Name: Samantha
Usual nickname: Sam.
Favorite book genres: Horror, sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction.
Hobbies: Dancing, singing, acting, reading, playing on the computer, writing.
Likes: Dogs, cats, magic, mysteries, science, natural disasters, British history, my friends & family, my hobbies.
Favorite book quotes: " 'Who knew words were so confusing?' 'Only when you use a lot to say a little.' " (Milo and Tock; "The Phantom Tollbooth.") "No time to be modest." (Angie; "The Bermuda Virus.") “ ‘Hey, hey, you lot! Midgets!’ ‘Ron!’ ‘Well, they are!’ ” (Ron and Hermione; “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.”)
Hi everyone! If you haven’t figured it out yet, I love reading! I also like movies, computers, and anime and manga. (Daniel is drawing me in! AAH! XD)
Later on, I will also be reviewing some manga, like Amazing Agent Luna and Blade for Barter. (YAY LUNA!)
In my spare time, I sometimes write poetry. Here is a poem I wrote recently about the election and what it does to us...
A Democratic Girl in a Republican World
Why must I suffer like this?
What’s wrong with following your heart?
This is one reason I hate politics -
It tears people apart.
Today at school some kids were discussing politics. They got into the election, and were asking kids their opinions. Everyone else said that George W. Bush would be our president again. Then they asked me. I proudly said that John Kerry would definitely be our president this time. The rest of the day, I was bombarded with cruel taunts and names, such as “Baby Killer,” because I am a supporter of a woman’s right to choose. Why must I suffer like this? What’s wrong with following your heart? This is one reason I hate politics - It tears people apart. Later that day, I ran into some friends of mine. I simply said “Hi,” to them. They all gave me filthy looks. One said, “Lesbian,” another said, Baby Murderer.” I stopped cold, wondering what was wrong. Then I remembered - They were Republicans, and I was a Democrat. Still, I couldn’t believe that that had turned them against me.
Why must I suffer like this?
What’s wrong with following your heart?
This is one reason I hate politics -
It tears people apart.
In social studies that day, since it was election year, we were studying things like the electoral college and how our votes count in the election. Then the teacher asked us, “Who do you think will win the election?” Everyone else in class, again, said Bush. The teacher nodded in approval. Then he noticed me. “Come now, who do you think will win?” He asked me. There was silence for a moment. Then a boy next to me said, “she’s a Democrat! She thinks John Kerry will win!” Then, one girl said, “That just shows what she knows.” The entire class joined in. I looked to the teacher, but he just stood there, doing nothing to help me.
Why must I suffer like this?
What’s wrong with following your heart?
This is one reason I hate politics -
It tears people apart.
That afternoon, I got home close to tears. The whole school now knew I was a Democrat, and I was tormented the rest of the day - even on the school bus, they didn’t stop. My parents were suspicious, but I said nothing. That night, I woke up about midnight to screams, shouts, and crashes outside. All the Republican kids from school were outside, yelling anti - Democrat sayings, and throwing eggs and toilet paper. The next morning, our house was a complete disaster outside, covered in eggs, toilet paper, chocolate syrup, honey, and paint.
Why must I suffer like this?
What’s wrong with following your heart?
This is one reason I hate politics -
It tears people apart.
That day at school, all the kids stared at me, wanting to know if they had broken my Democratic spirit. They had not, of course, but they had come close. I was ready, though, to face them, as I had composed something that showed my strength, not weakness. That day in home room, we had current events. I had chosen the torment of politics, and when it was my turn, I said proudly to my classmates:
“You think that you have broken me
This election year.
You’ve tried to do so,
To make me shed some tears.
But you’ve forgotten something,
And that is why you fail,
Democrats, like me, have pride!
We don’t cry and wail.
This election seems to you
A reason to be mean
Which is another weakness
That is clearly seen.
Now a suggestion
That you should take to heart:
Treat everyone with kindness
Before we’re torn apart.
Now, I think I’ve said enough to you
This is where my statement ends.
But remember: despite our differences
We can still be friends.
When I had finished, there was silence. Then, little by little, the class began to applaud my poem and story. The teacher also looked pleased. When the applause died down, she came to me and said to us all,
“This girl has said some things
That are things I cannot teach.
Wisdom, peace, and the courage to speak
Are things only pure spirit can reach.
So when you leave today,
Remember in your heart
That meanness will only
Tear everyone apart.”
Now I have said my say to you. Today when you walk in this world, treat everyone with kindness, even someone who’s a different gender, religion, or political viewer.
Don’t make people suffer,
Let them follow their heart,
Don’t be mean and hating -
It tears people apart.
To everyone reading this - boy, girl, man, woman, Republican, Democrat, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Wiccan, bless you all..
