Midaq Alley Summary

The book that I am nominating for the NCTE Orbis Pictus Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for children is Ghettoside: A true story of Murder in America. I nominated this book based on four key factors accuracy, organization, design, and style. These factors were inspirational in creating a piece of literature that will amaze and inform its reading audience. Ghettoside was published January 15, 2015.

This book Pray the Gay Away by Bernadetta C. Barton discusses about certain areas in the United States called Bible Belts were they have made absolutely no progress in securing rights for gay people. They lag behind the rest of nation were people are accepting homosexuality (Pray the Gay Away 15). Barton argues that in small towns were Christian institutions serve as a foundation for both passive and active homophobia in these areas (Pray the Gay Away 19). This article is related to the play because the two dominant religions discussed in the play was Judaism and Mormonism and both religions strongly oppose homosexuality and this lead to homophobic attitudes and themes within the play.

Reverend Fred Phelps was the preacher who staged the anti-gay demonstration and Matthew was a homosexual that was brutally beaten and left to die on fence in Wyoming. Simply because he was a homosexual and “[after] seeing Fred Phelps protesting at Matthew's funeral”(Kaufman 79) you can see that Phelps and his followers are afraid of change. Fueled by Phelp's religion that being gay is a sin, the religion he preaches further opresses homosxuals. Religion plays a large role on homophobia within Laramie itself. Reverand Phelps was preaching the word of his god, “Were standing here with God's message. We're standing here with God's message. Is homosexuality-is being a fag okay? What do you mean it's not for you to judge? If God doesn't hate fags, why does he put 'em in hell?” (Kaufman 79) Phelps shows absolutly no respect for the family and friends of Matthew Shepard, it reveals that the Reverend himself is afraid change because if he stoops down that low to shun Matthew from his religion. Religion plays a big role in homophobia in societies all over the word, in alot of religions to be gay was different and being different really meant you were condemed, because anyone who believes in a religion will feel the need to practise the words of their God. The religious juxtaposition in the novel shows that homophobic people are afraid of accepting homosexuals,

In Neon Vernacular, Yusef Komunyakaa brought to the forefront the struggles of African American soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. They fought for the freedom of the very ones that denied them their freedom to be equal and the same as their white counterparts. The collection of poems delves into the everyday matters that were a constant reminder for the African American soldiers that they were free to fight, but not free to be as the white soldiers. An analysis of Komunyakaa’s work opens the eyes of those who felt that the Vietnam War zone was an equal opportunity for all those who fought for America. In addition, the realities of racism that existed in the Vietnam War are highlighted.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists." This quote applies to the book titled "The King of Mulberry Street" written by Donna Jo Nampoli. The book progressively explains the journey taken by a young Napolian Jew as he traveled to America. Beniamino, the protagonist, arrives in America alone in search for money, food, and shelter. The novels central idea is about acceptance. The texts central idea is shared within the poems, " “My Name" by Sandra Cisneros and, “Miss Clements Second Grade,” by Maryfrances Cusamano Wagner. Both poems discuss characters attempting to fit in by wanting to change themselves.

Paul Watt and Kevin Stenson, The Street: It’s a bit dodgy around there’ safety, danger, ethnicity and young people’s uses of public spaces, chapter 15 in Geographies of youth, youth cultures: Cool places The aim of this chapter is to question young people’s feelings and experiences when moving around a town in the South East of England. The town, named Thamestown by the authors. The area in which Thamestown is location, is described as a predominantly white, wealthy middle class area of the south east of England. Between June 1994 and July 1995 Watt, Stenson and other researchers investigated, how an ethnically mixed group of young people use public spaces in terms of danger and safety. Several key points arise in this chapter. Racial segregation

Women are seen simply as mothers and housekeepers. It is very clear that Audre’s family does not agree with societal standards and they are shunned because of their disagreement. During the novel, one incident in Chapter 25 really explained how black homosexual women were treated in America. In this chapter, Audre’s roommate Rhea leaves New York, without a word to Audre. She moves to Chicago and receives a new job. Later on, Audre discovers the reason why Rhea left. Rhea left Audre, New York, and her work because she was reported to be living in a house with a black homosexual. It's heartbreaking to know that a woman must leave everything behind when her sexuality is unveiled. The incident stresses that women must have a sexual relationship with just men. It also shows the reader how racism and homosexuality are seen in America.

