Breaking Across (POV)

Author’s note: For point of view, instead of using a specific story to change viewpoints, I am going to use a personal experience from running a race that I ran on April 22, 2013. It is a true story that happened while running and I could imagine what the boy next to us was thinking.

Stride after stride. Breath after breath. Person after person. Clap after clap. Smile after smile, I ran the path to the finish. Feeling the air whoosh across my face, I kept going. Hearing the spectators chant and clap for the bypassing runners. Noisemakers from small children with their faint voices calling out, cheering on the runners. Not step by step but leap by leap, each time my foot dug into the concrete, I was one step closer to completing the race. I wasn't alone. I had a few companions by my side. Not all were wanted..

Anxious person after anxious person, Emily and I waited in anticipation for the blow horn to sound, eager to cross our foot one small placement over the line. We were waiting to begin so we were able to reach the finish line in time to be on the news camera. Our bodies leaned forward, hunched over to get a speedy start. The announcer said we would begin. The countdown was called. “10, 9, 8, 7,” and the blow horn sounded. Emily and I looked at each other in confusion. What happened to 6 and the other numbers? I thought. Runners began to pass us. Soon we both realized there was no other numbers to be called. We took off at 7. Each individual running, were surrounding us as if we were a pack of wolves. One boy specifically was purposely attempting to match our pace. He was about eleven years old and it was obvious to Emily and I both that he was not a trained runner.

Dig after dig in the ground, the boy was trudging his feet along the grass and sidewalk. Exhaling uneven heavy breaths, he still wouldn't shake off of us. We would round a corner and he would begin to walk as if he was done trying to stick with us. A long straightaway would be ahead of us and of course the young boy would make a reappearance beside us. More heavy breathing, dragging feet, it was getting very annoying for us to listen too while running. As well, it made us uncomfortable to talk about the things we want to talk about with this boy running right at our side. He would think we are insane if we were acting our usual selves. Emily would bring up an inside joke and we would receive a glare from him.

Sprint after sprint, we winded up the pace to full speed. The finish line was just 100 meters away. Our strides were so long I felt as if I could jump any hurdle. The crowd roared and commented at what a strong finish we were displaying. One more step and we would cross the tape. Throughout the viewers I could hear a question being asked “which girl will beat the other.” That is the exact question that Emily and I were hoping would be asked. Before the race we told each other we would run the whole thing together. About five feet away, we grabbed hands and lifted them up in victory as we crossed the line together. Exact tie.

I have to keep up. I have to keep up. I can’t let two girls beat me. I can’t run alone. I want to be in on conversations and have them keep me motivated. I will not let myself fall behind. I have to keep my steps in rhythm with theirs. All these thoughts were jumbled up in my head at the same time. They would begin to pull ahead of me every once and awhile, my steps didn't sound anything like theirs, I wasn't exactly sure about any technique to use to finish strong, I had no experience with this whole running thing.
 My goal was to stay running with them so I would be able to make it to the finish line, have a good finishing time, and not let two girls beat me. They both looked as if they were trained in the past to be able to run at least 3 miles steadily and easily. Both were wearing Merton Area Running Club tee- shirts. They had to be good. 
I wished they would keep me motivated as I ran, by cheering me on as I tried to keep with them. I wouldn't blame them if they didn't. We didn't know each other and they were older than me anyways. Just with them in my presence would keep me going because of their speed. They didn't stop once.

I was getting extremely tired and my muscles ached. I kept pushing myself through it. My lungs felt heavy and I had a cramp in my side. I couldn't quite. Finally we were about 500 meters away from the finish. This was a little over a quarter mile left to go. I hoped they would maintain their speed and keep at this pace. I wanted to finish right next to them as we crossed the line. Soon the distance left narrowed down to 100 meters. Almost there. We were running in a clan when they suddenly just take off. Full out sprint. I tried to catch them but I wasn't nearly as fast. Now I would finish by myself. After my attempt to sprint it out I just felt like crying and giving up. I couldn't do this race. I shouldn't have tried. I began to start walking the last 100 meters.

Behind me a group of women were coming towards me running for the finish. All of them began to clap and cheer and got me going with them. We all ran as a big group and completed the race less than a minute after the two girls I was originally running with. I was proud at how I did. I went up and told the two girls that they were really good and I congratulated them. I wish I could have kept up with them, but maybe another time.

