Friday, August 29, 2014

Article of the Week Period 5

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/14/grapes-of-wrath-75-years-old-more-relevant-than-ever

Please add an intelligent comment (minimum 5 sentences) in response to the linked article.  Be sure to use a minimum of one quote in your response.  Comment on a classmate's post in a second post (minimum 3 sentences) *Use only your first name, last initial and class period.

47 comments:

  1. I think an interesting parallel we can draw between the endless migrants of the 30s and the flood of immigrants today is the refusal of authority to recognize and fix a broken system. It sincerely bothered me while reading The Grapes of Wrath how unsustainable it was to force people off their land and expect them to somehow “survive” without more than the occasional government camp to live on. And yet, somehow, this is what the government and big business thought was okay. Similarly, it makes absolutely no sense that immigration for people from foreign countries, specifically Latin America, is as hard as it is. The idea that “the Obama administration has deported [about 2 million] people … 34,000 undocumented migrants [are] in custody every day … [and that] authorities [split] families and [deport] lifelong residents” is pretty ridiculous. The reason we have such a problem with undocumented immigrants is because it is extremely hard for them to legally enter the country, and yet there’s no real and viable reason to keep them out except for a strange stigma on their “illegal-ness,” which we are largely responsible for because we perpetuate the broken system of immigration. Similarly, the resentment and regional hatred that sprang up against the “Okies” during their migration was entirely misdirected; it came from the people themselves who had forced these “Okies” into such an undesirable situation. It seems to me that all of this stigma and hate against people is rooted in the failure of a system, not in the failings of people.

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  2. I appreciate the author’s bluntness and optimistic view of people facing similar situations during the depression and today. In current issues, we discussed the social contract the people and government upheld together and the people’s right to risk their lives for their freedom. The author of this article and Steinbeck both highlight and glorify those willing to risk it all to protect their rights and have a just government. This is said explicitly by the author in one of the last sentences of the article in which he says “Wrath can be good”. In Grapes of Wrath, the Joads risked their lives against poverty, and corrupted officers to have their basic rights to food and shelter fulfilled. Currently, people risk their lives in the same situation battling police violence and fighting for a living wage. As the article stated, today “Stories of police abuse don’t seem out of place”. An additional challenge faced by migrant farm workers today is the risk of being deported. Unlike the Joads, workers fear Border Patrol which is “require[d] [to] hold 34,000 undocumented migrants in custody every day.” Many of whom work illegally for low pay to barely feed their families, a circumstance which Steinbeck chronicled in Grapes of Wrath.

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  3. Although I do believe that Steinbeck’s work is very relevant today, I do not agree with the article on certain aspects. Mr. Yuhas states in the article that, “He debunked the myths of the American west (and the American dream) piece by piece, while also insisting that people were always better than the hardships they suffered. Steinbeck didn't want us to lose hope; he wanted us to get angry at those who would strip hope from us” (P10). When I was reading Grapes of Wrath, I was thinking to myself of how completely one sided this story really is! Mr. Steinbeck was able to portray only one side of the story. During this time period, many people were able to start from absolutely nothing, much like the Joad family did, and these people were able to pursue the “American dream” and become very successful! Also, with the way Mr. Steinbeck wrote the novel made me lose hope instantly! Little hope that was shown in the book by Rose of Sharon being pregnant was lost when the “biblical floods” happened and the child was still born. No one can honestly tell me that Steinbeck didn’t want us to lose hope while reading a story set in such a depressing setting.

    Anneliese T.

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    1. The death of Rose of Sharon's baby was extremely upsetting, but I think that it led to a sign of hope. Throughout the Joad's journey they underwent hardships, yet, in the end, they continued to try and help those around them. Steinbeck ended the novel with a lingering sense of hope after Rose of Sharon basically brought the malnourished man back to life. "The Grapes of Wrath" could have ended with a stillborn baby and a struggling family, but instead, it ended with hope.
      Ellie B. Period 5

