Writing for HS, AM (Scalice, '07): Simon Ho

america is in da heart

(sho) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:57:36 GMT

America Is In The Heart

What does America mean to Carlos Bulosan? Carlos Bulosan is the author of the book, America is in the Heart, and America means a lot to him. It means hope, promise, happiness, and opportunity. There are also many things that he finds wrong in America. In his book, Bulosan tells of his boyhood in the Philippines, his voyage to America, and his years of hardship and despair as an itinerant laborer following the harvest trail in the rural West.

Carlos Bulosan goes to America in the 1930’s or 40’s to find work at various odd jobs. At this time, racism was at large. The darker the skin, the more people hated. He suffered in America because he was Filipino. The mostly overlooked thing about his suffering was that it started at home, in the Philippines. His family owned very little land and eventually they lost it to the moneylenders. Carlos had to come to America to find work and to try to find hope.

America meant racism to Carlos. Even when he was on the boat coming to America racism was present. ‘“Look at those half-naked savages from the Philippines, Roger! Haven’t they any idea of decency?”’ (page 98) This was when a white woman shows that she thinks that Filipinos are savages. “It became no longer her voice, but an angry chorus shouting: “Why don’t they ship those monkeys back to where they came from?” (page 99) Carlos cannot even here the couple talking anymore, but just hears the refrain of racism.
“I was hiding two dollars in my shoes when one of the policemen came into my cell. I knew from experience that money was important and the men in my world hungered and died for it. I watched him stand boldly before me, his strong legs spread wide apart, his hands on his hips, showing the menacing gun. “Where did you come from?” he asked. I played dumb, pantomiming that I did not speak the language. “Are you Filipino?” He was trying another angle. “Yes.” Crack! It was that quick and simple. His right fist landed on my jaw, felling me instantly.” (page156)
Even the policemen were racist toward the Filipinos. They would arrest and hit innocent Filipinos and take their money.
“I brought my case before the Social Service Department again. The first woman came, not to help me but to tell me that there was racism even in the Los Angeles County Hospital. “You Filipinos,” she said calmly, “ought to be shipped back to your jungle homes!” I felt consoled when I realized that this Social Service woman was only voicing a personal opinion, an individual hate against Filipinos. I had read enough books now to know the roots of racism: I had had experience with it when I was still outside.” (page 253)
Carlos experienced racism even in the Social Service Department in a hospital. Even thought it was a personal hate against Filipinos, it was still in a hospital, so race should be put aside.
“Macario and I boarded a streetcar and went to the Vermont Avenue district. What we encountered there almost broke my heart. We saw a nice little apartment house near Commonwealth Avenue and when we approached the landlady took away the “For Rent” sign. She went inside the house and peered furtively through a window. When sure that we would not go back, she went out to the yard again and put up the sign. The next woman was more discreet. She stood by the sign as we approached. “This house is not for rent,” she said awkwardly. “The sign is nailed to the wall and it’s hard to pull out. Maybe you can find one next block.” But the next woman faced the issue squarely. She said: “We don’t take Filipinos!” (page 256)
Also when Carlos lived in America, he had practically no home because many of the people that rented rooms were racist and would not take in Filipinos. The prejudice there was extremely great.

Although there was a lot of prejudice in America waiting for Carlos Bulosan, there were also people that were good and nice to him.
“I was reaching for the doorknob when a white woman came out. She stopped short in surprise, letting the towel fall from her hands. “Please don’t be afraid,” I said. “Some men are after me.” She came forward. “Have you killed somebody?” “No.” “Did you steal some money?” “No. I-well, I-work with the unions.” She ran to a little room and brought me a clean shirt. She brought a basin of warm water and began washing my face gently. Then she took me to the kitchen, where she prepared something for me to eat. I watched her. She might inform the police. Could I trust her? “When did you eat last?” she asked. “I don’t remember,” I said. “Poor boy.” She got up. “Eat everything and go to sleep.” I almost cried. What was the matter with this land? Just a moment ago I was being beaten by white men. But here was another white person, a woman, giving me food and a place to rest. And her warmth! I sat on the couch and started talking. I wanted to explain what happened to me. “Poor boy.” There was a kindness in her face, some urge to reach me, to understand what I was telling her. And sometimes when she was touched by my description, I could feel her kind hand on my face. There was tenderness in her couch.” (page 209-210)
Although America was full of white men who beat Carlos, there were good people like this white woman who gave him food to eat and a place to sleep. He comes to realize that America is a two-side place. There were good people and there were the bad, prejudice people.

