The Power of One

After watching the movie, The Power of One, I was really blown away at how terrible life was for the Africans in South Africa when apartheid was being enforced by the government. I thought it was totally crazy how brutal the cops were to the Africans and also whites who helped the Africans. Another part of the film that really surprised me was when the policemen smashed the window of the gym and set it on fire and arrested the owner of the gym.
In this movie it let me learn a lot about South Africa. For example, I never knew the Africans were set aside and made to live in giant settlements called homelands. This kind of reminded me of how the Germans just separated the Jews from the majority of the population and put them in horrible ghettos.
Something that was really inspiring I saw in this movie was the struggle that Peekay and Maria went through to teach some Africans to speak English when no one else would. I think that Marias death really in the end made Peekay want to help the Africans because he realized she gave her life for a good cause which she believed in.
Over all I thought this was a very good movie because it kept my attention and really left me wanting to know more about apartheid in South Africa. I also thought that this movie had a deep message to convey to the viewers about how one person really can make a positive difference in multiple ways, many times over.

Tis the Season

My family doesn’t have many traditions, but the ones we do have are very special and important to us. Every Thanksgiving all the guys in our family, big and small, all go out in the backyard and play a little thanksgiving football of our own. We always balance out the teams and give the ball to the little kids as much as possible. I really enjoy this tradition my family has.
Another Danner family tradition would be when we all decorate sugar cookies every Christmas. My mother makes nearly one hundred shaped sugar cookies and she lets everyone decorate them with different colors of frosting, sprinkles, and toppings in every shape and size imaginable. I look forward to this tradition all year long because its really a good opportunity for our family to get together as one. This is for sure my favorite tradition my family has.
There is one Christmas that happened three years ago. I had been bugging my parents all year long for an Ipod and I wanted one more then anything. So on Christmas morning, I woke up bright and early and ran down stairs to the Christmas tree. I closely inspected every box trying to determine if one was an Ipod. None of the boxes were the size or weight of an Ipod, so I got really sad and sat on the couch waiting for my parents to come downstairs so I could open my gifts. I opened all my presents and there was no Ipod to be found. So I went in the other room and angrily dumped out my stocking. A small box came tumbling out. I opened it up and discovered it was my Ipod! I was so happy, but kind of mad at my parents for tricking me.

Goodbye two thousand and nine!

I rang in the new year just the way I wanted too, with my friends by my side. I went over to my friend Bryans house at around 7:00. At his house I played Ping Pong, Pool, Modern Warfare 2, and just talked to all my friends. This was definitely the best New Years I’ve had because I became friends with a lot of people I barely even knew prior to New Years Eve.
In 2009, some great events happened to me. I became better friends with a lot of people I already kind of knew. Another thing that I’m really happy happened in 2009 is me finally getting a cell phone. I always use my cell phone and it is a very useful and handy electronic to have around. But in 2009, probably one of the most important changes in my lifestyle occurred, I began running and working out everyday and I also started eating healthy and got involved in sports. Now I love running and I only hope to get better in 2010. Even though a lot of positive events occurred in 2009, some negative ones happened too. On January 4, 2009, just FOUR days into the new year, I broke my leg and ankle. It was so bad that I couldn’t walk without a giant boot or cast for 5 months! So because I am a runner now, im really hoping I don’t ever break my leg again because it would ruin my running abilities for life.
For 2010 I have a few main resolutions/goals. Firstly, I wanna be able to run thirteen miles non-stop. The second resolution I have is to be able to run better then a 5.30 minute mile. The third resolution is the usual goal of getting better grades in school.