The New World Trade Center

     11 years ago today, the World Trade Center in New York City was attacked by radical terrorists. Now the WTC is coming back stronger than ever. These buildings will be a symbol of 9/11 and all the innocent people that lost their lives on that Tuesday morning.
     The new World Trade Center is 1,776 feet high, but that is not a coincidence. It's height represents the year the U.S. gained its independence. More than 45,000 tons of structural steel will be used to make this project complete. The WTC's walls will be made up of state-of-the-art concrete that can withstand 3 times more pressure than most skyscrapers. There are 71 elevators that only take 45 seconds to get to the top of the building. Not only are these buildings strong but they also hold a memorial for the 9/11 attacks. Two pools sit where the great towers once stood. They are bordered by parapets that display all the names of 2,983 victims of the 1993 and the 2001 attacks. There are also over 400 trees that are planted around the pools from Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. to honor the lives lost on Flight 93 and at the Pentagon.
     The new WTC shows that you cant knock America down. If you do, we'll come back fighting and more powerful than before.

Clarissa's Reading Bucket List

1. Speak- by Laurie Halse Anderson: Well I really liked Thirteen Reasons Why and I heard this book is sort of like it. I want to read more books about bullying so I can understand more about it. A bunch of my friends said it was really good and its a quick read. Also, Mrs. Gillmore reccomended it and said it was a good book.
2. I am Number Four- by Pitticuss Lore: I've already seen the movie and I absolutely loved it! I heard the book was even better, so I decided to read the book whenever I get the chance. Usually they mess up the movie because it is nothing like the book. I guess I'm going to find out!
3. Harry Potter (series)- J.K. Rowling: I know its crazy but I haven't seen any of the movies because I always wanted to read the books first. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to read any of them because I've been so caught up in other series! Everyone tells me they are AMAZING and I want to know if they are for myself.
4. Matched- by Ally Condle: During a promo that Mrs. Gillmore was presenting, she talked about a book called Matched. It seemed like a really great book that involves mystery and maybe romance? Thats definitely up my alley! Plus, I love books that take place in a Eutopia because I like to see what goes wrong in a "perfect world."
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower- by Stephen Chbosky: This movie is coming to theaters so, of course, I want to read the book first. This book is also about bullying, which I am detemined to learn more about. I saw the preview for the movie while watching The Hunger Games and it looked really good. So hopefully the book is even better!
6. Loving- by Karen Kingsbury: First of all, Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors EVER. This is the last book in this awesome series I've been reading and I just HAVE to see how it ends up. So far all the books in the series have been wonderful. I hope she made this one the best one. She's kept me on the edge of my seat through out this whole series.
7. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- author unknown: We watched a book trailer on this book and it looks freaking amazing!!!! It seems kinda scary and I love scary books. Plus, I love love love books about kids with special powers and this book has definitely got all that. Can't wait to read it!!!
8. Angel (Maximum Ride Series)- by James Patterson: I absolutely am crazy about this entire series and this is the latest book that our library has. I read the first...6? books in about 2 days because they were so good. But somebody checked out Angel right when I fininshed the book before it!!! :( So I am really excited to see what happens in this book. I love James Patterson's books!
9. The Infernal Devices- by Cassandra Clare: I've read most of the Mortal Instruments series (which I plan to re-read) and loved all of them. Mrs. Gillmore promoed this book and said this series should have been before the Mortal Instruments. So, I hope to read these books because everyone is saying they are really good.
10. Water for Elephants- by Sara Gruen: This book has already hit the big screen but I have not watched the movie yet. I need to read the book first and I've heard from Ms. Pickett that it's pretty good. Mrs. Gillmore has a few copies so I plan to read it soon!

Forgiveness for the Titanic

     My husband is dead, and its all Captain Smith's fault. I survived but he did not. I will never forgive him for what he did. He did not slow down even when he did get iceberg warnings. That is plain stupidity! If it wasn't for that idiotic, stubborn man my husband would be in New York with me, holding my hand and telling me that everything would be good from here on out. But it wont. How will I make it on my own? Especially with my child on the way. The Captain didn't even warn us of what was to come. Maybe if we had been acknowledged earlier, my husband would have survived. Instead, he sunk with the Titanic and that fool of a captain. Captain Smith deserved to die. My husband did not. He was a good, hardworking man who helped in any way he could to get the women on the lifeboats. He should still be here. Can I survive by myself and my child? If I don't, that captain is to be blamed...completely.

Does a Murderer deserve pity?

     A S.S soldier, who killed innocent Jewish families by orders of his commander, asks a Jew for pity. But is he truly sorry? In my opinion, he is. In The Sunflower, Simon (the Jew) says, "I saw he was torturing himself. He was determined to gloss over nothing." If the soldier wasn't regretting all that he did, he wouldn't have called the Jew to his chamber in the first place, much less recall what made him guilty. As the text said, he "tortured" himself repeating his past. If he's strong enough to admit that what he did was wrong, he should have pity. In the confession, the soldier says, "Believe me, I would be ready to suffer worse and longer pains if by that means I could bring back the dead, at Dnepropetrovsk." He is not only willing to suffer for the Jews he killed but he would suffer more and longer just to bring those Jews back. He regrets all he did and should be able to die knowing he was at least pitied.

Without the Possibility of Forgiveness

     If a man hijaks and airplane and flies it into the Pentagon, killing everyone on the plane and many military and civilian personnel on the ground, then i dont think forgiveness would be a possibility. In 2001, on September 11th, an Islamic terrorist did the exact same thing. He chose to take not only his life, but thousands of others who had families to go home to, and to attend to. They didn't have a choice in the matter. Children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, and many more were all on that plane and in the Pentagon, but the man didn't care. He had to know that he would kill all of them and many more but he did it anyways. No man deserving forgiveness would intentionally massacre innocent people.

One act of Kindness at a time (edited)

Giving and Sharing
without expecting something in return.
Cheering for the underdog like they were the best team in the world.
Dropping change in a cup
even if you only have a dime.
Smiling at a stranger.
Giving food to someone who doesnt know when they'll eat again.
Opening a door for someone.
Volunteering.
Listening.
Loving like no tomorrow.
Do just some of the things that make a difference
one act of kindness at a time.

One act of kindness at a time

Giving and Sharing
without expecting something in return.
Cheering for the underdog.
Dropping change in a cup
even if you only have a dime.
Smiling at a stranger.
Giving food to someone who doesnt know when they'll eat again.
Opening a door for someone.
Volunteering.
Listening.
Loving.
These are just some of the things that make a difference
one act of kindness at a time.