PEACECHILD

Quote of the Day

2009-01-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, I get "Quotes of the Day" on Google all the time, and some of them are brilliant. I just figured that it was a waste to just look at these awesome quotes once and forget about them. I don't really know what else to do with them, so I'm just going to post the quotes here.

So quotes for January 11
He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave.
- Sir William Drummond
The scientific name for an animal that doesn't either run from or fight its enemies is lunch.
- Michael Friedman
Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.
- H. L. Mencken

January 12
Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. - Don Marquis
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. - Jack London

January 15
I can't understand why a person will take a year to write a novel when he can easily buy one for a few dollars. - Fred Allen
The reserve of modern assertions is sometimes pushed to extremes, in which the fear of being contradicted leads the writer to strip himself of almost all sense and meaning. - Sir Winston Churchill
A nation is a society united by delusions about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbors. - William Ralph Inge

January 17
If nobody spoke unless he had something to say, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech. - W. Somerset Maugham
I don't have an English accent because this is what English sounds like when spoken properly. - James Carr
All science is either physics or stamp collecting. - Ernest Rutherford

January 19
Nothing so fortifies a friendship as a belief on the part of one friend that he is superior to the other. - Honore de Balzac
One should absorb the colour of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar. - Oscar Wilde
Reading made Don Quixote a gentleman. Believing what he read made him mad. - George Bernard Shaw

January 23
There's no secret about success. Did you ever know a successful man who didn't tell you about it? - Kin Hubbard
Physicists like to think that all you have to do is say, these are the conditions, now what happens next? - Richard Feynman
The average, healthy, well-adjusted adult gets up at seven-thirty in the morning feeling just plain terrible. - Jean Kerr

Peacechild: What makes faith so important?

2008-12-26T04:46:00.001-08:00

Entry 9

Wow, I am on my last entry (for this book anyways). I really thought I would never be able to complete all of them. Initially, I wasn't really planning to answer this question. Eight rather heavy-duty questions were more than enough for me. In fact, I had one of the creative writing type prompts in mind to finish off this blog before deciding to answer this question on a whim.
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The Bible is probably one of the most captivating books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I mean, it is not everyday you see a book that encompasses essentially everything the human mind can idly ponder upon such as philosophy, history, humanity, genealogy, and parables. Of all the morals and knowledge I obtained from this book, which was based upon the principle of absolute faith in a higher being, I probably learned the most about, well...faith.

One of my favorite quotes comes from the Bible.
"It is done unto to you as you believe." Matthew 9:29.
And that pretty much wraps up why I believe makes faith so significant.

It is habit for us, and a cliche when expressed as words.
"If you set your mind to it, you can do it!"
"Think positively for positive outcomes!"
"It's 90% psychological."
etc.

Yet, such banalities never cease to be true.

We, designed as we are, can never take a step (regardless of however ambitious the step may be) forward without faith. Airplanes would never have been created without faith in its blueprint. Religion would never have become such a major component of society without faith in its values. Friendships and alliances would be impossible without faith in the other party. Nations would never have been built without faith in its success. People would have never learned to walk without some innate faith that they could without falling. Even something as trivial as falling backwards in the 'Trust Game' cannot be accomplished without faith in the people behind you. It seems that faith, in its diverse (all very pervasive) forms, is inescapable.

***

Faith is the absolute belief in something or someone that drives us to accomplish tasks, instigate miracles, and live from day to day. Faith is our interminable fuel, and although where we receive it may differ, none of can run without it.

Peacechild: Choose a representative passage from this novel that holds particular significence to you. Type it in and comment on its significance.

2008-12-26T04:40:00.000-08:00

Entry 8

"By 1972, the Christian world view was already sinking its root deep into the Sawi mind. Men who once abused and even tortured their wives as subhuman chattels and slaves now openly acknowledged their rights as cherishable companions and helpmeets...Women who once indulged in moodiness, screaming tirades and highly abusive speech now manifested a compelling newness and warmth of personality. Children were no longer being primed for war...Gefam ason and the waness bind were now only bad memories." (pg.231)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This passage displayed the consummation of Richardson's pursuit of conversion. I consider this passage to be the crux of this book. It was an event that could be related to the moment a butterfly is born of a long wait in the cocoon. The Sawi no longer observed their "barbaric" traditions and had taken its first step in joining to become an auxiliary member of society.

It also reminded me of the ephemeral nature of culture and how that change in itself becomes a part of culture. In Korea, for example, fads come and go. Women, who were considered inferior to men and are still discriminated against, have gained a noticeable increase of rights. Feminist movements allowed women more dignified pathways, allowing deliverance from the role of obedient housewife. Women are now reigning in distinguished positions, they have equal say in a marriage, and have joined men in social hierarchies. The era of the subservient housewives have been replaced by independent, capable women. It has now come to a point in which I cannot imagine a Korea without female politicians, mothers without careers, nor women without a college degree. This has become a component of Korean culture (one which I am personally grateful for).

Change is inevitable. Change may or may not be necessary, but all the same, it cannot be escaped. I, personally, am not a huge advocate of imposing upon functioning cultures at all nor dramatic change in general, but Richardson had a point in stating that someone eventually would (although I disagree with the follow-up comment about the matter of compassion involved as stated in Entry 3)eventually interfere with the Sawi way of life. Because the world is constantly in a civil war attempting to encroach upon and conquer (imperialism really hasn't ever perished), there was no doubt that someone would eventually do so to the Sawi. This, I think, is because the world (which is usually defined by the current superpower) loves to play "doctor" and habitually diagnoses healthy men with an illness called "it's malignant tumor-if-you're-different" in order to socially circumvent and cram them into society.

Anyways...

In the big picture, the conversion seen in Peace Child is really nothing. It has happened to hundreds of others. Change of culture has continually occured (according to whoever has the power at the time). It has happened everywhere. Such a global movement has been 'snow-globed' in this passage about the Sawi. Although, the means and the reason may be unjustifiable, the Sawi must now accept an evolving culture and transform with the rest of the world.

That is what this passage symbolized to me: metamorphasis and civilization.

Peacechild: What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

2008-12-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

Entry 7

This may be the strangest thing. The concept of something as hackneyed as road kill disturbs me. Dozens of emotions pass me when I see it. Sitting in the car, I would find myself surprised at the sight. Then, reviled and slightly sad at the sight of crushed, deformed cats and dogs or the thoroughly flattened feathers of pigeons, I would become morbidly fascinated. I would squirm at the thought of road kill and yet, be unable to completely get rid of the thought of the sight. Compared to that, nothing of the Sawi culture seems truly atypical to me. Perhaps it is because of ardent years of Discovery Channel and National Geographics or because this extreme difference is so difficult for me to imagine, but the concepts of treason being honored, cannibalism, nor familial hostility do not strike up a certain emotion but rather produces a studious curiosity and rationalization.

As I have mentioned in my previous entries, the Sawi must have a logic behind their actions in order to have survived through the years as they did. There must be justification behind cannibalism, commendation of treason, and familial hostility. If thought through that way, I truly find myself almost devoid of distinct emotions besides intrigue.

