Respectful Addie

Respectful Addie

    How would it feel if you went to school everyday expecting to get bullied? Well that’s how it felt to a group of four called the “Misfits.” James Howe author of The Misfits shows how not everyone fits in at school but they can still make big changes. The misfits get called too many names and they finally decided they want to put an end to it. One of the Misfits, I guess you could call her the leader, is Addie Carle. Addie has a very buoyant personality. Bobby Goodspeed thinks on page (16) “Addie does not keep her thoughts inside her head like private property with a no trespassing sign up. She puts it out there and says deal with it world!” But having strong opinions on everything isn’t always a good thing. This sometimes can come off as disrespectful. Which is true, Addie does have a hard time showing respect but eventually she becomes more respectful.
    Addie shows a couple of reasons of disrespect. One of them is to her teacher Ms. Wyman. Ms. Wyman asks everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance... Addie doesn't stand. Once they finish saying the Pledge, Ms. Wyman asks why she did not stand. As written on pages( 18-20) Addie says the Pledge obviously says “liberty and Justice for all”  which she and many others think is not true. She states that the New York Times says that in New York you can’t walk through the streets as a black man without having the word “Guilty” on your forehead. Therefore, that is not liberty and justice for all! Page(20) Addie says, “I will not utter empty words,false- hoods and lies!” Now Addie might be right about what she’s saying but she could have showed it in a more respectful way. Another example is when Addie specifically goes against Ms. Wyman’s words and makes a third party, for the election. Ms Wyman told Addie NO but Addie went forth with the third party idea. She wanted it to be the Freedom Party. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to do it just with her and her friends. She needed “popular” people in it. So when the misfits, had their forum she stated the idea of having DuShawn as the president, one because he’s popular and two because he’s black. Addie didn’t realize what she’s doing is disrespectful to DuShawn.  But DuShawn tells Addie what she’s doing is wrong. (pg263) “ Girl you funny kind of color blind. You see the color of my skin but you don’t see anything else about me, you wanted me to run for president because I’m black.” Addie doesn't always realize what she says can come off as rude. But she apologizes to Dushawn and tells him she didn’t mean it.
    After that Addie becomes  more respectful. One way she show respect is to her friend Bobby Goodspeed. Bobby and her had been talking with Ms. Wyman and the principle about the third party. Usually Addie is the one to take control but Bobby decides to do the talking and its a good thing too because they let them keep the third party.  Bobby thought Addie would be mad at him but when they come out of the office she's not mad at all.  She's actually glad(pg190). "That was so cool Bobby way to go! "That was definitely showing respect to Bobby for giving him a chance to speak for a change. Another example was when Addie and Bobby were writing the speech  for the election together, Addie read Bobby's and she loved it. And she tells Bobby that he's the one who has to read it in front of the whole school. That was a big step for Addie she usually has to do everything herself. That was showing trust and respect. Because she was trusting he wouldn't chicken out and she was respecting his speech.

People use respect everyday everywhere.  It is a really important thing. It keeps people from breaking out into fights all the time. Addie definitely had her ups and downs during the book but I think over all she became a very respectful person.

THE END!!