Blogger #3

Due: Friday, Oct. 2nd

1. Pick a social problem/issue that you are interested in  (ex: hunger, poverty, ageism, alcoholism, bullying, spousal abuse... for more examples of contemporary social issues check out: 
1. http://lib.guides.umd.edu/c.php?g=326995&p=2194601
2. http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0516/2005018778.html  
3. topics list we have covered in class so far --under handouts folder
2. Select a text that has to do with your social issue
1. ex: article, book, show, movie, commercial, ad, speech, poem, building, etc. 
3. Write a paragraph response about your text.  This can be any kind of response
1. ex: summary, why you chose it, what you liked about it, why it caught your interest, what it made you think of or realize, etc. 
4. Break it Down
1. Genre
2. Topics
3. Rhetorical Strategies 

CHALLENGE:   write your paragraph using one of the rhetorical strategies listed from your text   .... this is optional

Blogger # 2

   “Cause i speak three tongues, one for each : home , school and friends” (Jamila

Lyiscott – 3 ways to speak English). Both Jamila and Anzaldua uses different kind of voices,

because in reality, we have to be bilingual in different aspects in life, there are different voices

that we speak. It all depends on who we speak with, we have a voice for family, a voice for

friends, a voice for work. We all adapt and adjust to different situations. For instance , when

you are with friends , you can relax and be loose with your language. However, in a

professional setting , you have to use the standardized form of language.

 

   Communication is not about pronounciation , Is it more important that we pronounce a

word in a certain standard way? As long as you can get the message across. It is about

making the other person understand what you are trying to say. All languages are equal in

terms of significance and use. 

 Blogger #2

  Jamila Lyiscott and Gloria Anzuldua are two women who are passionate about their native languages. These two women are both educated and articulate and both speak multiple languages. "I had to borrow your language because mines was stolen. But you can't expect me to speak your history holly, whiles mines is broken, these words are spoken by someone who is simply fed up..." this quote  is from Jamila Lyiscott in her video "3 ways to speak English".  You cannot ask someone to speak a certain language like English, while their language is being stripped away from them when they are asked not to use it. In middle school whenever someone would talk Spanish, a teacher would tell us, "speak English this is America". To me being told not to talk Spanish was them taking a part of who I am away. Spanish is a part of my life, my family history, how could someone tell me to no longer use it just because we are in America, if it was a part of who i am? The English language is made up of words originating from other countries. So how could one tell another to not talk their language when English itself uses words from other countries to create its own. Apart from being Mexican, i am also American and i know when to use a certain language at a certain time. I am bilingual and I am proud to speak both Spanish and English, just like Lyiscott and Anduldua are proud of the multiple languages the speak.

The Power of Language

Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, it goes to his head. If you talk to a man in his language, it goes to his heart.” Language I believe embodies a historical linguistic evolution that may alter a part of our identity. Identity more simply stated as what we consider normal checks in the boxes like age, race, and gender. These identities may then turn into roles and forms of communication like those between a husband and wife or superior to subordinate. Linguistics and social constructs on the other hand feel as though language is meant to be sacred almost, scholarly, proper, precise, English; yet, if most of our ‘English’ words derive from Latin origins doesn’t that prove that language is actually quite infinite and diverse?

Social constructs inhibit our belief that although our language may be altered it doesn’t affect how smart we are or our ability to understand or do things. “Ya’ll be mad going to the store” (Lyiscott) this clearly is someone uneducated right? Improperly using the scholastic language we were taught in school but realistically this is someone who has used the evolution of language to create their own among an individual or community or even culture to express themselves. Evolution: the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form therefore, “let there be no confusion, let be there be no hesitation, this is not a promotion of ignorance but a linguistic celebration” (Lyiscott)

Blogger #2

Blogger #2

Jamila Lyiscott and Gloria Anzuldua both come from ethnic-heavy backgrounds. Both of these women are very culturally diverse and incredibly well spoken but both of them also represent the same idea. That their native tongue should not be shamed. In both Jamila Lyiscott's "TED Talk" episode and Gloria Anzuldua's How to Tame a Wild Tongue they express their concern for how the way they speak is looked down upon. How, just because they speak a certain way, somehow they're perceived as lesser. In today's society, you may insult someone simply by making fun of the way they speak as said by Gloria Anzuldua; "So, if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language." It may make them feel like because they aren't speaking "proper" that they are in the wrong. We are all guilty of judging someone by the way they speak, consciously or unconsciously, it does happen and the judging we are doing doesn't give the people a fair chance to really show how articulate they can be. Even I am sure at one point or another someone has overheard me saying something and simply judged me because of the slang I used or how I pronounced certain things, little do they know I can speak their language as well. I speak many languages.

