Journal #3

Caesar Journal #3 (At least ½ a page)

Discuss the differences between Brutus and Cassius’s view of Caesar becoming “King.” Which side would you support? Why?

     I would support Brutus’s view because Caesar lead Rome to many great victories but is not fit to be a king. The Roman republic has worked for them for hundreds of years; why change it?

     Brutus thinks that Caesar is a great man and he loves him very much but he doesn’t want to see him become king. He is at a war with himself and is torn between his good friend’s interests and his love for Rome. He only wants what is best for his city and he believes that making Caesar king would be a mistake.

     Cassius toys with Brutus by praising him and telling him that many people think he should be king. He tells him that him and Caesar are equal and that Brutus could be a better ruler. Really all Cassius wants is power. He wants to be able to tell people what to do. By standing outside with an open shirt he is gaining power and respect from the people he is conspiring with.

Journal Topic #2

Caesar Journal #2 (At least ½ a page)

Situation:

You are a player on the baseball team along with your best friend, who is the star hitter. You highly suspect your friend of using steroids, but do not have definitive proof. You have two choices, each with a positive and negative outcome.

1.    Tell the coach that you suspect your friend of using steroids and avoid discrediting the team in the playoffs. This also might save your friend’s health, but you will lose your friend’s respect and he will be immediately removed from the team.

2.    Remain silent, which “protects” your friendship but may damage the credibility of your team and possibly your friend’s health, as well.

Last year my best friend Alex and I tried out for the baseball team and made it. Within 2 weeks Alex was the star hitter. Everyone loved him and he was the coach’s favorite. I had notices his muscles had gotten bigger and he looked stronger. He couldn’t have gotten that strong naturally. I came to the conclusion that he was on steroids. After thinking long and hard I decided to make the choice to maybe loose a friendship but save his life and the team.

I told the coach he might be on steroids. After he tested positive he was ejected from the team. I never told him I told the coach but deep down I think he knew. We didn’t do as well as we would have with him but I felt good that we were legal and he was healthy. After the season was over the coach came up to me and told me he was proud of me for my honesty. He also told me that he told Alex, I froze immediately when Alex walked over. He looked upset and said, “ Thanks a lot. I’m happy you guys did so great in the season.” Then he walked away. I could tell he was laying on the sarcasm pretty thick. My coach looked down at me and said, “You did the right thing, he may not know it but you may have saved his life.”

         As I walked away was proud of my decision and even though I Lost a friend I had saved his life. I learned to cherish every moment you have with the ones you love. Now everyday I see my family I am happy to have them with me, this helps me become a better person. 

Journal #1

Caesar Journal #1 (Full page)

Describe a time in your life when you struggled, failed, or made mistakes. Explain how this event turned out to be a positive experience.  

In life you are faced with many situations that you must act on. A series of events, or situations lead up to more important ones. A mistake as simple as forgetting to tie your shoe could end up in a house fire.

Just this happened to me seven years ago, when my family and me decided to take our two dogs, Jethro and Kahlua for a run in the park. Getting ready took about 20 minutes and just as we got into the car I remembered I needed to grab my rollerblades. I jumped out and retrieved them. On the way there we hit traffic lights and stop signs; all very valuable pieces of time. Once in the parking lot we started to put on our rollerblades. Jethro’s favorite ball was in his mouth as my dad opened the back door to get the rollerblades. Both Jethro and Kahlua were not tied to the car. I got my blades and walked over to the curb to put them on, same with my brother Ty.

It took a little while but I finally got them on properly. As I stumbled over to the back of the car to get my helmet I fell. My dad who was standing at the open car door ran to help me up. Little did we realize what was to come from leaving the door open. Just as I got on my feet we heard a skidding of tires and a loud yelp. I had never heard one like that before. Instinctively I screamed which startled my brother and he did he same. I skated around the car to find Jethro under the wheel of a small green Station wagon. My mom pulled me and my screaming brother aside to console us whiles our dad hollered at the old driver. After a few seconds of chaos my father grabbed Jethro from the ground and put him in the back once again. As we sped to the hospital Jethro started to yelp again, I realized his ball was missing. I said nothing but pet him lightly. At the hospital the Vet said he would be fine and he was lucky to be okay. We had a sigh of relief and took him home.

The next day we went back to the park to retrieve our skates and pads. We had sped out too fast to get them. As I was getting in the car I saw Jethro’s ball on the floor across the road, I grabbed it and showed it to everyone. After going over the events of the day before we came to the conclusion that the dogs weren’t tied down when the door was open. When I fell dad walked away from the door and Jethro dropped the tennis ball, of course it was his favorite ball and he needed to get it. Being a dog and not knowing too look both ways, failed to see the car speeding down the lot.

         The mistakes made in the situation included, me forgetting my blades, dad not tying the dogs down, us leaving the door open, me falling, the driver speeding, the driver not looking at the road, and dad not closing the door. If one of those little mistakes hadn’t been made this horrible outcome would not have occurred.

         It is the little mistakes that lead up to bigger more important ones. Every time in one’s life they make those and experience the outcomes. Though Jethro didn’t die from the accident, he did 2 years later from Lymphoma.  He was a great member of our family and was loved by all he knew.