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I think that the conditions that they slaves lived through were miserable and the slaves were victims of horrid acts. I manly read the writings of Louis Hughes. His life story begins as he was sold into slavery as a young boy and he gained his freedom in 1865. I believe that the thought that all slaves were born into slavery is such a horrible idea. However, the slaves that were born into slavery and over came were the ones with the real life changing stories. As I was reading I found that slave bidding system and physical examinations to be the most disgusting and horrible thoughts. I believe that the whites ideas about how to treat the slave were very unjust because they knew that the slaves couldn’t do anything to protect themselves therefore they abused them. I also thought that it was horrible that the white masters would pay people to whip their slaves for them. I can not even imagine why someone would want to whip anyone else let a long pay someone to do it! Overall, in the end I have learned a lot from these slave narratives and the narratives made the experience come alive. It seems so unrealistic that these people did not realize what they were doing to slaves was so horrible and still some people today think its ok to discriminate others. Although their are still obstacles in our society today our country has come a long way in abolishing slavery and bringing equality between each race, class, and religion.

Before I being reading the slabe narratives, I generally think that the narratives will suggest the difficulties and hard ships of slavery. Its interesting to figure that these slave narratives were written by slaves that got the chance to learn to read and write. This gave them the opportunity to vocalize there hardships and miserable life being a slave. I believe that letting the slaves learn to read and write helped them gain their freedom. Living on the east coast in a very diverse town it’s extremely hard to comprehend the miserable conditions of the slaves. Slaves barely had a life of their own, their life revolved around there master and if they did not follow they would be punished. I’m very curious to read into these slave narratives which may help me understand the true feelings of the slaves.

This clip reminded me of when we discussed Iraq in American History and were asked the same questions about what to do next in Iraq. I think that the positiction the the character of Stephen Colbery is promiting is for the draft. He clearly states that we need a draft even though a draft would cause a lot of chaos and probably cause a huge corruption throughout the United States. I think that the movie clip is trying to educate and get more people interested in the problems that are occuring in Iraq. I think it is trying to address the mutiple conflicts that are occuring in Iraq right now and the amount of soldier deaths that have happenened in the last year. The video is satirical because it is addressing the events and movements that are making the situation worse in Iraq. He trys to do this ina humurous way. I laughed at some of the jokes especially the writing on the screen. I actually just read an article online that says that Bush is going to increase the troops in Iraq. “I’m inclined to believe that we do need to increase our troops — the Army, the Marines,” Bush told the Post. Wow, i sure hope his plan works and that he is more organized and is planning for the future.

So far I have found that the book is very racist. At first I thought that maybe the racism was an exageration. Especially singe they used the n word so casually. However, after discussing it in class I learned that it was apart of the culture. Living a long the Mississippi river they used the language and made no big deal out of it. I also think its interesting that people today are so shocked and happy about Huck helping a slave escape. But during the time period the book takes place it is such a horrible action. I think this shows how much our country has grown and learned to accept one another. However, you can still find racism today but it is not portrayed in the same ways. I am interested to watch Huck and Jim become closer. I predict that as they become closer Huck will learn more morals and learn to become just a little bit more civilized. I think that Huck’s decision to help Jim was truely a good action and shows that Huck truely does have good qualities and is willing to risk a lot in order to help Jim. I am looking forward to the rest of the book and the changes the changes the characters go through.

As I was reading this narrative some things stuck out to me. For instance what the slaves recieved as clothes and food was barely anything. The worst thought was that the children unable to work didn’t get shoes, stockings, jackets, nor trousers given to them. I personally think that the songs the slaves are very powerful. I remember in choir a long time ago we sang a song that the slaves sang and I was too young to understand it then but now as i remember the lyrics I can picture the meaningfull emotions through the song. I think for most the songs the slaves sang fill us with sadness and sympathy for the slaves. I think the hardest thing to think about for me as that this actually happened and still today their is segregation between color and race. It is incredible to see how slaves could ever smile and laugh under the horrible and cruel circumstances, which were put on them by the brutal slaveholders. I think it is amazing that they were able to create these songs and spirituals while undergoing the bad conditions. By these songs you can tell that the slaves never wanted to give up and they wanted one day to become free. This was a very interesting and powerful narrative and I enjoyed reading about it.

I watched the adaptation of Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo Decaprio. I liked the movie however it was not what I was expecting. Expecially since it took place in a big modern city but they used shakespearen language. I think that the language and setting made the movie a little confusing at times. However, I was impressed with how well the director was able to incorporate the two together. The director was also able to incorporate our modern culture events such as the scene at the beginning of the movie at the gas station. However, the setting was weird at times for instance the amusement park. I think its hard to make modern movies of shakespearean plays considering the setting is completely different. I think it was fun to watch the movie and a good adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

The ending of Night was not the usual ending you would expect out of such an important event. The last line of Night when Eliezer looks at himself in the mirror and sees a “corpse” is such an eye opener. I think that Elieze’s attempt to survive through out the book is finally shown and said to be just out of pure luck that he had survived all a long. I think that Elie Wiesel has left the readers with out hope and faith that he will move on and is glad to be happy. I think that it would be umbelievably hard to move on after seeing so many deaths and your still alove. Eliezer definatly realizes that he has changed and what he has witnessed in the Holocaust is life changing. The past books i’ve read about the Holocaust have always left the reader with a rosy message but in Night it leaves with the truth. The book leaves the reader with questions about God and his influence in evil. It does not answer the questions or cover up the truth. I think I’ve found my self wondering about God and how hope and faith can help you get through anything. However, sometimes its hard to believe that God is actually there and will make everything ok like during the holocaust. This was such a good book and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to really experience the Holocaust.

So far in Night there have been so many graphic scenes. Elie Weisel describes every instance so in depth. A part that stook out at me the most was when Eliezer and other people watch a man risk his life for soup. Its so sad because as the man reaches for the soup about to eat it he is shot and falls lifeless to the ground. Another part was when the child was murdered! It seems that through out the book no character has cried but as they watch the child be murdered they break down into tears. It seems that God is represented at this time in the book and how it is disgraceful for God to let this poor child die. The story seems to be a symbol of survival especially as executions continue on, Eliezers father and himself struggle to live as they become weak. I believe that even in Eliezers situation when he made the choice to leave the hospital i think that there is no way to know what you should do. Especially since the whole journey for Eliezer has been a mystery of terror.

I am about a fourth into Night and I love the book so far. Elie Wiesel is so descriptive and he writes with so much emotion. At some parts it had been chilling to think of the way the Jews were treated. So far the part where the Jews are taken to the barrack and were stripped and shaved and gasoline was used to clean them off. I can not even imagine the thought of being drenched in gasoline. I can only picture the way Elie must have felt that night when he was taken into the barracks and he had no idea when he would be leaving or if he ever would. It is horrible to think how the Nanzis treated the Jews. They had pits to burn babies and adults!! I can not even think of how that must feel to so them and wonder what about me? Am I next? I wonder if Elie will ever see his sister and mother again. I am really looking forward to the rest of the book!

My group has worked very well together so far. We have been able to accomplish many things so far. For instance we were able to distribute characters with out debate. Every one was happy with who they got to be in the play. We have also been able to discuss character costumes and the Promptbook jobs. We are a very organized group and have worked very well together. We hope to accomplish so much more in the upcoming classes.