Modern Day Puritan

Although Puritans do not exist as they did before their lifestyles can still be noticed in today's society. One example is school.

School is very demanding on students; especially at a school like Whitney Young. Teachers expect a lot of their students, which can be a good thing but also very stressing to us. There are very strict rules for different teachers. Some feel that eating in class is unacceptable. I think that as long as the student picks up after them self then it should be okay. Some teachers may not accept late work, at all. I agree with every teacher who accepts late work but also deducts a certain amount of points each day the assignment was late. So many teachers have different opinions on different things that it also gets really hard to keep up with how every teacher operates. So the strict ways of school can resemble the Puritan life.

Another example of strict beliefs is seen from parents. They can be tough on their kids about school, sports and more. I have witnessed parents force their kids to participate in a sport. And when they didn't do as well as the parents expected they get punished. That is crazy! And then school. If a kid doesn't get perfect grades, they are suddenly not trying hard enough. Then that goes back to the teachers.

As we can see some of the strict ways of the Puritans are still around us today.

John Proctor... Hero or Scrooge?!

John Proctor is an interesting character in The Crucible. He did not go to church very often because he did not like that Parris would often preach of damnation. Although not attending church was frowned upon in this time and place, I believe he was a HERO! Early in the play we find out that he had an affair with Abigail Williams. This caused talk in the town and John's wife was suspicious. After a while he told Abigail that what had happened between them was done. He tried to make that right and even tried to make things right with his wife, Elizabeth. He wanted to fix things with Elizabeth. Eventually when she questioned John, he opened up and did not lie about his affair. He was a good man overall. He wanted to make sure that the innocent were not persecuted for something that they did not do, especially Elizabeth. He went to great lengths to do this for his wife and the others. He also refused to "blacken" Rebecca Nurse's name. He was a hero in his own unique way. He was not selfish and he was brave & courageous! He died for the truth; something many people were not doing or were planning on doing. They would lie to live. He was the hero of The Crucible!

Arrivals... There Goes The Neighborhood!

As I sit here and listen to Mexican music blasting from houses and cars passing by, celebrating Mexican Independence! So, I begin to wonder about how my family has come into this neighborhood! I sit and remember the things my parents have told me about this place they grew up in. Little Village celebrates with a parade today and I am writing about how Mexicans have come here!
According to my parents my neighborhood was once full of Polish people. I have been able to see this. When I was younger and my mother would take me to the supermarket we were the only ones that weren't Polish. I would stare at them as they ordered ham from the deli in Polish!! And now my dad has recently moved and we have Polish neighbors. I am still getting used to it because I grew up my whole life around Mexicans! This is a gradual change that takes years. Recently there was an Asian family that moved on to our block and for all I know that could be the start of something else! In a few years their friends and family may also move here and continue to spread. This is always happening everywhere! People tend to stick with what is familiar to them so that is how neighborhoods change!