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    2. I think that Steinbeck was calling attention to the people who worked so hard for so little. People who lived in the middle to upper class had no idea that the clothes on the backs and the food in their homes were being produced by people living in such extreme poverty. He had to make the book depressing, or people wouldn't have paid attention to it! He wasn't trying to make everything sound depressing; he was describing a reality that people needed to know about. If Steinbeck or anyone else hadn't wrote this book, so many people who were good of heart just wouldn't have ever been acknowledged for the work that they did. "Steinbeck's "monster" banks still evict families, still take bailouts, and still indenture Americans with debt". We can't deny that these issues plague us today, and a modern-day "Grapes of Wrath" could easily be written. Just because there were a few able to to successfully pursue and accomplish the "American dream" does NOT mean we get to ignore the fact that at the time way more people were living in poverty and just barely getting by than were really living. Steinbeck also made it clear that there were those who were successful, but there were few of those people, especially in the south. I'd also like to add that Steinbeck himself did not live in squalor, he took a fascination with the dynamics of the lower class and wrote a powerful book about people's hardships at this time, in this area.
      --Cleo K P5

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    3. I agree with your point that Steinbeck, "wasn't trying to make everything sound depressing; he was describing a reality that people needed to know about." I think many people view this book as an exaggerated depressing story, however what we don't realize is that this was an actual way of life for some families This really reveals how uneducated we are about families living in poverty.

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  4. This article makes several good points. I liked how it was very honest about many of the flaws that readers often find in it, and how they were intentionally put into the book by Steinbeck. For example, some flaws that are pointed out a lot include “weak characters, flat style, blunt symbolism, and melodrama” (9). Steinbeck’s intentions were to accurately show what really happened, getting rid of any myths about the west, and it turned out to be what many people, including myself, may find to be boring or not very good. However he was able to successfully create a very honest portrayal of the west at this time, making The Grapes of Wrath a book that many may call the great American novel. After reading this article, I am now aware of what Steinbeck was attempting to create. Just because it may be pretty boring does not mean that it isn't a good piece of literature. In this case, he did it on purpose making it very good.

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  5. I agree with most of what the author of this article says when he compares America in “The Grapes of Wrath” to modern America, but I differ when it comes to his interpretation of hope and wrath. The Joads, at least, had a lot of trust and belief in the idea that their situation would improve. They believed in their nation, even as they began to wonder “what it was coming to”, and were surprised every time their government or other people let them down. The anger didn’t come until they realized that their own hard work couldn’t get them out of such a dire situation and that there was something holding them down. The author of the article states that “in Steinbeck’s world, wrath, when it protects the weak, can renew hope”, but I’m not sure that this is true. Driven wrath towards the system replaced the peoples’ driven hopes for themselves and their nation; it didn’t renew them. Today, many people regard the government with cynicism and distrust, because the same people have been on top for long enough for the people on bottom to know that this is the way it is and the way it will be. They believe in their own ability to get ahead, but not in the government’s ability to help them. The seeds of anger are planted, but nothing is growing because the people are starting to think they are on their own.

    Matilda K.

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    1. I agree with your views on the social disadvantages of the people of the book and of the lower classes of modern society. The same parties have been in power for too long, because when they received their positions they let their greed for control grasp the power, and have no reason to let go. The government holds the people down, refusing to let them rise up, which people are beginning to realize. The seeds of anger are planted; but the seeds are, in fact, growing. They are growing due to the people's growing individuality and strength, and their greed. It is human nature to always want more, and "Wrath sprouts when one person chooses greed over equality, and it grows anytime self-interest wins over compassion."
      Shannon H. ~Period 5

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  6. It seems that the author of the article is saying that a book doesn't have to be eloquent, enigmatic, or multi-layered to have an impact on the people who read it. The author of the article states that Steinbeck is not an incredible writer, but for his purposes, he didn't need to be. Steinbeck didn't write to entertain or to even tell a story; he wanted to get a point across. He wrote a lot of chapters just to exemplify that he had a comment on the state of a certain tier of society, but he did it in a way that was lengthy, dry, and incredibly boring, and that's what the article says that makes him different from other great authors. He wrote a book that everyone who lives in a capitalist country should read (and for sure other kinds of economies as well) because those of us in the middle/upper class may not have any kind of understanding as to what the lower classes go through, or we just don't care. The author of the article also brings up the point that even through terrible natural disasters, humans always find a way to come back, and that those experiences will make us stronger and more willing to adapt. I wonder, even as our earth is changing constantly, why there are still people that think that old methods of surviving will still work. Steinbeck definitely didn't think so, because the Joad family had to adapt to each obstacle they came across. The problem that both the author of the article and Steinbeck see is that many issues have not changed. There is still loads of inequality, injustice, and abominations in society. 75 years have passed and we see these issues every day, only there are not enough people in trying to solve the problems, and many have no idea they're actually perpetrating (for example the blatant sexism that is observed every day). Steinbeck tried to work in every problem with almost every aspect of society.
    --Cleo K P5

