He names the street that she lives on, and it's a real street located in Pilsen. But as Bonnie said, if the Pilsen residents had kept quiet about it, nobody would have known the place even existed!
I'm confused, but maybe because I don't have the book yet. If Pilsen isn't mentioned by name in the book, well then, why all the fuss? Where or how is the reference to Pilsen?
Laurie
who survived a race riot on my first day at high school in the mid 70's, so I know all about the inner-city myself! What a trip: white kids out the back doors, black kids out the front doors, what a bunch of trouble makers some people (of both races) were! It was really sad! I saw my principle get hit with a brick from 3 floors up. So, it doesn't just happen nowadays, sadly, some places just haven't gotten any better.
He names the street that she lives on, and it's a real street located in Pilsen. But as Bonnie said, if the Pilsen residents had kept quiet about it, nobody would have known the place even existed!
The individual who started the Marisol issue could find himself in big trouble when re election time comes. His opponent will have good reason to accuse him of ignoring a lot of serious issues.
The book shows a good picture of a hispanic family- hard working people who are concerned about their daughter.
I think there are good parts and bad parts to every area. I was very lucky to grow up in the suburbs. But I live in an area where you can drive 10 min and be in a dangerous town. I was always taught as a child to never trust anyone and living this close to NYC you really cant. Its a shame.I always lock my doors and look over my shoulder. I am not paranoid, but aware. I still havent gone to American Girl Place because I am actually afraid to go into the city sometimes. I do think its rediculous to pick apart this book. There are so many more issues to be passionate about and put time into. It just gets me so angry sometimes when I see people waste breath on things like this.
Saving4Sam- I am guessing you live near where my husband grew up in NJ. Near NYC but 10 minutes from danger.
All of this talk about Pilsen and in my very own 97% caucasian community where crime is not an issue and a full 99% of children graduate and we out perform almost all other districts in state mastery tests and the like we had a double murder at 6pm in the downtown last night. Someone (who is accused of a string of jewelry store robberies) walked in to a mom and pop jewelry store, looked at diamond rings and shot the owner and his wife.
Hmmmm, even the suburbs are not safe. I left the neighboring pharmacy with my two children just an hour before.
Sad, sad, sad.
But I do agree, AG missed an opportunity to keep Marisol in her community and have her and her family work toward rebuilding it.
Also, lets look at some AG history:
Samantha left the suburbs and moved into Victorian New York. Granted she was well off but the machine age in NYC was not the nicest place to raise a child.
Addy moved to Philadelphia and stayed there.
Molly and Kit were suburban girls.
Kaya, well, don't know of too many big cities then.
Josefina lived in a rural area.
Felicity lived in an urban area of the time.
I really don't think you can accuse AG of an anti-urban bias.
Mom to an american girl - It sounds like you and your husband lived right near where my boyfriend grew up in Ridgefeild Park,NJ. I was reading your other post about your apartment. I was just at his mothers house the other day and could not believe the amount of airplanes that buzz their home. I live in central NJ,about 30 min from Giants stadium. Traffic is fun when there is a home game! But if I head 10 min due south,I have to be careful. But there is crime anywhere, you are right. At a gas station a town over from me, someone got shot for no reason last year. Everyone was shocked because its a nice town,I was not. Because you can never be too careful.
DH is from Montclair, we lived in Little Ferry. My MIL has a gorgeous 1914 craftsman colonial and my bil's car got broken into in the driveway- in one of the best communities in NJ.
Crime is not just an urban problem.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You're so right. That would have made for an interesting book. Maybe the dance school could have been closing down because of neighborhood violence, and she could have rallied her neighbors to save it. But who can second guess an author? I really hope they do not cave to pressure and change the book. That would just go into a bad first amendment issue.Originally posted by mom_to_an_americangirl:
But I do agree, AG missed an opportunity to keep Marisol in her community and have her and her family work toward rebuilding it.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks