Lately in English class we've all touch grounds on where exactly all of us were in the book. Page 64. Being this far in the book, our substitute teacher thought we were pretty well informed about most of the characters we've been introduced to thus far in teh book. So he decided that we do a little game. And that game was called the "Portal". The object of the game was to take on a character in the book and become him/her. We would become him or her when we walked through the door of class into the new world. We were to write, using the voice of that character, about everything we saw outside the classroom doors. Our job was to capture and immitate that character's voice to the best of out ability. So here is my attempt to become Leah Price, the Price family's Congolese maid.
I don't remember how I came to arrive here in the future year of our lord 2007. Nothing that I had seen in my life in Georgia could have prepared me for this new America. It seems that I have arrived at some sort of school, probably a highschool. The way people dress these days are so vast and different. All the boys wear different assortments of collared shirts, nothing like I've seen. The colors here in the future are brighter more noticable and full. And the girls, well Rachel would be amazed at how the girls dressed here. If father thought painting nails were signs of prostitution, then I was standing in the lowest parts of hell itself. The girls here wore tight shirts and painted nails, peircings every where. Father would give these girls the whole bible for the verse. I really did not like this place. If this is what the future looks like I hope I don't live to see America fall this deep into sin. I pray for my children if ever I have any.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Poisonwood Bible Quotes
So we've recently been reading the Poisonwood Bible, and we've been asked to find two quote from each chapter that have significance in the story, and to explain that significance in this blog post.
"The airport police wore khaki shirts with extra metal buttons and , believe you me, guns."
"Each one of us arrived with some extra responsibility biting into us under our garments: a claw hammer, a Baptist hymnal, each object of value replacing the weight freed up by some frivolous thing we'd found the strength to leave behind. Our journey was to be a great enterprise of balance. My father, of course, was bringing the Word of God-- which fortunately weighs nothing."
These two quotes from Leah's first part in the book gives a very good view on how things are going so far, and where exactly we are. She gives us a very strong sense of setting in Africa as she explains the airport scene with the guns and stuff. I chose the first quote because it sets up the setting so well. I chose the second quote because it shows how much the trip is weighing down on the family, especially the girls. I think this is a metaphor for how the whole trip together will be. I think it is a very good metaphor. As we see all the things that weigh down the girls, on the contrast, Nathan Price brings the Word of God, which just so happens to weigh absolutely nothing.
"Leah runs everywhere and climbs trees, but Adah can't, she is bad on one whole side and doesn't talk because she is brain-damaged and also hates us all. She reads books upside down. You are only supposed to hate the Devil, and love everybody else."
"So Noah cursed all Ham's children to be slaves for ever and ever. That's how come them turn out dark... Their day for the Zoo is Thursday. That's in the Bible."
These two quotes are very key, especially coming from the youngest sister of the family. Ruth May Price gives us alot to look at in her small chapter. She gives alittle perspective on her older sisters Leah and Adah. She tells us of Adah's deformity. She tells us that Adah hates all of them. Here is a very significant part of what I think her role is in the story, which is repeating everthing she hears. She says, " You are only supposed to hate the Devil, and love everybody else." This is a prime example of that, in which she probably learned this in sunday school of from her mother or father. The second quote I like as well, it is about the famous story of the Curse of Ham. She, again, is just repeating what she heard or learned from father or from another religious person. I took the liberty of doing alittle research on this story. It is a true story in the Bible, but I have found that no where in the Bible did it say that the decendents of Ham were dark skinned. BUTHam, I think, from some shaky internet sources, the Hebrew translation of the name Ham, is dark, burnt, or very hot. The other two brothers' names mean fair and dusky. TAKE THAT MRS. WATSON!!
"Boy, what a place. Already i was heavy-hearted in my soul for the flush commodes and machine-washed clothes adn other simple things in life I have took for granite."
"I shut my eyes tight, but even so, the tears ran down. I wept for the sins of all who had brought my family to this dread dark shore."
These are the quotes from Rachel's first narrative of the Chapter. the first one i chose because it shows a little of the feelings of the girls when the first arrived in Africa. We see that they are finally wiseing up the fact that there are less fancy things where they are. They are begginging to be greatful for what they had and sad for what they took for granite. This I feel is very important because they can learn alot from these feelings and it will be interesting to see if they do learn, especially Rachel who is the most materialistic of all the members of the family. The second one is just more emphasis on what I've just said. Rachel, obviously really does not want to be in Africa. I think she is very angry and sad because she had to leave America out of nowhere and stay here in a place where she is very uncomfortable.
