Final Assignment... :D

Andy's class. Some of my friends from the senior class if 2008 told me "whatever you do take Andy's class". So I signed up for it and the first day of class was a living hell. I didn't like anything about the class and dreading it for the whole semester. I made sure I did my work but not to the fullest extent that I should have because I thought this class was useless. Andy and I would go back and forth arguing over minor things that didn't even matter but did it just to get our point across. As the second semester began to kick in I realized that what I needed to do was step my game up in this class or summer school it was for me. I learned how to put thoughts aside and just cope with what Andy was saying. I started to work hard in this class like never before and share a few thoughts here and there to show that I participated. I must say this class was a challenge for me and it was a good one . I learned a lot in each unit we did and I had different perspectives on the American Way of Life.

The first unit was Constitution and this was the hardest unit for me. I never really read the amendments before or knew what the preamble was. This unit also consisted capitalism and insights on economics. This was really hard for me to grasp because I didn't really understand it and on top of that I struggled with reading and understanding the text. I tried hard to pass quizzes but failed at the end. I learned a lot about the Constitution and all our rights as American citizens. Even though this was difficult for me

Our next unit was American Way of Birth. I was excited for this because I have always said I am going to have a big family and this unit gave me insights to what I am going to go through in the future. At first I didn't understand why we would do this unit because I felt like it was random but I must say that this was the best unit. It amazed me how I only saw that birth was a beautiful thing and yes it is but there are many faults in hospitals now. Many doctors only think about the money rather than the woman's health. Doctors just want to take the fast way out. Some rather go through 5 C-sections then have 2 women doing natural birth. Most women don't know what doctors are doing or what a certain medicine or shot is but rather just let the doctor be in control. They let the doctors do what they want even if they were really set on having a natural birth. We as a class learned the pros and cons of the American way of birth and how they will affect us in the long run. I learned a lot from what an epidural was to how to break the birth norm.

Units such as poverty and health caught my attention because we as Americans only worry about ourselves and what we have. This unit opened me up and showed me how I take this for granted. I take going to the doctor for granted and what I have in my life. This unit showed me what health care we have in the United States and how there are many areas that need to be fixed up. Places like France and Canada have free health care. It even goes beyond that. Childcare can be provided if you need it also. It amazing me how different parts of the world have different standards and criteria some being better than others.

I particularly liked the food unit because I love to eat. I never really thought about what I eat until this unit was taught. Every time I go to the doctor she always tells me I need to eat more vegetables and drink more water. When she tells me things like that it goes through one ear and out the other. I get really tense when I hear it but its only for my health and what is best for me so she is only doing me a favor. After seeing a few clips of what goes on in the meat district and what is not seen I started to think twice before stuffng my face. I feel like we shouldn't eat meat because the way they are treating these animals which makes me want to become a a vegetarian. It would be hard to change my eating habits because of how I have been eating my whole life.

In conclusion, I am thankful for this class because not only did I learn a lot of new material but also was able to share my feelings and reactions. It was a great class because it was more like discusions and debates rather than textbook work. Even though in the beginning I despised this class I achieved my goal by learning new materials. All the units put together showed us different perspectives rather than what we have been told. They all relate and bring together what we call the "American way of Life". I look forward to this class next year.

Updated!! Collapse 2...

When the collapse unit started I was kind of excited that we would be doing this unit. I have always thought about what will happen to the world but never really shared my thoughts to anyone. When the unit started I didnt know there were different types of collapes I always thought that it was just "We are going to die" but there is more to it. Some different catergories for collaspes are cool collapse, bad collapse, immediate, slow and quick.

The question that has always wandered my mind is where will this world be in about 10 to 20 years. Sometimes I think that we will be worse than where we are now but then what happens if everyone goes green? I can see the United States trying hard to fix this recession but we will be trying for a very long time. I was scared when I had a dream about collapse and lets just say it wasnt the cool collapse where everyone loves life and we can ride our bikes in the street with no cars. This was a bad collapse and very slow.

I had a dream that the world flooded and everone died. In my dream everyone had a slow death and just drowed because of all the water. You can say this is a bad dream and where did I get it from but I think it is because it was raining that day. I woke up shaking from my dream to hear my mother say "Sam there is a lot of flooding on the highways so hurry". That just added to the dream and I thought it was coming true. All to say is this was a great unit and I wish we could have gone more n depth with it.

UPDATED final Collapse 1...

Easter Island. It was hard to focus and actually read the article because I found it to be dull. After forcing myself to read a few pages I started to learn something. I noticed that easter island started with nothing but everything was stable enought to get by. Humans and animals were there and no machinery. But in our time we replaced what used to be humans jobs with machines. Now we use machines for everything. In the packet it said how food was running out and all there resources were limited. This compares to America and years to come we will be in the same collapse when food and resources are limited more than they are already. This scares me that in a few years we will go through this. What will we turn too to survive and be healthy? I hope that there will be alternatives to what we are to face.

UPDATED Final Food Paper...

Food. This is what we Americans think about 24/7 but do we really know what is behind it? I must say I earned a lot during this unit. I never really thought about food and learning about this definitely gave me insight as to what I'm eating. I always used eating as a way out. My friends and I would use that to have a reason to get to together and hang out or even just to use our time up. When I am eating i never think about what i am eating or if it is healthy for me or what's in it. But after this lesson I am paying attention carefully. So you can say I am a "Andy victim". Many people don't know what is really going on behind the food industry and we need to know.

I started to think about what I was eating and if it was really healthy for me. So I recorded what I ate for the day and didn't really notice my eating habits until I began to write the journal. My usual routine which I have to break out of is skipping breakfast. I don't eat breakfast every morning like I should. Today I skipped breakfast and for lunch I had a salami and cheese sandwich with a few pirate booties that Esther shared with me. I didn't feel a certain way because that was not want I really wanted for lunch but that was the ideal lunch due to the amount of money I had that day. With my friends our conversation was as usual. We usually talk about school, volleyball or what we are going to do later. But later in the day I was treated by Wexler to what was supposed to "the best pizza in the city". I had one slice, which cost $3.50 which I thought was insane for a slice. When I first tasted the slice it made me want to finish it quick because it was so good but after the first half of the slice I began to get full. It was a very good slice but the price was high. You can say I had a typical meal because I was with people talking about random things that are going on in life. Since I was so full from the pizza I didn't have dinner but late in the night I had two oreo's. Having oreo's before bed is like the best thing in the world to me. I might sound a little greedy and fat but that was the highlight of this day besides the "best pizza in the city". The oreo's made me feel good and want more but I know I have to limit myself. When I have oreo's I have milk with them and milk is like a big part of my life. I love milk and don't think I can live without it. Compared to the other people in my house I drink the most milk, which I need to limit myself on. Today was an overall good day. What I notice is that people use food as an activity,for conversation and to even hang out. Personally I know when I haven't seen someone in a long time I like to go out to dinner with them and that shows that we use food as a type of getaway and activity.

What kills me or annoys me the most is when I go to the doctor for a physical and I see my weight. Sometimes I think about what I should cut out but its really hard hearing that you have to cut down on the cookies and sugary drinks and drink water. They tell you to eat all these healthy foods but I find it hard to make something healthy for myself and watch my family eat something so delicious but yet harmful for them. Which one do I choose? I don't go healthy when I should be. Maybe we can make changes and see if it will help. So far the only really big change for me was I stopped eating pork. What influenced me not to eat pork was all the films we watched about the pigs. It kills me how they are treating the pigs. It makes me want to just give up meat in general.

