Friday, May 15, 2009

Parents

Before answering the question, read pages 183-the top of 185.

Melba is faced with an issue that all individuals face at some point while we grow up. In speaking with Link, she is defying Grandma India and Mother Lois' wishes (Beals 184). Melba observes, "He [Link] understood what I was going through" (Beals 184). If you were Melba (at this point in the book), would you stop talking to Link to make your grandma and mother happy? -or- Would you continue to talk to Link? Why?

56 comments:

  1. Brenda R. Room304May 15, 2009 at 7:52 AM

    I think I would continue talking to Link If I were Melba at this point in the book. This is because he had helped Melba more than one time and he gave her his trust so she can have. Also, I would not give him my whole trust because he could have done something about the situation about Andy. Then again he would get maybe even killed and called a "nigger lover". I think about this situation Melba is a big girl already and she knows whats good to do. I think being in a relationship as a friend with Link will be a good thing during this terrible integration.

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  2. If I were melba in this situation I would talk to link because Link saved melba when she was going to get attack by Andy and his freinds Also melba could of been dead at this point.Or probaly link acts like how he is with his freinds so he could act cool infront of the others.But if I were melba I would continue to talk to link because he's a good person in the inside and link knows what he did so he's risking his life also.

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  3. Xochitl G room 304May 15, 2009 at 7:57 AM

    If i was in Melba`s shoes i would talk to Link because i would want him to help me because he helped Melba when the white boys were after her and then Link tells her that he knew what the guys would do something to her and he wanted to be there to help her, also he tells her that his dad makes him go to meetings where they plan what to do to them. I would continue to see Link because even though he would be different with his friends he would at least try to help me even though my grandma or mother told me not to, they dont know what im going through. So, i would still trust Link for a little longer.

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  4. At this point in the book I really would have no answer in what to do. If I were Melba I would know Grandma India and Mother Luis opinion on the situation was very important. Since they have been the ones that have been with her all through the start of Central High and what they said is most often right. Since they are much older and have more experience in situations and would never tell her to do something that would risk her life. But at the same time, Link is there in school and he sees and knows everything Melba is going through. His word is not the most to be trusted but maybe what he has done so far has saved Melba by going along with his group of harassments but at the same time stopping a situation that might risk Melbas life since he has the trust of his group. What I’m trying to say is that since the group knows Link and since they see he is also harassing Melba they think he is one of them and they trust his word. And so since they trust his word they will go with anything he says. Whether he says to throw bricks at Melba or just ignore her and not waist there time on her. And so I think Melba should keep on talking to Link and see were things go. But if it gets to the point in which his family thinks he’s a real risk to her. She should really stop and think of her decision and is what she’s doing is right.

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  5. I would keep talking to Link because he saved my life. Although I might feel suspicious about him on being a Klan member, he is inside of Central and knows what I'm going through. He is like an inside man because he goes to those meetings to figure out how to get me kicked out of school. He tells me where not to go on certain times.

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  6. I would continue talking to Link because if he was really helping me, I would be preventing a beating or probably my death. He is taking a big chance in helping a black person because back at that time, even if you were a white person, you would be beaten up or killed for helping out a black person. So Link and I are both in danger.

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  7. I would have continue to talk to Link because of the following reasons: He understands what is going on,he already saved me once,and he is t6aking the time to call me and warned me about what will happen tomorrow at school. He also gave me a clue that he is a good person he said his father forced him to go to meatings so he is not out to get her. I won't listen to grandma and mother Lois because they are not going thru this situation.

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  8. I would continue to talk to Link because he knows whats happening to Melba and he is trying to help her. And her mom and grandma cant help that much because they are not in school with her so they cannot protect her while she is there.

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  9. I would continue to talk to Link because I would fear for my safety and I would have to worry about not dieing. Also my mother or grandma would have to understand that my life is more important then making them happy. Not to be mean but, if I can’t help myself who will? And if Link were willing to risk his life for me then yes I would continue to trust and let him help me. I would also continue to talk to him because some kids at Central want to kill me then why not take his help if they were already going to kill me.

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  10. I would still continue to talk to him because even though he’s white he’s at least feeding me vital information that could help me survive Central High like for example he told me to stay off the far end of the second floor and he also told they were going to so something big to me in the cafeteria.

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  11. i think that i would still talk to link because if link has helped me before why would he try to hurt me now.and i would explaine to mother lois that ive risked so much by entering central high what would be risking a little more if a trust someone to protect me.but in the other hand i would understand that why grama india would be worried about link and would want me to stop talking to him but its better to trust someone than no have no one at all.and if link would actually backstab me then i know taht some how me and my family would find a way to pass this.

