2008 Elections

For my blog, I read an article on CNN politics called 'Poll: 7 of 10 say candidates' race is not a factor in their vote'. It is about a national poll taken that suggests that the majority of people voting in the upcoming election are not letting race of the candidates affect their vote. Only 5 percent of the people who said race would affect their vote said that it would be the single most important factor of their choice, 11 percent said it would be one of several factors, and 13 saying it would be a minor factor. Although I would like to see America's first black president be elected, I am glad to know that voters are, for the most part, voting for their candidate based on their political views without their race altering their opinions. On the contrary, half of the poll participants said that age would affect their choice for president. If John McCain wins the presidential election he would be the oldest person ever to be inaugurated.

Tennessee Crash

For my blog, I read an article called '4 High school cheerleaders killed in a Tennessee crash' from the CNN website. It is about a car crash that happened late Friday night in Huntsville, Tennessee when an SUV collided with an oncoming car and burst into flames. In the SUV were three cheerleaders who were coming home from cheering at their schools' football game and were all killed, and in the other car a passenger was killed, three were injured, and one of the injured passengers lost their unborn child. Investigators believe that the crash was caused due to the wet and foggy weather conditions. This story is really tragic because so many innocent people lost their lives and it's something that could happen to anyone at anytime. It also teaches an important lesson to readers, because the passengers of the SUV weren't wearing seatbelts, which could have potentially saved their lives. It also emphasizes the importance of careful and cautious driving when weather conditions aren't suitable for driving.

The Bravest Dog

For my blog, I read a story from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' called The Bravest Dog by Sherry Cremona-Van Der Elst. This story is about a man named Mike who set off into the woords by his house to take a walk with his 2-year old English setter Sadie. On the way, Mike recalls feeling "an excruciating pain slamming into his chest as though he'd been hit with an avil". He collapsed to the ground gasping for air realizing Sadie was his only chance of survival. Sadie, sensing that Mike was in trouble, allowed him to grab on to her collar while the 45 pound dog dragged 180 pound Mike half a mile through the woods to the nearest house. When she arrived at the house, she barked constantly until someone came outside to help Mike and call 911. When he was taken to the hospital, doctors told him he had suffered a massive heart attack and had to undergo emergency triple-bypass surgery. I think it is amazing that dogs' instincts can be so strong, and that she could pull a person 4 times her weight to safety.

Missing Oregan Hiker

For my blog, I read an article from the Kare 11 website called 'Missing Oregon hiker ate bugs to stay alive' published on October 20th, 2008. This article is about a 27 year old man from Philomath, Oregan named Derek Mamoyac who survived 5 days in the wilderness with a broken ankle. He was climbing Mount Adam's in Washington, and was descending after reaching the peak, when he lost his footing and fell, breaking his ankle in the fall. He had to drag himself down the mountain, and when he got to the bottom he ate insects and drank creek water to stay alive. Five or more days later, searchers found him dehydrated with a broken ankle but otherwise in good condition. This story is inspiring because it involved Derek having a very high level of determination to do this and not giving up when things got tough.

Hurricane Ike

For my blog, I read an article on the Kare 11 website called "Caught on tape: People looting school closed by Hurricane Ike" published on October 21st 2008. This article is about the search for teenagers from Houston, Texas involved in vandalism and theft at a Houston high school. They were caught on camera going into Wheatley High School just hours after Hurricane Ike hit, damaging several classrooms and stealing computers and more. They are offering a $5000 dollar reward for anyone who watches the security video released and can identify the people. I think it's very sad that people would do something careless like this, especially when the residents of this town were already so fearful and worried about the potential hurricane damage from Hurricane Ike. I hope they catch the criminals and that the school can replace the stolen goods.

Unstoppable

For my blog I read a story from 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff' called Unstoppable. This story was about an average, hockey playing, fourteen year old boy named Nick Springer who goes to a summer camp and begins feeling very fatigued and nauseous. After a night of throwing up and an 102 degree fever, one of the counselors noticed purple splotches on his stomach and called 911 immediately. Nick was diagnosed with meningococcal, a very rare and fatal bacterial infection. After 12 operations and over a month of being in a drug-induced coma, Nick awoke to find that he had his lower legs and forearms amputated to kill the infection and prevent it from spreading. The part of this story that I find really inspiring is the way that he dealt with his new conditions and recovery. He never complained, and always looked at the positive side of the situation- that he truly was very lucky to be alive. Nick is grateful for all of the help he's received and has never given up, which has played a huge role in his success: he can write, open a door, type on a computer, and ultimately helped convey the central theme in this story... that you can accomplish anything you set your mind on doing if you commit to it and work hard for your goal.

