New York Times
February 21,2018 "Parents and Students Plead with Trump: 'How Many Children Have to Get Shot?'" Julie Hirschfeld Davis This article is about the after effects of the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Specifically it is summarizing what was said during a listening meeting at the White House. This meeting was between the President and citizens who have been affected by not just the Douglas High shooting, but other school shootings as well. The listening session was held in the White House on February 21, 2018, and during the session, many interesting points were brought up. But it was mostly an opportunity for people who have experienced or have been affected by gun violence first hand to talk to the President about what needs to be done. The main topic of discussion was gun control. One parent, Andrew Pollack, called for more guns in the schools, arming teachers, rather than stricter gun laws. President Trump stated that he would push to strengthen background checks and raise the age of gun purchase. A student who was on the second floor of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High expressed his dismay at how easily teenagers are able to purchase and own weapons of war, such as the AR-15. Andrew Pollack, however, stated that this wasn't about gun control, it was about making schools safer and more secure. A teacher said that rather than being armed with a weapon she would want to be armed with the information to prevent school shooting from happening in the first place. President Trump expressed his condolences and seemed to try to be understanding towards the citizens he was talking to. However, a notecard in his hand had a list of statements and questions he should say in order to appear more compassionate. The meeting ended with the President saying that he would take everything he heard into account when he moved forward with this issue. The listening session was a way for the President to be able to hear from those affected by the horrific shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. On February 14, 2018 a gunman stepped into a building of the high school and began shooting, he killed 17 students and teachers in total, injuring many more. The gunman was Nikolas Cruz, a 19 year old man who was recently expelled from Stoneman Douglas. In the wake of this shooting, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School stood up and made sure their voices were heard. They demanded that people in the government, at state and federal level, stand up and fight for better gun reform. In the days following the shooting, students were able to achieve the following: They organized a CNN town hall where they debated with people such as Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson and NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch; They began the #NeverAgain movement; They arranged a national 'March for Our Lives' protest and marched at Washington to speak to lawmakers face to face. These students have made more progress in 3 days on the conversation of gun control, than the President has in the year he has been in office, during which over 400 mass shootings have taken place. I have so many opinions on this event. My first is that we do need gun control in America. Right now. When lawmakers say that gun control laws won't work, it is so hypocritical. When they make abortion laws, they WILL work, when they make immigration laws, they WILL work, but when gun control laws are the topic, suddenly laws don't work? But that probably has nothing to do with the money flowing in from the NRA, right? Secondly, why in the world does the President of the United States need notes on how to be compassionate? You shouldn't need notes to remind you to say "I hear you". Why would you need that note unless you don't actually listen. Isn't the president supposed to be someone who understands the citizens, who listens to them, who works for them? I know that gun control issues didn't start when Trump took office, but what I do know is that no matter what happens money will always be more important to him than citizen's lives. I will comment on Gracie and Jazmin's blogs.
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The end of this book has been very interesting. Nadia and Sadiq have listened to the words about the "doors" and started to talk about actually going through them. They decided to talk to the man who was telling everyone about these "doors". It turns out they are actually gateways to emigrate from their country. After much consideration and many conversations, Nadia and Sadiq decide to go through with it. They chose to leave. The first place they end up is a Greek Island. On this Greek Island with them is many more refugees from other countries around the world. They like it so much more than their home country, but decide to continue going through these "doors". They end up going to Europe and then America, which explains the title of the book, Exit West.
Here is a short summary of a story I might write based off of this book: If I were to write a spin-off based off of this book it would be about a family who is going through this experience together. They would be living in the same war-torn country and they have to go through the struggles of having to send the children to school safely everyday and go through the process of emigrating to America together. My story would be less based on their life in the war-torn country and more in their experience of moving to America in this present day. They would have to face the effects of the new president making racism more widely accepted and they would face the same everyday issues that any other refugee would have to face. My story would explain more of the immigrant experience in America, such as facing racism and prejudices. The story would explain how the kids are treated in school and how the parents are trying their hardest to make a better life for their family. While the author of Exit West chose to focus on the war-torn country, I think it would be interesting to show how just because you made it out of the war-torn country, doesn't mean you have no problems anymore. I would highlight the new and scary struggles of immigrating to America with your family. I will comment on Danny and Gracie's blogs. |
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