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  12. I really wouldn’t stop talking to link because he was giving me information that was vital for my survival he was giving me information about what the segregationist were planning to do with me. Another reason that I wouldn’t stop talking to him was because my parents wouldn’t know what position I was in unlike link so he knows in which position I would be in so I would keep on talking to him because he understood me.

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  13. Based on what I read if I were Melba I would continue to talk to Link because he is the only one who would be protecting me. Also because he is the only one who cares about me at this time other than my mom and my grandma. I know that it will make Mother Lois and Grandma India mad but I want to live and if getting my parents mad then I'm willing to take a risk.

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  14. If I was in Melbas shoes I wouldn’t stop talking to Link because he was like Danny and how he use to protect her I would of felt that Link would do the same. Also Link was the only one that knew and understands what she had to go through every single day when she was in school.

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  15. I would of keep on talking to him because if I think that his a good friend that means I need to fallow my heart and do what is telling me to do and just because some one tells me not to talk to him that doesn’t mean I wont talk to him just to make some other person happy but what I think that what they should do is not lit go his friend ship because he looks like a very good friend.

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  16. Horacio R. Room 304May 15, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    I would continue to talk to Link because I know how I feel. Also I know that I can get information from him if Andy wants to attack me. Also because he saved my life and I need one white friend from Central. I know that with Link as a friend I will not feel so alone. I will have someone to replace Danny. Link will not leave Danny did.

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  17. I will disobey my grandmother because (if I were Melba)Link is still helping me and getting me out of trouble but when he see's his friends he becomes a "racist" just like them and he would say those nigger jokes just like his friends so thats a little wrong but I still know he means well but I will still feel uncomfortable when he's with his friends and making fun of me.

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  18. I would continue to talk to link.I would still do this even if it makes them mad because he might really want to help her.Link might really want to help her and if she stops talking to him the other white boys might get her and Link tells to stay away from areas were the boys are planning to get her.

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  19. I would continue to talk with him because he is helping her and telling her the truth. This way she knows what to expect so she is safe has a friend. So I would keep talking to him.

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  20. Brandon Lopez 303May 15, 2009 at 9:03 AM

    no i wouldnt stop talking to link because the information he is giving might save my life. i dont think grandma and mom would want me safe. they may think that it may a trap but once they see that im safe thry will let me be.

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  21. Antonio Resendiz Room 303May 15, 2009 at 9:04 AM

    Bsed on what I have read I would make my mom and Granny happy maybe Link would be leaving in a trap. I would feel sorry for Link beacause I dont I dont know if hes telling me the truth or lying.

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  22. i would still be talking to link because he is helping me to survive high school.

    like he helped me by telling not to go the far off end of the second floorand not to go to my locker after lunch. so he helped me (Beals 185).

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  23. Lorena Munoz room 303May 15, 2009 at 9:05 AM

    I would keep on talking with Link because he could help me survive throughout the rest of the year. On the other hand, Mother louis and Grandma India don't really know what Melba is going through because they are not there to witness what happens to her. Unlike Link that actually sees what she is going through because he hangs out with the bad guys, but he is different because he actually helped melba and who would risk his life or friendship. Maybe if she kept on making mother and grandma happy she would of died by now. According to Link,"'My dad makes me go to those meetings~where they plan what to do to get you'all kicked out of school...."(Beals 184). Later Link tells her to stay away of a place so she wont get hurt so that means that he will always help her. So i rather talk to Link.

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  24. I would stop talking to him not just to make my Grandma and my mother happy but for the safety of my famili.I would stop talking to him because maybe he knows someone who would want to kill her and maybe he might be backstabbing her like telling the other white people what she is telling him. There for the white people would fined out her weakness and kill her.

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  25. I would not stop talking to Link because his information might save my life and my other companions. I would probably want to make it up to my Grandama, but still get tips from Link. This is why i think this, in the book it exlaimes: "And if you don't believe me, heres proof, listen up. Stay off the far end of the second floor tomorrow ". (Beals 184)which explains he is trying to help me and it was true because later in the book, it comes that there was trouble in the second floor.

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  26. I would trust him because whenever he told Melba not to do something she would listen and avoid something happening. Also the first time
    letting her borrow his car was a huge risk if they found Links car with Melba.Then they always did what he told her not knowing she was not going to be there so I would trust Link

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  27. I Would like to keep talking to him because he is helping her to survive because he is informing her on how to avoid them and were they where going to do attack her and if mom or grandm0ther would not approve i would dissagre whit them because he is helping her out on how to surrvive in central and they dont know what she goes trough in central.

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  28. If I was in Melbas place I would keep on talking to Link.I would be really carefull with the things I say if I had choose to talk to him because what if he really wasn't on my side I woulnt want him to be telling other people my problems or my plans.