"These women are pillars of wonder, defying gravity while wearing the hohum aspect of perfect tedium. They can sit, stand, talk, shake a stick at a drunk man, and reach around their backs to fetch forth a baby to nurse, all without dropping their piled-high bundles upon bundles. They are like ballet dancers entirely unaware they are on stage. I cannot take my eyes from them."
"It is true I do not speak as well as I think. But that is true of most people, as nearly as I can tell."
These two quotes i believe are very important. Comming from Adah, the disabled one of the family, they are very observant and very descriptive. I like Adah's narrative more than all the others. The language she uses is so interesting and grasps my attention. I can see alot of what she describes easily, alot easier than that of any of girls. I like the first one because it is a very good parallel or use of measure that I plan to use with Orleana Price. Here we see the role of African women, who Adah describes very reveringly and majestically. Then we see that she is very fond of these women, I think that the girls will ultimately take alot and learn alot from these African women. The other quote, I chose because it tells alittle more about her. This chapter we learn of Adah's disabilities and challenges. But we also learn alot about her many strengths and views of herself and views of her sisters.
"But father needs permission only from the Saviour, who obviously is all in favor of subduing the untamed wilderness for a garden."
"Some people find him overly stern and frightening, but that is only because he was gifted with such keen judgment and purity of heart. He has been singled out for a life of trial, as Jesus was."
These two, are from the second narrative of Leah. I chose the first one because it has alot to do with the Genesis quote at the beggining fo the book. I think the quote is a metaphor for Africa and taming the people by spreading the word of God. Which is the ultimate goal of Nathan Price. The second one shows Leah's loyalty to her father. She compare her to their Saviour Jesus Christ, maybe Leah puts her father right up there with Jesus in sense of her influenses.
"The airport police wore khaki shirts with extra metal buttons and , believe you me, guns."
"Each one of us arrived with some extra responsibility biting into us under our garments: a claw hammer, a Baptist hymnal, each object of value replacing the weight freed up by some frivolous thing we'd found the strength to leave behind. Our journey was to be a great enterprise of balance. My father, of course, was bringing the Word of God-- which fortunately weighs nothing."
These two quotes from Leah's first part in the book gives a very good view on how things are going so far, and where exactly we are. She gives us a very strong sense of setting in Africa as she explains the airport scene with the guns and stuff. I chose the first quote because it sets up the setting so well. I chose the second quote because it shows how much the trip is weighing down on the family, especially the girls. I think this is a metaphor for how the whole trip together will be. I think it is a very good metaphor. As we see all the things that weigh down the girls, on the contrast, Nathan Price brings the Word of God, which just so happens to weigh absolutely nothing.
"Leah runs everywhere and climbs trees, but Adah can't, she is bad on one whole side and doesn't talk because she is brain-damaged and also hates us all. She reads books upside down. You are only supposed to hate the Devil, and love everybody else."
"So Noah cursed all Ham's children to be slaves for ever and ever. That's how come them turn out dark... Their day for the Zoo is Thursday. That's in the Bible."
These two quotes are very key, especially coming from the youngest sister of the family. Ruth May Price gives us alot to look at in her small chapter. She gives alittle perspective on her older sisters Leah and Adah. She tells us of Adah's deformity. She tells us that Adah hates all of them. Here is a very significant part of what I think her role is in the story, which is repeating everthing she hears. She says, " You are only supposed to hate the Devil, and love everybody else." This is a prime example of that, in which she probably learned this in sunday school of from her mother or father. The second quote I like as well, it is about the famous story of the Curse of Ham. She, again, is just repeating what she heard or learned from father or from another religious person. I took the liberty of doing alittle research on this story. It is a true story in the Bible, but I have found that no where in the Bible did it say that the decendents of Ham were dark skinned. BUTHam, I think, from some shaky internet sources, the Hebrew translation of the name Ham, is dark, burnt, or very hot. The other two brothers' names mean fair and dusky. TAKE THAT MRS. WATSON!!
"Boy, what a place. Already i was heavy-hearted in my soul for the flush commodes and machine-washed clothes adn other simple things in life I have took for granite."
"I shut my eyes tight, but even so, the tears ran down. I wept for the sins of all who had brought my family to this dread dark shore."