In the films we watched such as the Meatrix and our daily bread they showed how the meat is made and what they do with the animals. The movie that had the most influence on me was Our Daily bread. I couldn't bare seeing what they do to these pigs and all I could think about was how great pernil taste which is like a Spanish classic on any occasion. But after seeing a few minutes of the movie I have not eaten pork. As of right now I don't really think about it but I know I will be faced with the temptation when it comes to getting together. In my household food is a big deal. We are a family that likes to eat which can be bad at times.I don't really know if there are any differences in what we eat compared to "Americans" because I feel like we all generally eat the same thing. In my house we use, seasonings such as adobo and sazon which gives the food extra favor and spice. As a Hispanic family we usually have our rice,beans,and a type of meat.But other than that we usually try and have different meals so that we don't get tired of the "typical" rice beans and meat. My mom will make spaghetti and chicken parmagen one night,maybe tacos another and so on to just mix things up a bit. Sometimes because of my softball or volleyball schedule we might eat out but its generally the same stuff my mom would cook at home.We usually don't eat fast food such as Mc Donald's or Burger King but more restaurant food such as applebee's and what not. When my mom cooks at home she makes food for herself,my dad and sister because I am a very picky eater. I don't eat seafood so when they have fish or shrimp my mom usually makes me something different such as steak which is really kind of her. I feel like the "American" way of food is more of on the go and eat whatever as long as there is a budget.Mc Donalds is your typical fast food restaurant that is known to be all over the country. Many Americans eat it such as families that can not afford a good meal so would have to settle for dollar menu. As for high class rich Americans I think they prefer to have a nice wealthy restaurant that will serve them. There are many different places and foods that "Americans" eat at but I think Mc Donald's is the main place.

Another thing that caught my attention was the trip to the grocery store. I never noticed how many brands of each item there was. There were about 75 different cereals and about 64 different pasta sauces. It amazed me how everything was neatly placed and in the right order and how they advertise certain things such as beer. Right when we walked in the beer was next to the salad like in the middle of the isle which makes you wonder should you get it. I saw alot of healthy foods and organic products that I never knew existed. But all I could think about was a little girl that I see on the train every morning. As they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day but why are so many people not eating it or just eating junk? I don't eat breakfast every morning like I should be. But this little girl for breakfast has different kinds of chips. As I sit on the train I just think about how unhealthy it is and what will happen to the little girl when she grows up. This must be a normal thing she eats for breakfast because she seems fine with it. As I watch her I began to think about how ungrateful I am for what I have when there are many people that don't have much. It really makes me sad to see her eating chips while I choose to blow off my moms breakfast. When all this little girl has is chips for breakfast. It makes me wonder what she has the rest of the day. Moving on, during class we did and activity were we divided into small groups and listed vegetables, fruits, and beans. My group was vegetables and I must say it was hard to think what exactly is considered a vegetable. We then looked at all the lists and wrote down the things we eat weekly. My list was very small but that didn't surprise me. On my list was corn,green beans,rice,red beans, black beans, avocado and grapes. Before this I knew my list was going to be short because I am a picky eater. Now that I see this list I think I should eat more greens and try my best to eat more fruit daily. My doctor tells me all the time that I need to eat more greens but they just don't appeal to me. It is hard to change my ways now. Growing up I was picky and my mom would make a different plate for me. Now that I'm older I realized that it is not what I want to eat but rather what I should be eating and that is greens.

In conclusion, throughout this course I was challenged with the thoughts of what I am eating and becoming a "vegetarian". I never thought I would consider not eating meat because that is the main food always in my plate. I still am struggling with my decision because I fear the outcome. I fear that I will stop but then cave into it again. This unit has taught me a lot and showed me what I am putting in my body every day. It made me think twice about eating pork and what I am going to eat during meals. I find myself more aware of what I am eating instead of just stuffing my face.

UPDATED...Pollan response

In the book, Pollan explains how americans are quick for everything and how in other countries not as much. I agree with Pollan I think that Americans try to rush every process just because its better than waiting and being patient. For example, most americans eat fast food because it easy and convient instead of taking the time out to cook. In my house we don't eat fast food because my parents cook. Out of all my family members I would say that I eat more fast food than them because I am really busy during the week which that is my only option. As a result of americans choosing the easy way out by eating fast food which makes most americans overweight compared to other countries.

UPDATED...Musical chairs

Today in class we played musical chairs. At first I didn't understand why and how it would relate to our unit. I thought of it as just a game like the rest and to just have fun before class started. But when andy started to give rules I began to think about how it could connect to everyday life. At the end the point of musical chairs was to show how competitive it is when looking for a job. As usual there are more people then there are chairs which shows that only a certain amount of people are going to be able to get the job or take advantage of the opportunities given. It shows how in poverty that people are that way because there are not enough spots for every poor person.

UPDATED May Day...

"You always learn something new" is what was always told to me growing up. I never knew what may day was until it was all explained to me and researched a little deeper. I never thought there would be a meaning behind may day. For me, as may approaches I always think of school almost being done or just the sun coming out. But May day has a meaning. May day is a say of celebration for those who labor day to day. I found it hard to understand because what's the point in celebrating working? Are people actually happy working? But there was more to it. May Day is a day were people who labor under rough conditions fight to get a union and better wages or hours. I would agree that it is appropriate to fight for your needs but why fight May 1st and then go back to work the next day?

After school I was walking home and on 23rd street I saw people protesting there labor rights. There were a lot of mexicans protesting to get more pay and the benefits they need. There weren't as many as other protests in the city but there were police officers present. As I continued walking I saw two police officers joking about how the mexicans are wasting there time. I couldn't believe that they were mocking the mexicans. On my way home all I could think about was how they are innocent and didn't want anything else other than their rights and if they got that they were satisfied but these police officers truly are a disgrace.

Baked Mac and Cheese Recipe...

Ingredients:
3 10oz packages sharp cheddar cheese
1 16oz package of mozzarella cheese
1 can carnation milk
1 box of Mueller's macaroni
2 tablespoons of butter



Step 1: Put water to boil for macaroni and add 1 tablespoon of butter to the water.

Step 2: Add macaroni once the water is at its boiling point (boil for about 7 min or until noodles are tender)

Step 3: Shred cheese. Remove 1 cup of cheddar and 1/2 cup of mozzarella to save for the end.

Step 4: Add enough of both cheeses to cover top of macaroni.

Step 5: Add 1/4 can of carnation milk and stir until cheese is mixed in with noodles.

Step 6: Continue to add cheese and milk as explained above until cheese is finished.

Step 7: Pour into a pan that can be used in the oven. Such as an aluminium pan.

Step 8: Add the 1 cup of Cheddar and 1/2 cup of mozzarella on top of the macaroni.

Step 9: Bake at 350 until the top of the macaroni browns

Class food activity and smart thoughts...

Today during class we had a lot to share about what we noticed and or what we thought about our little journey to the grocery store. I shared with the class about this little girl I see on the train every morning. As they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day but why are so many people not eating it or just eating junk? I don't eat breakfast every morning like I should be. But this little girl for breakfast has different kinds of chips. As I sit on the train I just think about how unhealthy it is and what will happen to the little girl when she grows up. This must be a normal thing she eats for breakfast because she seems fine with it. As I watch her I began to think about how ungrateful I am for what I have when there are many people that don't have much. It really makes me sad to see her eating chips while I choose to blow off my moms breakfast. When all this little girl has is chips for breakfast. It makes me wonder what she has the rest of the day. Moving on, during class we did and activity were we divided into small groups and listed vegetables, fruits, and beans. My group was vegetables and I must say it was hard to think what exactly is considered a vegetable. We then looked at all the lists and wrote down the things we eat weekly. My list was very small but that didn't surprise me. On my list was corn,green beans,rice,red beans, balck beans, avacado and grapes. Before this I knew my list was going to be short because I am a picky eater. Now that I see this list I think I should eat more greens and try my best to eat more fruit daily. My doctor tells me all the time that I need to eat more greens but they just don't appeal to me. It is hard to change my ways now. Growing up I was picky and my mom would make a different plate for me. Now that I'm older I realized that it is not what I want to eat but rather what I should be eating and that is greens.