If I saw cannibalism happening before my eyes or even happening to me, I would probably vomit or faint (or perhaps both), and very clearly instigate disgust and fear, but the idea in itself doesn't irk me. This is probably because cannibalism, to me, is not a rudimentary means of substenance (unless we were discussing the Donner Party or such) but a religious tool, a means of cultural empowerment. My fascination comes in after passing such a phase. Where did they get this idea in the first place? Of all the symbols the Sawi had to choose from, from where were they inspired to use cannibalism as a weapon? Why treason? Why?

I am absorbed by the very roots if Sawi culture rather than the acts and values themselves, and I cannot even produce a laughable theory. Why and how did the Sawi culture come up with these ideas? Something must have began such a tradition. But what began it?

Peacechild: What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

2008-12-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

Entry 6

Peace Child was by no means a literary milestone. I mean, it was relatively far from Hemingway or Dickens. However, Peace Child was a book I could connect emotionally with...more so than with Dickens anyways. Conformity, introduction of change, transformation, modernization and preserverance were elements that really put thing into perspective. To me, (although this is probably missing the point of the book, as it was a relatively minor detail) Richardson's odyssey to convert the Sawi into Christians struck me as an ingenious scheme to coalesce a culture with his own. Being the typical person that I am, I attempted to put this development into context that would be familiar to a high schooler.

A high school girl enjoys, or rather gorges on the feeling of "togetherness." She will attempt to fit in with the crowd and change accordingly, as females are social chameleons at this stage. She will try not the say, wear, or do the wrong things. She may wear skinny jeans and like nothing more than wearing slacks. She may laugh and smile without meaning a thing. And in this inexorable cycle, if she is higher on the social hierarchy, she will set the commandments of trends and impose unity. Although, as a high schooler, I believe that this affair is much crueler than Don Richardson's contention, this occurrence is not unlike his journey.

As the newcomer, Richardson must be wary of his ambience and observe. He must smile and nod at the astonishing and revolting because he is not yet allowed to have a say. He must act as a social chameleon if he is to become Moses of the hierarchy. And so does. Richardson does the right things, bringing gifts, medicines, and other necessities. He gains the Sawi's trust, penetrates the social ladder, and becomes one of the most stellar members of the Sawi community. Finally, he is allowed to have a say and so he does, but not without continuing to pick and choose the best methods that would be accepted by the Sawi because he must stay on the top of this social standing if he is to spread God's words. Skinny jeans were a necessary discomfort. A certain social acumen and subtlety was necessary throughout his quest. Although this was probably done inherently, I felt that although two events were for drastically different purposes, I could not help but feel that all social conquests are perhaps done in parallel ways.

Indeed, Richardson's case was focused upon his religious expedition and social acceptance was probably one of the most minor concerns of this book. Yet, it was also one of the details which stood out most to me and helped me connect a "great expedition" with a banal, usually ignored circumstance. Naturally, I also noticed a more conventional point of connection.

Righteousness.

I have a stalwart set of values. If I don't think that something has been done justice, I will say so without elaboration. I attempt to live according to what I believe is right. I am also very headstrong in my beliefs and do not usually change them on the account of words of external persuasion but rather through years of empirical data and internal 'enlightenment.' I am, by no means, saying that I am correct in any way nor am I saying that I am always aligned in my actions and words. However, this was an element that I was able to connect with in Peace Child.

Initially, I was skeptical of Richardson's success story. In all honesty, I had already labeled Peace Child as another one "those" Christian conversion stories. It was inexcusably narrow-minded of me to categorize a book I hadn't even opened in such as a way, and as it often happens, I was wrong. It was indeed a disturbing book, but I also found earnest passion and sincerity in it as well. Don Richardson always acted according to his values. His even being in the Sawi tribe reflected that. He enforced according to his religion, obviously one his top priorities, and his actions reflected it. His often discrimantory biases probably rooted from such values. Although Richardson's and my values have collided at various moments, they were of the same adamant foundation of righteousness. Neither, I believe, are superior.

I was able to sympathize with Richardson on this. I did not agree with his specific values, but his attempt to live by them--that was admirable.

Peacechild: What do we do when confronted with other cultures?

2008-12-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

Entry 5

The Four Steps of Viewing the World:

1. We ogle.

2. We scan.
3. We judge.

Optional: (4. And sometimes, we laugh.)

In a rapidly globalizing society, that is exactly what not to do.

And yet, this has become a poisonous habit which we cannot seem to get rid of. And so people impose. They force and mold others to conform to avoid looking biased. But is what we do right?

I certainly don't think so.

In different cultures, we may feel that things are out of order.

It was definitely so for me when I first came to Korea. I saw how respect was shown not in how things were said but in what was said. I saw how people bustled pass me without an "Excuse me." I saw the students dressed in uniforms. I heard Korean. In that moment of culture shock, the first thing I felt was, "Something is very wrong." But nothing was wrong. It was just that I did not know what to do. After all, the best the world had provided me with was the list above. It was time for a new list of rules. I realized that I needed to silence my complaints and criticisms and start to observe and understand what was going on. I had been much too loud to listen. I needed to comprehend the rationale behind the actions of these people. And fortunately, I eventually did. But this was a long, arduous process that was partially unnecessary. I didn't need to go through the four stages of the narrow-minded asinine. By simply accepting the differences and absorbing the culture, I would have been in an enlightened and luxurious stage of leisure.

And I adhere the much simpler list of the less-narrow-minded asinine.

How to REALLY View the World:

1. Shut up.

2. Observe.

3. Accept.

*Deceptively easy and definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Peacechild: How is your modern culture different from the Sawi tenants?

2008-12-03T18:59:00.000-08:00

Entry 4

The Sawi=Heartless cannibals.

That was how I first equated the Sawi the moment I completed the first chapter of the Peacechild. But then, being the way that I am, started thinking, that they were not as heartless nor as devoid of logic as they were made out to be. Afterall, the Sawi culture had to have been based upon a functional to have lasted hardily through the deleterious winds of change and time. Yes, our cultures are based upon drastically different viewpoints. We don’t eat people for one, nor do we dress in grass or go hunting for fresh pork. But, are we really different? Is the Sawi culture so motivated by an extraterrestrial source?

I have stated before that “I believe that all people are made up of the same essence. The foundation of emotions.” The Sawi needs to eat and breathe very much like we do. They are in a constant pursuit of happiness and fulfillment just like we are. We simply choose to pursue it in diverging directions: the Sawi, through spiritual, mental empowerment involved in treachery and hunting, and us, through ‘lemming-ness,’ or safety found within masses. (Look up “suicidal lemmings” to see what I mean.) Anyways, my point is that we are not that different from the Sawi tenants. Underneath our polyester clothing, our attendance at million dollar schools, our “bless you’s” and “Thank you, I’m fine! And you?”, we will find that the same core that makes up the Sawi.

Like the Sawi, Koreans value family ties, especially that of in-laws. Women, once married, “belong” to the mother-in-law while men have an obligation to care for the in-laws as well as their nuclear families. In fact, In-laws are referred to with the same titles (although used in the honorific forms) as blood-related parents are. However, in actuality, there is one element that yokes the rest of the family: children. Grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles all envision and strive towards creating a resplendent future for the offsprings, the future generations. In fact, one philosopher studying the abruptly flourishing economy of Korea stated that the the mental and physical investments made for the children probably drove the uphill ride. That is also an aspect I see in the Sawi culture. The reason that the Haenam people murdered Yae (of the first chapter) in the first place was in order to give a guardian spirit to a child, who was promptly re-named Yae. This showed the importance that those of the Sawi culture placed upon its future.