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  7. The author mentions that “…Wrath sprouts when one person chooses greed over equality, and it grows anytime self-interest wins over compassion.” This line in the article truly stood out to me because one of themes that I specifically focused on while reading The Grapes of Wrath was materialism in American society. In the book, it seemed that some people were only focused on the well-being of themselves and were willing to destroy the lives of others as long as they would be able to support their own family. There was little consideration for the suffering and hardships that others were dealing with. For example, many of the farmers were money driven and were willing to take any job that was available. One of the tractor drivers that was assigned to go over the Joads’ land used to be one of the Joads’ friends and neighbors. And when Tom (the father) asked him why he was betraying his own people his only response was that he earned his 3 dollars a day and he had to feed his kids. Money over dominated the minds of the people. And I still feel that this holds true today. People currently in our society also crave wealth and are quick to overlook those suffering if a money-making opportunity is offered.
    Carolyn C. Period 5

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  8. I find it interesting how the article states the intentions of Steinbeck’s book. As I read this book, it was hard to believe that something positive could be taken away from a story that seemed so depressing. This article opened my eyes to the fact that the book actually taught an important lesson, as the article states, “He debunked the myths of the American west (and the American dream) piece by piece, while also insisting that people were always better than the hardships they suffered. Steinbeck didn't want us to lose hope; he wanted us to get angry at those who would strip hope from us.” I can’t help but feel grateful for Steinbeck, for his book, and for his lesson which encourages us to ignore those who try to damage our ambitions. It actually made me feel more confident about my ability to conquer hardships.

    Erika M.

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    1. I agree with Erika's comment and the idea that we as individuals can overcome great hardships. Perhaps our own will power, work ethic, and refusal to surrender to pain can take us much further than we think. This is a comforting thought.

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  9. The author of this article proclaims that Steinbeck was not a good writer and that his work the Grapes of Wrath is a terrible book that cant be related to today’s society….. NOT. Instead, he praises Steinbeck for his opinion on society and how it relates greatly to events occurring today. I agree with the articles author relating the bank corruption during the Dust Bowl to the 1% of America today who holds the majority of this countries money because with all that power to a few hands leads itself to corruption such as the foreclosing of many farms in the 1930’s and 40’s and the recession that occurred in 2008. I did not make that connection while reading Grapes of Wrath but now see the clear similarities presented of the two periods of time. As a result of these similarities we feel the same way to the characters in the book did and can experience the wrath “he [Steinbeck] wanted us to get angry at those who would strip hope from us.” So the Grapes of Wrath is a great tale of wrath that isn't held to the past but can be experienced today.
    Owen B, 5

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    1. Well, the author actually doesn't praise Steinbeck for his writing capabilities, at one point Mr. Yuhan actually states " it's got plenty of flaws – weak characters, flat style, blunt symbolism and melodrama" and it is clear that Steinbeck's intention wasn't to create a literary work. However, the author does praise Steinbeck for providing a social commentary on the status of the american dream which was desperately needed at the time. In a way the author is calling Steinbeck's work both not literature, and an easy to relate to novel that does comment on social affairs. I fully agree with the majority of your post which is related to how The Grapes of Wrath is still relevant today.

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  10. I find it interesting that the author of the article focused on wrath. When I read the Grapes of Wrath, I was so distracted by all of the other themes that I didn’t even think about wrath. I really should have considered it more because it’s included the title. Arguably, it could have been the leading theme overall because it extended cover to cover. I believe the author describes wrath in a way Steinbeck would agree with. He says, “And what's wrath, after all? It's not the fury of an undoubting believer, nor the calculated, spittle-flecked performance of a pundit. Wrath sprouts when one person chooses greed over equality, and it grows anytime self-interest wins over compassion” (Alan Yuhas). I also agree with the author when he says that wrath is still a relevant theme today. He talked about the recession and deportation in America. It was a creative way to connect the book to today’s society, which is an important thing for a reader to do in order to make the text meaningful to them.
    Katey Y.