Works Cited

 Anzaldua, Gloria. "How to Tame a Wild Tongue." Gloria Anzaldua, 1 Sept. 1987. Web. 25 Sept. 2015. 

Blogger #2

Gloria Anzuldua & Jamila Lyiscott, two women who spoke the truth when it came to speaking multiple languages. In her speech, Jamila says she shouldn’t be judged for speaking 3 tongues which to her were home, school, and friends. Anzuldua also spoke multiple languages growing up. She spoke Standard Mexican Spanish, North Mexican Spanish dialect, Chicano Spanish (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California have regional variations) and, Tex-Mex 8. Pachuco (called cal6). She spoke these languages when she would communicate with her siblings.  "So, if you want to really hurt me, talk badly about my language" (par. 27),

This quote from Anzuldua can strongly relate to Jamila’s speech. These women were discriminated for not speaking decent SAE. Why are we being judged for not speaking decent English? Perhaps people are jealous they can’t speak the way we do. Growing up Hispanic you end up speaking Spanish, English, and” Spanglish” a variety of both combined. By keeping their tongues wild was the way Anzuldua and Jamila showed their identities. They ignore the negative stereotypes and create positive vibes. Speaking with different tongues or languages doesn’t make us odd it makes us unique from the rest. 

blogger 2 response

I had to borrow your language because mines was stolen (Jamila Lyiscott). Watching the video of Jamila Lyiscotts poetry makes me think of how much control or power we as individuals are limited to even when it comes to ourselves. For instance why do we have to talk, walk or dress a certain way?, and if its not proper etiquette or professional as many say, its wrong. We as humans and as different people should be able to express our feelings or thoughts in the different ways possible we best know how. Why should we be bound to speak only one way when their are many ways to express oneself?. As I really think about it especially after reading "how to tame a wild tongue" and watching Jamila Lyiscotts video how can there be any wrong way to say anything? why disconnect someone from there culture or belittle them claiming ones intellect must be lower because the individual(s) don't sound alike?, "who is to say that robbing people of its language is less violent than war?"(Ray Gwyn Smith).

Entry 2

John Kripal

English 105

Blogger Entry #2

       Jamila Lyiscott and Gloria Anzaldua are both stating that they speak different ways in a multitude of situations. Both of their native languages have been taken away from them in a sense that they are not allowed to speak their natural tongue in certain places. These women are thought to be inarticulate or even uneducated because of the way they speak normally. English was forced upon both of them so they have to adapt how they speak and who they use certain ways of speaking for. "One for each, Home, school and friends, i'm a tri-lingual orator (2:30)." Jamalia is stating that she uses three different languages, whether she is at home, with friends or at school. I too speak differently in those three settings, I notice that i speak in a quiet and reserved way in class, respectful and more myself when i am at home, and when i am with friends i speak without the filter i have to use when i am in class or at home. Gloria's "How to tame a wild tongue" and jamila's speech in the video "3 ways to speak english" both have a common topic, speaking differently in multiple scenarios.

Works Cited

Ted Talk - "Jamila Lyiscott: 3 Ways to Speak English." 19 Jun 2014. YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9fmJ5xQ_mc

Blogger #2

Blogger #2

     Both Jamila Lyiscott and Gloria Anzuldua came to the conclusion, that they were not going to deny themselves of their native tongue.  Both women are not afraid or a shame of who they are or the language they speak.  “Don’t judge me by my language” is a quote Jamila uses in her video clip.  I have been guilty of  judging people based on the way they speak, but at the same time, I do not want to be judged by the way I speak.  Both women are articulate and educated enough to know when to use either one of the multiple languages they speak.  Although I’m not the greatest user of the American language, I do find myself trying to speak as intelligent as I can when I am communicating in a business setting.  While at home with my family and hanging with my friends, where I feel most comfortable, I speak in the language that comes natural for me.  After watching Jamila’s video clip “3 Ways to Speak English” and reading Gloria’s article “How to Tame a Wild Tongue”, I realize that I too speak in multiple languages.