These are the quotes from Rachel's first narrative of the Chapter. the first one i chose because it shows a little of the feelings of the girls when the first arrived in Africa. We see that they are finally wiseing up the fact that there are less fancy things where they are. They are begginging to be greatful for what they had and sad for what they took for granite. This I feel is very important because they can learn alot from these feelings and it will be interesting to see if they do learn, especially Rachel who is the most materialistic of all the members of the family. The second one is just more emphasis on what I've just said. Rachel, obviously really does not want to be in Africa. I think she is very angry and sad because she had to leave America out of nowhere and stay here in a place where she is very uncomfortable.
"These women are pillars of wonder, defying gravity while wearing the hohum aspect of perfect tedium. They can sit, stand, talk, shake a stick at a drunk man, and reach around their backs to fetch forth a baby to nurse, all without dropping their piled-high bundles upon bundles. They are like ballet dancers entirely unaware they are on stage. I cannot take my eyes from them."
"It is true I do not speak as well as I think. But that is true of most people, as nearly as I can tell."
These two quotes i believe are very important. Comming from Adah, the disabled one of the family, they are very observant and very descriptive. I like Adah's narrative more than all the others. The language she uses is so interesting and grasps my attention. I can see alot of what she describes easily, alot easier than that of any of girls. I like the first one because it is a very good parallel or use of measure that I plan to use with Orleana Price. Here we see the role of African women, who Adah describes very reveringly and majestically. Then we see that she is very fond of these women, I think that the girls will ultimately take alot and learn alot from these African women. The other quote, I chose because it tells alittle more about her. This chapter we learn of Adah's disabilities and challenges. But we also learn alot about her many strengths and views of herself and views of her sisters.
"But father needs permission only from the Saviour, who obviously is all in favor of subduing the untamed wilderness for a garden."
"Some people find him overly stern and frightening, but that is only because he was gifted with such keen judgment and purity of heart. He has been singled out for a life of trial, as Jesus was."
These two, are from the second narrative of Leah. I chose the first one because it has alot to do with the Genesis quote at the beggining fo the book. I think the quote is a metaphor for Africa and taming the people by spreading the word of God. Which is the ultimate goal of Nathan Price. The second one shows Leah's loyalty to her father. She compare her to their Saviour Jesus Christ, maybe Leah puts her father right up there with Jesus in sense of her influenses.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Price Girl Roles
Recently in English we've been reading the Poisonwood Bible. I have started reading the first chapter Genesis, where we are introduced to the four Price girls, daughters of Nathan Price, an Evangalist Baptist missionary who takes his family out of Georgia into the uncertain, unstable Congo, Africa. With the hopes of spreading the gospel to the 'heathen' Congolese, the daughters in chapter one each give their accout of what happens in the beggining of the mission. Each daughter with a vastly different perspective on the purpose of the trip and of the people they meet in the Congo.
LEAH PRICE
The first daughter we hear from is Leah Price. My first impression of Leah from the beginning of the book was that she was that she was very obedient to her father. This is reinforced as you read on through the chapter where Leah narrarates. We see her obedience to her father when they go out to this field and plant some Georgia squash, and pumpkins like back at home. She slaves right next to her father and tends to his hand and foot. Leah admires her father very much. She is a tomboy as she claims in this chapter as well, "Mother claims I have the manners of a wild animal myself, as I am a tomboy, but I never fail to be respectful of my father's garden" p.64. It seems we can get a sort of boyish point of view on the events and things that go on in the book. We will sort of get a open view of what her father might be thinking since he is a great influence in her life.
RACHEL PRICE
Rachel Price is the oldest daughter of Nathan Price. She is a very straight forward character. She is the polar opposite of Leah. She is very girly. She is hates the fact that the family has to leave civiliation and life with the Congolese people. Leah quotes father, telling us that "Father feels makeup and nail polish are warning signals of prostitution," Rachel Price loves all material things. She is very light skinned. She has very long whitish blonde hair which all the villagers of Kilanga adore. "Everwhen she goes out, whole bunches of little Congo children run after her on the road a-reaching and a-yanking on her long white hair to see i fthey can get it to come off." It is quite evident that she will be the devile advocate toward everything that goes on in Kilanga. I think this is good because then we get to see the perspective a girl who is very wrapped up and immersed in the American way of life and thinking. So we can see the trials that she goes through and we can observe how she reacts to everthing that is put infront of her.