To Carlos Bulosan, America is what people make it. It is everybody living there, white, Chinese, or Filipino.
‘”It is but fair to say that America is not a land of one race or one class of men. We are all Americans that have toiled and suffered and known oppression and defeat, from the first Indian that offered peace in Manhattan to the last Filipino pea pickers. America is not bound by geographical latitudes. America is not merely a land or an institution. America is in the hearts of men that died for freedom; it is also in the eyes of men that are building a new world. America is a prophecy of a new society of men: of a system that knows no sorrow or strife or suffering. America is a warning to those who would try to falsify the ideals of freemen.
“America is also the nameless foreigner, the homeless refugee, the hungry boy begging for a job and the black body dangling on a tree. America is the illiterate immigrant who is ashamed that the world of books and intellectual opportunities is closed to him. We are all that nameless foreigner, that homeless refugee, that hungry boy, that illiterate immigrant and that lynched black body. All of us, from the first Adams to the last Filipino, native born or alien, educated or illiterate- We are America! (page 189)
This shows that Carlos knows that all that have worked and lived in America are Americans. He feels that America is the poor people, the homeless, and the hated people. He knows that America is not limited to just the geographical features. He discerns that America lives in the heart and not just on the land or on the outside. He shows that America is made up of the poor, the rich, the white people, the Filipino, and that they make up America. He is part of America.

In conclusion, Carlos came to America from the Philippines. He found America to be place filled with confusion. He sees Caucasian people so racist that they attack innocent people. To his surprise, he also finds white people that are nice to him and give him a place to close his eyes. He finds America with promise and he writes to show his feelings about. He is right and America does live in the heart.

How my brother leon brought home a wife

(sho) — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:56:49 GMT

why did they go through the waig?

How old is Baldo?

How old is Leon and his wifey?

What happens in the end?

Leon becomes Noel???

What is up with the singing of "sky sown with stars?"

what america mean to bulosan?

YELLOW

(sho) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:37:59 GMT

Yellow is bright and happy. Yellow makes me happy. It is surprise and the sun's color. It is the meaning of a coward and a chicken. Yellow is my best friend yet it is one of the colors that i hate to use. Asians are yellow. Yellow is exciting. The room is bathed in yellow light.

Chocolate has caffeine. Chocolate brings dark brown to the mind. It tastes good and is edible. Chocolate makes me happy when i am sad. Dove, M&Ms, and mocha candy is great chocolate.

Sentence lengths are all the same!!!
more descriptive words!
do not use words like great, exciting, best, and happy
Make it a little more interesting
Good job overall
Yellow is not the meaning of a coward!

Sentence length do not make the essay.
yellow means coward, yes it does.

Water hydrates me. It is a clear liquid. Juice, soda, nectar, it all contains water. Steam and ice are all made of water. It is H2O. It is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Water of life is a common term because without it, we cannot live. The world and our bodies are made up of at least 70% water. Water of life also gives 90hp in a game i play, or maybe it was 180.

