The American Dream...

To Brandon King the American Dream is still alive, only its meaning has changed since the term was first coined. Being "middle class" is what most people are striving for, rather than a rags-to-riches story. A point that King makes is that there is an income gap that makes it difficult for those at the bottom to achieve the American Dream. However, the government has supported and helped those that are poor through welfare, and unemployment. Raising the minimum wage is also a great idea, but with people making more money, companies will cut back and hire less people. Taxing the rich more sounds great, unfortunately the rich and wealthy will spend less, if they are getting taxed higher. Therefore, they will not stimulate the economy and provide the "poor" with a chance at having a job.
I think that Brandon King did a good job with providing support for his claims. The meaning he provides for the American Dream seems more realistic and up to date.To me the American Dream is having a steady job, having a place to live, being financially stable now, and in the future. I agree that the rich should get taxed higher, but he makes a great point in stating that the rich will change their spending habits--and that impacts the economy even if we do not believe it does. There is a great income gap that needs to be fixed so that it is a smaller one; however, there has to be a balance in the world. So if there is ten rich people there has to be ten poor people, it is a sad thought.
The whole idea of a rags-to-riches life is unrealistic to me.I believe that if you have a job that provides for you and your family with food and shelter that is enough. Expecting to be rich one day, is something that can happen, but by the time you get there, you might be 60. We live in a world where people do more labor than they are getting paid for. One would think that by working more one will make more money but sadly that is not the case. Getting educated will also count as part as the American Dream, simply because if you do not have a degree you will be stuck at a minumum wage job; and  your chances of being rich decrease. The American Dream is whatever you want it to be, but then again it is a dream.

blog numero 2! :)

“Stomp the yard” is a movie about being the best stompers. At the beginning of the movie the main character, Columbus Short, loses his brother, because the other dance crew thought they deserved to win, but they didn’t. Columbus Short ends up being charged for his brother’s death, after serving the time he ends up moving with his aunt in Atlanta. His uncle forces him to go to college, however, Columbus makes it very clear that going to college is not his dream, but his brother’s dream. The first day of school he falls for a girl; she has a boyfriend that is in a fraternity that steps, and when Columbus meets him they start off the wrong way. One night, he goes to a club where people are stepping and repping their city. To treat the girl of his dreams’ boyfriend he gets on the dance floor and clowns all the cities. After seeing how good he is, two fraternities try to get him to join their fraternity. One being a fraternity his enemy (the girl’s bf) is in. After thinking it he joins Theta New Theta. With his skills Theta New Theta become the step champs, and defeat the New Gammas.

This movie shows that even though life has many obstacles and does not go as planned or imagined one can achieve anything. The fact that Columbus went to college for his brother shows how much he misses him and wants to keep him alive.  The movie also emphasizes on following your heart and not letting anything or anyone get in the way. 

Assignment #1: why eng. 102?

I am taking English 102 because I need to improve my writing skills. I suck at writing; because I believe I suck it makes it hard for me to focus and really say what I want to say. I also have a hard time supporting my ideas as well as keeping them tied. Starting a paper is something I really want to learn and develop as a skill. It is frustrating when papers are more than 3 pages long, because I struggle really hard and I lose my focus. By the end of this course I would love if I could write a paper without struggling as much as I do now. Another thing I wish to get out of this course is to be able to write more than five paragraphs and if I do write 5+ pages for the paper to be amazing. I want to be proud of my writing. 

I also am taking English 102 because it is a requirement for some of my future courses. Being able to write formally is important because it is a way of effectively communicating with others. Every student should have to take English 102 because we encounter words in our every day activities. Having good writing skills helps a person in the “real world” when it comes to jobs. If I was an employer I would hire a person with great writing skills, rather than someone with just basic writing skills. My major is Business and Management and a few courses require this course; the actual field requires a lot of paper work, and meetings that have presentations. I can see as to why I would need to be a good writer, and if I want to own my own business I will do what I have to do, even if I have to write a million pages. Just kidding.