Kylie Marshall-Bohn

August 29, 2011

Michael Benton

                                Something Like America

            In the book “Someplace Like America” Dale Maharidge and photographer Michael Williamson explore real people dealing with economic crises. Most people they interview and get to know are homeless, but its not just an interview they get to know the people on a very personal level, such as sleeping outside with them. They are searching for the real story, and want real answers. 

            One of the first homeless people we get to know goes by the name of “Crazy Red”. Crazy Red lives in Santa Barbara, California and was a Vietnam War veteran. They got to know Crazy Red they followed him around all day seeing what his day to day routine was as a homeless American. Crazy Red also introduced them to many other homeless in that area. That same night they were all set out their sheets and coats to sleep on, but were woken up by flashing lights, yelling, and police charging all of them. They all gathered their things fast and began to run. Dale asked Crazy Red “How can they do this?” and Crazy Red replied, “Where do you think you are? Someplace like America?”

            With that being said Crazy Red named this book, the writer and photographer want us (the reader) think about “someplace like America” as a question and a statement, but they also want us to focus on what this statement/ question means for the cover of the book. They also ask “what do we want to become as we move forward?” On the cover there is a picture of Ken Platt and his son, they did a thirty-year study on the Platt family.  Both writer and photographer want us (the reader) to apply these questions to that picture on the cover. The cover picture explains a story of struggles, worries, and fate in this family’s life.

            “Someplace like America,” explains the “human side” of where we are in the economic world today, and how many people are “trapped” in this crisis. It also describes how America has a huge unemployment rate. These are two main factors to why there are so many homeless people. The book states that our “business and political leaders have failed us (the People) and have done this repeatedly.” This is very true in today’s America, so many important leaders that the US people trust are “screwing us” in the long run, and its been happening for to long. The book also describes how we are at a “cultural and economic turning point”. Which maybe a reason for all the madness in America, there needs to be a change.

            Over this book has caught my attention to a very important struggle America is having, it is effecting everyone, everywhere. This book is a real eye opener to what real people are going through, it’s the truth. This book breaks down the causes of their problems and the effects that it has made on people lifestyle and their family. 

Response #2

Kylie Marshall-Bohn

August 23, 2011

ENG 102

                                             The Casey Anthony Trial

            Casey Anthony was on trial for the murder of her daughter, two year old Caylee Anthony. Caylee had been missing for over thirty days before she was reported missing. Casey Anthony was out partying for those thirty days that Caylee had been missing and told lie after lie to everyone about the whereabouts of Caylee. Caylee was found dead in a forest less than a mile away from the Anthony’s home. Caylee’s body was decomposing by the time authorities found her. High levels of chloroform were found in Caylee’s decomposed body. After finding the body Casey Anthony was immediately taken into custody. Casey sat in jail for two years before her case actually went to trail. Casey Anthony was on trail for six weeks until the jury found her not guilty for the murder of her child Caylee.

            Casey Anthony’s actions during the time that her daughter had been missing were very dishonorable and questionable. Casey was out partying with friends at bars, dancing on tables, and even got a tattoo on her back with the meaning “beautiful life”. Casey’s actions just during that thirty day time period make her look very suspicious, and guilty in my opinion. Casey was the prime suspect in this case; authorities contacted her wanting information about Caylee. Casey had composed a few different stories to tell, but all were lies. She had told police that she dropped Caylee off with a nanny. The nanny was identified and questioned, but had no idea who Casey or Caylee was. That is just one example for Casey Anthony lies.

            Casey Anthony had been lying to everyone including her own family; her mother Cindy was the first person to contact police that Cylee was missing. In the police call you can hear Cindy’s heartbreaking, she’s very upset. Casey never really showed any emotions of being upset or heartbroken, which is very unusual for a mother who’s two year old is missing. Not only did Cindy report her granddaughter missing she also told police that Casey’s car smelled like a dead body was in it. That is a major red flag to me that Casey is guilty.

            Casey Anthony should have been changed with the murder of her two year old Caylee. By just taking a deeper look into Casey’s actions during the thrifty day period of Caylee missing makes her guilty in my book. She acts so happy go lucky when in reality her is a murder. Casey Anthony did not go to jail for murder but she diffidently has so very bad karma coming her way. 

ABOUT ME!

I'm from Louisville Ky.
I am a student at BCTC but I hope to transfer to UK next fall.
I took a Writting I class last year.
I find current events in the news and court cases very interesting.
I'm in college to learn so that hopfully one day I'll have a good job so that  I can travel the world.
The things  I enjoy are going to the lake with friends and family, going out to dinner, going out with friends, and traveling!

The Results of My Political Compass Test