Tribute to Michael Brown

It's only an hour after Thanksgiving, but it should be enough time for people not to become quickly offended with what I have to say and what I have to say is very important. To those who don't know me and do know me this may come to a surprise to you, but I only hope that your eyes will be open to the injustices that are happening - none of which have only happened lately but have been happening and we have overlooked it.

I am an advocate for all people, no matter their religion or race, their sex or who they love; I support all people. 

After my school was visited by the Rachel's Challenge foundation four years ago, I have been an advocate for all people and to not judge a person by what our society would label them as. Because of this, I thank Rachel Scott and her family for spreading her message, touching the lives of thousands to teach the new generations of children to not hold hate in their hearts if a person is not what society approves them as. Rachel Scott is a spokesperson for love and life and I hold her ethics close to my heart, so it hurts me when my country is spitting on her memory.

No doubt many of you have heard of the death of Michael Brown by the officer of the Ferguson police force Darren D. Wilson, but if you have not I pray that you do so that you may understand my pain and the pain of many others. Michael Brown was an innocent person. An innocent person! I stress this because the man who took his life killed him out of injustice and because of the color of his skin. Darren D. Wilson was charged to serve and protect the people of the United States, and he abused that power by shooting Michael Brown six times even though his hands were up in surrender.

I had heard of what happened and the protesting in the beginning of August, just when school was starting, and kept up with the story, but on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, I heard very disturbing news. For over 100 days, a grand jury got together to look at the evidence of Michael Browns death. 100 days passed, and Tuesday night at 9 p.m. they were scheduled to give their verdict on Darren D. Wilson, and what they said shattered not only my heart, but also the hearts of the people of Ferguson, America, and possibly the world. The grand jury of St. Louise, Missouri ruled that officer Darren D. Wilson, the officer and man who shot and killed 18 year old honor student Michael Brown would not be indicted for the murder of Michael Brown.

How is this possible? How could this have possibly happen? How were these people going to let Michael Brown's killer walk loose after several eye witnesses saw him kill Michael Brown?

Those who don't live in the United States and/or possibly see this injustice every day should understand; the United States may not have started on it, but it was built to give justice to the people, to serve the people, to give people hope and human rights. We see people protesting against the removal of the second amendment that gives the people the right to bear arms (guns), we see protests against against our President Barack Obama, we see protests against abortion, but when the people of America protest because of the death of an innocent, police officers suddenly arm themselves as if they are going to war and shoot tear gas and rubber bullets at unarmed innocent people. Here in the United States we are given the right to protest and the freedom of speech, but when the people are attacked for exercising those rights, people have to see that there's something wrong going on.

And do any of you know what Darren D. Wilson was doing while the grand jury was coming to this decision? Officer Darren D. Wilson was on paid vacation and got married. How messed up! Paid vacation and marriage? Oh, and it doesn't stop there, because Darren D. Wilson was getting paid for interviews. Paid interviews, as if the media didn't mind paying a killer for his side of the story, a story that made absolutely no sense whatsoever.

If given the chance, I would be in Ferguson protesting against this injustice, but I can only give my support and prayers to them and be a small voice among the many that speak out against this. It hurts me because it has been over sixty years since the start of the Civil Rights Movement and African-Americans are still being preyed upon because of the color of their skin, because the KKK is still alive and killing innocent people, because the United States is taking a step back in history and repeating it instead of making it.

The problem is this has been happening for years; police officers killing innocent people and children as if they believe they hold the power to choose who is good or who is bad. So, when you get the chance, hold your loved ones close and share your love for them and know in your hearts that, wherever you are, it's better than the United States, because we're being killed by the people who have sworn to protect us with their lives, we are being killed by the ones we are told over and over again to always trust based off of the color of our skins. Right now, anywhere is better than the United States, the land of the free and home of the brave.

As sad as it truly is to admit it, it's the truth; America is not the greatest country in the world anymore. But, there's a solution; we can learn to eliminate the walls the society has created to separate the people, eliminate the walls of racism and discrimination, eliminate the bonds that tie us down to labels and learn that everyone is one very important thing; a human being. Rachel Scott was right to preach kindness to others, because it's a step, a chain reaction to make the world equal to all people. It's true; nothing has gotten done with just peaceful protesting. And, though this is true, we have to teach the importance of human beings, not based off of their religion or sex or race, but because they are a human being, nothing more and nothing less. This can be achieved, this is a fact because here I am, the end result to seventeen year process of my parents teaching me that everyone is equal and as important as I value myself, that everyone deserves respect and kindness.

