|
|
VI. United States
|
|
Chapter 10: Bronx, New York
Jonas Bronk Academy
Teacher: Josefina Ortiz-Williams
|
|
Alex A.
My ideal life is a perfect life. It's a life with a good education and no violence. Everybody is safe and treated equally. In this life, everybody is what he or she wants to be. They are well educated and loved. But this idea is very different from our regular life.
In the real world, it's hard for us to learn because teachers spend most of the time trying to calm us down. Most people aren't safe. They're always harassed and assaulted. A lot of people can't get good jobs because they aren't pushed to do well. Finally, some people don't feel loved because they are not respected by their family.
All of this needs to be changed. The issues that have to be taken care of the most are harassment and abuse. The police department can help change this by doing a better job at reinforcing the law. They can try to keep close look on suspicious people and they can put more officers on patrol. I think that police officers could also try to hire more people, so if someone is needed there is extra officers.
I think the United Nations can also help by promoting peace. They can discuss the problems in each country and find possible solutions to them. They might find ways to keep life normal, but safe. I think that if everybody can try to help each other, we can have a better life; we can have a safer life.
|
|
Amerah H.
Hi, my name is Amerah. I know that without even asking you that there are things in your neighborhood you want to change. The question is what are you going to do about it? Well, here are my problems and what I hope to do about them. No one lives in a perfect neighborhood. If you do, tell me and I'll move there. In my neighborhood I would like to change the environmental pollution and the quality of schooling for children.
I live on the borderline of Kingsbridge and Riverdale. We only have three to four trees because everything else is cement and buildings and roads and highways. Our environment on a scale from 1-10 is a five because there are many fights and arguments. Sometimes there are peaceful days where you hear children outside having fun and enjoying themselves.
My environment is very polluted because they just tore down a couple of buildings and the air is very dirty. Lots of people have asthma so they become sicker than they already are. Because of the pollution I want to sign a petition saying that I will help my environment change so we could have less pollution.
I will send my petition to the president because I really want my environment to change, and I want the educational needs that children have to be met without issues of overcrowded schools. This is a problem that the school system should have to take care of. It's not the children's responsibility and the fact that they have to live so far is ridiculous. THINK ABOUT IT.
I feel pretty bad because there are overcrowded elementary schools and some K-5th grade students are not able to get in to the schools. That problem affects the way we think because it makes us think that our education is being taken away from us. Would you want your children to go to school far from home? What if something, God forbid, happened like what occurred on September 11th, and your child's school is one hour away from your home? You would probably get into an accident trying to get to their school because you would have to drive very far in order to get to the school.
I, Amerah Hassan, will sign a petition to help with the environmental pollution and educational problems. After my mission is completed, I will have a broad horizon for all students in schools of their choice, unpolluted communities and a better environment for us all to grow old and live in.
|
|
Ashley I.
I live in a community where I go to a school called JBA. My family has enough food to eat. I have security around my house. Sometimes the water on the beach is polluted so they close it off. The food or meat at the grocery store has been contaminated with bacteria. I heard on the news that some people have been getting sick because of it, but only in some areas. I think I could change the things that are not okay in my community.
I would keep the beach clean by telling people that they can't bring food on the beach. There would be a little picnic area where they could eat. Then more people could go to the beach.
The way I think that all of the bad meat could stop being delivered is by people that handle the meat being more careful. If they don't wear gloves, hats, or protective stuff like that they should! The animals the meat comes from should be taken care of and checked for diseases.
If the good things in my community weren't happening here is how I would live. If I lived in a community where I didn't go to school I wouldn't know enough to do anything. I wouldn't know how to talk to someone or buy something from the store. If I didn't eat, that would obviously mean that my parents didn't work. That would mean that I would live in a shelter because my family couldn't afford a house.
Finally, if there was no security around my house people might violate someone's property. They might even destroy people's cars and even start hurting pedestrians. My community would not be so nice anymore. This is what my community would be like without security, food or water.
|
|
Gavin C.
In my ideal life, my community would not be very polluted with fuel exhausts from cars and buildings. In my ideal life, there would not be trash scattered all over the sidewalks, such as plastic containers and plastic bags.