Final My food compared to Americans

In my household food is a big deal. We are a family that likes to eat which can be bad at times.I don't really know if there are any differences in what we eat compared to "americans" because I feel like we all generally eat the same thing. In my house we use, seasionings such as adobo and sazon which gives the food extra favor and spice. As a hispanic family we usually have our rice,beans,and a type of meat.But other than that we usually try and have different meals so that we don't get tired of the "typical" rice beans and meat. My mom will make spegetti and chicken parmagen one night,maybe tacos another and so on to just mix things up a bit. Sometimes because of my softball or volleyball schedule we might eat out but its generally the same stuff my mom would cook at home.We usually don't eat fast food such as Mc Donalds or Burger King but more resturant food such as applebess and what not. When my mom cooks at home she makes food for herself,my dad and sister because I am a very picky eater. I don't eat seafood so when they have fish or shrimp my mom usually makes me something different such as steak which is really kind of her. I feel like the "American" way of food is more of on the go and eat whatever as long as there is a budget.Mc Donalds is your typical fast food restuarant that is known to be all over the country. Many americans eat it such as families that can not afford a good meal so would have to settle for dollar menu. As for high class rich americans I think they prefer to have a nice wealthy resturant that will serve them. There are many different places and foods that "americans" eat at but I think Mc Donalds is the main place.

Question and Answer...

What is good for the body and what is bad?
-http://www.enotalone.com/article/5055.html

Every time I go to the doctor for a physical she talks about all the foods that I should be eating and shouldn't be eating. It is hard to hear that you have to cut down on the cookies and sugary drinks and drink water. They tell you to eat all these healthy foods but I find it hard to make something healthy for myself and watch my family eat something so delicious but yet harmful for them. Which one do I choose? I don't go healthy when I should be. Maybe we can make changes and see if it will help.

Final Food Journal...

My usual routine which I have to break out of is skipping breakfast. I don't eat breakfast every morning like I should. Today I skipped breakfast and for lunch I had a salami and cheese sandwich with a few pirate booties that Esther shared with me. I didn't feel a certain way because that was not want I really wanted for lunch but that was the ideal lunch due to the amount of money I had that day. With my friends our conversation was as usual. We usually talk about school, volleyball or what we are going to do later. But later in the day I was treated by Wexler to what was supposed to "the best pizza in the city". I had one slice, which cost $3.50 which I thought was insane for a slice. When I first tasted the slice it made me want to finish it quick because it was so good but after the first half of the slice I began to get full. It was a very good slice but the price was high. You can say I had a typical meal because I was with people talking about random things that are going on in life. Since I was so full from the pizza I didn't have dinner but late in the night I had two oreo's. Having oreo's before bed is like the best thing in the world to me. I might sound a little greedy and fat but that was the highlight of this day besides the "best pizza in the city". The oreo's made me feel good and want more but I know I have to limit myself. When I have oreo's I have milk with them and milk is like a big part of my life. I love milk and don't think I can live without it. Compared to the other people in my house I drink the most milk, which I need to limit myself on. Today was an overall good day. What I notice is that people use food as an activity,for conversation and to even hang out. Personally I know when I haven't seen someone in a long time I like to go out to dinner with them and that shows that we use food as a type of getaway and activity.

Final: My Refrigerator

-milk
-orange juice
-grape juice
-apple juice
-water
-iced tea
-eggs
-cold cuts (salami,ham,cheese,turkey etc.)
-sour cream
-butter
-capri sun
-pineapples
-apples
-oranges
-gatorade
-salad
-potatoes
-lemon
-garlic
-onion
-coffee
-farina(wheat cereal)
-mustard
-balsamic vinegar
-parmesan cheese
-hot sauce
-jelly
-A1 steak sauce
-BBQ sauce
-mayonnaise
-sparkling cider
-ketchup
-spaghetti sauce
I am not really sure what this food can possibly relate to. I don't see anything that can show my culture. What I do see is many items that people might have in their own refrigerator. Such as milk,eggs,cheese, ketchup etc. I think that food in general are all the same. Sometimes we say we are going to have Italian, Spanish food or even Mexican but it is all Americanized food. It is not the real deal. But we don't notice it when we eat it. I would like to experience the real thing and see whats the difference between what we are served here and where it is actually from.

My food compared to Americans

In my household food is a big deal. We are a family that likes to eat which can be bad at times.I don't really know if there are any differences in what we eat compared to "americans" because I feel like we all generally eat the same thing. In my house we use, seasionings such as adobo and sazon which gives the food extra favor and spice. As a hispanic family we usually have our rice,beans,and a type of meat.But other than that we usually try and have different meals so that we don't get tired of the "typical" rice beans and meat. My mom will make spegetti and chicken parmagen one night,maybe tacos another and so on to just mix things up a bit. Sometimes because of my softball or volleyball schedule we might eat out but its generally the same stuff my mom would cook at home.We usually don't eat fast food such as Mc Donalds or Burger King but more resturant food such as applebess and what not. When my mom cooks at home she makes food for herself,my dad and sister because I am a very picky eater. I don't eat seafood so when they have fish or shrimp my mom usually makes me something different such as steak which is really kind of her. I feel like the "American" way of food is more of on the go and eat whatever as long as there is a budget.Mc Donalds is your typical fast food restuarant that is known to be all over the country. Many americans eat it such as families that can not afford a good meal so would have to settle for dollar menu. As for high class rich americans I think they prefer to have a nice wealthy resturant that will serve them. There are many different places and foods that "americans" eat at but I think Mc Donalds is the main place.

Draft 1: My Refrigerator

-milk
-orange juice
-grape juice
-apple juice
-water
-iced tea
-eggs
-cold cuts (salami,ham,cheese,turkey etc.)
-sour cream
-butter
-capri sun
-pineapples
-apples
-oranges
-gatorade
-salad
-potatoes
-lemon
-garlic
-onion
-coffee
-farina(wheat cereal)
-mustard
-balsamic vinegar
-parmesan cheese
-hot sauce
-jelly
-A1 steak sauce
-BBQ sauce
-mayonnaise
-sparkling cider
-ketchup
-spaghetti sauce
I am not really sure what this food can possibly relate to. I don't see anything that can show my culture. What I do see is many items that people might have in their own refrigerator. Such as milk,eggs,cheese, ketchup etc.

Draft of Health care...

Comparative Analysis Question...mixed with Canada and France

After all that has been done in the past few weeks on health care, I can say that I am surprised at what I have learned. It amazes me how different the United States is from different places. Even more specific. How different we are with health care. Here in the United States many people have health insurance just as many without. Some people have to pay co-payments but others generally don't have to pay a co-pay. Like my family we have GHI. So we pay co-payments to the doctors. We have GHI because both of my parents work for the city and the only choices were GHI and HIP. My mother chose GHI which is a private doctor. My parents don't know a lot of information about GHI which worried me. I began to think the worst about our health care and what would happen if one of my family members needed something major. Growing up and till this day my parents had to pay co-payments when going to the doctor or a specialist. For my physician the co-pay is $15 but for a specialist such as my dermatologist it is $20. Prices at my dermatologist can range depending what treatments and if GHI will cover it.

Recently, I had to make a trip to the emergency room due to a thermometer breaking in chemistry class and being exposed to mercury. Right away they sent me into an ambulance. Felix warned me and told me to take a cab because the bill for the ambulance would be high but I had no choice according to them. I along with my parents, was surprised when bill arrived. The bill was a few hundred dollars for a ride that was only 5 minutes because Beth Israel is right next to school. My parents were going to pay off the whole thing when they stopped and sent the bill back to see how much GHI will cover. We are now waiting on the insurance company to see how much they will pay. I feel as if the bill is going to come back the same amount with a letter saying they are not going to cover it. It amazes me how fast they will deny anything to save money. I am wondering if they will deny me. We still await the bill and i have a feeling it will take a long time. I really hope that our health insurance will cover the cost because money is on the brink.