RUTH MAY PRICE
Ruth May Price, the youngest of all the sisters, has a very key role in the telling of this story. She is still very young and in her youth she is still learning a great deal about the world and how she is supposed to live in it. She gets to follow the lead of her father, mother and sisters. She is basically a small mirror that reflects the thoughts and ideas and values of the family. She basically repeats everything she hears and is given to her, though she does tend to probably distort things alittle, she is a good reference. She already has a few American culture values imprinted in her, but she is still young and can easily be swayed into new ideas and new perspectives. She is very stubborn though, it says in one chapter that Ruth May is so stubborn, and that she would do anything to win a game. Leah says that she hid in the fire box when they were all playing hide and seek. "Ruth May is so intent on winning Hide and Seek, or any game for that matter, she would probably go ahead and burn up before she'd ever yell and give herself away." p.65. This is very intresting because she is very young and I think this makes her strong in her youth. I guess all kids need to feel a sense of strength and control when your young.
Adah Price
Of all the Price sisters, I think Adah is the most interesting. From her I think we'll get a very interesting point of view. When we hear the first descriptions of her in the beggining of the story she sounds like a menataly ill girl who cannot function correctly. But as we hear her in her narrative, she is far from mentally ill or disfunctional. She is amazingly functional, I think the most functional and comfortable in herself and what she believes. She will give us the "out there" point of view, the deep hidden meaning type things. The thinking outside of the box, all of this I think will be done by this sister. She will pull everything together and put up for observation. She does not speak and all she truly does is observe all thats going on around her and criticize. She is good at what she does, she is quite, she believe is her quiteness she learns alot more. It is an excelent theory. I think she will give us alot through out the book.
LEAH PRICE
The first daughter we hear from is Leah Price. My first impression of Leah from the beginning of the book was that she was that she was very obedient to her father. This is reinforced as you read on through the chapter where Leah narrarates. We see her obedience to her father when they go out to this field and plant some Georgia squash, and pumpkins like back at home. She slaves right next to her father and tends to his hand and foot. Leah admires her father very much. She is a tomboy as she claims in this chapter as well, "Mother claims I have the manners of a wild animal myself, as I am a tomboy, but I never fail to be respectful of my father's garden" p.64. It seems we can get a sort of boyish point of view on the events and things that go on in the book. We will sort of get a open view of what her father might be thinking since he is a great influence in her life.
RACHEL PRICE
Rachel Price is the oldest daughter of Nathan Price. She is a very straight forward character. She is the polar opposite of Leah. She is very girly. She is hates the fact that the family has to leave civiliation and life with the Congolese people. Leah quotes father, telling us that "Father feels makeup and nail polish are warning signals of prostitution," Rachel Price loves all material things. She is very light skinned. She has very long whitish blonde hair which all the villagers of Kilanga adore. "Everwhen she goes out, whole bunches of little Congo children run after her on the road a-reaching and a-yanking on her long white hair to see i fthey can get it to come off." It is quite evident that she will be the devile advocate toward everything that goes on in Kilanga. I think this is good because then we get to see the perspective a girl who is very wrapped up and immersed in the American way of life and thinking. So we can see the trials that she goes through and we can observe how she reacts to everthing that is put infront of her.
RUTH MAY PRICE
Ruth May Price, the youngest of all the sisters, has a very key role in the telling of this story. She is still very young and in her youth she is still learning a great deal about the world and how she is supposed to live in it. She gets to follow the lead of her father, mother and sisters. She is basically a small mirror that reflects the thoughts and ideas and values of the family. She basically repeats everything she hears and is given to her, though she does tend to probably distort things alittle, she is a good reference. She already has a few American culture values imprinted in her, but she is still young and can easily be swayed into new ideas and new perspectives. She is very stubborn though, it says in one chapter that Ruth May is so stubborn, and that she would do anything to win a game. Leah says that she hid in the fire box when they were all playing hide and seek. "Ruth May is so intent on winning Hide and Seek, or any game for that matter, she would probably go ahead and burn up before she'd ever yell and give herself away." p.65. This is very intresting because she is very young and I think this makes her strong in her youth. I guess all kids need to feel a sense of strength and control when your young.
Adah Price
Of all the Price sisters, I think Adah is the most interesting. From her I think we'll get a very interesting point of view. When we hear the first descriptions of her in the beggining of the story she sounds like a menataly ill girl who cannot function correctly. But as we hear her in her narrative, she is far from mentally ill or disfunctional. She is amazingly functional, I think the most functional and comfortable in herself and what she believes. She will give us the "out there" point of view, the deep hidden meaning type things. The thinking outside of the box, all of this I think will be done by this sister. She will pull everything together and put up for observation. She does not speak and all she truly does is observe all thats going on around her and criticize. She is good at what she does, she is quite, she believe is her quiteness she learns alot more. It is an excelent theory. I think she will give us alot through out the book.