In my actual life, there are illegal drug buds scattered all over the sidewalks. The smokers of illegal substances and cigarettes are polluting the air. The problems that are created in my community are that people are getting sick and obtaining diseases from the exhaust of these harmful fumes and smoke. Young children are also getting asthma from these harmful gases. These smokers are today encouraging children to smoke or do these harmful drugs.
The main problem is that people today are not thinking of the outcomes of their decisions. Polluting your community with garbage and harmful chemicals can cause an epidemic of different sicknesses. To change this problem, everyone can report to the authorities the harmful drugs that are being used and contact the government and tell them of the hazardous gases that are spreading around and see what the government can do.
I suggest that solar energy should be used to heat buildings and as a power source for cars. It is much safer and it lasts longer. If the solar energy runs out in a car, then each car should have a back up battery until the car is regenerated. Also with buildings - if the solar energy runs out then the buildings can still run on electricity or gasoline until the building is regenerated.
|
|
George L.
What interrupts my ideal life are drug dealers. Everyday they stand on the corner selling drugs. All the crackheads come over here begging the drug dealers to sell them crack for a lower price than it already is. My ideal life is just to be at peace. No more girls coming over here with short mini skirts to turn the drug dealers on so that he will give her a free bag of crack.
No more drive-bys where a person ducks and runs down the block trying to dodge bullets because the boss that gave them the crack to sell didn't get all of his money. The drug dealer probably got too close to the crack and then he started to take the crack. I hate the way crackheads sleep on the benches just waiting for the darkness to come when they can rob people. After they rob people they will take their stuff and sell it to other people when it was never rightfully theirs, but they just need crack very bad to get all the problems off of their mind.
A way this can all be changed is if DTs (detectives) and policemen crack down on people or drug dealers so that they won't sell any more crack. Another way that drug dealers won't get to sell crack to their little friends is if my neighbors see the crackheads roaming the streets, they can go and chase them away so that the drug dealers won't make any profit with their customers.
|
|
Imani N.
Hi. Do you have a problem in your neighborhood? Well I do. My problem is air pollution. One of the causes of air pollution is that there is a lot of recycling plants and garbage dumps that create fumes and make the air unhealthy. In addition, there are a lot of highways that bring cars and trucks in and out of the Bronx. Even if some of these causes are in Hunts Point they still affect where I live.
Air pollution is serious in the Bronx because there are a lot of people with breathing problems and asthma. In fact the Bronx is one of the top areas with people that have asthma. I wish that my hometown would be the same, but cleaner. There would be fewer highways, dumps and recycling plants around were I live. There would not be as many cars and trucks. It would be a place with a lot of trees and flowers. I would feel safe breathing in the air.
The way we can fix the problem of air pollution is we can send a letter to the president and the mayor saying that we don't like the fact that there are a lot of causes that make air pollution and we would like it to stop.
The community can help with some of the work. For example, the people that work as designers for cars can make a car that can run on electricity. The factories could be placed where there are not a lot of people living. We can also make filters that are better, so the air can get clean. The number of truck deliveries a week could also be reduced. And everyone could help by not littering on the streets.
|
|
Jeanine A.
Did you know that around the globe violation of human rights are taking place? Well, I'm sure you did, but if you didn't here are some examples from Bolivia, Cameroon, China, France and Chile. In these countries, women and children's rights are reduced.
There is something all these violations have in common - the fact that they all violate Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This article states that, "everyone has the right to desire work of choice of employment". In Bolivia in Article 60 of the Constitution, it states that "women and children under the age of 18 shall only work during the day except in the field of nursing, domestic services and others that shall be determined." That means that if you are a woman or under 18 you are denied the right to work at nighttime. I think that is very unfair, because if men have these rights then women and children under 18 should have those rights also.
France proposes the same situation as Bolivia. Cameroon and China deny people the freedom of choice of employment. Chile increases the power of the husband, letting him control everything. The violations around the world affect the quality of life by decreasing the rights of women and children, and by making them feel as though they are at a lower level than men, which is unfair.
I would be affected deeply and dramatically if that happened to me, especially since I am a female under 18 years old. It is also unfair that billions of people are being denied essential rights that Americans have today. These numbers are stated in the Johannesburg Declaration’s ‘Battle for the Planet’.
