Morality and Justice essay
(no electranical coppy)
Interview questions
How do you decide what is morally right and what is morally wrong?
By how I believe in my heart and if it feels right or wrong and my upbringing.
What factors influence your sense of morals?
I decide by weather its right or wrong in my mind. What would you think is right/wrong?
Family, friends, community, and god/religion. Why? Because they are all very important in my life.
Does the quality of your work depend on rewords/punishment?
I think, rewording a person for a good job is more effective in creating good ethics vs punishing them for bad. Why? Because feeling i'm appriciated and needed and possibly knowing that there will be a reword give me an incentive to work hard.
Abortion: Moral thery
Do you think it’s ever moral for a woman to have an abortion?
Yes, with a good reasoning behind it. Not every girl should be able to get one, they should have to get an okay by the doctor with good reasoning behind why they need one. What constitutes good reasoning? The way the pregnancy was created.
Do you think abortion should me legal?
Yes, it should be legal because there are incidents where a life may be in jeopardy, or a woman was a victim.
How important is it to you that a president candidate shares your views on abortion?
Not important because healthcare, taxes and economy are much more important.
When do you think a human life begins?
Anywhere between 2 days/a month or when the egg starts turning into a living thing. If its a life how can it justified to abort it? It's never justified to abort a life its only justified before it becomes a life.
How does this affect your view on abortion?
It doesn’t, my feelings are the same as they were before.
Heinz dilemma.
Should Heinz steal the drug?
Yes, because I’d rather go to jail then have the one I love die.
Is it actually right or wrong for him to steal the drug?
It is wrong and illegal but morally correct. Why is it morally correct?
Because my spouse comes before laws.
Does Heinz have a duty or obligation to steal the drug?
No, because it’s his choice out of love, but at the same time yes because it is his wife and if he doesn’t do it he’ll feel like it’s his fault that she died.
If Heinz doesn’t love his wife should he steal the drug for her?
No, it shouldn’t make a difference because she is his wife, he promised to live his life for her so he still should steal the drug for her.
Suppose the person dying is not his wife but a stranger, should Heinz steal the drug for the stranger?
No, because he shouldn’t take the risk of going to jail for someone he doesn’t know.
Suppose it’s a pet he loves should Heinz steal the drug for the pet?
No, because although an animas becomes like a child it is an animal and you can’t risk your life for an animal, even if you love it. Why does human life carry more weight? What makes a human more important then an animal?
A human life is more important then an animal because a dog is a pet and they're replaceable and a human can never be replaced.
Trolly car: Moral dilemma
What would you do? Why?
I would turn right because there is one life in jeperdy instead of five. I'd rather have one person die then five. It is morally right for me in my eyes to turn right on the track because, even though i'd be risking that one life, it is still better for one person to die over five.
Would you push the fat man? Why?
No, I would not push the fat man to save the lives because I would never intentionally kill anyone.
Why is it different from turning the tolly car to purposly kill the one man then pushing the fat man to save everyone on the trolly and at the end of the trolly?
It's different because theres a chance that the one person will jump out of the way before the trolly gets there and turning the trolly car right, to kill that one man is not the same as pushing someone to save five people.
How isn't it the same?
It's not the same because, pushing the fat man to stop the tolly is killing an innocent by stander, and turning the trolly car right is saving 5 lives and people that work on the train tracks are risking there lives for the
trolly car so they already know that it's a possibility for them to die.
Gun control essay
Imagine the world where you no
longer had the right to the second amendment, the right to bear arms. Imagine if
only the criminals had guns, if you didn't have the right to self-defense. Where
would this world be? Think about if your private property got taken away, guns
are the same as any other private property that you own. Everyone should have
the right to feel safe. Some say guns kill, but it's the people that kill. No
matter if guns were illegal, it doesn't mean that the criminals still won’t have
them. The law never stops the sick, mental, pathetic people in this world. Guns
are here for our safety and self-defense. The second amendment states: “A
well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the
right of the people to keep a bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Which means,
the U.S. Is a free country, with the right to bear arms and security.
What would happen if owning a gun was illegal? As it currently stands, “Most people will steal guns to use
them for abuse other then buy them for hunting and protection.” (http://www.studymode.com/essays/Cons-Gun-Control-58769.html) If criminals steal them for abuse, why wouldn't they do it if owning a gun was
illegal? Guns are here for our safety and protection. People say that if nobody
had guns this world would be more safe. But the times that gun control did
happen, with the dictators they took over by threatening people with the guns
that they had but we didn't. The murders always have guns no matter what.