Genesis 1:28
And God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:28
Just when I thought bible study would end after sunday school at my church in Kunia, here God's word has managed to follow me to school. A school which I consider so unbias in terms of religion and beliefs. Sure we have chapel once every cycle but the faith in God or Gods varies like the colors on the robe Jacob gave his favorite son David. Just like that robe Punahou is alot different than other schools on the island. Lately in english class we've started reading the Poisonwood Bible, which by the reading we've done so far, is about a Southern Baptist family who moves from Georgia to the Congo to do missionary work in Africa.
Our questions were, What do you think this quote means; in other words; interpret the quote. Then tell what it implies about how people should behave. Then explain how the quote might frame chapter 1 - based on this quote, what do you think the chapters in Book One will be describing.
Genesis means the beggining. A very fitting title for the beggining of a book. I think the quote is pretty straight forward and obvious in terms of white Southern Baptist missionaries in the middle of the Congo. Nathan Price, the father of this family, has an obligation to mankind and to God himself, to venture into the "heathen" areas of the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. So that they may be saved and too share the kingdom of heaven. God speaks to Nathan in this quote, pretty much giving him divine consent to enter Africa and spread the word of God. "multiply and be fruitful" By spreading the word of God, enlightened Africans are 'reborn', as in Christian belief, and they are cleared of all their sins when they except Jesus Christ and are baptised. You multiply by spreading the word.
God tells Nathan, we are to rule the earth, "and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth". God wants Nathan to control the earth. God says, "replish the earth, and subdue it," subdue? Yea, I guess this can foreshadow some unforgivable act or acts that Orleanna Price, the wife of Nathan, has hinted in the beggining of the first chapter. I presume this was one of the many scriptures in Genesis, and in the bible itself that white supremesists used to justify crimes such as murder of 'heathens' be them African, Indian, Mexican. There are so many good quotes from the bible that showed gods "approval" of the acts of hatred the whites in those days showed towards the Africans. The one that is most prominent in my mind is the famous Ham quote from, I believe Genesis as well. When Noah and his sons just got off the boat after the flood and throw a big party. Noah gets drunk and is running around naked. Ham, his son, laughs at him and does not do anything to help Noah. Noah two other sons see this and immediately jump to help their father. When Noah sobers up he curses Ham, saying that his decendants will be slaves to his brothers decendants for all eternity. It is assumed that the Africans decended from Ham. And the White and Asians from the other two brothers. This is the Christian explanation, excuse, for enslavement of Africans, for the KKK, for Jim Crow laws, for the apartide in Australia, for the hungry and dying children in Africa.
From the Genesis quote and the base information about the book you can assume that Nathan and his family will start the process of 'reforming' heathen Congo, and maybe even all of Africa. I think it will show how forceful the family will be on trying to convert the people. Maybe they will aggitate some of the Congolese.
Genesis 1:28
Just when I thought bible study would end after sunday school at my church in Kunia, here God's word has managed to follow me to school. A school which I consider so unbias in terms of religion and beliefs. Sure we have chapel once every cycle but the faith in God or Gods varies like the colors on the robe Jacob gave his favorite son David. Just like that robe Punahou is alot different than other schools on the island. Lately in english class we've started reading the Poisonwood Bible, which by the reading we've done so far, is about a Southern Baptist family who moves from Georgia to the Congo to do missionary work in Africa.
Our questions were, What do you think this quote means; in other words; interpret the quote. Then tell what it implies about how people should behave. Then explain how the quote might frame chapter 1 - based on this quote, what do you think the chapters in Book One will be describing.
Genesis means the beggining. A very fitting title for the beggining of a book. I think the quote is pretty straight forward and obvious in terms of white Southern Baptist missionaries in the middle of the Congo. Nathan Price, the father of this family, has an obligation to mankind and to God himself, to venture into the "heathen" areas of the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. So that they may be saved and too share the kingdom of heaven. God speaks to Nathan in this quote, pretty much giving him divine consent to enter Africa and spread the word of God. "multiply and be fruitful" By spreading the word of God, enlightened Africans are 'reborn', as in Christian belief, and they are cleared of all their sins when they except Jesus Christ and are baptised. You multiply by spreading the word.