If I had the power to abolish human rights violations, I would make the leaders look over, change or eliminate the violations in order to set things right. Leaders have the power to create and eliminate these violations, and they are the ones who have to acknowledge what they are doing and the way that they are treating people by eliminating their rights. I would make citizens protest and debate until the leaders realize that what they are doing is wrong. The citizens should help move along this realization and, if they can, vote-in leaders who they think are trustworthy.
The United Nations should suspend or replace any leaders who have engaged in violations, or discuss and debate violations with the leaders and have them change it. My quality of life would be affected if I were denied a human right. It would be affected negatively if I were denied the right to formal education. It would be hard to accomplish my goals in life without a formal education. If I did not have formal education available to me, I would get a low quality job instead of the career of my choice.
If I could change one thing in my community, I would stop violence. If violence were stopped then my community would be almost perfect because violence is a major problem. Violence is everywhere and it makes the world an unsafe place for all of us to live in. To eliminate violence in my community I would severely punish those who engaged in violent activities.
|
|
LaQuesha S.
I would like to grow up and have a good career, a hard-working husband and a healthy family. I want to live in a place where I don't have to worry about getting sick, or my family and I getting asthma. I want to be able to walk outside and breathe in fresh air and not have to cough or gag.
I would not be able to enjoy my ideal life if the air pollution doesn’t change. This is interrupting my ideal life. I will not be able to do those things if every other minute smoke is coming out of a building or car. This can change if the building and car companies put in one of those pollution-free systems. It lets out natural, clean air - like on the buses. The people in the neighborhood or city can write letters to the president about this idea and then ask for a low price so everyone can afford it.
Then my ideal life will be perfect. Everyone can live a healthy and clean life. Life will be better for everyone. People will be able to do these things, like breathe in fresh air, and won’t have to worry about getting sick. I hope the companies can make pollution-free systems for buildings and cars. It will really do a lot for the community and environment. The trees and flowers will shine. The world would seem brighter and there will be smiling faces. Everyone will be happy and healthy
|
|
Natalie S.
My quality of life would be affected if there were violence because I would be afraid of leaving my house. I would be scared to leave my house because when people are violent they have guns and they may end up shooting someone. I would also be afraid to be inside my house because of drive-bys. If you are little and there is no security, children can get hurt or even killed easily.
They might end up committing violent acts themselves. If I had no education then I wouldn’t be able to write this essay. I would also not be able to read or talk properly.
Also, my life would be affected because I wouldn’t know how to do math and little things that are easy - like adding and subtracting. I would also not be able to read directions on a map and I would get lost. I might become homeless because of no education.
If there were not enough food to eat my family wouldn’t be able to eat. We might become savages and whatever we were able to get we would probably not want to share. We might also die of starvation. We might also become poor from using all the money on food.
Pollution can kill me. Pollution in the air can clog my lungs and kill me by suffocating me. Pollution in the water can poison me and kill me. Pollution in my food can kill me because it is poisonous. All of these things can, and do somewhat, affect me but it does not to the extent that I am suffering.
|
|
Rosilis C.
My name is Rosilis and I live in the Bronx, New York. In the eastside of the Bronx there is a community called Kingsbridge. Kingsbridge is the type of community that has a good side and a bad side. Around where I live it is not the good side or bad side, it's right in the middle.
I have been living in this community for the past nine years, ever since I was two years old. Every time I go outside to the grocery store there is either a gang there or a fight taking place. Whenever there is a gang around there I have to walk on the other side of the street, or take the longest way to get somewhere instead of taking a shortcut.
Have you ever wondered or thought of someone who might change our future? Well, I have. My opinion is that the person who would change our future is Mayor Bloomberg. If I had the chance to talk to the mayor or write a letter to him, I would tell him this: "I know that you have the power to change children's future by stopping the drugs, violence, killings etc. If you take a walk around my community, you'll know how many children and families are suffering and hoping for a better life. I would like you to at least put cameras on the corner of every school for safety. There should be police in their cars at the time children come out."