Works Cited

Ted Talk - "3 Ways to Speak English." 19 Jun 2014. YouTube. Web

Nwana, Florence

Amanda Reyes

English 105

September 24, 2015

                                                               Blogger 2

       Gloria anzaldua and Jamila Lyiscott are both saying the same thing regarding speaking a different forms of languages. How to tame a wild Tongue by Anzaldua, stated how one can speak two to three dialect at the same time and now compel to eradicate the two in order to adhere with only one which is English. However, according to Anzaldua we needed a language with which we could communicate with ourselves, (page 36), what she called a secret language. Her own language to communicate with family and friend is very essential to her,(Page34), she also narrate her encounter with her English teacher, when she was try to correct the teacher on how to pronounce he name, the teacher said speak English or she go back to Mexico.

   We have to create space for the various different languages, and also to celebrate linguistic diversity. Jamila Lyiscott reveal in her video 3 languages, how she speak to family, friend and her surroundings. She also mention how we prematurely judge someone by the way they talk, we assume them to be less intelligent if they don’t speak articulately. We should not look down or devalue someone’s or self-worth due to them speaking a in a different dialect.

Source.
"3 languages"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9fmJ5xQ

Blogger #2

Gloria Anzaldú and Jamila Lyiscott are both people who bring out the truth when it came into speaking different forms of the same language. Anzaldú's piece of How to Tame a Wild Tongue is very relatable due to the fact that I can actually relate to the struggle of being able to speak two language and being forced to learn one in order to get rid of the other. When Anzaldú states, "El Anglo con cara de inocente nos arrancó la lengua." (Page 34), she talks about how english teachers or anyone that had english as their first and only language would try to get rid of her spanish and force her to speak english. When she talks about getting punished for "talking back" to her anglo teacher (Anzaldú  34) she is told to learn english or to go back to Mexico. This statement brought up the different ways there is to speak one language.
You can speak one single language in many different ways. As Jamila Lyiscott mentioned in her video 3 languages, there is a way you talk to your friends, your family, and your work environment. Just because you speak one way to a friend or family, it doesn't define the way you are and who you are. 

Homeless in America

Christopher Martinez

Professor Reyes

English 105

Homeless in America

            Often when we walk down the streets or go to a local food restaurant we see a homeless person asking for money. Most of the times past experiences cloud the judgement we have towards those who are homeless, so that people thinking they only want money for drugs and alcohol. Other homeless people are not homeless by choice or because they chose to throw their life away in substances, but in most cases the sad truth is people do not care because homeless people have this dark cloud of stereotypes over their heads and does not seem it will be going away anytime soon.

-consider spending some time discussing what negative stereotypes or representations of the homeless are before you get into examples of how that impacted you.  I say this because your 1st paragraph jumps into your personal example but as a reader I have no real background on the specific stereotype you are talking about -homeless as addicts and/or alcoholics.  Yes, this is now "common" because it is a stereotype, but where does it come from? How is it created? How do these negative stereotypes continue to persist in our society? these are the questions you want to ask as well. These two paragraph circle around stereotypes and I think they can discuss the issue a bit more in detail.  Consider how the media portrays our homeless as one example.  
           
 Through personal experiences I have had bad ones (bad what?) when helping the homeless. For example, exiting a restaurant a man stood there with his ripped pants, torn shoes, torn shirt, and hair that looks like hurricane Katrina stuck. The man from a far seemed very helpless until he approached me with the smell of cigarettes and alcohol asking for money. I pay no attention to him, but I wanted to think that it might just his clothes that smelled, but I was wrong. I turned my back on him and found the sympathy to give the man money as I turned he had a bottle of alcohol in his hand. The man lived up to what was supposed to be expected and that is the society we live in today where every homeless man/woman is looked down upon the “upper classmen”-what do you mean here? needs more explanation. Although the stereotypes for the most does live up to its name not all homeless people are the same.  ---Your personal interaction/example seems to go towards the questions: how do negative stereotypes effect the way we interact and treat the homeless- can you expand on this idea more? 