God tells Nathan, we are to rule the earth, "and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth". God wants Nathan to control the earth. God says, "replish the earth, and subdue it," subdue? Yea, I guess this can foreshadow some unforgivable act or acts that Orleanna Price, the wife of Nathan, has hinted in the beggining of the first chapter. I presume this was one of the many scriptures in Genesis, and in the bible itself that white supremesists used to justify crimes such as murder of 'heathens' be them African, Indian, Mexican. There are so many good quotes from the bible that showed gods "approval" of the acts of hatred the whites in those days showed towards the Africans. The one that is most prominent in my mind is the famous Ham quote from, I believe Genesis as well. When Noah and his sons just got off the boat after the flood and throw a big party. Noah gets drunk and is running around naked. Ham, his son, laughs at him and does not do anything to help Noah. Noah two other sons see this and immediately jump to help their father. When Noah sobers up he curses Ham, saying that his decendants will be slaves to his brothers decendants for all eternity. It is assumed that the Africans decended from Ham. And the White and Asians from the other two brothers. This is the Christian explanation, excuse, for enslavement of Africans, for the KKK, for Jim Crow laws, for the apartide in Australia, for the hungry and dying children in Africa.
From the Genesis quote and the base information about the book you can assume that Nathan and his family will start the process of 'reforming' heathen Congo, and maybe even all of Africa. I think it will show how forceful the family will be on trying to convert the people. Maybe they will aggitate some of the Congolese.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Cycle paper.
"If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."
-Thomas Edison
Much is expected of those to whom much is given. What have you been given, and what, if any, expectations do you think people should have of you? What expectations do you have for yourself?
I believe the guy on Spiderman said something related to this. Peter's uncle I believe, "Remember, with great power, comes great responsibilty." -Uncle Ben, Spiderman, like much of us in the world, is given a gift of this super cool mutant power. He is alot stronger than normal people and he can do things that normal people cannot do. Therefore his uncle highlights the fact that there is alot expected of him because of his abilities. I think he too has alot of expections about himself, he has to be stronger than the normal person because of his mutant power. He takes it apon himself to help those who need his help and to fight evil doers. I think after a while the people of the city expected alot from spiderman as well.
Spiderman wasn't the only one who had alot expected of him. Batman too, who didn't really have super powers, but had a ridiculous amount of money to blow on fancy gadgets and martial arts training. Batman was fearned by the people of gotham at first. But when they got to know him and how he was. They began to expect him to help out. They even built that light signal which they projected in the sky whenever they needed his help. The people of Gotham expected him to be there and fight the bad guys.
What difference is there between these super heroes and or government and national leaders. Should we expect anything different from our local police officers and firemen. When there is trouble, we expect them to be there, to be proffesional in what they do because our safety is on the line. When the twin towers were bombed who did we look to. Of course we looked to president Bush, we elected him to deal with this stuff, we gave him this great power, therefore we expect him to protect us and lead us down the right path.
What difference in expections should we have of ourselves and what we are given. I was given a great opportunity to go to Punahou, a private school and the best one on the island. Being a minority I am already expected to do better than the majority of my race. Being Samoan I am expected to be a good athlete, due to the line of great football players of Samoan ethinicity. Being Samoan, I am expected to be very big. People are suprised when they find out that I am only 5'6. Alot of my cousins who don't play any sports go from high school straight into the army. My father was one of those people. Not saying that that is a bad path to follow. Going to a school like Punahou, it is already expected of me to go to college, since almost all Punahou graduates go to College. Going to Punahou, it is expected of me to get a good job. Since a lot of very key people in our government and our world have graduated from Punahou, for example, Barak Obama. "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."- Thomas Edison
I think these expectations are very reasonable ones. I have these same expectations for myself. I think the expectations you have of yourself are the strongest. Seeing that no one knows you better than yourself, and you know what you are, and are not capable of doing.
-Thomas Edison
Much is expected of those to whom much is given. What have you been given, and what, if any, expectations do you think people should have of you? What expectations do you have for yourself?
I believe the guy on Spiderman said something related to this. Peter's uncle I believe, "Remember, with great power, comes great responsibilty." -Uncle Ben, Spiderman, like much of us in the world, is given a gift of this super cool mutant power. He is alot stronger than normal people and he can do things that normal people cannot do. Therefore his uncle highlights the fact that there is alot expected of him because of his abilities. I think he too has alot of expections about himself, he has to be stronger than the normal person because of his mutant power. He takes it apon himself to help those who need his help and to fight evil doers. I think after a while the people of the city expected alot from spiderman as well.