After going through an experience like that I wish the United States health care system were similar to Canada. In Canada health care is free. Any visit to the doctor or hospital is all covered. This made me wonder why cant we have the same? So far everything about Canada that I have heard and read about makes me wonder should the US follow in their footsteps? Hearing everything that Canada has to offer has many people that I spoke too said that the US should have free health care. But is that really the answer to all life's problems.

A similar place to Canada that has free health care also is Denmark. Denmark is known to have free health care but taxes to be higher depending on how much you make. When the Danish people came to talk with us they explained that a teenager who makes $6,000 a year doesn't have to pay taxes. Here in the US $6,000 is nothing. The danish people said that they rather pay higher taxes than have to pay for health care like we do.

Lastly the movie Sicko was an eye opener. It made me think a lot about this country and how there are many differences from other places. Watching this movie everyone started to take everything that was said to the heart and say how they wanted to move to Canada or France because of the benefits. I must say I was a victim and agreed with Lauren to move anywhere so that we wont have to stay here. But was everything that was said in the movie about France and Canada true? There were many positives said in the movie about France such as free health care even home visits from a doctor. In France it was said that the government sends help for mothers who need it for free. They even will cook dinner and do your laundry. I think that was were I was sold. I really liked that you could receive help from the government for those who need it. I don't think that the US should have that because people who take advantage of it. What comes to mind is the octomom.People will start having kids just for the help. In conclusion, in the past few weeks I have learned a lot. I am torn between deciding whether the US should stay the same or have free health care for all. I would love for everyone to get the care they need but also everything cant be free. I am glad that this unit has showed me what we have in the US compared to what other countries have. It was really an eye opener and made me wonder about what else is out there.

Draft 2: Healthcare

Health care in the United States is "the best". Not so much. My parents both work for the city so the only choices were GHI and HIP. My mother chose GHI which is a private doctor. My parents don't know a lot of information about GHI which worried me. I began to think the worst about our health care and what would happen if one of my family members needed something major. Growing up and till this day my parents had to pay co-payments when going to the doctor or a specialist. For my physician the co-pay is $15 but for a specialist such as my dermatologist it is $20. Prices at my dermatologist can range depending what treatments and if GHI will cover it.

Recently, I had to make a trip to the emergency room due to a thermometer breaking in chemistry class and being exposed to mercury. Right away they sent me into an ambulance. Felix warned me and told me to take a cab because the bill for the ambulance would be high but I had no choice according to them. I along with my parents, was surprised when bill arrived. The bill was a few hundred dollars for a ride that was only 5 minutes because Beth Israel is right next to school. My parents were going to pay off the whole thing when they stopped and sent the bill back to see how much GHI will cover. We are now waiting on the insurance company to see how much they will pay. I feel as if the bill is going to come back the same amount with a letter saying they are not going to cover it. It amazes me how fast they will deny anything to save money. I am wondering if they will deny me. We still await the bill and i have a feeling it will take a long time. I really hope that our health insurance will cover the cost because money is on the brink.

My healthcare...

To start off my parents didn't know much about our health insurance which did not help. We currently have GHI which is mostly for people who work for the city. Both my parent work for the city so it was GHI. Growing up my parents had to pay co-payments when going to the doctor or a specialist. For my doctor the co-pay is $15 but for a specialist such as my dermatologist it is $20. Prices at my dermatologist can range depending what treatments and if GHI will cover it. Recently, I had to make a trip to the emergency room due to a thermometer breaking in chemistry class and being exposed to mercury. Right away they sent me into an ambulance. Felix warned me and told me to take a cab because the bill for the ambulance would be high but I had no choice according to them. I along with my parents, was surprised when bill arrived. The bill was a few hundred dollars for a ride that was only 5 minutes because Beth Israel is right next to school. My parents were going to pay off the whole thing when they stopped and sent the bill back to see how much GHI will cover. We are now waiting on the insurance company to see how much they will pay. I feel as if the bill is going to come back the same amount with a letter saying they are not going to cover it. It amazes me how fast they will deny anything to save money. I am wondering if they will deny me.

**More to come when bill arrives.**

Poverty Q&A....DRAFT!

How many homeless shelters are there in New York City?

What can be done to try and elimate poverty or lower the amount of people in poverty?

Why do so many families depend on welfare instead of themselves?

Is poverty growing or decreasing?

Danish Assignment...

Before learning about the differences between Denmark and The United States we as a class created a scenario where a mother named Jill with a 3 year old daughter named Imani would survive in times like this. After calculating how much rent,maintenance,child care and more would cost we figured out that Jill would need to make at least $28,000 a year to have just enough for her basic necessities. If $28,000 is barely enough what is the actual poverty line for a family of two? The poverty line in the United States is actually $14,00. If a person makes anything below $14,000 they are considered poor and can seek government help. being worthy of welfare is when you have tried or you are trying to make a living and need a little help because you are below the poverty line. Being unworthy is when you are just collecting money and not showing you are trying to improve your situation. There are endless options for Jill at this point because of her income. She can choose charity and receive those benefits out of pity or she can choose solidarity which is a bunch of people who are in the same situation working together for benefits.

In addition Jill will need to pay taxes and we all know that is not the greatest thing in the world. The three different types of taxes spoken about in class is progressive tax, flat tax and regressive tax. Progress tax is when the rich people pay more taxes than the poor unlike regressive tax where for the rich paying taxes is nothing but for the poor it is a lot which makes them pay more. Flat tax is where everyone pays the same amount of taxes. Effective taxes is all the tax brackets included.

To compare the United States to the Denmark there are many differences and similarities. The Danish taught us a lot about their welfare system and by hearing it, I felt like everything they said sounded better than here. A similarity between the two is that they also have to pay taxes but on a different scale. The Danish teens were telling us Americans that if you make less than $6,000 you don't have to pay taxes and it all depends if your rich or poor. If though the Danish people pay way higher taxes than Americans they also have benefits that come with it. They receive free health care and child care even for the different classes. I think that we should use some of the techniques that the Danish people use so that there would not be as many people in poverty or needing assistance. I think that if we do change somethings here and switch them for what the danish do we will see many people improving their situation and feel great.

