Heath Ledger

Heath Andrew Ledger was born April 4, 1979 in Australia. He was in many films, but is most known in 10 things I hate about, Brokeback Mountain, A Knights Tale, and The Dark Knight. He really broke through in his acting when he played in Brokeback Mountain.  He won a Best Actor award and the Best International Actor award.

He was sometimes in the news for multiple altercations with the media. He has been accused for spitting on paparazzi, been thought to be afraid of gay people by his actions at an awards ceremony, and many other things that the public has had a problem with.

The Dark knight was one of those films that really made Heath Ledger stand out. He played the Joker in the alleged Batman movie. He was really into his role, and was so into learning about the character. People who worked with him on set said he was into his character even when he wasn't on film.  He ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, probably the biggest accomplishment he had ever. Heath Ledger died January, 2008. He died from an overdose of prescription drugs. He is one of the many celebrities that has died from a drug overdose. Drug abuse in the United States is a growing problem. Every day, 105 people die from a drug overdose.  This goes to show that anyone can acquire a drug problem, even celebrities. It's okay to accept the fact that people have a drug problem and its not something to be embarrassed of if you do have a problem. It's not good if its in the "limelight" so to say but it gives everyone at least a feeling of "well even celebrities can have problems that they might not be able to control". Heath Ledger was a very well liked actor and people were devastated when they heard about his death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Ledger

http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/overdose/facts.html

Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds

Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds

Miley Cyrus was born November 23, 1992 in Nashville under the name of Destiny Hope Cyrus. She is the daughter of the country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and was the star of the ever so popular Disney channel show Hannah Montana. In this show she was known as Miley Stewart in her normal life but she lived a secret life under the name of the popular singer Hannah Montana. She lived a double life all throughout the show and struggled with the issues that came with it. She was afraid that people would not treat her the same if they all knew that she was actually Hannah Montana. She didn’t want to be treated like a celebrity she wanted to live a “normal life”, but even that had its own issues.

Miley began dating Liam Hemsworth at the age of 16 in September of 2009. They tried to keep their relationship as quiet and behind closed as much as they could but they were soon discovered and in the spot light. The dated for three years and became engaged in May of 2012. Soon after the engagement the couple split sending Miley Cyrus down what seemed to be a destructive path.

            She first began by cutting off most of her hair and dying it bleach blonde, getting more tattoos, talking about drugs in her songs, and being spotted with rappers most infamous for doing drugs. This is not the Miley we all knew as Hannah Montana. However when asked about her drastic change she said that this is who she’s always wanted to be just wasn’t able to become this person.

            The struggle with citizenship is the fact that one feels like they must conform into the idea of what everyone wants and thinks you should be. Citizenship is a form of acceptance and Miley was not being accepted. She got ridicule from angry mothers of daughters who looked up to her and ridiculed by others saying she went crazy after Liam broke her heart. This Miley was not ok according to America.

            Is it fair to keep someone from being themselves just because of a role the played when they were growing up? Miley didn’t know who she was when filming the show and even in the show her character didn’t know who she was or wanted to be. Miley Cyrus is a public figure that should be respected for her change of pace and is an excellent example of going against the social issue of conformity. She is growing up just like anyone else and just because she isn’t growing into “a mature adult” according to American standards she is herself.

            Living up to the ideals of American stereotypes is easy. It is easy to fall into the trap of monotony. However it is hard to step outside of the comfort zone of American life because being accepted amongst citizens is such a huge goal for many.

Sarah Palin: The road to End Abortion

Sarah Palin: The Road to End Abortion

Sarah Palin is an American politician, prior governor of Alaska and the first Republican woman to be nominated for the vice presidency. Sarah was born in Idaho but shortly after moved to Skagway, Alaska. She attended Wasilla high school where she was the head of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, on the girls’ basketball team, and cross country team. An average young woman with the nickname “Sarah Barracuda” because of her competitiveness.

Bachelor in Communications with emphasis in journalism, Alumni Achievement Award, beauty pageants, and sportscaster for KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV are just a few of her early achievements. She eloped with her high-school sweetheart, Todd Palin, at age 24 in August of 1998 and had her first child in April 1989. Palin later became mayor for two terms and governor of Alaska in 2006.