U.S. Government System Beliefs

Author's Note: This piece was collaborated with Sam, Kaylie, Megan, and Timothy. It was an assignment we had to do for "We the People" and each of us wrote a section to create an essay in which we had to read aloud for an audience.

Today in Iran, girls can’t go to school, they can’t vote and they have to wear shawls over their faces. In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi murdered the citizens of Libya in great numbers because the people disagreed with him. These countries are having these problems because the government had too much power.

            The framers of our constitution wanted to guarantee these situations could not happen in America. In the first three articles of our constitution, the framers laid the foundation of our government structure and operation to ‘insure’ that no one branch of government could dominate another. When you look at Iran and Libya, aren't you glad our government is the way it is?

            The framers divided our government into three branches; the judicial branch, the Legislative branch and the Executive branch. The job of the judicial branch is to decide the meaning of laws and to interpret the law that supersedes all laws, the U.S. Constitution. The job of the Legislative branch is to make laws that promote the common good, which is the most good for the most people, to raise an army, to declare war and to govern commerce. The job of the President and the Executive branch is to carry out the law, to grant pardons, to prepare the country’s budget and to approve laws they judge are right and veto those they think are bad for the people.

            The framers knew it was important to separate the powers, but they also knew that it was not sufficient to allow each branch to operate unchecked by the others. Therefore, the Constitution calls for a system of checks and balances between the branches.

            For example, the judicial branch has the power to decide the meaning of the laws. However, Congress approves judicial appointments, can impeach judges and can make amendments to the constitution when they think the Supreme Court is not interpreting the laws in the right way. The Executive branch checks the power, too, by having the power to appoint the judges and Supreme Court justices.

            Congress has its power checked in many ways too. For instance, Congress has the power to make laws, like Tax laws. The Executive Branch can check the lawmaking power by vetoing the bill. The Executive Branch further checks Congress’ power by having the power to call them into session and to tell them when to adjourn. The Judicial branch also shows Judicial Restraint. This shows that Judicial Review can be good if they use good judgment in how often and in which cases they use it.

            The third branch, the Executive Branch, has its power checked by the other branches too. For instance, the president has the power to veto. If the president vetoes a bill then it is sent back to Congress. Congress must then get two thirds of each house to vote to override the bill for it to become law. Congress also has the power to impeach the President. If they do, the Judicial branch acts as “President of the Senate” during the hearings, providing a way for the Judicial branch to also check the Executive Branch’s powers.

            We think that Congress should be able to override the veto of a President because if Congress passes a law that is going to help the Common Good and the President vetoes it, a good law will be eliminated and there would be no way for anyone to do anything about it. An example of this is on January 17, 2006 in Wisconsin, in a bill about carrying concealed weapons. The state Congress passed for the bill, so it went to Governor Jim Doyle, who vetoes the bill. Congress then tried to override it, but the override vote missed by only one vote, therefore it wasn't overridden. The people who sponsored the original bill believed it would result in fewer deaths in Wisconsin. Because the governor vetoed it, that benefit will be lost. Imagine if the governor’s will was exactly the opposite of the people’s will and he vetoes everything the people viewed as right. Shouldn't this be checked by another branch? We say “Yes!”

            The separation of the powers and checks and balances were helpful in limiting the government’s power but wasn't enough. The framers who wrote our constitution planned a Federal system of government. In this system, there are three levels: the national, state, and local government. Each level had balanced power. For example, the National government has weaker powers. This level of government can give licenses such as drivers and hunting, and provide health care. The local government, the smallest form of government, may be weak but still has power. The local government has the power to create public schools and control what is taught in them. They also have to pay public school’s staff members with taxes. All three of these levels are superseded by the U.S. Constitution. This level is higher than any other level of government besides the people. The people keep powers for themselves, as well. Some of these powers are choosing to practice and believe any religion they want, expressing opinions any way they want and asking the government to do or not do certain things. However these levels can interfere with each other’s powers. This happened in the case of “United States vs. Lopez”. In this case, the Federal government was trying to control things the state government should control. This power was dealing with concealing and carrying weapons. The Federal government was trying to decide if citizens should be allowed to carry concealed weapons. It was ruled that the state would control this freedom. The Framers needed more than three branches so they created this Federal system of government.