AWOB Paper

The American Way of Birth. What is it? Are most women educated before their first pregnancy? Many of these questions helped us break down the AWOB and learn about different ways of giving birth. Before this lesson, I did not know enough about birth to hold a conversation, but after a few weeks I started to research and get different views of birth. Births in the United States are mostly by Cesarean section which question many people as to why this may be. Why are there so few natural births? I found it shocking to see statisitcs on birth and see that most women who gave birth had their baby through a c-section. It was then, that I wanted to find out some birth stories and see how many mothers had a natural birth or a c-section. I asked many mothers of there birth experience and different questions of what they thought of birth. The first mother which we will call Mother A had two children and gave me information about both births. For her first child she was in labor for 11 hours. After pushing for another 2 hours the baby still did not come close to being delivered. The doctors began to worry about the baby because when pushing you are applying pressure to the baby's head. The doctors then gave her a shot in her private to check how the baby was doing, and the baby was not doing well. Doctors then said that there was no other choice but to have a emergency c-section. She did not want to have a c-section because of the thought of having a stitches. The baby came at 35 or 36 weeks. As for pain the mother described it as "excruciating, severe pain that words cannot explain". The mother began to explain the hard times she went through with her second baby. Unlike the first baby, the second baby came 7 weeks early. But during the pregnancy the mother was in and out of the hospital because of consistent bleeding she had. The mother almost lost her baby three times and her life was at risk. One problem she faced was that she had placenta previa which is when the sack for the baby is growing outside instead on the inside and the sack is covering the birth canal. Because the sack was covering the birth canal (how the baby comes out) she had to get a c-section. This time the mother was more prepared and knew how everything happened and what was done because she had a c-section with her first born. A difference between the first and second child is the pain the mother experienced. Since the mother had an epidural for her second baby she had mild pain but mostly did not feel anything. She was given steroids because the baby's lungs had to develop faster because she was pre-mature. The baby had to stay at the hospital in intensive care for 19 days because she needed to be 5lbs before going home. Mother B was different from mother A. She was in labor 27 in a half hours and was a brave one. She refused to get any type of shot or medicine and stuck with the pain. She was not treated well at the hospital like she expected. The nurses did not pay much attention to her and left her there to push for herself. She had a natural birth and said that it was very painful and she wished she would have got an epidural for the pain. Unlike mother A the baby came home right away and everything was fine. Mother B did not have any complications with the baby. For her second child the due date was September 16 but it doctors said if she didn't give birth before the 28th they would induce labor. She was in labor for over 15 hours. The doctors put her on medication to induce labor and asked if she wanted an epidural but she refused because she didn't get one for her first child. Doctors insisted that natural and c-section births are different and she should get an epidural. With in a few hours she was crying for an epidural. The mother had a fever so they needed to do an emergency c-section because the baby was at risk. When the baby came out the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. Doctors took immediate action. Mother C, on February 14 she began to have pain and called the doctor to let them know how she felt. The doctor said she need to come in as soon as possible. After pushing for 19 hours the doctors told her that the baby was too big and that she need a c-section. The thoughts of c-sections made her cry because she had her mind set on a natural birth. 21 hours later she received an epidural and delivered the baby on February 16. The mother said "the pain was not bad, I was able to deal with it." At the hospital she was treated fairly nicely. Unlike the other stories the dad cried when he held the baby in his arms. Mother D I must say that this to me was the easiest birth that i have heard. She was only in labor for 6 hours and didn't feel a thing. This did not get any medication nor an epidural but also didn't have pain. Giving birth was so easy she did not feel the baby come out. Everything was perfectly fine. After hearing all the different birth stories from different mothers I must say that mother D had it the easiest compared to the other mothers she was in labor for the least amount of hours and had the least amount of pain. After hearing her story it made me wonder how many mothers can relate to her story. Hearing all the different prospectives on birth and the pain I wish all births were painless. Home birth differ from hostpital biths because you are able to feel birth in its natural form. Unlike hospital births everything is rushed and you dont feel a thing because of all the medication. Hospital births are alienating women today by having many c-sections with out reason. Statisitcs show that most hosptial births are c-section, and it is at its highest in the United States.

Thoughts on "The Business of Being Born"

The movie "The Business of Being born" showed the differences between hospital births and home births. It also showed how there are many problems with hospital birth. This movie opened my eyes and showed me there is more than one way to give birth. Many women think there is hospital birth and its natural or by c-section but many women are able to choose what type of birth they want. While watching how the hospitals go about c-sections I felt like the doctors did it to rush the process for their own selfish needs. The way the doctors were talking about giving epidurals and c-sections I feel like it was taking lightly. After hearing and witnessing many hospital births it was time for how home births work. I found the home birth to be more relaxing and you can control what happens. Unlike hospital births there are bright lights and a lot of people in the room but the home birth was the total opposite. In one of the home births it was so relaxing her son was there watching and I found it surprising how the mother gets to walk around and take her time. In a home birth the process is not rushed as in the hospital. Statistics show that in the U.S less than one percent of women have home births as opposed to Europe home births are at seventy percent. In the movie many people were asked "have you ever thought of having a midwife?" and many people in the U.S. didn't even know what a midwife was. The U.S. has the second worst newborn death rate in the world. Since 1996 the c-section rate has risen forty-six percent. In the movie many doctors were saying home births are safe or even safer than hospital births. Another great fact about home births is that it is a money saver. For a home birth the cost was around $4,000 and a hospital birth was around $13,000. Natural birth is better but some women don't notice because they are fixated on "faster is better".

A fact that I found surprising is that the death rate when you are pregnant is higher than third world countries. After watching this movie and hearing both sides of birth I have a totally different view of birth. I always saw doctors as caring and there for you when you need help and some of that is true but doctors take advantage and don't let the women be in control. They rather be in control and say "you need a c-section" and women say okay right away not giving it thought or asking why. Before learning about the American way of birth I said I wanted ten children but now I just want two at the most and a home birth. Learning and getting to see real footage of births has changed how I see birth. I want to have a midwife rather than going to the hospital because I am in my own home. Birth is something women should find beautiful and be able to experience for themselves. I found this topic to be very interesting and I am glad I was able to hear and learn about this at my age. Many teens don't ever get to learn about births and I am glad we did, it has opened my eyes and showed me there is more out there than I think.

Final...The beauty of AWOB?

After seeing 3 out of the 4 videos of different births I was surprised to see that animal births are similar to human births. In the first video with the giraffes I saw many similarities to human birth such as having someone there to support you and help you while giving birth. While the mother giraffe was giving birth there was another giraffe along side of her just close by for support. When human mothers give birth they sometimes like to have a relative or their spouse close by. I also noticed that before the giraffes give birth 4-6 inches of sand is laid out for the giraffe just like before and during a mother giving birth doctors use cloths for all the excess blood. The sand is also used to protect the baby giraffe when it falls. The term for the cloth used is called a "chuck". They way the giraffe gave birth reminded me of the natural way of birth because it looked like she was squatting. You can hear the woman in the background saying what is going on step by step and how the umbilical cord is broken. I connected to AWOL, how the giraffe was trying to get up and walk and kept on falling was similar to when babies try and walk and they fall.

While watching these videos I can see that the patients or the animals are not in charge rather the doctors or the people at the zoo are in charge. I feel as if there is no say in what you want when giving birth because its all about "what the doctors say". In a previous assignment, I collected birth stories from different mothers and one of the mothers said that her stay at the hospital was not what she expected. The nurses and the doctors we rushing her birth as if they had something to do after. She also said that that the nurses were very rude to her and did not care for her. I find it very hard to hear that doctors and nurses are acting in such behavior because when a pregnant woman comes in to give birth it is supposed to be a "memorable" moment, and that everyone is focused on you and your baby. But, as I heard from the story this is a completely different view.

I spoke to many women who say they wish they could to everything over because it would all be different. The women that I spoke to who had two children said they wish they would have known what they know now when they were giving birth to their first child. Many women when having their first child are not as experienced as other mothers who have more than one child. During your first child you really don't know what to do or what is going on so you lean on the doctor to help you and guide you through the whole process. For the women with two children they say that the second time they were going to give birth was easier because they knew what to expect and were prepared.

I found the dolphin birth video to be really short as if giving birth was nothing. I connected it to one of the birth stories a mother gave me. She was only in labor for 6 hours and did not feel any pain. Also no medication or epidural was given. It interest me to hear all the birth stories because they were all different. Some had medication, epidurals, felt pain or birth was even painless it amazes me how so many people can feel different ways when giving birth. Before all the lessons about the American way of birth I never realized how many ways women can give birth. I always thought there was one way but after hearing that women can squat to give birth I was surprised. I always saw birth as "okay a women is going to have a baby, mostly likely natural." But there are many ways that women can give birth. I also noticed that the doctors are mostly in charge every step of the way such as letting you know if you need a c-section or you can have the baby natural. Many women don't actually choose how they want to have their baby rather the doctor tells them "what to do". Doctors sort of plan everything out so that it can go as quickly and smoothly as possible. But is having the doctor in charge really what women want?