Koreans are also an emotion-driven group, valuing unity, nationalism, and victory above all else. Although based upon different philosophies, the Sawi seem also to be driven by the same elements of pride, unity of community, and victory. Whole villages were displayed to be mourning for the loss of members of their communities. The clever, ruthless plan that the Mauro had concocted to murder the Haenam people was because of the desire to gain revenge for Yae’s initial death. Values esteemed by our cultures existed within the Sawi culture, which I had believed to be lawless and harsh.

Even the wrongs that are criticized in the Sawi culture seem to be condoned in our own culture. Treachery. Isn’t that something practiced constantly in our own societies? Do we not lie to benefit as well? Do we not “fatten friendships" for our own gains? Such faults exist in our own culture as well; it is simply that it has become an unstated habit that we have grown too accustomed to it.

See?

We are not that different.

Peacechild: What do missionaries do for these people?

2008-11-30T15:24:00.001-08:00

Entry 3

Let me tell you a joke:A teacher said, "I'll give $2 to the child who can tell me who was the most famous man who ever lived."An Irish boy put his hand up and said, "It was St. Patrick." The teacher said, "Sorry Sean, that's not correct."Then a French boy put his hand up and said, "It was Napoleon." The teacher replied, "I'm sorry, Pierre, that's not right either."Finally, a Jewish boy raised his hand and said, "It was Jesus Christ." The teacher said, "That's absolutely right, Maurice, come up here and I'll give you the $2."As the teacher was giving Maurice his money, she said, "You know Maurice, you being Jewish, I was very surprised you said Jesus Christ."Maurice replied, "Yeah. In my heart I knew it was Moses, but business is business.”

This is what I believe happens to missionaries. They divulge into the world, preach, convert, and return, satisfied. But is conversion that simply completed from the eyes of the non-believer? Perhaps, it is just “business” for non-believers as Maurice puts it. It isn’t that difficult, after all, to do “business” with people whose mission is simply to ‘place the nail and hammer it in.’

I have always felt that missionaries are like men on missions in life or death situations. Or at least, that was what the almost maniacal urgency in their acts showed me. Yet in this increasingly global society, I have found these methods quite ineffective as people of all culture and religion have to learn to become progressively more tolerant as a part of a universal etiquette. I admire these acts of converting as examples of human perseverance and courage as I watch these organizations ignore cultural taboos to spread their values, but at the same time, I am baffled. When evangelists are martyred spreading their faith, is that not a sign that they are handling conversion the wrong way? Is that not a sign that cultures do not want to be converted? Isn’t it time to realize that simply hammering in won’t work? Isn’t it a clear indication that people have become much too used to seeing the hackneyed, blaring signs of mission organizations to care? Yet, how could these acts of faith be applauded on the same scale as, let's say, someone who saves a child from a burning fire?

Reading Don Richardson's article, I found that he was very much an idealist in believing the amalgamation of culture and religion. But is that truly possible? With religion always comes the disintegration of traditions to some extent simply because the religion that is introduced comes from different cultures that are of an absolute truth to each individual civilization. In Korea for example, many Christian homes do not practice jae-sah because of the Ten Commandments which demands that "thou shall not bow before any god but me." To Korea, which is fundamentally based upon Buddhism and Confucianism, traditions of honoring our superiors and ancestors like jae-sah are a significant part of culture. Yet, because Christianity is synonymous with absoluteness, these foundations are often induced to fit and become worn remnants of what once was.

The argument that someone would 'invade' the unknown territories of 'Stone Age' cultures eventually, and therefore, missionaries, who are the "most sympathetic" should be the first. That was weak. Is sympathy defined invariably for both “these people” and the mission organizations? And are these missionaries really sympathetic? And if so, what are they sympathetic for? The fact that these cultures are educated differently from us? The fact that these cultures observe different traditions from us? Or the fact that they are not aware of the rest of the world? Is it truly for the people rather than for themselves?

Currently, I find that many missionary organizations have lost the means of communicating their purpose. Of communicating the Christian truth. They need to regroup and find effective ways of introducing (rather than enforcing) Christianity in a respectful way. So what do current mission organizations do for ‘these people’ besides erode culture? Well, I don’t really know...yet.

Peacechild: What should society do for “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi?

2008-11-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

Second Entry:

I believe that truth is but a perception. Nelson Mandela is an example of this. A revered figure internationally for his anti-apartheid movement, he is considered a noble person, a good man. However, during his early campaigns he was considered a threat to society, and jailed for treason. He is a great man. But only from our perspectives. If, say, segregation was a priority today, would Mandela still be as celebrated as an excellent person? So what is the truth? Is Mandela a 'good man?' It depends on the definition at that point. And definitions change accordingly with those who make it. Then, how can anyone define a sophisticated culture? Is it a utopia where everyone lives harmoniously without violence? Is it a nation with running water and electricity? Is it a society involved in international affairs? Who are we to judge?

The question was "what should society do for "uncivilized cultures" like the Sawi?" The Sawi, had no doubt been practicing its customs since the genesis of its history. When missionaries arrived in the 1960's, the Sawi had been living isolated from the rest of the moving world, and was clearly unaware of what went on in "civilized" society. However, this ignorance proved that the Sawi were profoundly civilized. It had been living upon independent values and had succeeded in surviving for decades without foreign social contact. The sign of a successful empire. An element within its superstitions, its religions, its habits had to have made sense in order for this success. If these logics had failed, the Sawi would not have been in existence. So who are we to judge if anything needs to be done for such a group?

The Sawi practiced cannibalism. I suppose this was the reason that the missionaries believed that the need to convert the Sawi people was urgent. However, from whose perspective were they looking at in seeing the Sawi culture? What, but from its own Western Christian-based culture? If the Sawi people had arrived in the United States on a mission to transform the Westerners into something like the Sawi, from which perspective would it have brought but from their own? Would the Sawi, if asked, consider itself a rudimentary culture? So who are we to judge?

I don't support cannibalism nor do I understand some of the other values of the Sawi culture. That is my personal truth. But who am I to fit the Sawi into my label of what is right or what makes up a civilized culture? What gives anyone the right to introduce such a concept to an already fully functioning society but to wait until the people themselves realize the futility behind its own philosophy? From that perspective, there is not much society should do for "uncivilized cultures" like the Sawi in an ethical, but open manner. This question was asking of the obligation of society in civilizing a social order. Society has an obligation, rather, not to force itself upon a 'maverick' society which does not fit into its own cookie-cutter opinions of what society is. Nothing should be done, but something can be done. Introducing the rest of the world through missionary work and other forms of foreign intervention can be done. Society can even fit the Sawi culture in its definition. Is it the right thing to do? If that is how it is perceived, sure. But who am I to judge?

Peacechild: What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.

2008-11-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

First Entry:

This is admittedly the most difficult piece that I have had to write since-forever(?) Trying to be honest...now that's a challenge.

I've lived most of the "important" years of development in sunny California, but never did I have an identity crisis before. I am a Korean. It has just been that way. I labeled myself a Korean and have taken pride in that for the longest time. Perhaps it's because I recognized at a young age that no matter what I did, no matter how American I acted, I would never truly be accepted as an American. No one was going to ask me, "Are you American?" but rather the query, "Where are you from?" Thus, I have stayed Korean, but that didn't stop me from experiencing the US. During my time in America, I absorbed American customs while celebrating Korean traditions as well. The only factor in which I did not follow one or the other was religion.