Spiderman wasn't the only one who had alot expected of him. Batman too, who didn't really have super powers, but had a ridiculous amount of money to blow on fancy gadgets and martial arts training. Batman was fearned by the people of gotham at first. But when they got to know him and how he was. They began to expect him to help out. They even built that light signal which they projected in the sky whenever they needed his help. The people of Gotham expected him to be there and fight the bad guys.
What difference is there between these super heroes and or government and national leaders. Should we expect anything different from our local police officers and firemen. When there is trouble, we expect them to be there, to be proffesional in what they do because our safety is on the line. When the twin towers were bombed who did we look to. Of course we looked to president Bush, we elected him to deal with this stuff, we gave him this great power, therefore we expect him to protect us and lead us down the right path.
What difference in expections should we have of ourselves and what we are given. I was given a great opportunity to go to Punahou, a private school and the best one on the island. Being a minority I am already expected to do better than the majority of my race. Being Samoan I am expected to be a good athlete, due to the line of great football players of Samoan ethinicity. Being Samoan, I am expected to be very big. People are suprised when they find out that I am only 5'6. Alot of my cousins who don't play any sports go from high school straight into the army. My father was one of those people. Not saying that that is a bad path to follow. Going to a school like Punahou, it is already expected of me to go to college, since almost all Punahou graduates go to College. Going to Punahou, it is expected of me to get a good job. Since a lot of very key people in our government and our world have graduated from Punahou, for example, Barak Obama. "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."- Thomas Edison
I think these expectations are very reasonable ones. I have these same expectations for myself. I think the expectations you have of yourself are the strongest. Seeing that no one knows you better than yourself, and you know what you are, and are not capable of doing.
Interview
Passi: You've read the Zel Kravinsky paper right Will?
Will: Yes I have.
Passi: What was your first impressino of the piece?
Will: After I read it my first reaction to it was that this guy was either really smart or really dumb. To me he had all this money he could have given to his family to better thier lives and his own but instead he decides to give all of it away. I really wanted to know more about his family life. I question if he knew or felt a true sense of family in his life. Especially since giving all his money still didn't make him happy.
P: While we're talking about family, What is your definition of family? Describe this "true sense of family" that you were just touching on.
W: Family to me is a tight net/group of people who would give or do anything for that other person. People in a family would put eachother above anyone else, this is of course, in contrast to what Zel believes and displays to his family.
P: And how do you feel about valuing others over the lives of your family and over your life like Zel Kravinsky showed us in his paper. Would you take from your own personal health to give away and help another stranger in need?
W: I would if the person was in need and I could help them. I would give a part of my life to them. I don't know if I would give my whole life for a stranger. I feel its a matter of morals and beliefs. Of course my answer would differ from the next guy.
P: That is true. Do you think by excessive giving that Zel Kravinsky will finally achieve happiness? Maybe he just haven't given enough yet to be truly happy. Is his family happy with what he does?
W: I think it will give him some sort of immediate satisfaction. But long term, I do not think he will be happy. In the paper it said no matter how much he gave he was never happy. If you think about it, Zel never really saw the impact that his money was having on the people and organizations he helped. Maybe he just needs to see that his aid is being appreciated. I remember the ox video Mrs. Watson showed us and the man that gave the ox away was very satisfied after he gave his gift to the poor chinese family. I think one of the reasons why he was satified was because he got to see the emotions and appreciation that the family expressed when given the gift. I think this gives a mental and spiritual satisfaction that stays with you. Maybe Zel just has not expirienced this.
P: Thats a very good point. We're going to go off a little due to lack of time, and I really want you to answer some of these questions. Will, could you live life off the basic necesities, like Zel proposes in the paper? Is it wrong not to give excess earned money that you don't need for those basic necesities
W: I think it depends where you live, or the type of people you live around. I don't think I could live off the basic necesities. I could not just go to school and go home all my life. It's very possible for me to live this way, but I am not willing to live without the things you purchase that make life fun. I don't think it is wrong to keep the money you don't essentially need.
P: Lastly, What do you value more, Peace or Progression? I think we can both agree that the two cannot go together. The absence of peace, history has shown, that progression explodes exponentially. During times of peace, progression still occurs, just not as fast.