Obama's saying “that the criminals aren't going to have the right to get guns.”
But how would you know who's a criminal and who's not? “Many state
governments and legislatures oppose the measure as it may raise a spike in
violence. Moreover, with citizens carrying weapons, the threat against law
enforcement may also become an issue. With many of these debates in full force,
gun control laws have been implemented to curtail the amount of weapons on
America's streets.” They're saying that we should lessen the amount of guns that
we have in America. But that wouldn't do anything because, then the criminals
and murders will still have guns, they would just be taking the guns away from
the people that use them for protection and safety. Say, there was a
girl walking down the street on her way home, and there's this big guy with a
gun in the bushes. If this guy knew for a fact that this girl didn't have a gun
or any protection he would have a better chance of killing or doing bad things
to her. This is a moral dilemma. But if everyone had a gun/protection for
themselves there would be less people dead in this world from murders/ bad
people. Guns won't stop Violence; a violent person doesn't need a gun to be violent. Also, just because
a criminal doesn't have a gun doesn't mean they still won't hurt, rob, or kill
you. Guns are for our self-defense when others are hurting, robing or trying to
kill you. All gun control would do is make It harder for law obeying citizens
to get guns.
Gun control Artist Statement
My prospective on justice for gun control is I feel like everybody should be able to own a gun for
there safety and self defense. Our founding fathers made up the second amendment
which is: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free
state the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not me infringed. On
my poster I have many different symbols and pictures that represent the right to
bear arms. The bald eagle and the flag on my poster represent, America and it's
free states. Another symbol on my poster, is a picture of Hitler, Stalin, and
Mao they represent that gun control works for innocent people that can't protect
them self from a controlling government. Lastly, I have a picture that says
Human rights which says on it justice, self defense, freedom, and hope. Part of
the basic human right is to be able to have self defense and freedom. In my poster I used
ethos which is evidence by stating that we have the right to bare arms because
it's our second amendment that we've had since the start of our country. I used
pathos which is emotions by one of the symbols that represents a powerful women
holding a gun and a women with no gun and no self defense afraid of being
attacked. The tone of my poster is don't change America, the right to bare arms
is constitutional, its an American tradition, and its about self
defense. On my poster it is mostly black and white. I have a few colored pictures. What I put in color is
the most important images that I wanted people to see. The pictures that I chose
to be in color are American, the right to bare arms represents Americas
freedoms. I am proud of my poster because its simple and clearly symbolizes my
prospective on gun control. I worked diligently to find many different pictures
all saying the same thing that the right to bare arms is a human freedom.
However I wish I could have improved having so much white space exposed and
more pictures and colors.
(no electranical coppy)
Interview questions
How do you decide what is morally right and what is morally wrong?
By how I believe in my heart and if it feels right or wrong and my upbringing.
What factors influence your sense of morals?
I decide by weather its right or wrong in my mind. What would you think is right/wrong?
Family, friends, community, and god/religion. Why? Because they are all very important in my life.
Does the quality of your work depend on rewords/punishment?
I think, rewording a person for a good job is more effective in creating good ethics vs punishing them for bad. Why? Because feeling i'm appriciated and needed and possibly knowing that there will be a reword give me an incentive to work hard.
Abortion: Moral thery
Do you think it’s ever moral for a woman to have an abortion?
Yes, with a good reasoning behind it. Not every girl should be able to get one, they should have to get an okay by the doctor with good reasoning behind why they need one. What constitutes good reasoning? The way the pregnancy was created.
Do you think abortion should me legal?
Yes, it should be legal because there are incidents where a life may be in jeopardy, or a woman was a victim.
How important is it to you that a president candidate shares your views on abortion?
Not important because healthcare, taxes and economy are much more important.
When do you think a human life begins?
Anywhere between 2 days/a month or when the egg starts turning into a living thing. If its a life how can it justified to abort it? It's never justified to abort a life its only justified before it becomes a life.
How does this affect your view on abortion?
It doesn’t, my feelings are the same as they were before.
Heinz dilemma.
Should Heinz steal the drug?
Yes, because I’d rather go to jail then have the one I love die.
Is it actually right or wrong for him to steal the drug?
It is wrong and illegal but morally correct. Why is it morally correct?
Because my spouse comes before laws.
Does Heinz have a duty or obligation to steal the drug?
No, because it’s his choice out of love, but at the same time yes because it is his wife and if he doesn’t do it he’ll feel like it’s his fault that she died.
If Heinz doesn’t love his wife should he steal the drug for her?
No, it shouldn’t make a difference because she is his wife, he promised to live his life for her so he still should steal the drug for her.