One of Korea's major religion is Buddhism; my family comes from a long line of traditional Buddhists and my grandmothers are both avid temple-goers. However, my mother and father never really followed the customary values and never educated us (my siblings and me) to follow any sort of religion. I suppose there were also two cultural factors which affected me; 1. many Koreans are not religion-bound and 2. Koreans in general are education-centered. In fact, while my mother imparted her knowledge of what Buddhism was, she handed me a Bible to read in the fourth grade. "It's good for you," she said. My parents were about education, not religion. They did not direct me on values or beliefs, instead, they presented me with whatever the world offered. I responded with the flexibility that is parallel in almost all children and learned. Later, that learning would evolve into an understanding. I reacted to my peers in the same way, I listened and learned, but I remained unmoved. To me, religion was just an amalgamation of different morals to be learned.

Then, I thought, "How is it that everyone believes in something, but can't come up with a consensus on the truth?"

I guess this was the point where I thought up my religious views of the world according to what I saw anyways: I believe that all people are made up of the same essence. The foundation of emotions. All people feel sadness, happiness, love, hate, hopefulness, disappointment, catharsis. Although people may feel at different times, from different catalysts, and in different ways, I believe that everyone feels the same basic emotions: the common factor in all people. This is where the concept of God comes in. If all people feel the same emotions, they would feel the same need for someone more powerful than them, a reassurance of a kind in life. They would feel the same need for morals. The same need for an immortality within a fleeting existence. The same need for hope. The same need for purpose in life. That is where I believe religion plays a role, differing according to the cultural differences and physical needs of those from the region. In short, I believe in the congruous inevitability of the human mind. I believe in the limitations of the human thought, not the omniscience of God.

But what does that matter? That's just my belief, which is pretty petty in comparison to the magnitude of Truth. And it may or may not be the truth.

When I came to Korea, religion became a minute factor in a dizzying culture. Yes, I thought myself a Korean, but I wasn't expecting the culture shock that I received, regardless. The patriarchal, conservative country based upon confucianism was the antithesis from the liberal America I was used to. Having attended a Korean school for about an year, I found that religion rarely played a significant role in the lives of other students. Instead, my peers were driven by academic ambitions. God was an evanescent figure who appeared once in awhile before and after exams. That was the easiest time religion-wise for me. No one asked and no one cared.

I first faced difficulties in my atheism when I entered TCIS. Taejon Christian International School. I felt I was prepared to come: chapel, Christian teachers and peers, Bible class and the likes. I had Christian friends in the past, I had read the Bible several times, and I knew the basics of Christianity. I was ready to fit in. What I wasn't prepared for was a school centered around a belief entirely contrasting with mine. That was hard.

It's been an ongoing journey for me. There have been rather distinct ups-and-downs for me here, and although I may have struggled with them at times, I appreciate them all now that I look back on them. Although they may not have made me a Christian, those experiences have made me a little more open-minded and have given me more options to investigate.

I don't rule out the Christian view. Really, I don't rule out any perspectives. Any one of them may be true, and I respect them all. But my goal is not to accumlulate as many thoughts as possible. It is to find the truth. Or at least, my truth.

Fortunately, what is true doesn't change, and I just need to keep on looking. I plan on doing so.

The Shield of Achilles by W.H. Auden

2008-02-26T10:41:00.000-08:00

The Shield of Achilles

She looked over his shoulder a
1. For vines and 1. olive trees, b
Marble well-governed cities b
And ships upon untamed seas, b
But there on the 1. shining metal c
His hands had put instead d
An 11. artificial wilderness e
1. And a sky like lead. d

2. A plain without a feature, bare and brown, f
No blade of grass, no sign of neighborhood, g
Nothing to eat and nowhere to sit down, f
Yet, congregated on its blankness, stood g
An unintelligible 2. multitude, h
2. A million eyes, a million boots in line, i
Without expression, waiting for a sign. i

Out of the air a 4. voice without a face j
Proved by statistics that some cause was just k
2. In tones as dry and level as the place: j
3. No one was cheered and nothing was discussed; k
Column by column in a 3. cloud of dust k
They marched away enduring a belief l
Whose logic brought them, somewhere else, to grief. l

She looked over his shoulder a
4. For ritual pieties, m
White flower-garlanded heifers, a
Libation and sacrifice, n
But there on the shining metal o
Where the altar should have been, p
She saw by his flickering forge-light q
Quite another scene. p

5. Barbed wire enclosed an arbitrary spot r
Where bored officials lounged (one cracked a joke) s
And sentries sweated for the day was hot: r
A crowd of ordinary decent folk s
3. Watched from without and neither moved nor spoke s
As 4. three pale figures were led forth and bound t
4. To three posts driven upright in the ground. t

5. The mass and majesty of this world, all u
That carries weight and always weighs the same v
Lay in the hands of others; 5. they were small u
And could not hope for help and no help came: v
What their foes like to do was done, their shame v
Was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride w
6. And died as men before their bodies died. w

6. She looked over his shoulder a
For athletes at their games, x
Men and women in a dance y
Moving their sweet limbs z
Quick, quick, to music, a1
But there on the 6. shining shield b2
His hands had set no 7. dancing-floor a
8. But a weed-choked field. b2

7. A ragged urchin, aimless and alone, c2
Loitered about that vacancy; a bird d2
Flew up to safety from his well-aimed stone: c2
That girls are raped, that two boys knife a third, d2
Were axioms to him, who'd never heard d2
Of any world where promises were kept, e2
Or one could weep because another wept. e2

The 9. thin-lipped armorer, f2
10. Hephaestos, hobbled away, g2
Thetis of the shining breasts h2
8. Cried out in dismay g2
At what the god had wrought h2
To please her son, the strong i2
7. Iron-hearted man-slaying Achilles j2
Who would not live long. i2

Analysis:
TITLE: "The Shield of Achilles"
-This may be literally talking of Achilles' shield
-This also may be talking of Achilles' invincibility, given to him by mother upon his birth

PARAPHRASE: This poem was about the Nereid Thetis, as she saw into the future through the seer Calchas. Here, she realized that Achilles would not lead the beautiful, pampered, and safe life she would hope for but rather the desolate life of a brilliant warrior, leading hundreds of others. The end of this poem also shows that Achilles would not lead a long life.

CONNOTATION:
Symbol: 1. Achilles' status as a warrior, glory
2. The army
3. suggests marching from a distance-> future
4. the three Fates
5. Achille's hands as a baby (Thetis is looking at the future when her son is a baby)
6. Achilles' status as a glorious warrior
7. happiness, frivolity
8. pain, death, desolation
9. somberness
10. the one who would make Achilles' armor
11. sword, war (artificial because men create war)

Metaphor:
1. peace; the state of which Thetis wants Achilles to live his life
2. the army that is looking towards Achilles for direction; his subordinates
3. the uncertainty of the way to face the war
4. three posts-> life, death, spiritual world
5. Odysseus convincing Achilles to join the Trojan War, the statement that motivates the Greek soldiers, Greek spirit
6. things in the world that will always be considered great such as love or justice
7. people who were no longer fit to be considered men because they threw away their pride
8. firm, cold
Simile: 1. the sky cannot be like lead
2. tones cannot be as dry as a face
Imagery: 1. sight, sound
2. sight, touch
3. sound
4. sight, touch
5. sight, sound, smell, touch
6. sight, sound
7. sight, sound
8. sound
Repetition: - quick, quick
- she looked over her shoulder
Rhyme Scheme: mentioned above

ATTITUDE: Naturally, because this poem was Thetis lamenting over her son's future, it was intergrated with cycles of hopefulness and despair over reality.