I could see the future ahead of me if Mayor Bloomberg would make a change. I could see all the good sides and good places in my community. Everyone would be able to walk where ever they want. Not only that, but the sound of a cheerful "Hi!" makes me think that it can also be a friendly community trying to make friends. This is only a dream, and this dream would hopefully be my future.
LETTER TO THE MAYOR:
Dear Mayor Bloomberg,
Hi, my name is Rosilis and I have a feeling that my future is going to be ruined. The reason why I feel this way is because my community is full of gangs. If I were you, I would take a walk around Kingsbridge, Bronx, New York. You would feel as if you had a hole in your heart. You would feel this way because that's how the children and families are suffering and hoping for a better future. Please help my family and friends have a better future. It would be so nice of you if you wrote back. Sincerely, Rosilis C.
Samantha A.
In the ideal life, people are doing good stuff in their environment. Some of the stuff that is present are: no violence, education, security, enough food, no pollution in the water and air, the environment not being wrecked and the schools not being poor or overcrowded.
But now I am about to talk to you about the real world. When violence is present, people either get seriously injured, or they die. People are bad out there. When there is no education, people don't learn. But when they have an education, the kids could get great jobs. Some people don't have enough food either. They don't even have the money to afford it. They always have to starve.
People need security. Some children don't feel safe without it. But when the security is available, then people feel safe. I also have noticed that people throw trash on the ground. They make pollution everywhere. Some people even die from asthma attacks because they can't breathe. In some schools, people are poor. That's why people don't like it. They go to another school that becomes overcrowded.
In the environment, innocent people die. That's why leaders and the United Nations should figure something out that can help others. The citizens and the United Nations should let Congress know that air pollution is going on, and they should find out when Congress makes a decision about what to do. Citizens should help their children with their education, and should help others when they need it.
Changes could happen, by Congress and the president making a speech. The president could say, "…Police are going to be around places where people do mostly bad things…" And then Congress could say, "…If they catch people doing something bad, then they will give you a warning, or arrest you.
People are dying for no reason, and this is not right. Some of the changes that can happen are no war, help with people's education, more security, more money for schools, building more schools, etc. The Congress can make changes, because whatever the Congress says goes, and whatever goes stays that way.
|
|
Steven A.
Have you ever seen a factory puff out smoke or wrappers on the ground or the beach? Well, if you did I hope you know that people are not treating our earth right.
Sometimes people with asthma can be badly affected by smoke or people that smoke cigarettes. Or sometimes when you are going on the bus but you miss it, it puffs out smoke. Well, these are two of the ways people are affecting our planet earth.
Ok, let’s say you were a dog and your owner walked you. I hope you know you are barefoot. Imagine - you are stepping on gum, spit and wrappers! This is another way people affect and pollute our earth. Also, when you go to the beach you see those plastic holders that hold a six pack together. Poor dolphins and fish! That affects them because they can die. A lot of people pollute our planet and you know what? People, animals, plants, and fish have to suffer.
I think leaders can call up a meeting and discuss some solutions we can all try. Sometimes people don’t pay attention to signs. I think what citizens can do is to read signs and not litter. I think what the United Nations can do is the same thing leaders can do. You know, we are all in this together. We need to work together to get the job done.
|
|
Ziquayya H.
Hi, my name is Ziquayya and I am writing this note to inform the police that there are violations that are committed every day. Some of these violations are cars being set on fire and vandalized weekly, people getting robbed, fights escalating into murder and gangs showing up on school property and beating up on students or threatening to kill them.
Children are dropping out of school because of fear of violence or joining gangs for acceptance and a way of surviving in the South Bronx. Graffiti is starting to appear on people's homes and other people's property, causing the value of their property and neighborhood to decrease instead of increasing.
I think the police or proper authorities should investigate these issues because people are getting sick of it. An idea for dealing with some of the problems would be to hide cameras in on-going crime areas. Then those that are guilty should be captured regardless of color, sex, or political status and should be jailed or financially penalized. This should help in improving the quality of minority areas, and the education of minority groups, as well as keeping the appeal and property value increasing like in upper class areas.
|
|
Copyright (c) 2003 Knowledge iTrust, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
All trademarks, trade names, service marks, and logos referenced herin belong to their respective owners.
|
|