            According to an article by Gale Holland and Soumya Karlamangala the homeless population has increased by 12% in the past two years in Los Angeles and county. “It’s everywhere now; the encampments are in residential neighborhoods, they’re outside of schools,” said L.A City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents Venice. Homelessness has become a big problem in our society and has escalated to point where it shouldn’t have. - here you have background on LA/California specifically.  I think this would do well near the introduction of your article. 

However, sometimes it is the own fault of the people of never taking the initiative to contribute to the poor besides sparing the change in the pockets just so whoever is asking for money can go away. When was the last time you went out of your way to contribute to the homeless giving them your nickels and quarters?  --this could be its own section developing the idea of whose responsibility it is to help solve this issue.  

- I can actually see this as your article introduction.  Consider that here you moved from LA to the nation however the prompt asks you to focus on California.  So what may be a better use of this paragraph is to start broad (nationwide) and then move to California to narrow your topic and then get into the stereotypes, etc.  In Addition, not only Los Angeles has this problem, but it is a nationwide problem that has been pushed into an abyss that will be very difficult to overcome these adversities. In an article “Ten Facts about Being Homeless in U.S.A” Bill Quigley points out some outstanding facts. “On any given night, there are over 600,000 homeless people in the US according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.” This one quote says a lot about the homeless population in America and it may be increasing instead of decreasing. These people are not just man and women it is children, veterans, and people who can afford rent. Everyone who is a by standard that sees homeless people has this cloud of judgement and stereotypes over their heads. Another example expressed by Bill Quigley, “A 2014 survey of 187 cities by the National Law Center on Homelessness and poverty found: 24% make it a city-wide crime to beg in public; 33% make it illegal to stand around or loiter anyplace in the city; 18% make it crime to sleep anywhere in public; 43% make it illegal to sleep in your car; and 53% make it illegal to sit or lay down in particular public places. The number of cities criminalizing is steadily increasing.” These facts indeed prove to an extent that homelessness is not just a small city problem it is a nationwide problem that everyone needs open their eyes to. Although it may seem that instead of helping the homeless we’re creating a worse environment, there are companies and organizations that do contribute to this cause.

 The first step in solving a problem is realizing that there is a problem and we as a society is yet to fully comprehend what really goes beyond a person being homeless. The stereotypes that have lingered for years have become a part of our everyday life to ignore and assume that people that are on the streets have thrown their life away in substances. Time to open the black gate prisons and free the oppressed where women, men, children and veterans have languished underneath society.

Nwana, Florence

Amanda Reyes

English 105

September 19, 2015

Homeless in California (Rough Draft)

       The homeless have been a problem in our society for as long as the nation's existence. When one thinks of a homeless person, they see a middle-aged male figure, Worn clothes, scruffy beard, lazy, and alcohol on breath all spark the characteristics of the average homeless person in the mind of people. There are many stereotypes attached to homelessness, but are they really true? Can a homeless person be put into a single stereotype? Some of these negative impressions are so ingrained into our society that even some people who are trying to help may believe some of them. Like the story of John Roger was I typical example. Losing his parent at the tender age and was raised by his only brother, who was later killed in the war. John later joined armed, after the death of his brother. However, John could not forgive himself of all he did, during the time he was served as a military and also end up as psychiatric patient. But when people passes by they ignore him, whenever he talk to them, they just walk out without looking at him. The irony of veteran who fight for their country, in order for them to live a better life, but instead they are out on the street. I think something need to be done. While almost half of all adult homeless people in America are unemployed, it doesn't indicate laziness. Many of them lost their jobs through no fault of their own, or through corporate downsizing or due to injury, illness, old age or disability.

      Those well enough and young enough to work have many high barriers in gaining employment. They may be putting in dozens of applications a day but never get a bite due to the prejudice created by the strong and commonly held negative beliefs about homeless people.

Those with jobs are often don't earn enough to afford rent or qualify to rent. Another issue is

even if the person works full time, he or she may not earn enough to afford an apartment but find themselves unable to rent one.

       This is a harmful stereotype because it closes many doors for about a quarter of all homeless in Americans. Those who are mentally ill, are mainly ill in ways completely harmless to anyone but themselves. There's also some question as to whether or not those people who are mentally ill or emotionally disturbed became mentally ill as a consequence of trauma, violence, and other stresses experienced while living without adequate shelter.