Suppose the person dying is not his wife but a stranger, should Heinz steal the drug for the stranger?
No, because he shouldn’t take the risk of going to jail for someone he doesn’t know.
Suppose it’s a pet he loves should Heinz steal the drug for the pet?
No, because although an animas becomes like a child it is an animal and you can’t risk your life for an animal, even if you love it. Why does human life carry more weight? What makes a human more important then an animal?
A human life is more important then an animal because a dog is a pet and they're replaceable and a human can never be replaced.
Trolly car: Moral dilemma
What would you do? Why?
I would turn right because there is one life in jeperdy instead of five. I'd rather have one person die then five. It is morally right for me in my eyes to turn right on the track because, even though i'd be risking that one life, it is still better for one person to die over five.
Would you push the fat man? Why?
No, I would not push the fat man to save the lives because I would never intentionally kill anyone.
Why is it different from turning the tolly car to purposly kill the one man then pushing the fat man to save everyone on the trolly and at the end of the trolly?
It's different because theres a chance that the one person will jump out of the way before the trolly gets there and turning the trolly car right, to kill that one man is not the same as pushing someone to save five people.
How isn't it the same?
It's not the same because, pushing the fat man to stop the tolly is killing an innocent by stander, and turning the trolly car right is saving 5 lives and people that work on the train tracks are risking there lives for the
trolly car so they already know that it's a possibility for them to die.
Gun control essay
Imagine the world where you no
longer had the right to the second amendment, the right to bear arms. Imagine if
only the criminals had guns, if you didn't have the right to self-defense. Where
would this world be? Think about if your private property got taken away, guns
are the same as any other private property that you own. Everyone should have
the right to feel safe. Some say guns kill, but it's the people that kill. No
matter if guns were illegal, it doesn't mean that the criminals still won’t have
them. The law never stops the sick, mental, pathetic people in this world. Guns
are here for our safety and self-defense. The second amendment states: “A
well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the
right of the people to keep a bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Which means,
the U.S. Is a free country, with the right to bear arms and security.
What would happen if owning a gun was illegal? As it currently stands, “Most people will steal guns to use
them for abuse other then buy them for hunting and protection.” (http://www.studymode.com/essays/Cons-Gun-Control-58769.html) If criminals steal them for abuse, why wouldn't they do it if owning a gun was
illegal? Guns are here for our safety and protection. People say that if nobody
had guns this world would be more safe. But the times that gun control did
happen, with the dictators they took over by threatening people with the guns
that they had but we didn't. The murders always have guns no matter what.
Obama's saying “that the criminals aren't going to have the right to get guns.”
But how would you know who's a criminal and who's not? “Many state
governments and legislatures oppose the measure as it may raise a spike in
violence. Moreover, with citizens carrying weapons, the threat against law
enforcement may also become an issue. With many of these debates in full force,
gun control laws have been implemented to curtail the amount of weapons on
America's streets.” They're saying that we should lessen the amount of guns that
we have in America. But that wouldn't do anything because, then the criminals
and murders will still have guns, they would just be taking the guns away from
the people that use them for protection and safety. Say, there was a
girl walking down the street on her way home, and there's this big guy with a
gun in the bushes. If this guy knew for a fact that this girl didn't have a gun
or any protection he would have a better chance of killing or doing bad things
to her. This is a moral dilemma. But if everyone had a gun/protection for
themselves there would be less people dead in this world from murders/ bad
people. Guns won't stop Violence; a violent person doesn't need a gun to be violent. Also, just because
a criminal doesn't have a gun doesn't mean they still won't hurt, rob, or kill
you. Guns are for our self-defense when others are hurting, robing or trying to
kill you. All gun control would do is make It harder for law obeying citizens
to get guns.
Gun control Artist Statement
My prospective on justice for gun control is I feel like everybody should be able to own a gun for
there safety and self defense. Our founding fathers made up the second amendment
which is: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free
state the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not me infringed. On
my poster I have many different symbols and pictures that represent the right to
bear arms. The bald eagle and the flag on my poster represent, America and it's
free states. Another symbol on my poster, is a picture of Hitler, Stalin, and
Mao they represent that gun control works for innocent people that can't protect
them self from a controlling government. Lastly, I have a picture that says
Human rights which says on it justice, self defense, freedom, and hope. Part of
the basic human right is to be able to have self defense and freedom. In my poster I used
ethos which is evidence by stating that we have the right to bare arms because
it's our second amendment that we've had since the start of our country. I used
pathos which is emotions by one of the symbols that represents a powerful women
holding a gun and a women with no gun and no self defense afraid of being
attacked. The tone of my poster is don't change America, the right to bare arms
is constitutional, its an American tradition, and its about self
defense. On my poster it is mostly black and white. I have a few colored pictures. What I put in color is
the most important images that I wanted people to see. The pictures that I chose
to be in color are American, the right to bare arms represents Americas
freedoms. I am proud of my poster because its simple and clearly symbolizes my
prospective on gun control. I worked diligently to find many different pictures
all saying the same thing that the right to bare arms is a human freedom.