Lastly, proof that the doctors are n charge I watched the video of doctors preforming a c-section on a women and how detailed it was. I found it very hard to watch because I felt that the doctors were not being careful with the baby rather yanking the baby out of her stomach. The way the doctors handled the baby's head hurt me because they were being rough after watching a few seconds I knew I couldn't watch any more or see what was going to happen next. I cut the video short because I couldn't see the baby being handled in that matter.

Draft: The beauty of....AWOB?

After seeing 3 out of the 4 videos of different births I was surprised to see that animal births are similar to human births. In the first video with the giraffes I saw many similarities to human birth such as having someone there to support you and help you while giving birth. While the mother giraffe was giving birth there was another giraffe along side of her just close by for support. When human mothers give birth they sometimes like to have a relative or their spouse close by. I also noticed that before the giraffes give birth 4-6 inches of sand is laid out for the giraffe just like before and during a mother giving birth doctors use cloths for all the excess blood. The sand is also used to protect the baby giraffe when it falls. The term for the cloth used is called a "chuck". They way the giraffe gave birth reminded me of the natural way of birth because it looked like she was squatting. You can hear the woman in the background saying what is going on step by step and how the umbilical cord is broken. I connected to AWOL, how the giraffe was trying to get up and walk and kept on falling was similar to when babies try and walk and they fall.

While watching these videos I can see that the patients or the animals are not in charge rather the doctors or the people at the zoo are in charge. I feel as if there is no say in what you want when giving birth because its all about "what the doctors say". In a previous assignment, I collected birth stories from different mothers and one of the mothers said that her stay at the hospital was not what she expected. The nurses and the doctors we rushing her birth as if they had something to do after. She also said that that the nurses were very rude to her and did not care for her. I find it very hard to hear that doctors and nurses are acting in such behavior because when a pregnant woman comes in to give birth it is supposed to be a "memorialble" moment, and that everyone is focused on you and your baby. But, as I heard from the story this is a completly different view.

Natural vs. Normal

During class when we were talking about the similarities and differences between the AWOB and the natural there were more similarities being said than differences. I found it surprising that there are many ways to giving birth but as well as many limitations. I rarely hear woman choosing something different from c-section or natural birth. The AWOB usually consist of many machines, different doctors in and out of the room, lights, time schedule and different ways to help the pain. Where as in the natural the woman is relaxing, squatting, there is pain but no medication being given and cheaper than the AWOB. I think a lot reasons for why woman give birth through c-section is because they want to get it over with. Many woman want an epidural because they don't want to feel the pain when giving birth. Many doctors tell the woman what they want and give them no other choice but to do what the doctor said. I think woman should be able to say how they want to give birth unless the baby or mother is in danger.

Birth Q&A

Birth control:
Different types and some statistics
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/babytabl.html

Teen Pregnancy:
Rates have dropped from past years.
http://www.teenshelter.org/data.htm

Abortion:
Past years and current statistics
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/ab-unitedstates.html

Surprising Facts:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_17-surprising-facts-about-birth-in-the-united-states_1372273.bc

Average age of pregnancy:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_17-surprising-facts-about-birth-in-the-united-states_1372273.bc

Average of miscarriages:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_people_have_miscarriages

Reasons for adoption:
Many couples want to complete the family some cannot have children.
http://www.syl.com/articles/family/adoption_in_details/reasons_for_adoption/

Abortion vs. Adoption
http://www.lifenews.com/nat3837.html

Effective form of birth control:
Abstinence is first
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-effective-form-of-birth-control.htm

Group Discussion Questions...

Topic:How people get pregnant?
Birth control,abortion and adoption

1.What percentage of people get pregnant on purpose?
2.How available is birth control to all ages?
3.What are the percentages of teen pregnancies?How has it changed?
4.What are some of the reasons for abortion?
5.How do the different races affect the percentages?
6.What is the average age of pregnancy?
7.What percentage of pregnancies end in miscarriages?
8.What are reasons for adoption?
9.Which is more common abortion or adoption?
10.Is abortion or adoption more traumatizing for women?
11.What's the most effective form of birth control?
12.Which is the safest?
13.Which form is the most common?
14.What percentage of men use condoms?
15.What percentage don't?Why?
16.What percentage of men take responsibility for their children?

Other topics in class: what techniques and technology used?
Ways of giving birth
American verses other countries a comparison of births

Different Birth Stories

I asked many mothers of there birth experience and different questions of what they thought of birth. The first mother which we will call Mother A had two children and gave me information about both births. For her first child she was in labor for 11 hours. After pushing for another 2 hours the baby still did not come close to being delivered. The doctors began to worry about the baby because when pushing you are applying pressure to the baby's head. The doctors then gave her a shot in her private to check how the baby was doing, and the baby was not doing well. Doctors then said that there was no other choice but to have a emergency c-section. She did not want to have a c-section because of the thought of having a stitches. The baby came at 35 or 36 weeks. As for pain the mother described it as "excruciating, severe pain that words cannot explain". The mother began to explain the hard times she went through with her second baby. Unlike the first baby, the second baby came 7 weeks early. But during the pregnancy the mother was in and out of the hospital because of consistent bleeding she had. The mother almost lost her baby three times and her life was at risk. One problem she faced was that she had placenta previa which is when the sack for the baby is growing outside instead on the inside and the sack is covering the birth canal. Because the sack was covering the birth canal (how the baby comes out) she had to get a c-section. This time the mother was more prepared and knew how everything happened and what was done because she had a c-section with her first born. A difference between the first and second child is the pain the mother experienced. Since the mother had an epidural for her second baby she had mild pain but mostly did not feel anything. She was given steroids because the baby's lungs had to develop faster because she was pre-mature. The baby had to stay at the hospital in intensive care for 19 days because she needed to be 5lbs before going home.

Mother B
This mother is different from mother A. She was in labor 27 in a half hours and was a brave one. She refused to get any type of shot or medicine and stuck with the pain. She was not treated well at the hospital like she expected. The nurses did not pay much attention to her and left her there to push for herself. She had a natural birth and said that it was very painful and she wished she would have got an epidural for the pain. Unlike mother A the baby came home right away and everything was fine. Mother B did not have any complications with the baby. For her second child the due date was September 16 but it doctors said if she didn't give birth before the 28th they would induce labor. She was in labor for over 15 hours. The doctors put her on medication to induce labor and asked if she wanted an epidural but she refused because she didn't get one for her first child. Doctors insisted that natural and c-section births are different and she should get an epidural. With in a few hours she was crying for an epidural. The mother had a fever so they needed to do an emergency c-section because the baby was at risk. When the baby came out the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. Doctors took immediate action.

Mother C
On February 14 she began to have pain and called the doctor to let them know how she felt. The doctor said she need to come in as soon as possible. After pushing for 19 hours the doctors told her that the baby was too big and that she need a c-section. The thoughts of c-sections made her cry because she had her mind set on a natural birth. 21 hours later she received an epidural and delivered the baby on February 16. The mother said "the pain was not bad, I was able to deal with it." At the hospital she was treated fairly nicely. Unlike the other stories the dad cried when he held the baby in his arms.

Mother D
I must say that this to me was the easiest birth that i have heard. She was only in labor for 6 hours and didn't feel a thing. This mother did not get any medication nor an epidural but also didn't have pain. Giving birth was so easy she did not feel the baby come out. Everything was perfectly fine.

After hearing all the different birth stories from different mothers I must say that mother D had it the easiest. Compared to the other mothers she was in labor for the least amount of hours and had the least amount of pain. After hearing her story it made me wonder how many mothers can relate to her story. Hearing all the different prospectives on birth and the pain I wish all births were painless.

Thoughts on Birth...