Disney Movie Heroes

Generally, I've noticed male heroes in Disney movies appear very strong and big, such as Mr. Incredible and Shrek.


18) Violet, The Incredibles (2004) Violet may have twice as many superpowers as anyone else in her fantastic family of superheroes, but she easily has twice as many insecurities as well. The ability to turn invisible should be a dream come true for a socially-awkward teenager, but that power as well as the gift of force fields creates some angst for Violet as she and younger brother Dash show up on Mom's flight to Nomanisan Island. She is called on to save her family, and proves heroic a number of times. The experience certainly helps her develop some surely needed confidence. Overall, Violet may be a polar opposite from the flawless princesses who sing in the woods and save the day or (more likely) have the day saved for them. But like the other members of the Parr family, her imperfect persona is most appealing to postmodern audiences who appreciate side orders of reality and humanity served with their main course of fantasy.


Violet Incredible is considered a hero because she's your everyday teenager who does something unexpected and saves her family when they are in trouble.

9) Elastigirl, The Incredibles (2004) Some moms feel like they are pulled in every direction, but Helen Parr knows quite literally what that's like. Convinced that an ordinary suburban existence is the best for her three kids, Helen keeps her powers of flexibility secret, but still finds the occassional reason to call upon them in her challenging new job: mother of three. She's there to provide advice at the uneasy times that "fitting in" entail for insecure daughter Violet and restless son Dash. When not dealing with school and self-confidence issues, she's tending to Jack-Jack, a task which she makes look easy but clearly isn't so for others (like babysitter Kari). While she's fairly heroic in parenting, Helen tackles still more as she assumes a superhero role like the old days (when she was known as "Elastigirl"). This is to scold and perhaps rescue her husband who has already reverted back to Mr. Incredible without letting her know.

Elastigirl is considered a hero because her ability to manage multiple tasks at once kept her family from breaking apart and helped them to stay strong.

2) Mulan, Mulan (1998) Mulan, among Disney heroines, catches my attention not by her looks or her voice, but by her character. She's the Chinese girl who stole her father's armor, impersonated a soldier, destroyed [the Emperor's] palace, and she saved them all. Although I admire other Disney girls/women as well, Mulan definitely marks a standing point among them. She not only has a will of her own, but she has a desire that isn't the focal point of the movie. She proves herself by serving her father rather than by serving herself, which is rare. It was one of the few movies that Disney had released lately, at the time, that I truly thought had heart."
Disney's Divinity: Mulan is quite possibly one of the greatest Disney Heroines. Like most people in the world, she is afraid to be herself and disappoint her family. Nevertheless, she risks her own life to save her father's by posing as a soldier in China's army. Even after she has been discovered to be a woman she continues to attempt to save China from the Huns. In the end, it is her bravery, care and selflessness that makes her a great heroine

Mulan is considered a Disney hero because of her bravery and passion to find and become who she truly was, even if it meant betraying her family's trust and risking her life for others.

21) John Smith, Despite being admired by the men of the Virginia Company, Captain John Smith feels like he's never really fit in anywhere. His quest for the new and different leads him to Pocahontas, the adventurous chief's daughter and a poignant (albeit fictional) romance ensues. Misunderstandings abound, Smith is prone to prejudice like his fellow Englishmen and the natives who too are suspicious. Nonetheless, he is quicker to see the good in the so-called "savages", absorbing the lessons Pocahontas shares with him while teaching her about the land from which he hails. The good-looking guy who woos the beautiful lady might be one to envy, but Smith comes across as caring, compelling, and willing to discover the many things he's yet to learn.

"He was able to bring peace on the newfound land. He was ignorant at first, but throughout the movie, his whole opinion and view of life changed. His love for Pocahontas was so strong and witnessed by others, even Percy and Meeko found peace with each other! Had it not been for this hero (and Pocahontas) and his role in the Disney movie, the word "savage" would still be uttered."

John Smith is a Disney hero because he was able to see the good in people that were stereotyped as being 'savages' and bad people, and risk his reputation to teach others not to judge people they don't know.