However I wish I could have improved having so much white space exposed and
more pictures and colors.
Korematsu V. U.S (1944)
Mock Trial Work
Where were you born? An: America, Oakland California in
1919
What
was your job? An: Welder at San Francisco shipyards.
Why
were you fired? An: because of all the racist and prejudice that happened after
pearl Harbor.
Why
did you move to Nevada? An: I moved to Nevada because I chose to deny the
civilian exclusion order number 34 and stay with my girlfriend.
What
caused you to get plastic surgery and change your identity? An: to not look
Japanese so I wasn’t sent to the racetrack assembly center. I wanted to spend my
life with my girlfriend and my friends.
What
do you feel more like, a Japanese, or an American? An: I feel like I am more
American, because even though my skin color is not white I was born in America
and raised as an american.
What
ethnicity was your girl friend? An: Caucasian(Italian American) girl named Ida
Boitano
What
happened to you after Japanese waged war in Asia and the Pacific? An: I moved
to Nevada, Sold my car, threw away my California license, and changed my name to
Clyde Sarah. I felt like it was completely unfair of them to judge me for being
Japanese ancestry.
Please explain the circumstance of your arrest? An: I got stopped by a
police officer in San Leandro, California and turned in to the FBI. On june 12,
1942 I got bailed out by the ACLU (American Civil liberties union.) By a lawyer
named Ernest Besig.
Did
you break any other laws before the 9066 exclusion order? An:
No
Looking at these facts under amendment 14 which says “all persons born
or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are
citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” are you
legally considered a citizen of america. An: Yes I am, but because i'm Japanese
they just judge me on my race.
Also
under amendment 14 it states that. “No State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges.” such as amendment 5 which states that “no
citizen shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of
law.” looking at the constitution would the exclusion order have treated you
under Americas constitution. An: Looking at these facts the exclusion order
would have treated me wrongfully and that is why i didn’t turn myself in.
Testimony-Fred Korematusu 1919-2005
I was born in this country (United states). I was a Nisei born son of Japanese
immigrants. I was born in 1919, in Oakland California. After graduating from
Castlemont High School (1938), I got a job as a welder in San Francisco
shipyards. I was in love with my Italian American girlfriend. While I was
growing up, I was refused service in restaurants. Because of my ethnicity, I was
not allowed to join my friends for registering for the Coast Guard. A
commanding officer even forbade one of my friends from associating with me.
After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, President Roosevelt
signed the executive order(9066). My family reported to the Tranforan racetrack
assembly center in San Mateo on May 9th, 1942, a directed by order
number 34. I chose to reject the order and stay with my friends and girlfriend.
I was planning to move inland to Nevada. I sold my car, threw away my drivers
license and changed my name to Clyde Sarah. Also, I had plastic surgery. I got
stopped by the police on May 30th, 1942, in San Leandro. After I
spent two and a half months in jail, I got my $5,000 bail. As I left the court
house I was suddenly in hand cuffs again and taken to the Tanforan Assembly
Center. My family and I moved to Topaz, Utah an interment camp called “the Jewel
of the Desert.” I qualified as a skilled welder and was able to leave the camp.
I got a job as a Welder at Iron Works company in Salt Lake City, being excluded
from the Military in February, 1945.
Cross examining
So s it clear that you violated the exclusion order 9066? Yes
Is it true that you denied the exclusion order number 34? Yes, It was not fair. It
was all because of race and I wanted to stay with my friends and girl
friend.
Is t true you have a Italian American Girlfriend? Yes.
Is t true you were a Welder in San Francisco ship yards? Yes.
I was born in this country (United states). I was a Nisei born son of Japanese
immigrants. I was born in 1919, in Oakland California. After graduating from
Castlemont High School (1938), I got a job as a welder in San Francisco
shipyards. I was in love with my Italian American girlfriend. While I was
growing up, I was refused service in restaurants. Because of my ethnicity, I was
not allowed to join my friends for registering for the Coast Guard. A
commanding officer even forbade one of my friends from associating with me.