Palin is highly known for her input and work into the issue of abortion. Palin is extremely passionate about this issue and it became known in her vice presidential election with John McCain that she is pro- life, even in cases of rape. She spoke “I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending an innocent’s life.” Sarah believes that in all cases, except for when the mother’s life is in danger, abortion is never the right choice. Statistic report that as many as 90% of children who are discovered to be born with Down syndrome are aborted. Sarah’s son Trig has Down syndrome and she has built her life trying to stop the evil issue and save innocent lives such as her son, Trig’s. Palin’s daughter got pregnant at a young age and out of wedlock and was ridiculed for it during the election with McCain.  Later her daughter was engaged to the baby’s father and announced that they were planning on marrying with or without a child. This, however, was a hurdle that Palin and her family handled with grace and dignity. Her pro- life stance was exemplified through her daughter, Bristol. Palin’s stance on abortion has been criticized over and over when, if you think about the issue, she is fighting to save innocent lives.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/11/campaign.wrap/

http://www.parentdish.com/2009/04/21/sarah-palin-admits-she-considered-abortion/

Upstae New York, Personified Poem

Upstate New York

Upstate New York
Farms for miles and miles
Cows, deer, horses, foxes, wolves,
skunks, possums, and so many trees.
Far different from your average big and busy city,
a town square, diners left and right.
Winter comes and stays for
eight months out of the year
Snow up to six and seven feet
Stays on the ground for weeks and weeks
just when you think that it'll melt completely
It snows again.
Hottest months of the year here is August
And even when that comes
The hot days only last for two to three weeks
Upstate New York
A place where everyone knows everyone
A place where even if you don't like someone
You'll still talk to them because that's
The right thing to do
Upstate New York

Fern Creek, KY

I explained the town that I'm from. It's a town in Louisville, KY and to me growing up here helped make lousiville a much smaller place than it really is. I tried to use adjectives to describe this person that represented the sense of community that Fern Creek had. 

He is not small but yet

He is not big at all

His heart goes out to many

Yet not many know about him

He carries a sense of community every where he goes

People from all around commute to him

For school

For sports

For friends

He was on the rise a few years past

People looked down upon him

Little respect

However he grew with support and determination

He works with everyone  tall short dark light from near from far

He doesn’t conform but accepts

He doesn’t judge but encourages

As he walks about he his greeted with smiles

For one may not recognize that he is him but they recognize where he is from

He has witnessed tragedy

Tragedy of those he knew very well

But with this he brings togetherness

He allows people to realize home is not a house

Home is a community

He is the light at the end of the day and

You don’t have to go far to find him

As he travels from place to place some make fun of him

He proves them wrong

He shows them what he’s really about not what is perceived

He is better known as the underdog but who doesn’t root for the underdog?

He has his enemies but they aren’t as hatred as most

Country yet suburban, hood yet classy

There is nothing he hasn’t been or hasn’t seen

People can make there own opinions

But at the end of the day he will continue to prove

That he can’t be stopped

And will produce results far better than his “upper classmen”

Born and raised in the same

Elementary school and high school the same

He branched out for middle school but came right back to where he belonged

He is belonging

He is comfort

And He is home

Springboro - Personified poem

Springboro
hometown girl
quiet, quaint, small
pretty simple, not much to her
claimed to be boring
but no one ever leaves
an Ohioan
buckeye lover
slow moving, takes her time
lives in the suburbs
cookie cutter house
works at the school, where everyone knows everyone
too small to keep secrets
has a simple view of the world, lives in a bubble
doesn't argue much, relaxed, laid back
interacts with the same people all the time
wishes for bigger things but,
never wants to leave.
happy with the relaxed life she lives
part of history, the Underground Railroad
helpful, part of the community
proud of her small town
comes alive in the fall, such a beautiful time
one track mind, not very adventurous- but still wishes
she can leave
stuck in between two larger cities
stuck in between wanting to stay, and wanting to get out
conflicted with oneself, sometimes fearful
proud to be a panther, but sometimes wants more

- The way I wrote this poem was I just thought of my hometown as a person. I also think it was helpful when I read the other poems posted on the prompt. I was trying to make it as person like as possible but still come across as a place.

The Cooking Exam

Tick tock, tick tock
The sound
kitchen machinery ringing in the ears
tick tock
there was nothing but silence besides
the sound of the timer ticking down
to it's destination
tick tock tick tock
and the sound of pots and pans being clattered together
and dishes and utensils
chop, chop, slice, dice
chop, chop, slice, dice
Prepare those dishes quickly and get them presented
Little girl, little boy
Hurry up before it's too late
tick tock tick tock