1) Aladdin, Aladdin (1992) "There's some quality to Aladdin's character that causes everyone, or at least the male portion of the population, to identify with him. From his rise from the slums of life to his quest to get the girl to his efforts to defend her and figure himself out on the way, Aladdin is a strong protagonist and proves himself heroic in the face of everyone's least favorite vizier, Jafar." - Aaron Wallace • "There are six princes to match Disney's six fairy tale princesses: three are interchangeable, two need saving by their women, and then there's Aladdin, the only prince that can be called a hero in every respect. He's not the strongest guy in the Disney cannon, but he has the heart to triumph over them all. Aladdin makes it very clear early on that it's not about the bling, but what's on the inside that counts. Of course, in a true reflection of modern-day America, he gets caught up in the Hollywood lifestyle, forgetting his simple playful antics that wooed Jasmine in the first place. Aladdin learns his lesson, and all turns out well for this future monarch." - Prince Eric • "My pick for the greatest Disney hero is Aladdin. This was a hard category, but I picked Aladdin because he was the hero who overcame the most. He started out the movie as a 'street rat' and we saw as he rose up and fulfilled his true potential as a hero thanks to his wits(and a little help from the Genie). That, and he's the only hero to trick the villain into defeating himself!" - Raydawggie • "Aladdin found a genie, became a Prince, found his true love, defeated the enemy Jafar. Fast-forward through the sequels, and he demolished Jafar and the 40 thieves, became an actual Prince by marrying Jasmine." - RJKD23

Aladdin is a Disney hero because he rose up from his life as a 'street rat' as he struggles to find himself, and marries a princess and betters his life through his hard work and teaches the lesson that if you really put your mind to something you can do it.

"(singing) A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep. In dreams you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams, and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true."—Cinderella; Cinderella

Cinderella is also a story similar to Aladdin, because she put up with her lifestyle of doing her stepmother and stepsisters chores for too long, and ended up falling in love with a prince and lives happily ever after, which is another example of having faith in your dreams and believing in yourself.

‘Shrek' uses presentational devices to defy the stereotypical views of man-eating ogres, showing Shrek to be valiant and good- hearted.

Shrek is portrayed as a hero because he defies typical stereotypes of ogres and falls in love with a princess, which was something no one would have expected.

In the African PrideLands, Simba, the lion cub is born to the the wise lion king Mufasa and his queen Sarabi. He grows up to be a precocious, fiesty little cub who adores his father and loves to romp with his best friend, a lioness cub named Nala. Like any child, Simba's view of his future role as king is rather simplified. To him, growing up to be king means getting his way and telling the other animals what to do. However, the wise Mufasa tells him all creatures must exist together in the great circle of life. But Scar, Mufasa's throne- hungry brother, kills the king, and then blames a devestated Simba. Guilt ridden, the lion cub runs away into exile. He almost dies on the hot, dry african desert but is saved by Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog, who live a life with no worries. Hakuna Matata! Simba grows to adulthood with this carefree duo, but is still troubled about his past, his father's death, and the life he left behind. When his cub-hood friend, Nala, comes to the jungle paradise searching for help, she finds Simba and the two are reunited. The two soon discover that their feelings have deepened into love. Nala tells Simba that Scar and the hyenas have taken over the Pridelands and Simba must return to set things right, but Simba just can't let go of his guilt over what happened. Alone on the savanna, brooding, Simba meets the wise old Rafiki, the baboon who was there on the day of his birth. He teaches Simba that Mufasa lives in him and the lion rediscovers the courage to face his destiny and himself. He returns to the Pridelands with Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa and learns the truth about his father's death. He defeats the decietful Scar, who dies at the claws of his own hyenas, who he also betrayed. As his proud family and friends look on, Simba accends the great pride rock and takes his place as king with a mighty roar. Time passes... Once again Rafiki blesses a newborn cub, Kiara, Simba and Nala's daughter. The Circle of Life has been completed and begun once again.

Simba is considered a Disney hero because of his bravery after the death of his father to follow in his footsteps and becomes the king and learns a lesson about the circle of life.

• "Belle, the book-reading beauty, is the heroine of the most beloved love story of all time, Beauty and the Beast. She is beautiful, inside and out, and when her father gets locked inside a castle with a fearsome beast, she rushes to his rescue. She unselfishly exchanges her own life for her father's and is sentenced to be locked up in the castle forever. Over time, though, she falls in love with the beast, of whom has already fallen head over heels in love with her and suspects that if things continue this way, their love should break a curse set upon him and all the objects in the castle. When Belle returns home when her father gets sick, the beast stops caring about life and Gaston, the villain, strives to get Maurice, Belle's dad, put into an insane asylum. After learning about the Beast's feelings about Belle, Gaston hunts down the beast, and takes advantage of his morose attitude. Meanwhile, Belle and Maurice break out of Gaston's grasp and proceed on up to the castle, to warn the Beast about the villain. When the Beast sees Belle he regains his control and defeats Gaston, and he then he seems as though he is dying. He is transforming however back into a human and they then live happily ever after. Belle is a more modern heroine, not waiting nor needing a prince or a lover. She is unaware of her radiant beauty, and strives to help others when help is needed. She is a wonderful candidate for the coveted role of 'Disney Heroine.'" - James Taylor

Belle is considered a Disney hero because she teaches that you can't judge a book by it's cover, and learns to accept and understand 'the beast' when no one else would give him a chance.