This belief about homeless people is dangerous because it again, creates fear and leads to suggestions that they should all be rounded up and institutionalized instead of helped.

I think our legislation need to act fast on these issue, because many people have lose their live as result of this issue called homeless. They need to build many homes for veteran especially and for many who equally need the help. Create jobs for them, and also create a center where they can learn to do something.

        To further gain an insight into the predicament and reality of the homeless. I interviewed a homeless man named Mark. Mark is a forty years old man, who has been homeless for 3 years. We met Mark at a Starbucks. My  own experience with a homeless man, that approach me for some money, which I do gave some money , because of what he told he has no eating for the past two days. I sympathized with him by emptied all my remaining change on him.

While circumstances can vary, the main reason people experience homelessness is because they cannot find housing they can afford. It is the scarcity of affordable housing in the United States, particularly in more urban areas where homelessness is more prevalent, that is behind their inability to acquire or maintain housing.

According to the National Alliance to end homelessness online, “By the numbers:

• In January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States.
• Of that number, 216,197 are people in families, and
• 362,163 are individuals.
• About 15 percent of the homeless population – 84,291 - are considered "chronically homeless” individuals, and
• About 9 percent of homeless people- 49,933 - are veterans.”     

These numbers come from point-in-time counts, which are conducted, community by community, on a single night in January every other year. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to submit this data every other year in order to qualify for federal homeless assistance funds. Many communities conduct counts more regularly.

                                                      

 

Work Cited

 Soul Pancake, prod. “John-Stories From the Street."  You Tube. Toutube, 12 November 2013.Web. 19 September.  2015.

"Snapshot of Homelessness." 1 January 2014. National Alliance to End Homelessness. 19 September 2015.

   

Blogger #2

Due: Friday, Sept. 25th

"3 languages"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9fmJ5xQ_mc

Create a connections paragraph that includes ideas from you, Anzuldua, and Jamila Lyiscott.  You will need to include one quote from either Anzuldua or Lyiscott in your paragraph response. Essentially, you want to write about the topic of multiple languages and their connection to identity using your own personal thoughts on the matter as well as the insights made by Anzuldua and Lyiscott.

In-text quote should be cited according to MLA (check the sample MLA essay in the handout folder for reference)

Homeless in Berkeley

More than 200,000  are homeless in California. Most homeless fall into the typical category that list people have of them; lazy, crazy. They have a "typical@ look of dirty, smelly and raggedy. Some places like Berkeley do their best to provide them with a shower and food to eat. Most homeless suffer from substance abuse, domestic violence , some are veterans, and some are severely ill. Some of the programs that they offered help them with living assistance, food and clothing. They also have a program that helps them with low income housing. And they also have a 24mnth assistance program that if qualified they are provided with the necessities they need. For those that live on streets, the surrounding citizens give them food and sometimes clothing. There's also a program that helps walk-ins from 8-430 and give them meals. 

Berkeleys community is aware of their homeless population and strive to help them with necessities. 

Homeless children

When we think of homeless people we generally picture an older man who is addicted to some sort of substance. But why don't we ever think about the children that are homeless? “In 2013 there were about 526,708 homeless children in California”. That sounds like an exaggeration, but that depends on how you define homelessness. Homeless could mean living on the streets, or could mean living in the garage or on the couch of a friend or family members house.

-you include three main points about children who are homeless 1) health issues and 2) violence and 3)  education.  If you are trying to inform your readers about this then you need to develop your points more.  The use of sources and quotes is a good start but you need to follow up as well.  They are to short and dry and as a reader they come off as facts too distant from the reality.  It may be useful to consider including examples of each situation- maybe a narrative per example could help paint a stronger picture.  

   Homeless children are also at greater risk of having health problems. “ children experiencing homelessness are sick four times more often than other children. They have four times as angry respiratory infections twice as many ear infections. Five times more gastrointestinal problems, and four times likely to have asthma. These can be cause by poor eating habits and poor living conditions.- is this entire last part a quote? 

Violence is another major problem that many children including homeless have to go through. “By age 12, 83% had been exposed to at least one serious violent event. Almost 25% have witnessed acts of violence within their families. 47% have problems such as anxiety, depression, or withdrawal, compared to 18% of other school-age children.” -okay so what are your thoughts on this? 

