My 8th Grade Essays

"Does Patriotism Still Matter?"
Author's note: This is the essay that I wrote for the 2010 Patriot's Pen veterans essay contest.The theme of this year's contest is "Does Patriotism Still Matter?". Out of 919 essays submitted, mine took 8th place.

Patriotism means the love or dedication to one’s country. Showing one’s dedication to their country can be demonstrated in many different ways. Patriotism is important because it gives us the freedom to do whatever we want in a responsible matter. This doesn’t mean we can go around doing whatever we want. Citizens of this country still have to follow laws, but have the freedom to make our own choices and live to our full potential. Patriotism does in fact still matter in America.

When someone says patriotism, of course red, white, and blue come to mind. Every day we show patriotism by hanging an American flag in classrooms and saying the Pledge of Allegiance in school. Honoring holidays such as Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day also shows our patriotism to this country. Singing the National Anthem at sporting events is a clear way we show patriotism, but there are more ways that we demonstrate patriotism in our everyday lives.

Anyone can show patriotism. Firemen and police officers show their dedication keeping the community safe and in order. Displaying the American flag, voting in election, and visiting national landmarks are all ways to show pride in our country. Everyone can show patriotism, whether big or small, every act of patriotism is important.

Patriotism can also be shown by helping out the less fortunate. For example, when disaster strikes here in the United States, or even in other countries, the citizens of the US are quick to help out. The United States of America helps by sending supplies and helping to comfort and rebuild communities. This shows that we, as citizens of the United States, want to look out for people and help out whenever help is needed.

Patriotism isn’t reserved just for holidays such as the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. It matters every day of the year. Without patriotism, our country would not have the freedoms we have today. Many men and women show great amounts of patriotism every day. Patriotism does still matter and is a large part of lives in America. The biggest part of patriotism is that we don’t take for granted the freedoms we enjoy in our everyday lives.


Response to Fahrenheit 451:

Author's Note: This is an essay responding to this prompt: "What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger." Nietzsche-- How would you say that this quote could be applicable to the actions from the most recent part of the novel for Montag. 

In 1888, Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in The Twilight of the Idols, "What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger". Montag, from Fahrenheit 451, is told that he should burn his problems. When Captain Beatty becomes a problem for Montag, he does just what he is told, he burns him. Montag escapes fire, a tool for killing and destructing, and uses it to make him stronger.

In Fahrenheit 451, Montag’s actions relate to this quote very much. Montag is a fireman who, in the world the book takes place in, starts fires rather than putting them out. Firemen burn books and the homes of anyone who is associated with them. When Montag gets caught hiding, reading, and teaching the contents of the books to other people, the captain of the fire station, Beatty, gives Montag a flame thrower and Beatty tells Montag to burn down his own house. Montag obeys, but when Beatty starts taunting, Montag goes too far.

Montag learn’s to stand up and think for himself. Beatty doesn’t kill him, but Montag gains his confidence and pulls the trigger, killing Beatty. When you get a flu shot, your body learns to conquer the illness and learns to fight it off if it comes back. Montag learns to conquer the destruction of ideas and will continue to fight for what he believes in.

Fire plays a huge part in this novel. For some people, fire kills them, for others it makes them stronger. What Nietzsche is saying in this quote is that whatever you can overcome and learn from your past experiences, will prepare you for what is to come. Montag confronted and overcame his troubles. For Montag, this quote is very fitting; what didn’t kill him, definitely made him stronger.

Final Response to Fahrenheit 451:
Author's Note: This is my final response to the novel Fahrenheit 451. This novel takes place in a dystopic vision of the future.

The day before your family’s vacation, you are watching a movie on TV. A man on the screen, is flying on an airplane when it suddenly explodes. He gets deserted on an island and has to live off the land. Your mom reassures you that traveling by plane is the safest way to go, but you still feel uneasy. Montag, from Fahrenheit 451 creates destruction every day. The people in the dystopic world Montag lives in follow the rules so thoroughly for fear that they will be burnt along with the books they have betrayed their government with. Destruction keeps fear alive; always being afraid that you will be next.

Montag works as a fireman, which in the iniquitious world he lives in means he starts fires, rather than putting them out. Instead of preventing destruction, Montag creates destruction. When Montag meets Clarisse, a girl who can see past all the lies people want her to believe, she notices that he is a fireman. Clarisse tells Montag all about her life and family, and also about the world. She says that she isn’t afraid of him because he is a fireman. Many people fear firemen because they destroy homes, books and occasionally people.

Destruction keeps fear alive in our world too. People may be afraid to go on an airplane because they have heard of planes crashing. Some people are so afraid of what could happen, that they never take the risk to try it out and conquer their fear. People steer clear of those who tear others down out of fear that they will be picked on next.

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel about how the fear of destruction scares people into following crazy rules that prevent them from living their lives to their fullest. Fear is what people use to gain full control of others. Montag is fine with creating destruction, but when it comes to himself, he fears for his life. In the end, Montag ends up fleeing the city, floating down the river, and living in a bucolic place with other refugees who have had to leave because they know too much.The destruction of the world, which Montag has a part in creating, has everyone fearing the firemen, but also respecting them out of fear.

Response to The Bean Trees:
Author's Note: This is an essay response to the novel The Bean Trees. The book is about Taylor Greer who travels cross country in her car. She creates a whole new life for herself and finds a whole new family. Throughout her journey to discover herself and help her friends, she discovers the true meaning of a family.

When I walk through the door, I see them sitting on the couch. Their blank stares seem to go right through me. How can I call these people family, even friends? Taylor Greer, from The Bean Trees, lives with her mom in a small town in Kentucky. When she finally buys a car, Taylor leaves her mom and decides to keep driving until her car breaks down. Surrounding yourself with people you can trust, love, and truly call family is where you find the meaning of life.

In The Bean Trees, Taylor undergoes many changes. Leaving Kentucky, Taylor changes her name, home and even her family. While stopped in Oklahoma, a state that seems to go on forever, an old Cherokee lady leaves a small child in Taylor’s car. Confused as to why the lady has left her a child, Taylor names the girl Turtle. Turtle lives up to her name later on in the novel, hiding within herself, and coming out of her shell once she feels she is surrounded by people she trusts.

Taylor drives and drives until she arrives in Arizona. After driving through the nothingness of Oklahoma, the calm desert plain is a pleasant surprise. Where it seems like nothing could live, this is where Taylor finds a family. Mattie, the woman who runs the used tires business across the street from where Taylor and Lou Ann live, takes Taylor in, giving her a job. More importantly, Mattie is a friend. Many days are spent with Taylor, Turtle, and Mattie in the garden outside. In the desert, where nothing could possibly survive, a garden grows, and bean trees sprout.

One definition says that a family is a group of individuals living under one roof and usually one head. But is that really a family? Just because you live together, doesn’t necessarily mean you trust each other with your lives. When you surround yourself with those who care for you,

The Bean Trees is a novel about finding a family of people who you can trust and love. Taylor leaves her mother to travel cross country and find a real family. Taylor achieves this goal when she receives Turtle and finds Lou Ann. Just when all hope seams lost, Taylor finds a family and good friends to surround herself with. With true friend who support you and care for you in your time of need, you will have a true family who will help you through the ups and downs of life.