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    1. i took this article the same way you did. i didn't think much about wrath when reading because i was too distracted and focusing on all of the other themes. i also do think that it was a creative way to connect the book to today's society.
      Shannon F. Period 5

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  11. The article claims that The Grapes of Wrath, which was written over 75 years ago, is still relevant today. I agree with this claim, and find it very interesting. So many aspects of our country and our world have changed since the book was published, leading one to assume that the events and themes in it could not parallel our society today. However, this is far from the truth. As the article stated, “The Grapes of Wrath, published 75 years ago today, means just as much to the US now as it did in 1939, when the Dust Bowl destroyed the American west, the economy lay in tatters, a minority held the keys to the bank, and a vast migrant population wandered without homes or rights.” Today in 2014, although our technology is more advanced, there is no Dust Bowl, and there is not what I would consider a “vast migrant population,” there are still thousands of people without the necessary food, water, and shelter needed to survive. I find it troubling that during the 75 years that have passed since The Grapes of Wrath was published, our country has not been able to solve the problems that the characters in it had faced.

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    1. I definitely would agree with a lot of what you say here. It bothers me, too, how we can't seem to fix the incessant problems of hunger and poverty that have plagued us for so long as a country and before. It seems to me that we continually try to address these problems in shallow, surface-only ways, that don't actually get down to the root of the conflicts. And maybe these conflicts and problems are kind of eternal: maybe that's what makes this novel so good and so relevant, because these social issues will always hold true, no matter the time period.

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    2. There are so many problems in the world; not all of them can be solved within the span of 75 years. It is troubling that so many people go to bed hungry or do not know where they will spend the night, but progress is most definitely being made. There hasn't been a depression as bad as the Great Depression (hence the name) thanks to the efforts of communities (remember the Girl Scouts volunteering at the food kitchen?) or the financial security plans now implemented, etc. Progress is slow, yes, but an issue as big as this with the numerous people in need, it is going to be take a long time. It's the little things that will help those in need.
      Meredith J. Period 5

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  12. As Americans, we like to believe that our country is fully evolved, and that America is the top of the food chain, so to speak. While this is true in many aspects of life, America is still filled with problems that cannot be easily fixed. In “The Grapes of Wrath,” Steinbeck wrote of a suffering country. It was believed, at least by the Joad’s, that California would be a promise land. They were promised jobs, yet when they arrived, they were greeted by thousands of other families living in poverty because they too were promised jobs and a healthy lifestyle, but were unfortunately not granted that promise. It is true that certain aspects of America have changed since the dust bowl, but in reality, the key aspects of America are not all that different. As Yuhas points out, “…the heroes of Grapes should be familiar: migrant workers mistreated and discriminated by the states.” The Obama administration has deported nearly four million people, more than any other administration in the past, yet America still sees itself as an evolved country. It is an almost troubling thought that America has not changed in seventy five years.
    Ellie B. Period 5

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  13. The author based this article of The Grapes of Wrath on wrath which I found interesting. The last paragraph though really is the one that stood out the most to me. “Wrath when it protects the weak, can renew hope.” This quote stood out to me because it is saying that wrath is good. Steinbeck talked about wrath a lot in his book and it was and still is the largest theme because it is portrayed thought the book. I also agree with the author when he says that the book had “weak characters, flat style [and] blunt symbolism and melodrama “. The author then goes on to say how Steinbeck built on the wests quiet history of socialism, which I also agree with. The author talks about how things that were happening in the book are still happening today like, “Steinbeck’s monster banks” and how they “still indenture Americans with debt” this is still a big issue that is going on and families do get kicked out of homes. overall this author stated a lot of good and true points on America now and 75 years ago and how it didn't change that much at all.
    Shannon F. Period 5

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    1. I like that you mentioned several aspects of the article. It was nice that you didn't comment on just one point the author brought up. When you said, "Overall this author stated a lot of good and true points on America now and 75 years ago and how it didn't change that much at all", it reminded me that there are many themes in the Grapes of Wrath that are still relevant today.

      Katey Y.

