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Nature of an adolescent
Nature of an adolescent
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These kids are blessed with terrific good looks--tall and straight, with big dark eyes, glossy hair and a movie staffs smile-but this wasn’t what was turning heads. Some of these kids were not actually walking towards the line at McDonalds; some were running and somehow skipping at the same time. And the kids were looking and smiling directly at everyone they passed with their fingers in their ears, their elbows flared out on either side. And, further baffling the bourgeoisie, they occasionally stopped and flapped their hands. I was all too aware of the faces of the people we passed. Some smiled, even laughed appreciatively, at their obvious joy at McDonalds. Some nodded to me sadly and knowingly: "Ah, I know how hard their lives are," they seemed to say. Some flinched in exaggerated horror as though from some ghastly space alien from Warner Brothers. Others were cool, spotted them far off and pretended not to see them when they passed. Still others were so used to such surpassing weirdness that our little show came nowhere near their threshold of surprise.
One reaction, however, was more puzzling to me than all the others. I have come to think of it as "The Look." The passerby's face becomes still and thoughtful. The eyes become narrow, like those of the cunning psychiatrist in an old movie when he asks a patient what the inkblots look like. A hand goes up to the lips and, shifting into field anthropologist mode, the eyewitness stops and stares and nods silently as though making a mental note to write this one down in the journal. It's a locked-on-target look. A piano falling onto the pavement nearby wouldn't jar the stunning logical processes at work. Having been upset by “The Look” about a thousand times, and being something of an amateur field anthropologist myself, I have often asked this question: "Why do these people act this way?" The best answers that I have been able to come up with are these:
(a) They are heartless and rude and should be tortured in some hideous way for upsetting a really nice teacher.
(b) They are ignorant and think that humans come in solidly "normal" and "abnormal" forms and have no doubt about what kind they themselves are.
(c) They saw the movie "Rain Man" and are now experts on autism.
(d) They are fearful and are trying to achieve distance from a scary sight by trying to regard it as a rare scientific phenomenon.
Michael Patrick MacDonald lived a frightening life. To turn the book over and read the back cover, one might picture a decidedly idyllic existence. At times frightening, at times splendid, but always full of love. But to open this book is to open the door to Southie's ugly truth, to MacDonald's ugly truth, to take it in for all it's worth, to draw our own conclusions. One boy's hell is another boy's playground. Ma MacDonald is a palm tree in a hurricane, bending and swaying in the violent winds of Southie's interior, even as things are flying at her head, she crouches down to protect her children, to keep them out of harms way. We grew up watching Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow and Peanuts. Michael Patrick MacDonald grew up watching violence, sadness and death.
The War of 1812, sometimes referred to as “The Second War of Independence,” was one of the bloodiest, yet most pointless wars in American history. After 32 months of Americans fighting for a change in the relationship between Britain and the U.S., the war ended with a treaty that left many of the original conflicts unresolved. Although the war had no obvious victor, it boosted American nationalism and patriotism, something much needed after only 39 years of independence. However, British interferences with American trade, and the cost of war materials had a negative impact on the United State's economy. America’s geographic location, in relation to Canada and New York, played a key role in defense against British attacks. Whoever gained control of the Niagara peninsula that connected these two territories would have an advantage over the other nation.
Zaslow, Morris. The Defended Border, Upper Canada and the War of 1812. Toronto: MacMillian of Canada, 1983
These included the British interference with American shipping, a naval blockade. This was brought about because Great Britain did not want the United States to provide the French, whom they were at war with, with food and supplies. The British kidnapped American sailors and forced them to work on British ships. This harsh treatment towards the Americans was another reason why the war was caused. Also, many American settlers believed that the British pushed Native Americans to fight settlers. A major causation of the war was that Congressmen leaders demanded war against Britain, they wanted British aid to Native Americans stopped, and they wanted the British out of
Blodget, Brian. “Tecumseh: His Role in the Cause and Conduct of the War of 1812”. The History Ring. 2 Jan. 2005.
Perkins, Bradford. Prologue to War: England and the United States, 1805-1812. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1961.
The war of 1812 played many key factors in the shaping of our nation. This had been the second time that the young nation had taken on the most powerful country in the world. Outnumbered in ships, munitions, men, supplies and funding, our militia joined with the army and stood toe-to-toe with the British, and twice prevailed. The war was considered to be the ‘Second War of American Independence’, and it all certainly was. Surrounding nations were aghast at the audacity of America, and even more so with their triumph. Because of the war from 1812-1815, the United States of America had earned a position – however small – of power, influence, and respect in the realm of the world. The war strengthened our country, which ultimately led to our great nation today.
Mintz, S., and S. McNeil. "The Revolutionary War." Digital History. Digital History, 2013. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Waldman, Carl. “Tecumseh’s Rebellion and the War of 1812.” Atlas of the North American Indian, Revised Edition. New York: Facts of File, Inc., 2000. American History Online. Facts of File, Inc. Web. 3 March. 2014.
Despite an inappropriate music-video sequence and a phony up-tempo finale, The Breakfast Club offers a breakthrough portrait of the pain and misunderstanding which result from the social hierarchy created by youth themselves. The lookers and the jocks are popular and can do whatever they want — except relate to those outside their social circle of winners.
Roark, James L., Michael P. Johnson, Patricia C. Cohen, Sarah Stage, Alan Lawson, and Susan M. Hartmann. "The War of 1812."
3. Morris, Richard B. The Indian Wars. United States: Lerner Publications Corp., 2000. P. 2-36. Print.
On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war on Great Britain. The peace treaty to end the war was signed in Europe, 1814. The war lasted from 1812 to the spring of 1815 because there was a delay in communications. It was fought along the Canadian border, along with several sea battles. By the time the war was over the United States lost 2,260 soldiers, and the British 1,600 soldiers. The war of 1812 was a very significant event that took place in the U.S. It did in fact confirm America’s independence. That is why it is often referred to as “the second war of independence or “the second revolutionary war.
War of 1812. In (2011). Columbia electronic encyclopedia (6th ed.). Columbia University Press. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy.troy.edu/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=19&sid=55c26b42-7cb0-45da-8e2e-c574f1fe28ae@sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==
I glanced around the dimly lit dining room of our neighborhood Jack-In-The-Box at the collection of adolescent girls and boys gossiping about their absent friends, urban families enjoying their weekly treat of chicken fingers with exotic dipping sauces, and a teenage employee attempting to grasp a carpet sweeper with her fry-greased hands. As each of their gazes wandered the room curiously observing the quaint surroundings, their eyes conveniently skipped over the socially unacceptable figure in the corner, but I saw him clearly.