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  29. lissette portales room303May 15, 2009 at 9:08 AM

    If i was in Melba in that sistuation i would still be talking to Link even thought my grandma and mother don't want me too. I'll still be talking to him because he is the only one who could help me in Central High not my grandmother of mom could help me and also he knows what Melba is goint through. I would also trust him because when Link called Melba and warned her about going to her locker after lunch, and not going to the second floor tomorrow he betrayed his race just to help a poor black girl, and also when Link had taken a big risk giving her the car last time that Link helped her. So yes, i would still be talking to him.

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  30. If I were Melba I would keep talking to link because hes being a good ffriend and hes trying to help me so whatever my mom said it wouldnt matter cuz i know link that hes a good person.Also i will keep talkuing to him and ask my mom why she doesnt want me to talk to him if hes trying to help me.

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  31. i would continue talking to link ,but not tell mother and grandma india because he might help me get out of trouble if people are trying to get me. but i dont think he work with the klans man because he wold had gotten me when i took the guys car to him.

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  32. i would still talk to him so he could gat me out of trouble. but im not going to tell grandma india or mother lois so they wont worry about me.

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  33. I would keep on talking to Link becasue Link is goiong to be saving my live from the klan. And I would survive a whole year, but what if Link is liying to me, what if he sgoiong to a big trap for me lioke gradma said(Beal 184). Because why would a member from the klan's tell informartion to one of the little rock nine, that's one of the weirds thinks a klan would do.

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  34. if i was melba in this point of the book i would continue to talk to link because he actually helped melba a lot when she was in trouble . i would also continue to talk to him because he was real nice and plus he is putting his life i n a risk for saving melba,s life .

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  35. yes i would continue to talk to link because he has helped me through all of andy`s plots. If i did not listen to link the white kids might be beating me up through things at me an almost killing me.

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  36. If I were to be Melba I would have stop talking to link because if mother/grandma wants me to stop talking. Even tough he saved her live does not mean link wont backstab her bacause no whites like any of the nine. Melba might get attacked by whites because maybe he betrades her or tricks her into being her "friend".

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  37. Kathlyn E. Rm. 302May 15, 2009 at 11:02 AM

    From my viewpiont i think i would trust Link and continue to talk to him. My parents don't understand what I'm going through and Link does. They are

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  38. If i were Melba i wouldn't stop talking to Link to make my grandma or mom happy. I would keep on talking to Link because whit out his helped I wouln't be a ble to survive in central high. Also why i think that i wouldn't stop talking to him because maybe he really wants to help Melba because maybe he thinks that what they are doing to them is not fair. also why it think that if i were melba i wouldn't stio talking to him because maybe he really wants to help me.

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  39. If I was Melba,I would have talked to Link because he's giving me information that'll help me survive, and if it wasn't for Link, who knows what might have happened to me. Also because Link is sacrificing his life to help me out. If whites find out that Link was giving me information about what they were planning to do to me, they might have gotten him too and maybe even worser because whites didn't care what happened to people. They just wanted to get blacks out of Central. I know that listening to my family is way more important but then again my family isn't white, and they don't know what whites plan to do to me. But Link does know and he's helping me take the right routes in school and most importantly, he's helping me survive. It's like if he's risking his life to help me out and that's something to appreciate.

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  40. HECTORBUENDIA RM 302May 15, 2009 at 11:05 AM

    If i was Melba i would continue talking to link because maybe grandma and mother might have something to talk about that they want to talk about but they dont know who to talk to.But at the same time i wouldnt talk to them because they might be keeping something a secret but they dont want to talk about it because it would be that something happened to them when they were little kids.

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  41. If I were Melba, at this point of the book, I definitely keep talking to Link because he is keeping me alive. Although he acts like a real hypocrite when he is with his friends, I know that on the inside he is a really good person. He is just trying to stay alive and help me stay alive as well. Link tells Melba, "I didn't want to be there, but I heard they were gonna do something big to you in the cafeteria. So I thought if I was there I could do something to help you" (Melba 184). This lets me know that he really does care. Even though this means that I will be defying my family's rules, I would say sorry later and I will survive.

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  42. If I were Melba at this point in the bookl I would keep talking to Link . Its not to disrespect or disobey but if I were her I woulsd seriosly need to survive and that is crutial information to survive besides they dont have information that he is doing what he is doing to lure her into a trap or anything like that so I really dont see why she shouldnt talk to him.

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  43. From my point of view, i would say that i would stop talking to Link because i would hate to have my family mad at me! If they want me to do something to make them happy, ill do it!