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  14. The mentioning of deportation of immigrants to the United States peaked my interest. I can understand that illegal immigrants do deserve some punishment because they well, broke the law coming into the country (illegally), but on the other hand, they chose to come to America for a reason. Most likely, it is to chase after whatever those people believe is a better life in the land of opportunity, to go after the American dream. As stated in the article, "The Obama administration has deported more people (about 2m – nearly four times the documented population of Wyoming) than any other American government, ..." Immigration is still an issue, even more to this day, just as it was in the early 40's- I will agree with the author- and I believe for the same reasons. The ever expansively growing population is definitely a factor; a character even mentions in The Grapes of Wrath that America isn't big enough for everyone. Excessive people means more jobs are taken, thus putting the strain on economic priorities, especially if paying jobs come with meager pay. Hostility seems to come from irritation, the irritation of competing. This has just been building up for years.
    Meredith J. Period 5

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    1. I agree, while most immagrants come to America with good intentions the american economy just cant handle the massive flow of illegal immigrants. American school systems are being over packed with non english speaking kids. In this economy jobs are already hard to come by, and if an immigrant cannot find work then they are stuck trying to live in a ghetto and having a very hard life. Etta H period 5

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    2. Immigrants often take the low paying "dirty work" that no American citizen would want, so competition is not an issue. They suffer as much from the problems in America as anyone else, and they aren't really the cause. We've always been a country of immigrants and we've always been able to handle the flow of people; obviously a bigger problem is at work here.

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  15. I enjoyed reading the article because I felt as though the author did a good job linking the big issues in the book such as poverty and banks abusing power to today’s current issues. Steinaback did a good job on showing that there is a deeper message in the book then just weather, but on how banks and big businesses tend to abuse their power. Still to this day you can see so much poverty in America, and what makes it worst is the banks and big businesses abuse this poverty and use it to their advantage. For example the author explains how, “Banks chase farmers out with debt, and businessmen exploit migrant labor and disband unions.” I personally agree with what the author had to say, I think that big businesses and banks do manipulate people who have very little to offer and poor communities.

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  16. Stas B. P.5
    I too found the author’s bluntness and connection to modern situations to be very refreshing, as the norm of most articles that find their way into the news are not as important as other issues such as poverty and the like which are addressed here. However, the author of the article states that Steinbeck wanted “us to get angry at those who would strip hope from us” and yet Mr. Yuhas does make at least one statement that could be used to give people hope, into a hope-reducing statement about the contemporary predicament. In fact, the statement “the Obama administration has deported more people than any other American government” is dubious as the cis reports that in 2011 the least number of people since 1973 were deported. However, with the discrepancy of factual errors aside as it is still possible for the administration to have deported more people during other years, the article does make its point quite strong and clear; Steinbeck’s novel is just as applicable to the way that our social order today as it was three-quarters of a century ago during the great depression.
    Source: http://cis.org/ICE-Illegal-Immigrant-Deportations

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    1. the ICE also has more up to date information putting 2013 at about 300,000 people which is even lower than that of 2011
      http://www.ice.gov/removal-statistics/

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  17. Abby Atkinson
    After reading the article explaining how The Grapes of Wrath is still relevant, my understanding on the impact of the book on society changed. Throughout reading the book I understood in that time the troubles and hardship the migrants went through however I didn’t really see a connection to today’s world or why students were still made to read the novel. After reading this article I felt as if I made the connection between when the book was written and today. The quote that gave me this realization was, “Today, megafarms and meat companies carve out sections of the market, divide and conquer farmers with debt, and control the food industry; the culprits include Cargill for corn, Tyson for meat, and Monsanto for its infamously creative genetics.” In the Grapes of Wrath it explains how banks and buisnessmen abused power just like todays megafarmers.