"I believe Pocahontas to be one of the strongest Disney heroines because she went against what society had conformed to in terms of racial boundaries and followed her heart. She fell in love with John Smith because of the person he was inside, not because of the color of his skin. She could have easily dismissed him as another 'white demon' as the rest of her tribe did, but she chose the path of love, not hate. The dramatic final confrontation when she saves John's life moves me to tears almost every time I watch it. Even at the cost of her own life, she stood up for what she believed in and protected the man she loved. I find her story to be moving because she's such a role model even for people today because interracial love and marriage still isn't very common and is oftentimes frowned upon. You could even apply Pocahontas and John Smith's love to the issue of gay marriage going on in the United States at the moment. Forbidden love, love not accepted by society, love that's looked down upon. Pocahontas knew that love was love, no matter what the circumstances. When that same emotion is felt by two people in love, nothing else matters. At the end of the film, Pocahontas also displays her selflessness by staying with her tribe to help them instead of being selfish and running off with John to England. Although she loved them, she knew she had a certain responsibility to her people and stayed with them. That shows true strength, for she had to make the devestating choice to leave the person that she loved for a greater responsibility. I look up to Pocahontas even today, ten years later." - Izak

Pocahontas is a Disney hero because, like John Smith, she disregards stereotypes and teaches the lesson to not 'judge a book by it's cover'. She also is a hero because she stands up for what she believes in and doesn't let other people tell her what to do, and risks her life for the life of another.

In conclusion, I found that Disney heroes fall under two categories: Those that become a hero by defying stereotypes, and those that become a hero by helping others. Some examples of heroes that fall into the first category of characters that defy stereotypes are Pocahontas- because she falls in love with a man regardless of his skin color, Belle- because she teaches the lesson to not judge a book by it's cover when she gives 'the beast' a chance, and Shrek- because no one expected an ogre to fall in love with a princess. In all of these stories, stereotypes are proved wrong and an overall lesson about not judging others is portrayed. Some examples of characters that fall into the second category of heroes who go out of their way to help others are Simba- because he risks his life to fight Scar for the safety of others, Violet Incredible- because she goes to great lengths to help protect her family, and Mulan- because she saves the Chinese from the Huns.

Hitting Bottom

For my blog, I read a chicken soup for the soul story called Hitting Bottom by Jenny Hungerford. This story was about an eleven year old girl who moved to a new town and turned to smoking and drinking as a way to cope with her low self esteem. Before long, she was running away from home, doing cocaine and living in the basements of apartment complexes. She denied her moms efforts to put her multiple treatment programs, and finally her mom took the case to court and Jenny was forced to go to a long-term treatment center. She became sober and completely turned her life around. To prevent kids from following the same path she did, she started doing presentations and speeches at elementary schools and has never thought about doing drugs since then. This story teaches an important lesson about how drugs and alcohol will not solve any problems for you but will only complicate things. It also teaches how satisfying it can be to reach out and help others, like Jenny did by teaching elementary school students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The Cost of Hope

For this blog i decided to read a short story from Chicken Soup for the Soul called 'The Cost of Hope' by Susan Hamilton. This story is about a woman named Danielle who is attending a womens group meeting. She has come to this meeting because she left her husband with her kids and was struggling to survive in a new city. She was having a hard time finding a bank to cash in her paycheck, and arrived at the meeting with only forty dollars in her pocket. When the meeting begins, she hears the story of another woman in the group, Amy. Amy was a mother who was just days away from losing her home, car, and phone service, and was living off the limited money she had left. Her husband had gambled away all of their savings. Danielle was very moved by this story, and claims to have heard "Gods soft whisper in her heart" and gave Amy 20 dollars-half of the money she owned total- after the meeting. When Danielle was about to leave, Amy came outside crying thanking her for the money because she was a medication-dependent diabetic who took the last of her pills that morning. She needed only 20 dollars for the refill. When Danielle was driving home, she tried one more bank to cash in her paycheck before she went home and found one to do it. This story is inspiring to me because it shows how much a small notion of kindness to someone can benefit them in ways that you don't know. I think the message portrayed in this story is that if you help others, it will come back around to you when you least expect it.