After the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, President Roosevelt
signed the executive order(9066). My family reported to the Tranforan racetrack
assembly center in San Mateo on May 9th, 1942, a directed by order
number 34. I chose to reject the order and stay with my friends and girlfriend.
I was planning to move inland to Nevada. I sold my car, threw away my drivers
license and changed my name to Clyde Sarah. Also, I had plastic surgery. I got
stopped by the police on May 30th, 1942, in San Leandro. After I
spent two and a half months in jail, I got my $5,000 bail. As I left the court
house I was suddenly in hand cuffs again and taken to the Tanforan Assembly
Center. My family and I moved to Topaz, Utah an interment camp called “the Jewel
of the Desert.” I qualified as a skilled welder and was able to leave the camp.
I got a job as a Welder at Iron Works company in Salt Lake City, being excluded
from the Military in February, 1945.
Cross examining
So s it clear that you violated the exclusion order 9066? Yes
Is it true that you denied the exclusion order number 34? Yes, It was not fair. It
was all because of race and I wanted to stay with my friends and girl
friend.
Is t true you have a Italian American Girlfriend? Yes.
Is t true you were a Welder in San Francisco ship yards? Yes.
Energy and palce- sense of place essay
Sense of place essay:
Beauty in Others Eyes.
Natalie
Erkkila
Imagine you are laying down on the amazing, warm sand with the sun's rays raining down upon you.
Your eyes are closed, because the sun shining off the water is blinding.
Listening to the waves. It feels like paradise. The sky is blue and there isn't
even one cloud. My toes, burning on the boiling hot sand. Watching the exquisite
light blue lake, It looks like little diamonds sparkling on the water. Loving
this silent place, no one around you, except for the birds and the wild life.
I'd call this place my home, my life, my beach. My stomach started rumbling. I
felt hungry. I decided I should get up and get something to eat. As I started
walking towards the town, I saw so many different types of people. White, Black,
Brown. Some with hats, some with bandanas. I saw large buildings and I thought
to myself, I wonder what all of these buildings are for, what they do, why
they're here. I just kept walking, and felt the wet, moist, humid sand beneath
my feet. It smelled like delicious food, chocolate/peanut butter ice cream,
Little Ceasers pizza, and chicken. Even though there were people all around me,
it still sounded like silence I couldn't hear anyone or anything except for
myself and my thoughts. Two feet away from people I couldn't hear their
conversations or their laughter. This place is the most beautiful city, Not too
big and not too small. There's large buildings everywhere, like any city, a main
street filled will people walking down, looking in the stores. But, it's not as
big as Chicago or Denver. Not as many people, or stores. It's the perfect size.
Also, you can go to a private beach whenever you'd like, to get away from
people.
As I started leaving the town, with a belly filled with Pepperoni pizza, and chocolate ice cream. I
decided to walk back to the private beach. As I got closer I saw kids swimming,
having a blast. My insides instantly warming up from the beautiful sun shine. I
reached the white sand beach, and sat down. Deep in my own thoughts. Until, I
felt a tickle on my left shoulder. I look over, and there's a scrawny man
sitting right next to me. He looks about 45 years old, has a long beard that's
starting to turn gray. Dark brown eyes, they almost look black. He looks about 6
ft tall, although it's hard to tell considering he's sitting down. He's wearing
some dark blue jeans that looks like he's been wearing them for a couple of
days, and a solid brown t-shirt that has one little rip in the top right
shoulder, and he's wearing a Detroit tigers hat. In a deep, scratchy voice he
suddenly says, “It's so beautiful here, compared to Detroit.” I quietly shook
my head, in a way that made it look like I was agreeing with him. “You know, the
community paid 2.2 billion dollars for an oil refinery expansion, in 2007? The
oil refinery refined dirty tar sands as well as an ancient dirty DTE coal plant,
and 12 other polluting facilities.” 1He explained. “Sitting here on this beach just
reminds me of all the amazing nature and value we have in this world.” “Why is
it fair that this place has more value and respect then other places, like
Detroit.” He stopped talking for a couple of minutes. I looked the other way
for a minute which felt like 2 seconds. The next thing I knew he was gone. The
rest of the day I sat there thinking to myself about what he had said, and why
it was bothering him so bad.