This future is possible and it all starts right now with you.

Day 71

I cried today. There wasn't a dry tear today after our pep-assembly. Our school paid for the uncle of Rachel Joy Scott to come to our school and talk to us. Four years ago, Rachel's brother talked to us and it felt right that, four years later, we have that same talk again. Gosh, it was so hard especially after yesterday, but it made me more open, it made me feel good. In eighth and ninth grade I was a part of the Friends of Rachel group and it was great, it was so great, and this meeting reminded me of so much, it gave me so much to try for.

I won't be on for another week, because Thanksgiving is coming up. Happy Thanksgiving and see you in two weeks!

Day 70

Today was a really hard but uplifting day, and I'll never forget it.

Ever since I've been going to Fruita Monument I have been trying to find a teacher that would have known my Uncle, Terrence. He went to Fruita Monument too and he was going to graduate in 2000 but he dropped out and then he died two years later. Yes, he's been dead for twelve years and it still hurts because I have memories of him. Last year I found him in the old year books in our library. This year I felt I found a part of him.

Mr. Stockert, my American Gov teacher, was telling us today about how he went to Fruita Monument and how he went to college and he came back to teach at Fruita. He told us about he graduated in 2000 and that's when it just clicked for me. After class, I talked to him for a bit; I asked him if he ever knew a Terrence Ashcraft. To him the name was familiar, but when he looked at his picture in one of his year books he remembered him. I cried.

Then, today was the Thanks-For-Giving dinner for the Partners program and my Senior partner and best friend Maggie and I won the Partners award. We've been together for nine years now and I've never had as great as a friend as her. I'm so thankful for today, because I haven't been this happy for a while.

Day 69

In mythology we're reenacting a part of King Arthur, and my group got the ending. It's not too bad, but I'm just not really good with acting, even for really simple things. That's really all that's been happening today.

Day 68

In biology we are learning about the heart! It's probably a nice thing I'm watching Grey's Anatomy, especially since I'm now really interested in anatomy right now. In Modern Lit we're reading this book called Black Like Me and the guy wrote this based off his experience in 1950s when he turned his skin black so he could understand what it was like to be a black person. A lot of the kids in my class don't want to even bother with reading it, but they don't know how truly AMAZING this historical account truly is. I mean, someone was brave enough, in 1950s United States of America, to pretend to be black so they could get an actual account of what it truly was to be black.

What my classmates don't understand is that racism is still alive in America today. Oh, it's not as bad as what it used to be, but really think about. African Americans get less pay than white skinned Americans, they are forced to blend into our white society, forced to ACT white, and if they aren't a part of the white society they are looked at with fear and disgust. How horrible this kind of life truly is. And that is our society today! Look at what racism has done to us; it's "forced" a police officer to kill a black boy, it's "forced" several officers that uphold the law of the United States to take innocent lives. That is what my generation doesn't understand and I find that truly sad.

Day 67

Again, it's a monday, but the cool part about this monday is that next week I won't have any school! Yay! The only reason I like the pilgrims is because of Thanksgiving! That kind of seems harsh, but it's true, especially since they (unknowingly) spread an epidemic that killed thousands of natives to the area. Yep, turkey!

Anyway, it's just been an easy day, this entire week is more than likely going to be an easy week, but I won't count my eggs before they hatch.

Day 66

I don't feel like doing anything right now, it's like the morning after a very long party. At least Tiffany spent the night, we were able to have breakfast. When I got home I took a nap before I went to work and just passed out until 6. It was nice, but I was exhausted. At least the testing is over, for now.

Day 65

I love Biology. I love it! But, the science test for CMAS today was close to nothing like that. We had simulations where we had guess about certain things, but there was only about three questions about life science, like the trophic levels and ecosystems. It was ridiculous, worst than the social studies one. I'm kinda glad and proud of those students who are protesting against the standardized tests in Denver, because I call some major bull shit on this stuff.