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  18. After reviewing the article, it can be argued that the author believes that some of the 'best' books do not have the intended impact on society, while some books of a lower complexity reach the desired standard of the 'better written' books. The author seems to be saying that Steinbeck didn't need to make his book full of hidden meanings and messages, that he was simply trying to get a point across in a direct manner that would be clear to audiences. " It would appeal or annoy any generation, and it's got plenty of flaws – weak characters, flat style, blunt symbolism and melodrama, the list goes on." Steinbeck didn't need to have frivolous things such as strong, lovable characters or tricky symbolism, because the objective of the book wasn't to create a fluently written book. If the main goal of the novel was to send an important message to the audience, then why fill the book up with fluff to make it seem pretty and nice? No, the message had to be sent a certain way, without adding unnecessary details that would distract readers from the true statement. "Steinbeck didn't need to write clever, dense books, as his contemporaries did and as plenty of great writers do today," he only needed to write what he saw and heard around him. After observing this, I've compared Steinbeck to modern authors and novels. The writings of Steinbeck get straight to the message of the story, while the writings of modern authors tend to hide their message, forcing you to piece together puzzles to understand the meaning of the novel. While some may find the more challenging reading to be entertaining and enjoyable, in many cases the message can be misunderstood. The article has captured my attention for this point, and shows that The Grapes of Wrath is still quite relevant in the sense of influencing audiences to be confident when speaking about something they believe in.
    Shannon H. ~Period 5

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    1. I agree with your point that The Grapes of Wrath proves that a book doesn't need sophisticated words, a "happy ending," or unnecessary detail used to make it more appealing. And since Steinbeck wrote his book with the purpose of getting his point across, and he accomplished that very well, I believe that he should be considered one of the greatest authors of all time (even if the article does not see him that way).

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  19. In my opinion, the author of this article does a tremendous job of showing the relevance of Steinback's novel to the lives of modern-day Americans. He links the character's struggles to those of president day US citizens. Just as the book opens with a period of drought and dust, California residents today are experiencing record breaking wildfires, drought, and smog. Similarly, the book closes with a period of heavy flooding that may be compared to the recent hurricanes that have left the Gulf and East Coasts in long-lasting devastation. Additionally, the author comments on the many abuses of power in our society. Just as the bankers and the businessmen slowed the progress of the impoverished in the book, megafarmers and meat companies continue to dominate the agricultural world today.

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    1. Repeatedly the article emphasizes the comparisons between Steinback's society and American society today. an important quote from the text is, "Steinbeck's "monster" banks still evict families, still take bailouts, and still indenture Americans with debt."

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  20. While this article makes many good points about the “monsters” in Steinbeck’s novel and makes solid comparisons to today’s society it excludes many of the details that make what big businesses and the government do seem more practical. For example, this article details in how the 2008 Great Recession laid off many Americans and drove many others into debt. What it excludes to say that the reason for this was that the banks were literally on the verge of collapse. The government had to preform massive bailouts to ensure that many of the nation’s largest banks didn't go under, taking the people’s money with it. Without this action there would have been much worse of a disaster that the American people faced. The “monster” was attempting to save America from total bankruptcy, and while this caused a loss of jobs and many people suffering it benefited the greater good.

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    1. Sorry replace: the 2008 Great Recession caused many people "to scrape by, losing homes and jobs, with millions still struggling six years later"

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    2. I definitely appreciated how your comment talked about the other side of the issue; I thought it was refreshing because Steinbeck's novel and the article were both essentially one-sided, which causes the reader to be biased without even any thought about what the opposing viewpoint might be. I think you make really good points, and although I think that the reasoning behind some of these injustices doesn't exactly excuse the behavior, I appreciated the explanations. It definitely made me think a little more about how nothing is as "right" or "wrong" as it seems.

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  21. “Steinback’s “monster” banks still evict families, still take bailouts, and still indenture Americans with debt…” This quote really goes with the articles title “The Grapes of Wrath is 75 years old and still more relevant than ever”. Now more than ever I think Americans are struggling in the economic world. As the quote said, banks still evicting families and still indenture Americans with debt. We Americans experience this today just as the Joads did in Grapes of Wrath. For example when the bank evicted the Joads off their farm, we relate to this when a bank evicts a family from their home. Obviously the circumstances aren’t the same that they were 75 years ago, but I think that’s what makes the authors point, 75 years later and as relevant as ever.
    Lexie E - period 5

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  22. I enjoyed this short article on the Grapes of Wrath, for one major reason. The article helped illustrate the novels relevance in today’s society, which may not always be clear to people. The article brings up banks, and how they still abuse and exploit migrant workers, evict families with debt, and disband unions. Also, they talk about the mega farms which control the market in a very aggressive manner, by eliminating other farms through debt. The following is a quote from the article. “The Grapes of Wrath, published 75 years ago today, means just as much to the US now as it did in 1939, when the Dust Bowl destroyed the American west, the economy lay in tatters, a minority held the keys to the bank, and a vast migrant population wandered without homes or rights.” For me, this helped me see the value in the book, and why it has remained relevant in society for so long, which shows me the true value in The Grapes of Wrath.