The next day, I returned to the same beach I was at yesterday. It was a windy day, which means
the waves were pretty big. Crashing down at the shore line. They looked like
white crystals that keep getting closer and closer. It was such an appealing
day. I slowly got the urge to swim in the big waves. I couldn't see one other
human being from any direction I looked. So I took off my clothes and went in
the water. It felt so refreshing, the waves were going over my head. After
awhile I got out of the water and went and lied on my towel. I was laying
there thinking, how nice it is to have such private beaches where we can enjoy
an amazing beach with no one around you. I heard a crunch on a sea shell as some
footsteps approached in the back round, I figured it was a bird or deer so I
just kept laying there. Next thing I knew there was a voice in the backround,
saying “Sorry to disturb you, I didn't know anyone came to this beach. As I
looked up I took a quick inventory of a woman who interrupted my silent
meditation. She looks about 30 years old. She was not wearing any typical beach
clothes. Rather, she was wearing a fine black dress, and black cardigan. She
looked like she was coming from a funeral. I kind of wanted to ask her, who
died. But I bite my tongue and let it go. She had bleach blonde hair, blue eyes,
and about 5'7. She wore these colorful earrings, they were hoop looking
earrings, with beads on the hoop every bead was a different color of the
rainbow. Red, blue, green, orange, yellow, ext. They topped off the outfit and
heels that I don't even think I could walk in, with out breaking my ankle. She
asked me, “do you come here often?” “No, actually I just discovered this place,
it's gorgeous though. Don't you think?” “Yeah, I do. But I think we should do
some things to make people to come here more often.” “Yeah? Like what?” I asked.
“Maybe a hotel, or condo. Maybe a some restaurants, and booths to rent out fun
things. Like, paddle boards, jet skis, tubes. To make this more of a tourist
place.” I shook my head just to let her know I was listening, even though I
didn't exactly agree with her. She looked like she was in a hurry. So I asked
her, “Do you have some where to be?” “Yes, actually I was just checking this
place out so I could figure out if there's a way we could put those buildings
here to make this place more popular. It was nice talking to you though.” “you
too.” I responded. I started thinking very deeply about what she said and about
what the man said yesterday. I realized how opposite their mind sets were. I
felt like this lady, was just looking for ways to make money, instead of
thinking about how beautiful this beach is already with out any buildings. I
laid my head back down on my towel, and decided to take a nap.
When I woke up from
my nap, I took a walk along the beach shore. It was so nice feeling the smooth
sand upon my feet and every once in a while the waves get big enough to reach
me,which cools me down from the hot sun. It feels like I'm walking on little
puff balls. I came to sudden stop, because there was a boy crying, sitting by a
tree. He looked about 11 years old, brown shoulder length hair. He was wearing
tan shorts and a red shirt. I asked him, “are you okay?” He shook his head.
“What's going on? Is there anything I can help with?” He shook his head again.
Finally I sat down right next to him and told him “you know, sometimes it's okay
to talk to people about what's going on and your feelings it's hard to keep them
bottled up inside.” “It might be even better to tell someone you don't know.” He
looked at me devastatingly, “A lady came up to me earlier, telling me that
they're trying to put hotels, restaurants, and booths on this beach. This is the
environment, it's the only place I can come where there's no one around me, and
it's nature.” This little boy was just so sad that they were taking his nature
away. He feels like we should do whatever we can to help it, and I agree.
As I was walking
back, I thought a lot about what all the people came up to me and said. I feel
like the guy from Detroit was right, it's not fair that Traverse city gets all
of this beauty and Detroit gets the dump, the pollution, the oil fields. I've
finally realized how much we need to value places like like this beach. The lady
that came up to me and told me that we need more businesses along these beaches
doesn't realize that money's not everything. Everyone deserves nature and
private beaches like these. We don't need more over-developed beaches
controlled by big businesses. Rather, we need pristine beaches for humans to
explore nature in it's pure form, free from the greedy hands of human
development. We have enough public beaches, with hotels, restaurants and booths.
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” -Albert
Einstein
I'm thinking to my
self, how I used to go to beaches as a child and my whole life. That was my
favorite thing to do. Swimming in the water, laying on the boiling sand. It's
important for every generation to be able to have beaches, and experience
everything that we got to do. But, if we start to put buildings up and companies
all over, it could pollute our water and make all of our great lakes dry up, and
not be here anymore. Or not be as beautiful anymore. Imagine you're sitting here
listening to the waves, with the dry sun shine upon you, and instantly it was
gone.
Natalie
Erkkila
Imagine you are laying down on the amazing, warm sand with the sun's rays raining down upon you.
Your eyes are closed, because the sun shining off the water is blinding.
Listening to the waves. It feels like paradise. The sky is blue and there isn't
even one cloud. My toes, burning on the boiling hot sand. Watching the exquisite
light blue lake, It looks like little diamonds sparkling on the water. Loving
this silent place, no one around you, except for the birds and the wild life.
