‘Because there are families being torn apart’: Learning To Love America

As we continue distance instruction, students at Taft Freshman Academy continue to generate beautiful poems!  This week’s ‘Because’ poems are inspired by Learning to love America by Shirley Geok-Lin Lim.

Lesson Note: ‘In a time of crisis, poetry can help focus our fears and transform ‘noise into music’ … In effect, poetry “aims in every possible way to reaffirm the world that we actually inhabit, in all its vital, messy, beautiful, tragic reality. Mar 10, 2020, The Washington Post.

Ms. Muoz, 9th Grade
Period One

Untitled
By: Zion M.

because I was born on its soil and I do not wander far from home
because I believe there is such hope here
Because our justice system is wrong
Because everyone should be titled to their own rights
Because there is so much discrimination
Because this is where I took my first breath
Because I want my freedom
Because everyone should have freedom of speech
Because the cities are so diverse
Because people always expect/want more
Because no matter what color you are, you shouldn’t be harassed
Because i have a purpose

My Thoughts on America
By Stephanie T.

Because the government doesn’t care about their people
Because its the country i was born in
Because without it people would be dead
Because it doesn’t matter people shouldn’t be treated with disrespect
Because everyone wants freedom

Untitled
By Edwin D. C.

Because i was born D.C then i was raised in chicago
Because it’s so cold here
Because it’s so nice here

Because we have one of the biggest city
Because this is the home of the free
Because we have the best food

Because workout a lot
Because i love it alot

Because it’s so peaceful here
Because it’s so nice here
Because so many culture

Ms. Munoz, 7th Grade
Period Two

The inside of America
By Jonathan S.

Because of life I’ve been thinking

Why is it that people waste thinking
Because most of this world goes round no one gets bothered by waste
Because of what we did before our planet is dying out
Because we fight between ourselves there is no happy ending

Because of the way we run our lives
We go through thick and thin every day
Because of society fighting between ourselves, there is no happy ending

Why, America?
By Myles V.

because the people do not always welcome me, for I am not always like them
because it won’t ever change
because it isn’t helpful, the people aren’t helpful, nothing is helpful here
because there are some terrible, stubborn, selfish people here
because you don’t
because no one, nothing, is respected

because it’s been the attraction of this country for many years, and many years to come
because there are people out there who will understand for me, and care for me
because there is hope

because it’s America

Ms. Munoz, 7th Grade
Period Five

Because we are
By Aynsley O.

because my parents are hard-working
because the wind brings new hope
because there is opportunity

because the people are selfish
because we work until the day we die
because the only thing that matters here is money

because we are cut from the same cloth
because we are no different from each other
because we are diverse
But some people can’t stand up for themselves

because we all did our part
because we deserve it
because we do

Roblox
By Brittany T.

Because i’m lonely
Because its fun
Because I get to shoot
Because I’ve been playing since September 4th 2017
Because money doesn’t grow on trees
swaggy

Living in America
By Ines G.

because my grandparents immigrated here
because it has landmarks that I think are interesting

because there are lots of injustices here
because we have some good things here

because there are lots of injustices here
because if not things could go back to the way they were hundreds of years ago
because they are going through worse things and have tougher lives than I do
because people should have control over their own lives

Ms. Munoz, 9th Grade
Period Six

America Through My Eyes
By Nashaley A.

because I was born here to have more opportunities that my parents didn’t.
because we have so much diversity and space to be ourselves
because there is so much hate and injustice.

because everyone deserves the freedom to do and say whatever they want as long as it’s not harming anyone
because we should all have the right to express what we need to say and have the freedom to do so.
because everyone deserves to have civil rights and should be able to use those for good.

because of hard-working citizens who help make America what it is.
because you never know what someone is going through and it doesn’t matter if they’re different.
because I like to stay close to my grandparents’ home in Niles
because they are still good people who do good for America and I believe we can make change.

Why I choose America
By Walter H.

Because my parents wanted a better life and better future
Because of all the information accessible here
Because of all the evil people who live here in secret and blend in with all the good people here
Because of all its successes and triumphs it has accomplished for a better future
Because if people dont have the right’s then this isnt america
Because if i didnt then this wouldnt be america
Because the people from the past came he for freedom and if theres is no freedom for all than this isn’t america
Because i believe there’s hope
Because i believe in america
Because of my cousins
Because of my Friends

Untitled
By Patryk K.

Because following your dreams is something we are told daily

Because

Ms. Munoz, 7th Grade
Period Eight

The american dream
By David D.

Because my family is here and i trust their decisions
Because of the diversity
Because of the inequality

Because of the american dream
Because people being treated unfairly by something that they can’t control is wrong
Because then they will know that not everyone is against them
Because then everyone can be happy

Because Journey
By Calvin S.

He had to move because
Because There were no school opportunities
because he got expelled
Because he was caught
Because he snuck out
Because he was in a bad mood
Because he was hungry
Because he was caught
Because he was at his friends house
Because they did a prank
Because they do not like school
Because they get bored
Because they don’t like the work
Because they messed with the schools wifi
Then he got expelled
If you trace it down
He moved
Because he was hungry

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TESTIMONIALS

“Writing poetry makes me feel like I can see myself, like I can see my reflection, but not in a mirror, in the world. I write and I know I can be reflected.”
-Oscar S.

“Writing poetry makes me feel free.”
-Buenda D.

“Writing poetry is like your best friend.”
-Jessica M.