“Approximately 87% of school-age homeless children and youth are enrolled in school, although only about 77% attend school regularly.” Some schools don’t allow homeless children to register without school and medical records. Some don’t allow children without a home address and in shelters there's not always a way for the children to get to school.” The vast majority of homeless children and youth live in shelters, doubled up with friends or relatives, or in situations such as motels and campgrounds.”  Homeless children who can't go to school have more problems learning in school. “Compared with other children, homeless children are. Four times as likely to have developmental delays. Twice as likely to have learning disabilities. Twice as likely to repeat a grade, most often due to frequent absences and moves to new schools (28% of homeless children go to three or more schools in a single year).” 

Homeless children need more recognition so that they can be helped, educated, and loved.
- okay- so what resources are out there? OR do you have solutions?  

Additional things to consider:
-how do stereotypes fit into this conversation? are there negative stereotypes surrounding homeless children and do they effect how people inform themselves about the situation or help? 

Sources:

www.doorwaysva.org/children-youth/impact-of-homelessness-on-children/

m.huffpost.com/us/entry/6169994

www.familyhomelessness.org/children.php?p=ts

Homeless Rough draft

highly suggest including aspects from your original blog here-  you had some great stuff there

Travis Luce
Amanda Reyes
English 105
September 17, 2015

California is a beautiful state just on the beach (on the beach?) of the even more extravagant Pacific Ocean. California itself is full of extraordinary scenery, historical landmarks, and most of all, homeless people. In 2014 alone California accounted for the most homeless people in the entire country, coming in at a whopping 113,952 homeless people (source?).

When people see these numbers they assume that the homeless people get caught up with either drugs, alcohol, or simply have a mental illness. Unfortunately that is not the case with a vast majority of the homeless population and it is unfair to judge them as such. Some homeless people prefer to not have a home at all and are more comfortable on the street or in a shelter.
-I'm separating this out because here you are starting to get into negative stereotypes and the effect they have on people.  I think this can be developed into its own section where you take some time to discuss where these negative representations come from, how they stick around, and to what extent they effect us
-then you can transition into the next sections where you have clear examples of how the negative stereotypes are not always the case: reason #1 loss of jobs, divorce, etc.  reason #2- personal experience & story of Roger





-reasons why people become homeless that challenge negative stereotypes
Each homeless person's situation may vary and often it is not because they are addicted to drugs, abuse alcohol, or have a mental illness that caused them to end up where they are.
Homelessness is unpredictable, it can come on at the worst of times and effect someone's entire livelihood. A loss of a job, a divorce, or even health issues bring on the sad but true realities of losing your home. As of 2014 California has seen the second largest decrease in homeless population, falling 3.9% or 4,600 people. While in prior years, going all the way back to 2007, that number was even larger at 18% or 25,034. Furthermore in 2014, it was reported that 23% or 135,701 of the total 578,424 homeless people in the U.S were under the age of 18. It puts a stark realization of whom the homeless truly are and how it affects family's.

-example of someone who challenges negative stereotypes
I seem to recall a time where I met a young man, no older than 20 at the time drawing something in front of a Rite Aid pharmacy as I was on my way home from school. He had a sign next to him saying "Smile! Its a new day!". It was not uncommon to see panhandlers in front of the pharmacy from time to time with a sign saying they needed money for booze, drugs or their "family", I thought nothing of the man or his sign and continued walking without even so much as looking at him when suddenly he looked up from his drawing and said "Hey, brotha-man! You have a great day!". I was taken back from what he had said, I was expecting him to say something along the lines of; "..Spare some change?". Being taken back from his positivity I actually stopped walking and looked down, smiled, and said, "You too man.". For a couple weeks I continued to see this young man in front of Rite Aid, always drawing, with a smile on his face. He greeted everyone that walked by and tried to treat everyone with the same positivity that he had showed me. After a couple weeks of this going on I finally decided to go into a store and buy him a gallon of water and a sandwich. I sat down next to him and asked "Why are you always so positive if you're in a bad situation?" and he replied "Because I know whats it like to be down on your luck like I am now, and I know that being negative isn't going to do anything for me. Being positive and honest will.". Roger never did drugs, abused alcohol or was even mentally ill at all, he was just a young guy down his luck for a while and was hoping to get back on his feet soon.