I'd call this place my home, my life, my beach. My stomach started rumbling. I
felt hungry. I decided I should get up and get something to eat. As I started
walking towards the town, I saw so many different types of people. White, Black,
Brown. Some with hats, some with bandanas. I saw large buildings and I thought
to myself, I wonder what all of these buildings are for, what they do, why
they're here. I just kept walking, and felt the wet, moist, humid sand beneath
my feet. It smelled like delicious food, chocolate/peanut butter ice cream,
Little Ceasers pizza, and chicken. Even though there were people all around me,
it still sounded like silence I couldn't hear anyone or anything except for
myself and my thoughts. Two feet away from people I couldn't hear their
conversations or their laughter. This place is the most beautiful city, Not too
big and not too small. There's large buildings everywhere, like any city, a main
street filled will people walking down, looking in the stores. But, it's not as
big as Chicago or Denver. Not as many people, or stores. It's the perfect size.
Also, you can go to a private beach whenever you'd like, to get away from
people.
As I started leaving the town, with a belly filled with Pepperoni pizza, and chocolate ice cream. I
decided to walk back to the private beach. As I got closer I saw kids swimming,
having a blast. My insides instantly warming up from the beautiful sun shine. I
reached the white sand beach, and sat down. Deep in my own thoughts. Until, I
felt a tickle on my left shoulder. I look over, and there's a scrawny man
sitting right next to me. He looks about 45 years old, has a long beard that's
starting to turn gray. Dark brown eyes, they almost look black. He looks about 6
ft tall, although it's hard to tell considering he's sitting down. He's wearing
some dark blue jeans that looks like he's been wearing them for a couple of
days, and a solid brown t-shirt that has one little rip in the top right
shoulder, and he's wearing a Detroit tigers hat. In a deep, scratchy voice he
suddenly says, “It's so beautiful here, compared to Detroit.” I quietly shook
my head, in a way that made it look like I was agreeing with him. “You know, the
community paid 2.2 billion dollars for an oil refinery expansion, in 2007? The
oil refinery refined dirty tar sands as well as an ancient dirty DTE coal plant,
and 12 other polluting facilities.” 1He explained. “Sitting here on this beach just
reminds me of all the amazing nature and value we have in this world.” “Why is
it fair that this place has more value and respect then other places, like
Detroit.” He stopped talking for a couple of minutes. I looked the other way
for a minute which felt like 2 seconds. The next thing I knew he was gone. The
rest of the day I sat there thinking to myself about what he had said, and why
it was bothering him so bad.
The next day, I returned to the same beach I was at yesterday. It was a windy day, which means
the waves were pretty big. Crashing down at the shore line. They looked like
white crystals that keep getting closer and closer. It was such an appealing
day. I slowly got the urge to swim in the big waves. I couldn't see one other
human being from any direction I looked. So I took off my clothes and went in
the water. It felt so refreshing, the waves were going over my head. After
awhile I got out of the water and went and lied on my towel. I was laying
there thinking, how nice it is to have such private beaches where we can enjoy
an amazing beach with no one around you. I heard a crunch on a sea shell as some
footsteps approached in the back round, I figured it was a bird or deer so I
just kept laying there. Next thing I knew there was a voice in the backround,
saying “Sorry to disturb you, I didn't know anyone came to this beach. As I
looked up I took a quick inventory of a woman who interrupted my silent
meditation. She looks about 30 years old. She was not wearing any typical beach
clothes. Rather, she was wearing a fine black dress, and black cardigan. She
looked like she was coming from a funeral. I kind of wanted to ask her, who
died. But I bite my tongue and let it go. She had bleach blonde hair, blue eyes,
and about 5'7. She wore these colorful earrings, they were hoop looking
earrings, with beads on the hoop every bead was a different color of the
rainbow. Red, blue, green, orange, yellow, ext. They topped off the outfit and
heels that I don't even think I could walk in, with out breaking my ankle. She
asked me, “do you come here often?” “No, actually I just discovered this place,
it's gorgeous though. Don't you think?” “Yeah, I do. But I think we should do
some things to make people to come here more often.” “Yeah? Like what?” I asked.
“Maybe a hotel, or condo. Maybe a some restaurants, and booths to rent out fun
things. Like, paddle boards, jet skis, tubes. To make this more of a tourist
place.” I shook my head just to let her know I was listening, even though I
didn't exactly agree with her. She looked like she was in a hurry. So I asked
her, “Do you have some where to be?” “Yes, actually I was just checking this
place out so I could figure out if there's a way we could put those buildings
here to make this place more popular. It was nice talking to you though.” “you
too.” I responded. I started thinking very deeply about what she said and about
what the man said yesterday. I realized how opposite their mind sets were. I
felt like this lady, was just looking for ways to make money, instead of
thinking about how beautiful this beach is already with out any buildings. I
laid my head back down on my towel, and decided to take a nap.
