Memoir Blog

   I read the memoir Game 5 by Anne D. She is a 13 year old girl from Pennsylvania who writes about the time her family went to a Pittsburg Penguins playoff game. The memoir is well written, especially by a 13 year old. The writer, Anne, accomplishes almost all of the goals of a memoir and covers almost all of the storytelling elements.

   The vocabulary and imagery used in the memoir helps the reader understand exactly what is going on and puts them in the arena that the writer is describing. Throughout the whole memoir, I felt as if I was actually at the game. The writer also uses a creative plot describing the overtime situation at the game. This not only leaves the reader suspenseful, but it also allows the writer to describe some of the feelings that her family and the people around her are experiencing. She also writes about her suspense and own feelings toward the game and continues to describe her own emotions after each important event in the game.

   The only thing that is missing from the memoir is dialogue between characters. Although there isn’t any dialogue, the descriptions used helps develop the characters. There are still facts as well as feelings from some of the main characters.

   Anne D. also covers all of the elements of a memoir. The memoir is written in 1st person about a specific event (playoff game) over a specific period of time (overtime). She also includes her feelings after the game. The memoir includes both the inside and outside story. The hockey game is described in great detail (many plays on the ice) as well as the feelings and thoughts of the writer and the people around her/at the game. The balance between inside and outside writing is excellent.

   The memoir includes a reflection after the game. Her feelings about the Penguins’ win stays with her after the game and into the city. She reflects on her experiences during the game and after the game is over. Lastly she leaves me, the reader, with an understanding of the significance. This relates to my personal experiences. I can relate to what she feels, having gone to many hockey/hockey playoff games before. I know the energy that she is describing and I know the feeling to win/experience a win. 

“I also know that because of this game the Penguins were not just prepared to play the Philadelphia Flyers,  but bloodthirsty, too. With the Flyers soon approaching, I knew I was.”

Vietnam War Blog

             Vietnam was divided after their war against France: a democratic South under Ngo Dinh Diem and a communist North under Ho Chi Minh. When the South refused to hold unification elections, the United States became an ally and financially backed Southern Vietnam. Initially, President Lyndon Johnson was the main figure in involving the United States with Vietnam. According to Kennedy Hickman with About.com, his perception was to just prevent the spread of communist aggression. Due to the fact that this war was the longest American war on history, other Presidents (Kennedy and Nixon) were not only involved, but had the same vision.

The Viet Cong (guerillas led by the Communists) began to battle the South Vietnamese government. To help combat them, the United States trained the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and supplied military advisors. When the Northern Vietnamese attacked U. S. destroyers, President Johnson felt as though he had no choice but to organize a full-fledged attack. Digitalhistory.edu’s account for the American involvement also included the notion that we were overconfident in thinking that our troops could deter the communist takeover of our ally and that withdrawing from Vietnam would only create political criticism at home. However, the U. S. kept getting in deeper and they could not just admit failure or back out that easily. It would make the Democrats appear weak on their views against Communism and would lower our Presidents’ chances for re-election.

What we failed to see was the Communists willingness to lose many people in order to overthrow the South Vietnamese government. With the Communist’s Tet offensive attack, the Americans were no longer convinced that continuing with the war was worth the effort. When Nixon won the election, he started to withdraw troops and after the large-scaled bombings, a cease-fire agreement was signed, and America finally withdrew from South Vietnam.

http://www.about.com/
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/

"Let America Be America Again"

Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again” depicts two perspectives: one of the oppressed and one of the free. For Hughes, America has never been this ideal land of opportunity. He speaks from the viewpoint of the oppressed. People have always been faced with discrimination and some still face it today. He describes that despite the injustices that go on, the will and strength of the oppressed remains strong. The oppressed are the poor, the Native Americans, the Africans, and the immigrants; but if it weren’t for their hard work, there would not be this “American Dream” of reaping the benefits of what you sow. Hughes is calling for a land of the free, where there are no people judging others. That everyone benefits from what they do. That everyone is allowed to achieve his or her own dreams. That America is for all the people, no matter what you are. I find the tone to be somewhat angry and irritated by the fact that why can’t people see others for whom they are and not by what they are. Hughes is criticizing the fact that if you are not given the ability or freedom to succeed, then how can you achieve opportunities to have a happy life?

The Great Gatsby depicts the life of rich, wealthy people in the roaring 20’s. The East Egg, those who inherited money “old money” and the West Egg, “new money”, divides them. Both sides looked down on people who were less wealthy, even the people of East Egg looked down on the people of West Egg. Jay Gatsby strives for the life of the “American Dream” because of how he came into money from nothing much. Although he did come into wealth, he did not have happiness, because he did not have friendship or love.

I feel that today, there are many things that divide our nation. Money plays a huge part because there are people who are beyond rich, and there are those who are in dire straits. However, the circumstances are not the same. Some people have lives that did not turn out the way they intended. Of course, there are those that still “step on others” to get to where they are. Of course, we all want the American Dream, but it is no longer just about money.