Today we read a package of poems entitled: War Poems. Students were to reflect on the voices, imagery or themes in one poem or multiple poems and respond in a freewrite on the anniversary of the War in Iraq.
The website no longer has the package on-line. I found the website and an excerpt from a film: http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org/content/poets-against-war and a link to another website http://voiceseducation.org/
I also gave students a copy of the blog post from yesterday. I handed back the essays I read yesterday. I should be finished by tomorrow. They are pretty good (smile). Even if your grade is a C-, don't worry. You can revise for a passing grade.
Check Hacker for a review of documenting sources. I give specific feedback. Read my comments. I am making suggestions when I give you language, but there is no negotiation--you have to address the issue.
The website no longer has the package on-line. I found the website and an excerpt from a film: http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org/content/poets-against-war and a link to another website http://voiceseducation.org/
I also gave students a copy of the blog post from yesterday. I handed back the essays I read yesterday. I should be finished by tomorrow. They are pretty good (smile). Even if your grade is a C-, don't worry. You can revise for a passing grade.
Check Hacker for a review of documenting sources. I give specific feedback. Read my comments. I am making suggestions when I give you language, but there is no negotiation--you have to address the issue.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 8:53 AM
5 Comments:
Colleen Low
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
March 17, 2012
Free write: Poems of War – “Speak Out” by Lawence Ferlinghetti
The poignant poem, “Speak Out” refers to the impetus reactions of our government, onset by the tragic attack on the Twin Towers. The writer prompts the control of our government and refers to the action of tyranny, referenced in these lines, “And the terrorist in Washington, Are drafting all the young men, And no one speaks” (Ferlinghetti 9). These lines express the call to arms, for the country to speak and question our country’s leaders, whose provocation to enter war was unjustifiable. The author is explicit, to which he denounces the drafting of our young children and the discrimatory motions to weed out human beings in the country, whom are considered a threat to the nation based upon cultural physicalties to the enemy.
War in essence can never be justified, it is ambiguous, until citizens understand and come to the realization, to which America is not innocent to political strongholds and deceit. It is not right to use these young soldiers to fight a battle committed by falsehoods subjugated by our government. If ever we are to consider war again, people must ask why and stand with their liberal freedoms to question and rationalize actions of destruction and seek the truth for lasting peace.
Colleen Low
Sorry for got to cite the website of the poem:
http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org/content/poets-against-war and a link to another website http://voiceseducation.org/
Daniel Escudero-Whitney
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
17 March 2012
Commentary
_Speak Out_ by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
In his poem, "Speak Out," Lawrence Ferlinghetti describes America as a nation of paranoid sleepers lead by terrorists in Washington (1.2), who had better speak up about the injustices of war before the enemy comes to get them (1.1-1.10).
My favorite line of the poem, "Into the beginning of the Third World War. The War with the Third World," (1.1) Ferlinghetti really creates a perspective of disparity between the United States and "All the ones in turbans" (1.4). I suppose that a more politically correct term could have been used: "The Developing War of the Developing World," although perhaps that is not catchy as what the author wrote.
At the end of the poem, Ferlinghetti tells us how it is time to speak, "before they come get [us]" (1.10). For me, this is very provocative. It makes me think to myself: will they bring the fight to us, again?
Ana Vasquez
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
Free write:
Umoja: Each one of US
" Let us honor the lost, the snatched the relinquished those vanquished by glory, muted by shame" (Rita Dove).
This line from the poem really captured my attention not only because of the way Dove describes the war, but also tells the readers to honor those from war. I believe that every person who has gone into war, don't tell people outside the war world the reality of the things those fighters must go through. This poems opens up the minds of a lot of people, so that they honor the memories of those who have lost their lives for saving the lives of may Americans.
Adriana Ultreras
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
15 March 2012
FREEWRITE POETRY
This collection of poetry keeps in mind the tragic memories and different aspects of the war. Something particular that stood out to me was the poetry by Alice. In her poem, she talked about different roles people have in a war, and their point of view. There were four soldiers, all with different plans after returning from war; one being with his family, another buying a surround sound system etc. But one of the soldiers was reliving in his memory the moments that he went through in the war. All the innocent deaths that he had witnessed. After thinking about it for such a long time, he put himself in the shoes of one of the deceased bodies on the side of the road, and his journey to the afterlife. This was particularly interesting to me since I have never thought about death, in this perspective. It showed wonderful imagery (although not so wonderful since it talks about death).
When it comes to talks about war, I tend to lose a lot of interest. The war in Iraq started when I was a teenager, and clearly my mind was interested in teenager things. I know there was a war against terrorism, but I’m not quite sure if the war in Iraq began because of that. I thought that the initial beginning was 9/11 and the search for Osama Bin Laden, but that was in Afghanistan, and the war then went to Iraq. Quite confusing I must say. Nevertheless, I feel bad for all of our fallen soldiers who unfortunately will never return to their families. I feel like this is a waste of human life. Also I feel bad for the INNOCENT victims of war. You know what they say, bullets don’t have a name, and innocent people sometimes tend to be at the wrong place in the wrong time :( may their souls rest in peace.
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