"What a beautiful experience'" is what everyone says. I feel the same way at times but it is only because I am not experiencing it for myself. When you are young you always played games about how many children you were going to have, planning your wedding and even what your house is going to look like. I have always loved working with children and want to have some of my own someday. I always said I wanted ten kids but is that really what I want after hearing what giving birth is really like? What is going to happen when the baby is crying in the middle of the night, then will I think it is cute? Many thoughts of kids in the future pass my mind. I've always thought about being a "soccer mom" but hearing all the experiences and how much it will change your life is making me think twice. I spoke to my mom about her experience of giving birth and she said it was painful. After being in labor with me for 27 in a half hours without any type of medicine or shot such as an epidural . Today in class really grossed me out when Andy got into some details about birth such as what a chuck is. A chuck is a cloth they put underneath you for all the blood when you are giving birth. Giving birth is the part that scares me but to see your baby in your arms is beautiful. I have two different reactions towards birth: beautiful but life changing. You get to experience motherhood and never forget the pain you went through as well. I connected this all back to an article I read about a woman who gave birth to eight children by having in-vitro fertilization. The woman already has six children all different ages and now she has eight more. She does not have a job and just recently lost her house. I don't understand why doctors would let her choose in-vitro knowing that she has six children already and is not financially able. To know she has and was able to have more children is a blessing but to know that everyone will be paying taxes that are going to her because she is unemployed is not fair. As far as myself, I still want to have children but ten children I am think in twice about.

Big Paper(added pieces)

When the topic of the American Way of Life is brought up into conversations many debate as to what the American Way of Life is. While interviewing some of my family members on the topic my dad’s response was “freedom to be and do what you want, nothing against the law”. This meaning that there are boundaries as to what freedom really is. Going against the law can cost you your freedom.

To get more ideas as to what the American Way of Life is outside of my life I interviewed people who lived or worked around School of the Future. I interviewed a middle class man of a Hispanic background and asked him the same question, what is the American way of life? He began to say freedom as many others but changed his answer to “taking care of my son and paying the bills, being the rock of the family”. He worries and does what is needed for the family to get them the necessities they need in life.

I also interviewed a man who works at the deli near school and is an immigrant. He said "I love this country, i came here have a better life." Many immigrants come to America because there are many opportunities here. A lot of immigrants come to live what they call "the dream" but to people who were born here don't see America as that. I spoke with an American who was born and raised here and he said the America way of life was to get an education, make money, and be successful. Different people have different views of what the typical American way of life is and that what makes each and everyone of us unique.


The American Way of Life doesn't just end there. Things such as capitalism and what this country is founded on also play a part. There are many aspects in which capitalism can be defined. One definition that capitalism can be is the economic system in which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed, through the mechanism of free market based on private property and profit motive. The three major components of capitalism are land, labor and capital. Land is the natural world in which the product is made. Labor is the work that was put into making and selling that product and lastly capital is the resources that are used to re-shape or enhance the product so that it can be at its final form. Furthermore into capitalism supply, demand and profit play a role in having a business. Supply is the total amount of resources and or products for sale at all prices. Sometimes their can be scarcity which is the limit of resources.


There are many labels in which capitalism is made up of but one of the most is the profit motive. Many businesses will try and get the best price from you for the product. Many will team up and join forces which is called "price fixings". This is when business join together to try and better their profits instead of competing. For example, as a class some pretended to sell lemonade and some people were the customers and the object was to find the best price you can get the lemonade for. Eventually at the end two merchants joined together and fixed the price. In conclusion, capitalism is an economic system in which products are produced, distributed and consumed through profit motive and a free market. Land, labor and capital are one of the many elements that help make up capitalism.

One of the many things that still holds true is the constitution. The constitution is basically a guidelines for the country. It starts with the preamble and goes into the legislative branch,executive branch and the judicial branch. Legislative Branch consist of the congress and the senate and house of representatives. There is a certain criteria such as having the ability to change election every two years, senate proposes all the bills and has control of taxes. The executive branch qualifications are to make sure all the laws are being inforced, president has say in which laws can be created and the president has to be American born. Lastly as for the Judaical branch it consists of the supreme court, deals with problems involving different states and over looks the laws. Part of the American way of life is that everything have some kind of order so everything is not chaotic and the Constitution does just that.



There are many things Americans take part in such as preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and shopping for black Friday. Despite the position this country is in and everything you hear about saving money people still went shopping for holiday sales. During class, we started talking what thanksgiving means to us, how the tradition is to say what your "grateful" for and some responses family members say when asked that question. It was hard to hear some of the things that were said in class because the way everything was put was like if it was all crap. Some people take life for granted but not everyone. What was said during class sounded as if everyone does because we started talking about the Pilgrims and the Indians. When the topic was brought up i have to be honest and say i didn't remember all the key factors on what happened. Talking about it refreshed my mind and kind of gave me a whole new idea of thanksgiving. I thought about the whole concept of celebrating thanksgiving when many people died. Now in my family we celebrate it and say what we are thankful for but never has the conversation about what happened in the past has been brought up. I can say that I didn't have the guts to bring it up because I thought that it would create a big ruckus and I didn't want to play a part in it. So you can say I chickened out. But as the family gathered all I could think about was what if it happened to us? I left it alone and enjoyed the meal that had been prepared for the family. Looking back on my thanksgiving this year i wish i would have brought up the topic about the Pilgrims and the Indians. Since i didn't bring it up this time i wont know until next thanksgiving and who knows if i will bring it up then. The discussion about the meaning of thanksgiving and the history behind it has changed the way i see somethings in my everyday life. I feel like now i want to know more about different holidays and the history behind it to make it more meaningful.


But not only did i not bring up the Indians and the pilgrims but I didn't want to bring up the concept of black Friday. My family is known to buy as much as they can in so little time on that day. But this year was different. In past years my parents would wait in line for hours just to get deals that are supposed to be "unbelievable" and slowly year after year they began to say it got out of hand. But that didn't stop them. This year they didn't go to the stores but rather shopped online as if they were in the store. Still playing a role in black Friday chaos, even though they didn't go out. Honestly my family and I are victim's of black Friday and what society calls it to be the biggest "money maker" of the season. But this year because of all the economic issues everyone thought that sales would decrease on that day. But in Wal-mart many customers who waited online for hours rushed in the store "knocking the door of the hinges" stomped all over a temporary worker and killed him. But still that didn't stop shoppers. People were upset that Wal-mart was going to close for a few hours because of that incident. It is amazing how people have no sense to even think about what happen but rather moved on to what was "more important" such as getting the deals. Reading this article was very surprising to read what these people were saying when the incident happened. I feel as if Americans in this situation didn't have any common sense at all because it seemed as if everyone was for themselves and didn't even give thought to a man that just died because people trampled over him.

Lastly, the American way of life can be defined in many ways. Some people think different things of the typical American way of life as well. This is a new year and a fresh start. This year in 2009 Barack Obama became the 44th president and made history being the first black president in the United States. This year I had the honor to be able to watch and understand both the election and the inauguration.

Since this was my first time witnessing a president being swore in, everything was new to me. To many people this was a historical day because people never thought that we would live to see a black president. I connected this back to an old song I knew called "Changes" by Tupac and one of the verses says is " but are we ready to see a black president". This shows that even years back people never believed that this would come true. To everyone it was amazing to know and be apart of history by voting for Barack Obama. Even though there were many people who could not vote many played apart in the voting process by registering people to vote. For my first time ever seeing this I was really interested in what Obama had to say and what we can expect in the years to come. Being in Andy's class has taught me a lot because there is material I have learned, that opened my eyes to be able to see it in the real world. There were many things that were mentioned in the speech that we spoke about in class such as what will happen to education and health care. Personally, I care about what will happen to education and what is going to be done with health care because everyone needs health care. I feel as if even though we are in a recession there are many things that Obama is trying to fix such as wages. Since Obama has been sworn in as the new 44th president, he has put a freeze on salaries for making more than $100,000. I feel like this is just the beginning of what is going to happen. I would like to see a change in America because as the years go by everything has been going downhill. Unemployment has sky rocketed, health care has become so expensive that many people can not afford to get the care they need. I am excited that I was able to experience and understand everything that was going on from the election to the inauguration. I am excited as well as fearful of what is to come because I feel as if we as Americans have set our expectations really high for Obama. What will happen if everything we thought would change didn't? But for right now all we need to do is wait because everything is not going to happen in the blink of an eye. Change takes time.