Policies have come to fruition supporting the homeless people of the U.S. On August 6th, 2015, "The U.S Justice Department urged a federal judge to block enforcement of Boise, Idaho, city ordinances making it a crime to sleep in public places when homeless shelter space is unavailable.", a huge step in making moves to help the homeless population. Funding is coming through slowly as well, "On Dec 11. and 13 respectively, the House and Senate passed a combination of an omnibus funding bill and a continuing resolution for fiscal year (FY) 2015 funding. The bill funds the Department of Homeland Security through the end of February 2015 and funds all other federal operations, including homeless assistance and affordable housing programs, through the remainder of the federal fiscal year to Sept. 30, 2015. This legislation was signed into law on Tuesday, December 16.". - long quote- can you paraphrase?  

The homeless in California are a large portion of a much larger problem in America and the negative stereotypes that are enforced are unfair. Addiction and alcohol abuse are widely considered the cause of homelessness. That remains largely untrue, addiction can come in many different forms for Americans and can substance abuse can manifest itself when it pleases. The most significant difference between the homeless and people whom own a home are that their are different forms of support for people who begin to lose their home and if that is not taken advantage of then you end up with nothing. Many people who own their home and are beginning to slip are only steps away from the people they step over everyday on their way to work.

Work cited

http://www.endhomelessness.org

http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/federal_homelessness_appropriations

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-files-brief-address-criminalization-homelessness

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/department-justice-argues-against-criminalizing-homeless-people-n405391

https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2014-AHAR-Part1.pdf

Nwana, Florence

Amanda Reye

Eng. 105

11 September 2015 

                  

Homeless in California( Rough Draft)

      The homeless have been a problem in our society for as long as the nation's existence. When one thinks of a homeless person, they see a middle-aged male figure, Worn clothes, scruffy beard, lazy, and alcohol on breath all spark the characteristics of the average homeless person in the mind of people. There are many stereotypes attached to homelessness, but are they really true? Can a homeless person be put into a single stereotype? Some of these negative impressions are so ingrained into our society that even some people who are trying to help may believe some of them. Like the story of John Roger was I typical example. Losing his parent at the tender age and was raised by his only brother, who was later killed in the war. John later joined armed, after the death of his brother. However, John could not forgive himself of all he did, during the time he was served as a military and also end up as psychiatric patient. But when people passes by they ignore him, whenever he talk to them, they just walk out without looking at him. As a veteran who dedicated all his life serving the nation and end as homeless? I think something need to be done. These are just a few of those myths, misconceptions, stereotypes and assumptions attached to the homeless. While almost half of all adult homeless people in America are unemployed, it doesn't indicate laziness. Many of them lost their jobs through no fault of their own, or through corporate downsizing or due to injury, illness, old age or disability.

    Those well enough and young enough to work have many high barriers in gaining employment. They may be putting in dozens of applications a day but never get a bite due to the prejudice created by the strong and commonly held negative beliefs about homeless people.

Those with jobs are often don't earn enough to afford rent or to qualify to rent. Another issue is

even if a person works full time, he or she may not earn enough to afford an apartment but find themselves unable to rent one.

     This is a harmful stereotype because it closes many doors for about a quarter of all homeless in Americans. Those who are mentally ill are mainly ill in ways completely harmless to anyone but themselves. There's also some question as to whether or not those people who are mentally ill or emotionally disturbed became mentally ill as a consequence of trauma, violence, and other stresses experienced while living without adequate shelter.

This belief about homeless people is dangerous because it again, creates fear and leads to suggestions that they should all be rounded up and institutionalized instead of helped.

I think our legislation need to act fast on these issue, because many people have lose their live as result of this issue called homeless. They need to build many homes for veteran especially and for many who equally need the help. Create jobs for them, and also create a center where they can learn to do something.

      To further gain an insight into the predicament and reality of the homeless. I interviewed a homeless man named Mark. Mark is a forty years old man, who has been homeless for 3 years. We met Mark at a Starbucks.

My experience with a homeless man, that approach me for some money, which I gave some money, because of what he told he has no eating for the past two days. I sympathized with him by emptied all my remaining change on him.

Housing in the United States, particularly in more urban areas where homelessness is more prevalent, that is behind their inability to acquire or maintain housing.