W: I would really like a balance between the two. you don't have overwheylming poverty. And you don't advance too fast. I think if you had either one to the extreme it wouldn't work out.
Will: Yes I have.
Passi: What was your first impressino of the piece?
Will: After I read it my first reaction to it was that this guy was either really smart or really dumb. To me he had all this money he could have given to his family to better thier lives and his own but instead he decides to give all of it away. I really wanted to know more about his family life. I question if he knew or felt a true sense of family in his life. Especially since giving all his money still didn't make him happy.
P: While we're talking about family, What is your definition of family? Describe this "true sense of family" that you were just touching on.
W: Family to me is a tight net/group of people who would give or do anything for that other person. People in a family would put eachother above anyone else, this is of course, in contrast to what Zel believes and displays to his family.
P: And how do you feel about valuing others over the lives of your family and over your life like Zel Kravinsky showed us in his paper. Would you take from your own personal health to give away and help another stranger in need?
W: I would if the person was in need and I could help them. I would give a part of my life to them. I don't know if I would give my whole life for a stranger. I feel its a matter of morals and beliefs. Of course my answer would differ from the next guy.
P: That is true. Do you think by excessive giving that Zel Kravinsky will finally achieve happiness? Maybe he just haven't given enough yet to be truly happy. Is his family happy with what he does?
W: I think it will give him some sort of immediate satisfaction. But long term, I do not think he will be happy. In the paper it said no matter how much he gave he was never happy. If you think about it, Zel never really saw the impact that his money was having on the people and organizations he helped. Maybe he just needs to see that his aid is being appreciated. I remember the ox video Mrs. Watson showed us and the man that gave the ox away was very satisfied after he gave his gift to the poor chinese family. I think one of the reasons why he was satified was because he got to see the emotions and appreciation that the family expressed when given the gift. I think this gives a mental and spiritual satisfaction that stays with you. Maybe Zel just has not expirienced this.
P: Thats a very good point. We're going to go off a little due to lack of time, and I really want you to answer some of these questions. Will, could you live life off the basic necesities, like Zel proposes in the paper? Is it wrong not to give excess earned money that you don't need for those basic necesities
W: I think it depends where you live, or the type of people you live around. I don't think I could live off the basic necesities. I could not just go to school and go home all my life. It's very possible for me to live this way, but I am not willing to live without the things you purchase that make life fun. I don't think it is wrong to keep the money you don't essentially need.
P: Lastly, What do you value more, Peace or Progression? I think we can both agree that the two cannot go together. The absence of peace, history has shown, that progression explodes exponentially. During times of peace, progression still occurs, just not as fast.
W: I would really like a balance between the two. you don't have overwheylming poverty. And you don't advance too fast. I think if you had either one to the extreme it wouldn't work out.
A Place for Friends
>Myspace is quintessencial. ADD ME! COMMENT ME! CHEAK OUT MY SITE! Just a small taste of myspace lingo. Now myspace is not just a site for emo kids. It's hard to find kids my age who don't have myspace. Social outcasts.This is my second year into myspace. I am a selfproclaimed myspace addict. This means continuous use of myspace daily and whenever possible. You know your a myspace addict when you have more friends on your myspace than you do in real life. You know your a myspace addict when the scroll bar to your page is tiny due to the ridiculous amount of pictures you post of yourself on your page. You know your a myspace addict when your page takes 3 days to load because all of the pictures you post of yourself up on your myspace. You know your a myspace addict if you tweaked your myspace so that the online sign doesn't show up when your on, that way no one knows your camping. Definition of "myspace camping"; someone who sits on myspace from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the morning. I am guilty of myspace camping. It's a very hard concept to grasp, "myspace camping", when there are a limited amount of things you can do with myspace. You can talk to other people by commenting them on their page. But they do not respond until they are signed on or if they even feel like replying at all. You could write a blog, which is pointless because no one on myspace reads eachothers blogs. And lastly you could spend all that time "pimping" out your myspace. Definition of "Pimping out myspace"; searching through the internet for different codes to copy and paste into the html boxes so your myspace looks different. It's hard to truly understand what people find in myspace. Myspace is an online journal. Myspace is a way to communicate with friends. Myspace is a complete waste of time. I believe we need this waste of time. Myspace allows me to keep in touch with people I don't see everyday. Myspace is a way to put a piece of myself and who I am out in the 'cyber world'. It helps me to define who I am. My page is who I am. My blogger is who I am.
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