SHIFT: There was a shift whenever the line "She looked over her shoulders" appeared because that showed a flash back into reality for a short "break" before going back into the future.

THEME: -Mothers want the best for their children
- Fate cannot be controlled

TITLE: The title, "The Shield of Achilles" was ironic because while Thetis attempts to be Achilles' shield as a loving mother (later taken further as she burned him in order to make him immortal), the tone of depressing hopelessness suggested that there would be no true shield for Achilles.

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

2008-02-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Analysis:
T- I believe that this poem, "Phenomenal Woman" will be about a phenomenal woman. I think that it may most likely be about herself as I saw in her other poem, "And Still I Rise."
P- This poem was about what made "I" shine above all the other women despite her imperfection. Although I previously believed that Maya Angelou was talking of herself, I now think that she is not talking of a woman in particular but is addressing all women on being a phenomenal woman.
C-Repitition, Metaphor, Symbol, Imagery, Personification, Hyperbole
The first connotation I noticed in this poem was its use of repitition and how it put an emphasis on what phenomenal woman is. Also, as she listed what made her a phenomenal woman, I was able to picture the confident woman she was describing and labeled them as an imagery. I felt that the two reactions from other women and men were hyperboles (because I don't think the women really would ask nor would men really drop to their knees) to prove her point AS WELL AS symbols because it showed the awe that one would be in in front of Angelou's definition of a phenomenal woman. In the third stanza, "Inner mystery" symbolized confidence. Although this poem did not have a particular rhyme scheme or a consistent rhythm, by using deliberate pauses, I felt a definite flowing rhythm within the poem.
A- Maya Angelou's tone was that of a strong, confident woman, challenging the stereotypes of what makes a phenomenal woman. It was also that of an encouraging leader, demanding that women be confident in themselves.
S- Although there seemed to be a shift of setting on all the stanzas, I believe that there were three main shifts throughout the poem. I believe they were divided at the third, fourth, and the last stanza. From the beginning to the third stanza, it was describing how other people saw her and how she responded. In the fourth stanza, she made a statement about exactly she perceived herself and the silent message within those three lines, while in the last stanza, she ends the poem with an explanation.
T- A phenomenal woman is not necessarily the prettiest or the one with the model body, but the one with the confidence.
T- As I had predicted in the beginning of my analysis, I believe that the title represented what the poem was going to be about, and tied the entire poem together nicely. I also believe that everything she lists out throughout the poem defines the title.

Songs of Myself Part 46: Walt Whitman

2008-01-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

46 from Songs of Myself
Walt Whitman

I know I have the best of time and space, and was never measured and
never will be measured.

I tramp a perpetual journey, (come listen all!)
My signs are a rain-proof coat, good shoes, and a staff cut from the woods,
No friend of mine takes his ease in my chair,
I have no chair, no church, no philosophy,
I lead no man to a dinner-table, library, exchange,
But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll,
My left hand hooking you round the waist,
My right hand pointing to landscapes of continents and the public road.

Not I, not any one else can travel that road for you,
You must travel it for yourself.

It is not far, it is within reach,
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know,
Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land.

Shoulder your duds dear son, and I will mine, and let us hasten forth,
Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch as we go.

If you tire, give me both burdens, and rest the chuff of your hand
on my hip,
And in due time you shall repay the same service to me,
For after we start we never lie by again.

This day before dawn I ascended a hill and look'd at the crowded heaven,
And I said to my spirit When we become the enfolders of those orbs,
and the pleasure and knowledge of every thing in them, shall we
be fill'd and satisfied then?
And my spirit said No, we but level that lift to pass and continue beyond.

You are also asking me questions and I hear you,
I answer that I cannot answer, you must find out for yourself.

Sit a while dear son,
Here are biscuits to eat and here is milk to drink,
But as soon as you sleep and renew yourself in sweet clothes, I kiss you
with a good-by kiss and open the gate for your egress hence.

Long enough have you dream'd contemptible dreams,
Now I wash the gum from your eyes,
You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every
moment of your life.

Long have you timidly waded holding a plank by the shore,
Now I will you to be a bold swimmer,
To jump off in the midst of the sea, rise again, nod to me, shout,
and laughingly dash with your hair.

Analysis:
To fully grasp the concept behind this poem, I first had to understand the poet. Walt Whitman loved to travel and being outdoors. He always felt that poems were best written outside and felt with nature. This particular poem was a poem represented the unique road one must take for himself, emphasizing the beauty he felt on the road.
Using a fatherly tone or the tone of someone wiser and older, Whitman used an extended metaphor to talk about the rugged path as life, using yet more symbols such as the shoes and the staff to represent the gears needed for life. In the middle of the first stanza, Whitman clearly suggested that he was not writing the poem to talk about the concrete, ordinary things in life as he stated that he had no chair, no church, no philosophy and that he would lead no man to a dinner-table. He confirmed that when he stated he could not lead anyone to the answer, which I believe was represented by the library and the dinner-table, but that he could lead them to a knoll, which I believe symbolized the beginning of something. Whitman also emphasized the fact that the road was ours alone to walk as he stated in the third stanza about how he couldn't walk the road for anyone as he repeated it again in the fourth to last stanza. In the next stanza, I believe he was highlighting the fact that everyone's road would be completely different with infinite possibilities as he stated that "its everywhere on water and on land." Starting from third to last stanza, the tone shifted from a person advising another to someone giving something up. In the sixth to last stanza, Whitman used more metaphors, telling " you" to give him his burdens if he tired and also that they could "never lie by again."I felt that this was saying that no matter how tired we could get from living and no matter how dependent we have to be on another, we can't stop. In the next stanza, where Whitman is talking to himself, I believe he was addressing the spiritual side of life as his spirit tells him there is no end to life, only beyond it. In the last stanza, he used yet another metaphor stating that "you" have waited timidly for a long time and it was our time to swim. This metaphor represented the courage Whitman wanted "you" to feel as "you" would start to truly experience life.
It felt as if he was passing the baton to another younger person ready to embark upon an adventure. However, it did not sound regretful, but more like a person who finished reading a good book and giving it to someone else: happy to share the experience and give a recommendation, but not give the ending away.

Thoughts:
I am not really a Walt Whitman fan, mostly because I don't really enjoy reading about the obviously patriotic topics he often writes about. However, I liked this poem because it's relatable and because it talks of not only the ending of something but also the beginning of something as well. I liked this poem because it was not the usually depressingly beautiful poems I usually read but a poem full of hopes and expectations.