In various religions across the world, homosexuality has been denounced clearly through script. In the Islamic Holy Book, the Koran, it states that men having sex with each other should be punished, but it does not say how. The Koran also notes that if these men repent, they should be left alone with no punishment. Once the Islamic faith produced the Hadith, the book of sayings from the Prophet Muhammad, the death penalty became a consideration. The death penalty differed on the method of killing and sometimes led to a lesser penalty based on the

While this notion may be agreeable to some, it's difficult to justify given Mill's other beliefs surrounding harm. There are many acts which may be accepted in public by some and not others, for many there is little wrong with homosexuality being exhibited in public, but for others even the mere thought of it being practised in private causes them great distress. Although it's not obvious where the line should be drawn in terms of public indecency, it seems obvious that everybody has a limit as highlighted by Joel Feinberg (offence to others). Feinberg used a thought experiment concerning a ride on a bus in which the people around you begin to perform slowly more intolerable acts beginning with mere horrible smells and concluding with sexual acts being performed on an animal. This demonstrates that if we wish to accept making sex acts with an animal on a bus illegal, we may not be able to argue for it without also legitimising a restriction on other more mundane acts of public indecency such as picking your nose.

The most significant instance of rape in the novel is Assef’s rape of Hassan after the kite-tournament. This is the main source of Amar’s guilt, motivating his desire for redemption. Amir narrates, “I actually aspired to cowardice, because the alternative, the real reason I was running, was that Assef was right: Nothing was free in this world. Maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba.” (72). He says this after he has just witnessed the rape of his best friend, Hassan. Amir did not do anything to stop the rape because that would mean he would lose possession of the blue kite needed to redeem himself to Baba. Amir’s way of redeeming himself later in the story is by stopping Sohrab’s rape.

The Kite Runner, a novel written by Khaled Hosseini, focuses on Amir’s journey in life, both physically and emotionally. During Amir’s childhood Afghanistan became very unsafe. He and his father, Baba, fled from the city of Kabul to Pakistan and then made their way to America in hope of a better life for Amir. "For me, America was a place to bury my memories. For Baba, it was a place to mourn his." The need for Amir to "become good again" is embedded in the idea of a physical for redemption of his dignity.

The first point to discuss is homosexual relationships. That homosexuality or same sex relationships are frowned upon in the Elizabethan era becomes apparent in the beginning of the novel. On page 22 Orlando sees a figure coming towards him and he cannot tell whether it is a boy or a girl, because his or her clothing is disguising the sex. Orlando presumes that the person is a boy and “Orlando was ready to tear his hair with vexation that the person was of his own sex, and thus all embraces were out of the question.” (22).

The author wrote about the educational goals which are democratic equality, social efficiency, and social mobility which made me think of the American educational system. Who is responsible for creating curriculum education goals in schools in the United States? In my country Suida Arabia, for example, the curriculum is centralized which means the goals of this curriculum are made to be the same around all states in the country. This also gripped my thinking about who would be better the system of circular in my home country or in here in the US? and why?

To what extent is Midaq Alley an “Arab” novel? Does this add to or detract from the novel’s overall impact on an international audience.

Promiscuity played a large role for multiple characters in both novels. Jealousy, infidelity, and homosexuality are all depicted openly and all have central parts in the separate stories. Midaq Alley introduced us to the character Hamida, an impoverished young woman who is desperate to find a partner who is financially stable. As she explored a relationship with Abbas, another prominent figure was also trying to flatter her. Knowing that she sought someone with money, Salim Alwan, an older, wealthy businessman with voracious sexual desires had an intense lust for Hamida. A character who was in a similar situation to Hamida is Busayna from The Yacoubian Building. While she was trying