            In conclusion, governments like Iran and Libya that are out of balance can be very dangerous. Since our country has Separation of Powers, Checks & Balances, and a Federal system, our country is in control and in balance. No branch is too powerful; no level of government is too strong. Therefore, America’s cherished rights to life, to liberty and the pursuits of happiness are preserved.

Opposites Don't Attract

An angel. A bright light. A ring of purity glows around her. Singing heavenly songs. All this comes to mind when I think of an angel. Pure heavenly glow and song. Barely able to look, being so bright. When I think of an angel, I think purity. When the town in the movie Beauty and the Beast thinks of purity, they think of Belle.

Belle had the looks to the personality. She wasn't rich, but she didn't need nor want to be. She was just herself. Everyone in the town knew that she was the most beautiful girl that you could ever lay eyes on. She wasn't cocky about it either. She might have known she was gorgeous but Belle is not the type of person to show off or brag about it. She didn't have a gang of people marching behind her, waiting for her every move. They didn't obsess over her. Yes they knew she was beautiful but she wasn't being chased by people. Belle was a little bit on the quiet side. She always had her nose in a book. As if she didn't care what anyone thought of her. She was wearing a blue dress with an apron over it, not a fancy dress. She was another girl in town, but was by far the greatest role model. Belle defined a pure young lady.

Cockiness and a mean streak was the only thing that ran through Gaston. He had selfish love, selfish motives, and was arrogant. Yet, all the girls worshiped him. People would follow him around trying to talk to him. He was their idol. One in which they worshiped time after time again. In awe they would lean over him and flirt with him. He could have any girl in the village. But not Belle. Knowing any girl would die for him, Gaston asked Belle to marry him. He thought that she would just say yes.  But it wasn't the case at all. Belle hated Gaston. She realized what a jerk he was and how selfish Gaston acted. Belle said no to Gaston for all the right reasons. He wanted Belle to be his wife for all the wrong reasons. Gaston knew that she was the most breathtaking girl that the whole village had seen. He wanted it for himself. He was the idol of the village, he didn't look good single. Marrying Belle would be the high of his life for him. He wouldn't realize that or care. Gaston wanted to claim her as his. That's all. Belle? With somebody like Gaston? Complete opposites. If you have two different magnets, they don't attract. They push away from each other. Gaston wanted to be the one to keep pushing to get to her but she would be the one backing away. Resisting it and avoiding him. All of Belle's purity for just Gaston. How would that look on him? Pretty good. She wasn't going to give herself away to anyone so selfish that wanted her for his sake.

Can you think of anyone that is like Gaston? I can. It doesn't have to be a grown man. In fact my old best friend Makayla is just like Gaston. Notice how I said "old best friend." I decided that I didn't want to be known for being friends with someone like her. I am not saying that I am Belle, because I am not perfect in everything I do. I noticed how selfish she was and I didn't want to be friends with somebody that would treat me the way she did. She didn't have very many friends. I knew why, after we were friends for about six months. We got along so well and were joined at the hip as some would say. But she was just an awful friend. She never listened to what I had to say, but I always listened to her. I was a great friend to her because I didn't want to loose her. After awhile, I realized that I wanted to. When I would point out little flaws that I didn't like about how she was treating me, she would get defensive and say that I do the same thing when I knew for a fact that I didn't. She was so controlling and spoiled and wanted everything handed to her. Just like Gaston. I am sure everybody knows  or did know somebody like Gaston.He is more of an extreme example but everybody is most likely to know a person that shows some traits that Gaston does.

I am pretty sure that nobody would want to be friends with somebody like Gaston. Possibly for the publicity and popularity but not for the way you would be treated. Nobody would want to spend their life serving them and worshiping them and in the end have "Gaston" treat you like you did nothing. So maybe you're not Belle, you aren't all pure and maybe not the prettiest girl but try to be like her. I am not saying to try and be beautiful because everyone is gorgeous in their own way. I am saying to be as pure as you can. Have Belle be your set role model. Don't be overtaken by people like Gaston. When Gaston comes around, you walk out. Just like Belle walked out of her house when Gaston started acting up around her. You don't hang on to those people. You walk away from them and don't let them control you. Would you want to be known for being best friends with Gaston? Belle means beautiful. There is a reason why Belle has that name. It is almost as a label. Do you want to be labeled as Gaston or Belle? Being known as selfish or pure?