Ender's Game 8

2007-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Entry of Your Choice

This book was one of the best books I have read because it is so brtually honest about the natural flaws of human society. It truly puts the world into perspective in a way that even young readers will be able to understand the author clearly. It was at time, depressing because it seemed that Ender had no way to escape the cruel world he lived in, but in the end, Orson Scott Card gave hope to the situation by having Ender discover his own way to find peace, away from the society he had grown up in. Not only that, the cruelty and the weakness of true human pyschology explored through the omniescent narrator and bettered the novel even more than it already was by showing the real human boy through a fictional character. Science fiction met with raw reality is an element I believe made the book such a good read.

http://www.chetart.com/portfolioimages/thought.jpg

Ender's Game 7

2007-06-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Are there are any current situations in the world that relate to the novel? What are they, and how do they relate? Does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved or "fixed"?
Internationally, modern society can relate almost completely to the novel (minus futuristic settings) because everywhere in the world, there is manipulation, there is sacrifice, there is war, and many kids are making differences as the kids of Battle School did.

This novel shed light upon such problems such as government manipulation or censorship over information and national values, by the way all the kids were controlled and used through the games and training at Battle School by the authorities as well as by the world government. The novel shed light upon the current situation of today's people as well, as the Valentine and Peter manipulation was shown later in the book. Also, as Ender became more and more broken and used, it shows the sacrifice that the real world today often make through soldiers in wars or suicidal military tactics. Wars are of course, in existence. However, as seen in the book, wars might simply be caused because of two sides that are unknown to one another like the Buggers and the humans. Finally, the fact that kids have the potential to do a lot more than adults give them credit for is shown in the novel as shows a small boy coming up with brilliant military tactics and being bored in school because the material is too easy. Basically, everything that was seen of even the most remote human element, was something we could see in modern society today.

This book also shed light on the author's opinion of resolution: Start over. Just as Ender found peace through an attempt to help the Bugger pupae survive, people today need to start on a new leaf, reflect upon their actions, reevaluate their priorities and start again from the very base of their adjusted political and ethical values. However, I believe Card only makes a hint of such a solution because realistically, it is not possible, although it is a very tempting solution.
http://www.tigerlilytreasures.com/images/mosaics/unmasked.jpg

Ender's Game 6

2007-06-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

What is the major theme of this novel? Why is this theme important to a teenager living in 2007?
There were many themes in this novel, but a major one is definitely the power of manipulation. This is confirmed throughout the book as it is shown that the very heart of the ideology of both the "adult world" of the world government and the IF is to control and use others.

This theme is very important to a teenager living in 2007 because manipulation is something that is not limited only to the government or a novel, but also the small things in life we never really think about.

In an age of technology, manipulation goes as far as the mass media; the computer, the television etc. Every commercial, every movie, every article people read is a form of manipulation, something meant for readers or viewers to feel a certain way. Because people are exposed to such manipulation, still ignorant teenagers, have to be careful of the things they believe and learn to recognize manipulation when seen because unlike Ender, watchful teenagers may be able to avoid being deceived.

Also, teenagers especially are constantly surrounded by manipulation from friends, family, teachers, and other classmates. People, naturally manipulative, are usually prone to manipulation particularly during adolescence. However, because it is an everyday part of life, teenagers usually don't recognize the changes they experience through manipulation. It is important, however, that people learn that many things that others tell them may not be true, and therefore, should be warned from being manipulated into doing things, thinking a certain way etc.

http://www.emotionscards.com/images/children-puppet.gif

Ender's Game 5

2007-04-13T05:05:00.000-07:00

Are there any settings in this novel which you have found to be beautiful? Or disturbing? Or memorable? Describe these settings and comment on why they were meaningful to you.

I found the setting that the Buggers had created for Ender in the end of the book to be particularly beautiful because it was one of the few settings throughout the book that showed determination, hope, and a new beginning. It was almost like a breath of fresh air for me because Ender seemed so broken down.

Ironically, the "enemies," the Buggers, were the ones that showed immense determination in attempting to communicate with Ender despite their lack of human means of communications. Having the scene that Ender had seen in the computer game back at Battle School was an ingenious way to get his attention as well as a sign of how much they wanted to "talk." They also showed a trait that the humans rarely portrayed throughout the book: hope. That was another reason why I found this setting so wonderful, because by leaving behind a coded scene that only Ender would recognize and eventually be able to find to redeem himself by giving the Buggers another chance at living.

Of all the settings throughout the book, this one was the one that was also the most peaceful because unlike any other settings throughout the novel, Ender was to do nothing of combative means and actually make peace.
http://img1.jurko.net/wall/paper/Morning_Dew.jpg

Ender's Game 4

2007-04-13T05:03:00.000-07:00

Please choose one passage from the novel that is significant to you. Why is this passage meaningful? Please type it into one of your entries and comment on what you think about the passage.

There were several different passages that were meaningful to me. However, the one I found that was the most significant was the conversation between Colonel Graff and Ender:

"Human beings are free except when humanity needs them. Maybe humanity needs you. To do something. Maybe humanity needs me—to find out what you're good for. We might both do despicable things, Ender, but if humankind survives, then we were good tools." (Ender's Game pg.35)

This passage was important to me because it showed some of the main themes in the book and in life: manipulation, sacrifice, and the cruelty of human nature. Graff told Ender this particular message to explain Ender's purpose by talking of humans as tools, the very core of the ideology of the world government. From this passage, Graff was also foreshadowing Ender's fate to the readers as well.
To me, this passage was one of the core ideas of humanity. People manipulate without their own knowledge. Even in schools in today, teenagers manipulate others into being like them, which consequently leads to more and more programs like D.A.R.E.
People are manipulated without their own knowledge. This is one of the main reasons that people tend to change, the manipulated change according to the manipulative.
People are sacrificed and used as tools. Soldiers are used as tools of wars, their deaths only appearing as numbers. They are sacrificed for the country and used.
Those who wield these tools are cruel. Humans, the wielder of tools are cruel. They manipulate and use others, like the countries that use their soldiers.
These messages that I picked up from this passage saddened me because the messages were absolutely true and the ideology of the IF of Ender's world also applied to the real world (especially the government).
http://www.phomix.com/wp-content/photos/IMG_6087.jpg

Ender's Game 3

2007-04-13T05:02:00.000-07:00

What is the mood of this novel? Do you find this novel saddens you in any way? Why?

The mood of this novel was grossly blunt and black. Throughout this entire book, everything that happened was calculated, whether it was Ender going along with Graff or Valentine and Peter taking over the political world. Also, as the continuous series of manipulation was shown, the mood constantly became despairing and frustrating as if a wall without windows continued to close in on Ender, who already seemed to have a destiny decided for him. At times, there were points of hope, as joy was shown when Ender first began to train with his new crew and when Ender found the Bugger egg, although points of hopelessness dominated most of the book when there seemed to be no hope for Ender to get out of his predestined life and perhaps have a chance to be happy (although that possibility seemed to be out of the question even in the beginning of the book).

The mental maturity of children as seen through the kids of Battle School (especially Ender), the endless cycle of the manipulative and the manipulated (between the adults and the kids), the ruthless cruelty of humans (Peter), the limits of unconditional love(the crumbling relationship between Ender and Valentine), an unavoidable fate, crushed hope, and the powerlessness seen through the book saddened me because it is not something that just exists in books but in reality. The raw bluntness of the continuous way of human life saddened me.

http://www.carniola.org/theglory/images/darkness%20here%20and%20nothing%20more.jpg

Ender's Game 2

2007-04-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

What is the climax of this novel? What happens? How do the events of this novel make you feel?

