters of Native Speaker, and I think it is just going to take a little time to get use to the story and style of writing.

comments on : Amy L. and Mary A’s page

Sooo.. we presented our wiki in class on Wednesday, and I thought it went pretty well for the most part.  We had most of our information organized the way we wanted it.  We had a few things to touch up but that was ok.  I really enjoyed working on the wiki and being able to read and learn from other groups.  If I had to change one thing on some of the wikis I would make them more outlined or bulleted, a lot of groups (including mine) had a lot of text and I just thought it was a lot to look at at once.)  I am hoping the Wiki that my group and I created about the NY taxi boycott of 1998 is going to help me with my second reflection.

So for my groups wiki project we are working on the New York Taxi Boycott of 1998.  I have surprising learned a lot in the past week or so.  I have never used Wiki before this assignment and I was a little skeptical about it.  I am not usually a fan of group work but this seemed pretty cool.  I was very interested in the boycott, until we began our project and I realized there was absolutely NO information on the new york taxi boycott of 1998.  There was hardly any information about the taxi strike that just occurred in 2007!!

   I really enjoyed enjoyed watching Twilight.  Even though we read about the riots in Helen Zia and I heard my grandfather talk about them once in a blue moon, the film really painted a picture in my mind.  Im usually not a fan of a one person act, but she was able to capture the feelings of almost everyone that experienced the riots.

   I was shocked during the part about the male juror.  I was taken by surprise when they were talking about how channel 11 called him and ask him why he was hiding his head in shame and how he was receiving threatening phone calls.  I mean I completely understand but it was taken a little too far when the KKK called and told him that they supported him and if he needed help and waiting to join their group he was welcome.