A combination of yellow food coloring and the water of life with Hershey's chocolate is the perfect combination of happiness, great tasting cocoa goodness, and some of the liquid that gives us humans life. These are all things that just came to mind wilst writing the mini-essays above. With the yellow water and the milky milk chocolate, I CAN RULE THE WORLD!

excercizes

(sho) — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:40:39 GMT

candy
table
window'
glass
computer
bottle
light
godzilla
pen
pencil
nose
mouth
tongue
heart
hair
salt
pepper
basil
chalk
earing
clothing
people
animal
dog
cat
blinds
hat
fire

beauty
love
hate
dreams
lies
religion
sight
hearing
smell
anger
emo
scared
surprise
jealousy
_______

candy of beauty
table of hate
a window of love
computer of dreams
bottle of lies
light of religion
godzilla of sight

school life

(sho) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 02:17:08 GMT

School is a place where we all learn. We learn to comprehend the world in school. My school is big, serves great food, and is an excellent place to learn. My school could be described as a study empire.
First of all, my school is really big. Many classrooms could be seen as far as the eye can see when stepping on the campus. It is made of many big, brown, buildings. The giant plain of lush, green grass circles the whole campus. The insides of the classrooms are filled with the cold, sweet aroma of fresh air-conditioned air. The playgrounds are constantly being filled with children and high-scholars enjoying themselves outside. Our school consists of approximately 1000 people, ranging from kindergarteners to high-school seniors. It is also frequently loud outside and usually quiet in the classrooms. Also my school also spent a lot of money on fancy trashcans. The trashcans are brown and are covered with fancy rocks, but it is an ordeal to actually throw away trash in them so litter covers the floor around the cans.
Secondly, the cafeteria in my school serves good food. Great-tasting, quality food is always present. It ranges from pizza to fried rice to meat loaf. Aside from the great food, there are always kids eating and chatting inside the white-walled, red curtained place. People keep going in and out quickly, getting food then leaving, though quite a few stay to make conversation with friends. The cafeteria is also our school’s auditorium and can be filled with benches at times and cushiony red chairs at another time. Gray fans hang from the ceilings and keep people cool.
Lastly, my school is a great place to learn. Most of the teachers tutor students for free and is a great learning experience for most students. Of course, the students have to study to get the grade, but caring teachers make the process easy. Like said before, the classrooms are usually quiet and the majority of the students take learning seriously. The rooms are especially quiet besides the rustling of papers and the clicking of pens when test time comes around. The teachers are mostly kind people and some allow kids to listen to ipods and mp3s when working. Some teachers tell stories during class and are sometimes amusing. The desks are smooth and the chairs are quite rough. The carpet is feels okay to walk on.

In conclusion, my school is a great place to learn. The place is big and is pretty fancy, serves grand tasting food in the cafeteria, and is an overall great place to learn.

School Life- Descriptive

(sho) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:40:38 GMT

School is a place where we learn to comprehend the world. My school has about 950 students, serves great food, and is an excellent place to learn. It is a study empire.

My school is extremely large. Many classrooms can be seen when stepping on the campus. It is composed of many big, brown buildings. Gian plains of lush, green grass circles the whole campus. The insides of the classrooms are filled with the cold, sweet aroma of fresh air-conditioned air. Children and high-schoolers are constantly enjoying the playgrounds outside. Our school has approxiamately 1000 people, ranging from kinderarteners to high-school seniors. It is often loud outside and quiet in the classrooms. My school spent a lot of money on fancy trashcans. The trashcans are brown and are covered with rocks, but it is an ordeal to actually place trash in them; litter covers the floor around the cans.

The white-walled, red curtained cafeteria in my school serves good food. Great-tasting, quality food always ready to eat. It ranges from pizza to fried rice to meat loaf. Kids are always there eating and chatting. People go in and out quickly, getting food and leaving, though quite a few stay to convere with friends. the cafeteria also serves as our school's aouditorium and can be filled with benches or cushioned red chairs. Gray fans hang from the ceilings and keep people cool.

My school is a great place to learn. Most of the teachers tutor students for free and the tutoring is a great learning experience for most students. Of course, the students have to study to get good grades, but caring teachers make the process easy. The majority of the students take learning seriously. Only the rustling of papers and the clicking of pens can be heard at test time. The teachers are kind people and allow students to listen to ipods and mp3s while they are working. Teachers tell stories during class and are amusing. The desks are smooth and the chairs are quite rough.

Overall i feel that my school is an ideal place to learn. It is also nice to make friends there and we have lots of fun learning.

School Life- Descriptive

(sho) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:19:20 GMT