The climax of this novel was when Ender was battling his last battle, his "final exam." After series of battles against computer stimulated Buggers, in preparation for the Third Invasion, Andrew is told that a final computer stimulated battle would be his final exam, which would allow him to go home. After defeating the Buggers in a long battle, Andrew is told that the computer battles had been real, that he had actually been commanding Earth's entire fleets for the last couple of months, and he had won the last battle. Ender is shocked that not only had he participated in the Third Invasion, but that he had been deceived and allowed many from his own fleet to be destroyed. He begins to feel the responsibility of his actions that had not been there before.

This event shocked me. I was not prepared for the ultimate lie that the adults told Ender. The abruptness that the news was delivered surprised because I had believed that the actual battle would be a separate event from Ender's schooling years. Not only that, the lack of time that the adults had been concerned about did not strike me as a hint until I found that Ender had been part of the Third Invasion all along.

http://www.opinios.com/images/artwork/despair.jpg

Ender's Game 1

2007-04-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

Who are the main characters in the novel? Do you like them? Why or why not? What is special about them? What do they reveal about the universal human experience?

The main characters in this novel were:

Andrew "Ender" Wiggins- is a small boy of six when the book begins. An outcast Third, meaning that he is the unwanted third child of a two-children per family society, Ender is also often isolated at school for a being a Third. Unknown to outsiders, however, Ender, with his sister's overwhelming compassion, his brother's ruthless cruelty, and both of their genius, was chosen to be a possible leader to defeat the Buggers, aliens considered to be the biggest threat. Thus, he becomes a boy capable of knowing when even subtly manipulated, how to manipulate, how the human psyche works, planning ingenious military tactics, and how to be a leader as well as a follower. Ender is seen is as an ideal human. However, because of his likeness to his hated brother, Peter, and his own helpless, manipulated self, Ender never likes himself although confident of his identity especially because of the mirror of Peter that he sees when displaying outbursts of fury in defense or anger.
In the book, Ender seems to represent the ideal human, of good, evil, and conflict.

Peter Wiggins- is Andrew's older brother and the oldest child in the family. Ten years old in the beginning of the book, he is depicted as a beautiful boy with "dark, thick tousled hair" and "a face that could have belonged to Alexander the Great" and apparently able to play the piano. A boy completely ruthless, he is often seen in the beginning of the book threatening and hurting his younger siblings, making especially a negative mental impact on Ender that would last throughout his childhood. This abusiveness also shows another side of his personality: jealousy. Peter is also a selfish genius, not caring what he must do to get his way and acting only for his advantages. This is where he and Ender differs: Ender is too kind to use others for only his advantage while Peter isn't. Also, to feed his ambitious, power-hungry motives, he later creates an ingenious plan to become the Hegemon, or the ruler of the world using his other genius sibling, Valentine. Towards the end of the book, through skillfully played manipulation and coordination, Peter does become the Hegemon, and through peaceful means (although simply for his own comfort).
Peter represents the worst in a human such as jealousy, cruelty, selfishness etc.

Valentine Wiggins-is Andrew's older sister and the second child of the Wiggins family. Eight years old at the beginning of the novel, she is seen as the kindest of the three siblings. Loving Ender completely, her love is seemingly Andrew's only "support system" throughout Battle School. Valentine is also the one that protected Ender from Peter in his early childhood as well.In the beginning, Valentine is more of a passive genius until she lets herself be manipulated by Peter when he shares his plans to become the Hegemon. Knowing her own potential genius, she makes major differences in politics on Earth with her brother, Peter. She also becomes the first to realize that the three of them are not so different and that they are only different in the way that their actions are carried out. Valentine even admits enjoying having power despite her sympathetic sweetness shown earlier in the novel although it does not put her in the same league as Peter's aggressive want of power. She also gives into the temptation that only Ender is able to resist out of the three: the thirst for power.
Valentine represents the good in all humans, such as compassion, loyalty, love, and the ability to resist temptations.

I did not really favor any of these characters because as I read about them, I realized how similar all three of them were, although each character seemed to emphasize a specific characteristic more than another did. The only real difference I saw among the three were the way they chose to use or display their personalities; Peter, through world domination, Valentine, as a support system for everyone, and Ender, through space domination.
The one thing I noticed that seemed crucial was that all three showed different, exaggerated sides of one person: Andrew Wiggins. While Valentine showed the compassion that Andrew had, Peter showed Ender's cruelty, and Ender showed the the two rounded personalities. Peter and Valentine were simply showing us the different parts of not only Ender's personality, but a regular human personality. This made it impossible for me to favor one character over the other because of the fact that the individual characters shown in the book were actually not individuals at all.

http://www.hse.k12.in.us/staff/asturgeon/Enders%20Game.jpg

Lord of the Flies 8

2007-02-13T02:22:00.001-08:00

Entry of Your Choice

King of the Pigs
by: J.R.

There was this one time,
Couple a' boys brought together by a chime
Of a honk of a conch shell
So very pretty and swell!
O, what an adventure.

Selected a fine king
To bring a divine fling
Into a new world unfurled
To set up the rules so nicely twirled!
O, what an adventure.

To be a king of the pigs
I assure you, a job that was sure big
How wonderfully delightful it was
To set down the laws and recieve applause!
O, what an adventure.

One little pig followed the king around
He had plain sense and a brain renowned
No one liked that right straight little pig
'Cus he was always right, you see, he wouldn't wig!
O, what an adventure.

Then there was that other little tyke
A spike in the brand new bike
He did what, when, and who he wanted
By the rules or the king he could never be daunted!
O, what an adventure.

Two more simply followed,
They did not have a pride to swallow
Wishy washy, like a reed in the breeze
Swaying to please those who put them at ease!
O, what an adventure.

Another was with a sweet little name,
'Till he died early on in the game
As he tried to warn the king
Their utopia had a murderous string!
O, what an adventure.

The other pig was a killer
Hate and blood was his thriller
He knew which side he was on, which he hated
To violence, he was tied and fated
O, what an adventure.

Soon, each little piggy gave way
To what their heart had to say
And the kingdom fell apart
Because it wasn't made smart
It wasn't made for the pigs
Just for the good looks

If only this place had been made for them
Would it have lasted like a gem
And I would've been able to end up saying:
O, what an adventure!

http://www.dogsigns.com/categories/Pig/images/silhouette.jpg

Lord of the Flies 7

2007-02-13T02:21:00.000-08:00

Are there are any current situations in the world that relate to the novel? What are they, and how do they relate? Does the novel shed any light on how current situations could be resolved or "fixed"?

The very situation we live in now relates to this novel because every society has rules that are idealistic but unchanging. "Don't steal," would be one of those rules because people break it on a daily basis, while, "Don't kill" simply tempts one to commit murder.

These rules are the ones that caused the death of Piggy and Simon and eventually the destruction of the entire society. If rules cannot meet the level of humans, it is impossible to carry out, and when there is no one to carry out the rules, the society will crumble apart. This novel clarified that completely and shed light upon this topic through a simplized version of real society.

There cannot be a real resolution because as humans, we cannot but help make unrealistic demands of others as well as ourselves. Just as the boys expected themselves to keep to the rules, be the epitome of a perfect human, and ended up falling apart and giving up, this book stated that we cannot follow the rules and have a functional society without compromise on society's part. That was the best advice that author was able to give, "Don't try to change the evil in human nature, adjust society to make it the utopia that we want." http://www.designmeltdown.com/chapters/OldPaper/resources/stain_01.png

Lord of the Flies 6

2007-02-13T02:19:00.000-08:00

What is the major theme of this novel? Why is this theme important to a teenager living in 2007?