When I woke up from
my nap, I took a walk along the beach shore. It was so nice feeling the smooth
sand upon my feet and every once in a while the waves get big enough to reach
me,which cools me down from the hot sun. It feels like I'm walking on little
puff balls. I came to sudden stop, because there was a boy crying, sitting by a
tree. He looked about 11 years old, brown shoulder length hair. He was wearing
tan shorts and a red shirt. I asked him, “are you okay?” He shook his head.
“What's going on? Is there anything I can help with?” He shook his head again.
Finally I sat down right next to him and told him “you know, sometimes it's okay
to talk to people about what's going on and your feelings it's hard to keep them
bottled up inside.” “It might be even better to tell someone you don't know.” He
looked at me devastatingly, “A lady came up to me earlier, telling me that
they're trying to put hotels, restaurants, and booths on this beach. This is the
environment, it's the only place I can come where there's no one around me, and
it's nature.” This little boy was just so sad that they were taking his nature
away. He feels like we should do whatever we can to help it, and I agree.
As I was walking
back, I thought a lot about what all the people came up to me and said. I feel
like the guy from Detroit was right, it's not fair that Traverse city gets all
of this beauty and Detroit gets the dump, the pollution, the oil fields. I've
finally realized how much we need to value places like like this beach. The lady
that came up to me and told me that we need more businesses along these beaches
doesn't realize that money's not everything. Everyone deserves nature and
private beaches like these. We don't need more over-developed beaches
controlled by big businesses. Rather, we need pristine beaches for humans to
explore nature in it's pure form, free from the greedy hands of human
development. We have enough public beaches, with hotels, restaurants and booths.
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” -Albert
Einstein
I'm thinking to my
self, how I used to go to beaches as a child and my whole life. That was my
favorite thing to do. Swimming in the water, laying on the boiling sand. It's
important for every generation to be able to have beaches, and experience
everything that we got to do. But, if we start to put buildings up and companies
all over, it could pollute our water and make all of our great lakes dry up, and
not be here anymore. Or not be as beautiful anymore. Imagine you're sitting here
listening to the waves, with the dry sun shine upon you, and instantly it was
gone.
Artist statement
Artist statement
My essay is about Traverse City Michigan, and the beaches all around it. How beautiful the beaches
are, and what nature symbolizes. I chose to make a collage/scrap book on my
essay because I feel like, it's the best visual that describes my essay. My
visual piece has pictures and quotes from my essay that describe why I put the
picture there. I refined my visual piece by first, I did a rough draft. Brain
stormed, sketched it out, and asked Ashley about it. Then I started making my
scrap book and after every page I would make sure that it looks good and goes
along with my essay as best as it can. My visual piece comes together and makes
sense because it goes completely with my essay. Ashley inspired me to make a
scrap book, because I'm not a very artistic person. I told her that I wasn't.
She gave me the idea to make a scrap book, because you don't really need
artistic ability to make a scrap book. Than, I got the idea to, instead of make
it by hand get an old book and use it as my “scrap book.” I feel like the look
of using an old book is more of a professional look then making it your self. I
felt like since my essay is about the beach, it would be cool to put sand on the
cover, so when you instantly look at it, the first thing that comes to mind is
beach.
My essay is about Traverse City Michigan, and the beaches all around it. How beautiful the beaches
are, and what nature symbolizes. I chose to make a collage/scrap book on my
essay because I feel like, it's the best visual that describes my essay. My
visual piece has pictures and quotes from my essay that describe why I put the
picture there. I refined my visual piece by first, I did a rough draft. Brain
stormed, sketched it out, and asked Ashley about it. Then I started making my
scrap book and after every page I would make sure that it looks good and goes
along with my essay as best as it can. My visual piece comes together and makes
sense because it goes completely with my essay. Ashley inspired me to make a
scrap book, because I'm not a very artistic person. I told her that I wasn't.
She gave me the idea to make a scrap book, because you don't really need
artistic ability to make a scrap book. Than, I got the idea to, instead of make
it by hand get an old book and use it as my “scrap book.” I feel like the look
of using an old book is more of a professional look then making it your self. I
felt like since my essay is about the beach, it would be cool to put sand on the
cover, so when you instantly look at it, the first thing that comes to mind is
beach.