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  44. If I were Melba, I would still continue to talk to Link. Like Melba says,"They [Grandma India and Mother Lois] could not help me inside that school" (Beals 185). I`ve been in a situation were the kids eather ignored me or hit me. And all I wanted was a friend. Well, Melba found her friend that wasent part of the Litle Rock Nine. So yeah, I would continue to talk to Link. Wheter my family wanted or not.

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  45. From my prespective i would continue to talk to link. i would do this because he can give be info about the plans they can do.I would still not give him all my confidence though. You can never be too sure who is your friend. I would tell Link that to act that we dont talk when we see each other to make them happy. That way you can make them happy but also you can keep Link as a friend. Also this decision could lead to trouble because if mother and grandma found out she would be in serious trouble.

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  46. If I was Melba I would continue talking to Link because he is just trying to help her. He saved Melba from getting beat up. So why wouldn’t he be telling her the truth just because he's white doesn't mean he is not trust worthy. Just because her mom and Grandma India doesn’t like it doesn’t mean she has to stop doing it. They don’t know what she faces every single day they cant even imagine it.

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  47. I would continue to talk to Link because I wouldn`t like to get hit what their about.So I would listen to him to stay off the the far end of the second and how Link to her not to the locker.So that was nice that he was on her side.So like you never knew if there was going to be something in her locker

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  48. From my view point if i was melba i wouldnt keep talking link because thats not gonig to make any good ay allnecuse al probaly upset my mom and grandma.

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  49. I would continue to listen to link because he knows what she is going through in Central High (Beals 145). Melba should trust link because that’s her only hope to know what the white boys are planning to do to her. Even though she is not following Grandma India and her mother choice of not listing to link. She is the one who that is going to suffer.

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  50. I would continue talking to Link although Grandma India and Mother Louis wouldn't want me to because he is the one who saved my life, plus is the only one who understands me. I wouldn't trust him all that much but I would keep talking or atleast say hi to him just to show him my appreciation. I

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  51. In my opinion i would feel like i am doing the wrong thing for doing something my grandma and mother wouldn't like me to do but he would be the only one who truly understands what im going thrue and what im feeling the things they put me thrue. My mother and grandma are not their to witness it I know is a bad idea to trust a white person if i was her position but i would have that little trust in him besides he did help me out a couple of times to what they where going to do with us just to get us introuble. I would deffinatly feel scared in trusting him confuse to what path im going thrue because what if he was lying and he was just helping me out right now to get my full trust and then later on for me to fall into a bigger trap wich will get me in even more trouble. I would continue talking to him even if im taking a big risk in it.

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  52. Lisset B. Room 304May 15, 2009 at 1:22 PM

    If I was in Melbas' place I would keep on talking to Link. The reason why its because in the book he warns her about were she shouldn't go the next day because Andy would be there. To me that's helpful information because its better to have someone watch out for you than to have an enemy waiting for you. Even though she's disobeying Mother Lois and Grandma India its for the good of it because you never know when you might need someone to be there for you.

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  53. Guillermo Hernandez 302May 15, 2009 at 1:52 PM

    Well,I wpold keep talking to Link because he saved me from dying.He put in risk his car without even knowing who I was or how I was.That tells me I can really trust him and look at him as a good friend.I understand how when he is with his friends he acts lke that to her.If he acts like he knows her, his friends migfht turn on him and even kill him as well.

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  54. Mariela O. Room 302May 18, 2009 at 6:45 PM

    If I were Melba I would still talk to Link. He would be the only person who could help me survive in that horrible school. If it weren’t for his help with the car and for persuading the guys into leaving the lunchroom, then Melba might have died. He has helped her a lot and he could keep helping her if she would just listen. I know it’s hard to disobey your mother and grandmother, but sometimes you have to do it for your own good. In this case, disobeying would be the better thing to do.

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  55. Bianca C. Room 303May 20, 2009 at 9:12 AM

    No i wouldn't stop talking to Link if i was Melba becase he was watching her back. He was telling her all the things that the white kids were gonna do to her so she could be prepared or try to avoid them. If Link never gave Melba any of the information that he did...then she might have been killed by now.

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  56. I would keep on talking with Link because he could help me survive throughout the rest of the year. On the other hand, Mother louis and Grandma India don't really know what Melba is going through because they are not there to witness what happens to her at Central. Unlike Link that actually sees what she is going through because he hangs out with the bad guys, but he is different because he actually helped Melba and who would risk his life or friendship. According to Link,"My dad makes me go to those meetings,where they plan what to do to get you'all kicked out of school.."(Beals 184). Later Link tells her to not attend Caentral for another year because he is goin to college is going to be worried about her.SoI think I would rather talk to Link.

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