According to the National Alliance to end homelessness online, “By the numbers:

·         In January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States.

·         Of that number, 216,197 are people in families, and

·         362,163 are individuals.

·         About 15 percent of the homeless population – 84,291 - are considered "chronically homeless” individuals, and

·         About 9 percent of homeless people- 49,933 - are veterans.”     

These numbers come from point-in-time counts, which are conducted, community by community, on a single night in January every other year. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires communities to submit this data every other year in order to qualify for federal homeless assistance funds. Many communities conduct counts more regularly.

                                                      Work Cited

 Soul Pancake, prod. “John-Stories from the Street."  You Tube. YouTube, 12 November 2013.Web. September, 19 2015.

"Snapshot of Homelessness." 1 January 2014. National Alliance to End Homelessness.

   

Homeless & Helpless

Jorge Martinez 

English 105

Professor Reyes

08 September 2015

Homeless & Helpless

We complain about not having the newest shoes,clothes,or technology out there. We don't appreciate how blessed we are to have a stable job and  have a roof over our heads. We don't realize how important the support of family can be. We live in a society where people are selfish. We don't appreciate the things we possess. We always want to be competing with others. We always want to impress and be different from the average. We are never contempt in what we own. It disappoints me that their our million of homeless people out there just trying to free?. They don't ask for much. They just want to walk around the city without being discriminated. They want to stop being harassed by the authority. They just want to feel free. Sadly, discrimination against the homeless continues to be a major issue across the United States.

I want the residents in California to understand the struggle these homeless people have been dealing with for an enormous portion of their lives. We have to unite and help these people so one day they can reconstruct their lives and be happy once again. There's been several steps that have been getting closer and closer to this objective. For example there's been spokesmen bringing up the “Hopeless Bill of Rights”. Its plan is to reach the states of California, Colorado, and, Oregon. The goals of this bill is to make the homeless feel less like a criminal wondering the streets and more of a free citizen looking for a goal in life. It would give them the rights to move and wonder around the streets. It would also include many other basic rights that are self explanatory- are these rights self-explanatory? One aspect of the bill deals with the freedom to exchange food in public- is that something we know of or even knew wasn't allowed? Does it mean to give someone a sandwich? And consider what your next point is in your next paragraph! It's about food. We can help these people if this bill gets drafted to the state legislature.
-is this enough info to convince your readers to advocated for the bill?

Did you know theirs cities across the United States that ban people from giving free food to the homeless?  It’s ridiculous how these laws had the ability to be passed. 
-this could easily be its own section regarding legislation currently in place here in California that limits the freedoms and/or abilities of those who are homeless. Don't forget to keep your focus to California and not the nation as a whole. Does this plan exist here?


Many homeless I've encountered with don't ask for money. Many of them aren't addicts or alcoholics. Many of them deal with mental issues. Many of them are military veterans. Many don't have a family to rely on. My question is what gives us the right to discriminate and judge others by their physical appearances? Just because we have better opportunities and lifestyles than them doesn't give us the right to make them feel like their nothing. We don't know the struggles they go through on a daily basis. We don't know what caused them to have a breakdown. 
-you are circling around stereotypes here and also the way that stereotypes effect how we interact and support those who are homeless
- inform your reader about negative stereotypes- what are they and where do they come from, these negative representations of those who are homeless? to what extent are we effected by these ideas/images?

Helping the homeless is not our responsibility, but was it their responsibility flying over to a foreign country and fighting for our country? 
-this is its own idea. I'd suggest either developing this into a section with more information/ideas regarding the question: whose responsibility is it, or remove this.

I’m not assuming all homeless are veterans but a majority of them are. Lets help the veterans. Lets help the homeless. Let's make a change. Lets help contribute to our society and help the needy. Many of them pray for a better life. They don't feel the love or support they once had. 

The state of California can establish many things to help contribute towards the homeless. We can establish several shelters in populated areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento etc. We can establish food drives perhaps twice a week. All these things can help. Free medical consultations to psychologists would help the mentally ill and free counseling towards the addicts would be a great goal.
-so do none of these things exist? Look into the veteran hospitals and shelters here locally in LB- don't they offer these services? Don't offer a solution that is already out there without referencing it in some way- do the ones that exist now not do a good job? are we not aware of them...