Inauguration Day

Since this was my first time witnessing a president being swore in, everything was new to me. To many people this was a historical day because people never thought that we would live to see a black president. I connected this back to an old song I knew called "Changes" by Tupac and one of the verses says is " but are we ready to see a black president". This shows that even years back people never believed that this would come true. To everyone it was amazing to know and be apart of history by voting for Barack Obama. Even though there were many people who could not vote many played apart in the voting process by registering people to vote. For my first time ever seeing this I was really interested in what Obama had to say and what we can expect in the years to come. Being in Andy's class has taught me a lot because there is material I have learned, that opened my eyes to be able to see it in the real world. There were many things that were mentioned in the speech that we spoke about in class such as what will happen to education and health care. Personally, I care about what will happen to education and what is going to be done with health care because everyone needs health care. I feel as if even though we are in a recession there are many things that Obama is trying to fix such as wages. Since Obama has been sworn in as the new 44th president, he has put a freeze on salaries for making more than $100,000. I feel like this is just the beginning of what is going to happen. I would like to see a change in America because as the years go by everything has been going downhill. Unemployment has sky rocketed, health care has become so expensive that many people can not afford to get the care they need. I am excited that I was able to experience and understand everything that was going on from the election to the inauguration. I am excited as well as fearful of what is to come because I feel as if we as Americans have set our expectations really high for Obama. What will happen if everything we thought would change didn't? But for right now all we need to do is wait because everything is not going to happen in the blink of an eye. Change takes time.

Christmas/New Years and how it compares to the AWOL...

This year Christmas was different. As usual we put up the tree together and we open gifts on Christmas day but something about this Christmas seemed different. I felt there was a lack of gifts this year compared to the previous years. Usually my sister and I get gifts as well as a family gift to share. I believe last years gift was the Wii. It was a gift everyone could share and it is usually some sort of game system. This year we did not receive a family gift. I was looking forward to Christmas for such a long time but when it finally came i was surprised. Since the economy has gone down since last year many things have been cut back such as the family gift. This year was more about trying to spend less money or just by what you really need. It amazes me how in some situations such as black Friday people were still going shopping and buying as much as they could but not like usual. Like many people were trying to save as much money as they can. Even one dollar off mad a difference. But some people took black Friday to far causing a man to be trampled to death at a Wal-mart. It amazes me how within that crowd people didn't care what happened but cared to save a few dollars on a television. This shows how the typical American way of life is basically all about "me,me ,me" instead of having consideration for others. I feel as if Americans can be so unaware of the things that are important in life but focus on the things that make a tiny difference. Sometimes I think "what if" but i need to focus on reality and the reality is the extent people will go for to find happiness or to get what they want.

Update on Part D

Is the Constitution an elaborate sham - a fake-out - a big founding fathers PSYYYCH!? Identify 2-3 aspects of the Constitution and Amendments that could support this argument.

I wouldn't necessarily say that the constitution as a whole is a sham but parts of it are very contradicting. I feel like the Constitution was made so there would be order and regulations but i feel that there are many that are not being followed here in the United States. The constitution is official but people don't take it seriously. Such as amendment 1, and full faith and credit. The first amendment states freedom of speech and religion but many people cant talk about their religion in the workplace or school because it is just not allowed. Full faith and credit explains how there should be no discrimination against anything even same sex partners but why is gay marriage banned in many states. There are many things that can be changed or revised of the Constitution but for what stands now that is a basic outline of what should be done to enhance society and the United States.

What is the general tendency of the Constitution and Amendments in your view - general and steady expansion of human freedom and decency?

I general tendency of the Constitution and the amendments in my view is just a bunch of laws and rules that are trying to work out for the government and the citizens as well. For example many amendments don't give citizens a lot of rights but amendment 14 gives citizens the right to abortion and get marriage. Even thought there are many states that don't allow gay marriage, gay couples do still have choices. They are able to go to another state and get married. It amazes me how throughout the whole reading of the Constitution and the amendments this is the only amendment that caught my eye or that I had a lot of say for. Regardless of people not agreeing with the cdonstion there are many aspects of it that seems somewhat right and that should still hold true.

Update on Part C

Does the 14Th combine with the earlier "no religious test" clause to guarantee a vision of a diverse and equitable society with no government discrimination?

The 14Th amendment as well as the "no religious test" states that there can't be laws that deny a person of life,liberty,or property and that everyone is equal. Regardless of race, color or religion people are able to run for office and should not be denied the right to run. I think the 14Th amendment stands as a reassuring note to the people that we need to remember that we are "equal" and that everyone is entitled to their rights regardless of who they are.

Amendments 12, 13, 14, & 15 are often referred to as a major turning point in US government policy. Explain the importance of these amendments.

Amendments 12-15 are major in the US government because it changed the way certain things where run such as slavery. Slavery was well known and then in the 13Th amendment explains that slavery is no longer allowed. Slavery has now been forbidden in the United States and no longer can happen. Many things have changed since the Constitution was written. Many laws and amendments have stayed the same but many have changed for the better or for the worse.

What do your answers to the gay marriage, fetus-as-person, and reproductive rights questions suggest to you about the potential and problems in enforcing the 14th amendment?

Amendment 14 is different than other amendments. This amendment is more based on the citizens rather than the state. It goes toward the people and their rights. This amendment states how no state can make a law in which citizens have no choice when it comes to life,liberty and property. When it comes to abortion citizens have the choice to abort the baby or to give it life. As for gay marriage there are states where gay couples can unite but if where they live does not allow it they are allowed to go to another state get married and resume living in their state. My opinion toward this amendment is unsettled because I agree that the citizens should be able to choose their lifestyles and decide if they want to keep a baby or not. I feel like their should be laws or views as to abortion or gay marriage because it depends the person. Everyone should be able to do as they please but abide by the laws given. This amendment gives citizens the opportunity to feel they have say rather than following directions and having no choices.

Update on Part B

Full Faith & Credit”. What does that mean for gay marriage?
According to article four it says that states cannot discriminate against the people from other states. This to me implies that no matter what everyone should be treated the same. As for gay marriage people should not be held against what they believe or feel. If article four explains that there should be no discrimination why is gay marriage banned in places such as California?I personally don't feel the Constitution is equal or balanced i feel as if there are many issues that are being contradicted.
But the congress allows each state to make its own laws so different states are allowed to approve gay marriage or not. But if a gay couple lives in a state that does not allow gay marriage they can get married in another state that does and go back to their state.

Article 6,What is the Supreme Law of the Land? What is the significance, in your opinion, of the “No religious test” clause.
Article 7: What was necessary for the ratification of the Constitution? Why “Conventions” not “State Legislatures?” Why 9? Does this seem like a fair process to you? Why or why not? The supreme law of the land is basically stating that the federal laws are higher than any other laws such as the different laws in the states. The significance of the "no religious test" clause is to make sure that anyone who is going to be in office still holds on to the Constitution and does let anything slide. The person who is going to be in office must still hold the Constitution true. The no religious clause test states that no one can be forbidden to run in office based in their religious views. They can not be held against what they believe in in running for office. This is good because that means regardless of your background or what you believe in you still have a chance to run.