Day 64

So, for Mythology, we've got a really awesome project going on; we get to create our our mythological monsters. Mine is the Jujango, a siren-like woman with the half the body of an octopus and half the body of a human. It's really cool, I just wish I was able to draw them out. Also, more notes for American Gov, it's almost like we never watch any movies in that class, even when Mr. Stockert is gone. Also, more writing.

Day 63

It was alright, especially since in biology we got to watch Atlantis: The Lost Empire (my favorite Disney movie!). Then, we watched a documentary about the Civil Rights movement in Modern Lit and we get our books yesterday called Black Like Me, about a white guy who turns black in the 1950s. It's just the same old day and the same old life.

Day 62

What's there to say? I am exhausted. My manager has scheduled me for 24 hours this week. 24 hours. That's a lot of hours. Sure, good for the money, but I don't have enough time on my hands to do that. Also, they usually schedule me from 8-11:30pm now, they have me close and I don't even get a 4, sometimes a 3, hour shift. Sorry, I'm just exhausted. Really exhausted.

Day 61

I'm losing my cool, I'm just lucky no one else around me has seen it happen. I'm having a pretty difficult time with my parents. Sure, most teenagers do, that's a given, but, I don't know, it's really hard to explain it without sounding like a spoiled brat. It's just I'm working really hard, with school and with my job, and I would REALLY appreciate it if my parent's could at least just help me out here. I need a car so that I can get to school and to work. Don't tell me to work for it, because I am, believe me. But, from my understanding, I can't get my license until I get my car, because my mother won't let me use her car so that I can drive to school in case something happens to my baby brother (isn't that why people call 911?) and I'm not driving my dad's because I don't know how to work a stick shift. In truth, this is happening exactly as it happened to my sister last year - I'm not going to get my car with the help of my parents, but, if my parents had their way, I wouldn't get my license until I turned 18, then they wouldn't have to worry about taking me down to the DMV or helping me get my car. Let me tell you something; it is EMBARRASSING to have to have your parents drive you to your graduation. What do I mean? I mean exactly what I say, because when graduation comes, it's a whole new chapter, and having my parents drive me to it is like a symbol saying that I'm going to rely on my parents for the rest of my life to take me where I need to go, to hold my hand when I get hurt. Sure, my parents are going to help me later in life, that's what parents do, but I don't want them to treat me like a broken child, I want to be an adult who can fend for myself, I want to be able to do things on my own, but, right now, I need their help to get me there. Is that so much or too hard to ask for?

Day 60

I'm not going to spend too much time on this post. Just wanted to say that CMAS has indeed made me feel very stupid. I LOVE social studies, almost anything to do with history I enjoy, but I didn't understand a lot of the test, especially since it was mainly all about economics rather than history. I'm serious; throw questions at me about the Revolutionary war, the Seven Years war (French and Indian), anything to do with history! But I haven't even taken my economics class yet. I'm really disappointed in the test.

Day 59

It's been pretty nice because my best friend Maggie has been subbing at school. I don't get to see her very often, so it really tickles me that I get to see her more! Also, we're starting on our Celtic mythology, taking lots of notes and planning on reading Beowulf. American Gov was, as usual, filled with lots of notes, and Creative Writing was spent writing. I love how I FINALLY got a story idea stuck in my head. Already I've filled eight pages worth of it in my composition book. I should probably get back to doing that, because my writing waterfall is overflowing with ideas!

Day 58

Due to our testing, Mr. Miller decided to let us watch the Lorax today. For the test, we've been split into three groups; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I'm on Thursday this week and next week. Anyway, it was just a pretty easy day. We did some worksheets for the civil rights movement for Modern Lit, practiced our music in choir. Can't say we did much of anything.

Day 57

Back to school, right? Well, Seniors had a meeting today about this stupid test we have to take in order to graduate; CMAS. It's supposed to test us on our social studies and science skills from eighth grade all the way to senior year. I think it's a load of crap. Not only do we not have any way for us to study for this test, but there's more than likely stuff I'm not going to know about. Also, it's senior year, I thought we were done with all the standardized testing, I thought we were finally free of having been decided of how to live our lives to an average score. This really pisses me off.