The major theme of this novel was: the sinfulness of human nature will defeat even the most perfect of society if there aren't tangible laws to follow.
As seen in the novel, the perfection seen in the island itself, the innocence of the children, and the liberty to do all that they pleased was not enough to keep the society running smoothly. In the end, the society failed to function because despite the distinction that the boys set up between the law and order of the "adult world" and the wild chaos of the "child's world." They could not keep up with the firm self-discipline and the realistic sensibility required to run such an "adult world." This entire novel focused on the delicate balance between an organized society and the nature of the people that live in it.
In the end, we find out through Simon's and Piggy's death as well as the barbaric actions of the other boys that we simply cannot win over the rules set by society without compromise.

This theme is important to a teenager living in 2007, because we have to realize that we are weak, and that there are some things we cannot win against, like our animalistic human nature that has simply been subdued after years of restricted habits. For example, we know already to clean our rooms and do the dishes because there are consequences. We also have to be aware of the faults in our own society and be able to judge the difference between something unrealistic and realistic, so that we may be able to reach it and keep it a habit. Living in this society, we must also be careful to not be consumed by "the Lord of the Flies," or our own wicked nature and save our own Piggy and Simon by following what is right, organized, and good. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/217161034_9676188406.jpg?v=0

Lord of the Flies 5

2007-01-29T18:20:00.000-08:00

Are there any settings in this novel which you have found to be beautiful? Or disturbing? Or memorable? Describe these settings and comment on why they were meaningful to you.

I found the contrast between the beautiful background of a seeming paradise and the violent, bloody disorder that lay within it very memorable. While the island itself was abundant in food and water, while the sun filled the azure sky, and the sapphire ocean surrounded the emerald island, there was mad chaos within the island. Not only did this show the universal theme of "Nothing is as it seems," it amplified the extremity of human fault, branding the scenario in my mind.

Also, the vivid descriptions of pig- hunting became one of the most memorable, as well as one of the most disturbing scenes I had ever read. As the boys described how bloody the kill, I felt sick, imagining the violent hunt. The fervor the boys added worsened the scene. I believed the hunts to be the beginning of the deaths of sanity and order, and such a disgusting description told me how brutally and coldly the boys wasted such goodness in their lives. http://www.seaweedcafe.com/images/events/candle.jpg

Lord of the Flies 4

2007-01-29T18:19:00.000-08:00

Please choose one passage from the novel that is significant to you. Why is this passage meaningful? Please type it into one of your entries and comment on what you think about the passage.

"Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you? Close, close, close! I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?" (the Lord of the Flies)

This passage was meaningful because it confirmed the author's message that the wickedness in all humans are not something you cannot get rid of because it is a part of us as any organ or drop of blood. Also, the questions, "I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?" clearly stated the author's questions. Our dark natures are the reasons why society is not working like the utopian society that we are hoping for.

However, when the author wrote, ""Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill! You knew, didn’t you? I’m part of you?" He emphasized the fact that the evil cannot be rid of because it is a part of us, and that there is no solution to the faults in society unless society makes changes. This passage was the most meaningful throughout the whole book because it showed in a single passage the entire theme: Society is flawed because of our natural nature, and it cannot be rid of without compromise on society's part. http://www.shadowhousepits.com.au/shadow%20in%20the%20dark.jpg

Lord of the Flies 3

2007-01-29T18:17:00.000-08:00

What is the mood of this novel? Do you find this novel saddens you in any way? Why?

The mood throughout this novel was chaotic, violent, and slightly frightening. The boys' constant want of blood and violence and the ebbing of order and reason was, I believe, the reason for such mood. This overall mood to the story added onto the regretful sadness I felt throughout the novel. This novel emphasized the imperfection of human nature, and slapped into the reality that I am also human, and might have acted like any of those boys and given into my evil human nature despite the disgust I felt throughout the book, reading about them. Reading this book made me realize how weak a human is without restraint; it made me realize how weak I would be without restraint. http://www.dancinghorses.com/Fractals/Palm_Swirls.jpg

Lord of the Flies 2

2007-01-29T18:16:00.000-08:00

What is the climax of this novel? What happens? How do the events of this novel make you feel?

When the battle of the two philosophies between Piggy and Jack reach the peak, and Piggy falls off the cliff, the climax is reached. This event was somewhat expected as seen from Piggy's weak nature and Jack's violent one. When Piggy died, it represented the disappearance of the final barrier between man and the evil nature of humans. I was able to clearly see through the author's theme of the inability of society to control human nature, that is, without the consideration of human weakness. Piggy's death made me feel weak because, I, as a human did not feel that I would be able to win against my own sinful nature. http://imagesource.art.com/images/-/Aaron-McCoy/Hiker-on-Edge-of-Cliff-El-Morado-National-Park-Chile-Photographic-Print-C12079999.jpeg

Lord of the Flies 1

2007-01-29T18:13:00.000-08:00

Who are the main characters in the novel? Do you like them? Why or why not? What is special about them? What do they reveal about the universal human experience?

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/images/lordoftheflies2.jpg

The main characters in this novel were:

Ralph- is a tall, thin boy with fair hair. Outgoing, down-to-earth, with leadership and good judgement yet often times wavering and vulnerable, he is the main protagonist. Ralph represented the ideal person, the very definition of what a good human should be like, and from a human's point of view, observed and went through the different aspects of human society as well as exploring the weaknesses and flaws of human nature.
Piggy- is a short, fat boy with glasses. With a high sense of insight, law, order, absoluteness and cowardice, he is Ralph's best friend until the end. Piggy represented the ideal of a modern human society, one of justice, law, and order, and carried out his task of fighting for such a society by being with Ralph until, of course, his death. The main opposition of Jack whose philosophy was that of the basic, sinful human, Piggy was the control shown in a utopian human society. His death, like Simon's death also represented the death of law and order in society of basic human instincts.
Jack- is a tall, thin boy with red hair, pale blue eyes, and freckles. Strong, careless, and cruel, he is the main antagonist.Jack represented the basic human instinct/philosophy: the instinct of independence, the instinct of human desires, and the instinct that every man is for himself. His power over the other boys show the power that instincts and desires have over reason, law, and order.
Simon- is a skinny boy with coarse, black hair. Good, innocent, alienated, mature, quiet, extremely insightful, and moral, he is the first to realize what had happened to everyone while living on the island. He represented the reason, insight, and the sacrificial side of human nature. His death represented the death of such reason and insight to the violent, bloody nature of human beings.
Roger- is the most violent and cruel of the boys. He was the epitome of hatred and violence of human nature.
Sam & Eric- are twins that are often referred to as one person (Samneric). Cooperative followers without ill intentions, the twins follow those that offer the best security, following one another. They represented the weakness, the human need of another's company, and the followers in human nature or society.

I favored Simon the most out of the boys because of his perceptiveness. He represented the good wisdom of a human mind and remained the most invulnerable (alongside Piggy), to the wild chaos in their society. Also, I was able to relate to the fact that I would have been one of the boys who killed him because I know that no matter how reasonable a person I am, I could not resist the temptation to live on only instinct as Jack showed.