    -Rome McColl

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  23. I enjoyed this short article on the Grapes of Wrath, for one major reason. The article helped illustrate the novels relevance in today’s society, which may not always be clear to people. The article brings up banks, and how they still abuse and exploit migrant workers, evict families with debt, and disband unions. Also, they talk about the mega farms which control the market in a very aggressive manner, by eliminating other farms through debt. The following is a quote from the article. “The Grapes of Wrath, published 75 years ago today, means just as much to the US now as it did in 1939, when the Dust Bowl destroyed the American west, the economy lay in tatters, a minority held the keys to the bank, and a vast migrant population wandered without homes or rights.” For me, this helped me see the value in the book, and why it has remained relevant in society for so long, which shows me the true value in The Grapes of Wrath.

    -Rome McColl

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  25. Some say that John Steinbeck was not one of the brightest or best writers in America, but I disagree. If we had listened to what Steinbeck was saying in Grapes of Wrath we would not be in the predicaments we are in now. In the article The Grapes of Wrath is 75 years old and more relevant than ever the author writes a brief summary of the major topics in the book. He/She says, “The Grapes of Wrath tells a simple story: devastating weather and a bank's debt system force the Joad family off their farm; they go west, for work and good weather in California. They discover thousands of other migrants living in desperate poverty, exploited by the rich, abused by police, and abandoned by the government; they suffer, fight back and endure.” They say that because of the dust bowl people had to move to the west to California, and then there in California there were terrible floods. Well today that is almost reversed. The west coast has been going through the worst dry spell it has had in almost 100 years. The number of wildfires has increased to scary numbers. By mid-May of 2014 over 1,400 wildfires were putout but the fire department in southern California alone. In the East coast there have been horrifying hurricanes that we have all personally witnessed. We know the effects of Sandy and how much it hurt or town, state and entire East shoreline. The second topic has to do with small, family owned farms being forced into debt, out of business, and off their land do to the bank system. Now there are big named “megafarms” that have put small, family owned farms into debt, out of business, and off their land. And banks have not stopped playing their role in this problem. They still evicting people from their homes. People scrape for a few dollars while others are rich. the book also tells about the police and their violent ways. today not all police aren't mean they are here to keep us safe but sometimes what they do to keep us safe is considered harsh and unjust. in the article there is a picture of people being dragged away by police during the occupy Wall Street march. this article points out all the ways that our society today is like the one in Grapes of Wrath, a book that we should have learned from, and maybe now we will.
    Marissa S Period 5

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  26. Steinbeck is “not the best or most brilliant writer America ever had”, according to Yuhas; and so I agree. However, Yuhas says “The Grapes of Wrath tells a simple story: devastating weather and a bank's debt system force the Joad family off their farm”, and this, I disagree with. ‘Grapes’ is a story that is more than just “a story”. It is a novel that covers more than just a time period, the struggle of a family, or weather. There’s something emotional about Steinbeck’s literature. A major theme among The Grapes of Wrath is humanity. This novel is about how humans treat one another and about being a human who is surviving in the world. Yuhas sates, “it's got plenty of flaws – weak characters, flat style, blunt symbolism and melodrama, the list goes on.”, and that may be true, but the literature of this novel goes far beyond story telling.
    Remi S.
    Period 5

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    1. I completely agree with Remi's comment explaining the book is more than just a simple story about weather and a bank's debt system. I believe this novel is such a great piece of literature because Steinbeck's emotions are throughout the book. Although there are some pages where Steinbeck is just rambling about corn, the majority of the book kept my attention threw the sadness and heart break that I felt reading about the hardships that many families such as the Joad family had to face.
      Abby Atkinson

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  27. I completely agree with Remi's comment disagreeing with the idea that "The Grapes of Wrath" is just a simple story about weather and bank debt systems. In my opinion this novel is anything but simple. Although there are a few pages where Steinbeck just rambles about corn, I believe the reason this book is considered such a great piece of literature is because of all the emotion put into it. I felt sadness and heartbreak after reading about the hardships families such as the Joad's faced during this time.
    Abby Atkinson

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