In the book Persepolis, Marjane is sent to Austria at the age of 14. While living there she pretty much raises herself. Do you think she would have had a different outlook on the world if she stayed in Iraq, if not why? Do you think if the boys in true notebooks grew up in a different neighborhood but had the same family, if they would had found a different lifestyle than the one they choose?
If you were sent to live on your own at the age of 14, like Marjane, do you think, not knowing what you know now, would you be able to survive?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 13: Natalia's Quest.
In Persepolis, Marji's mother comes to visit her in Austria and at first her mom doesn't recognize and sees her living with 8 gay guys and has this whole new life. what do you think her mother feels about this and how do you feel about Marji's life transactions so far? In True Notebooks, is there someone who if their parents saw how they were now would be proud or ashamed? Think back to when you were first maturing and growing up. How did your parents first react to that and did it change you into someone better or worse?
Day 13 Response- Kyle Rich
Allie- I am very glad you picked such a great question to relate to both stories. In Persepolis, not only are certain characters being falsely judged, but the ENTIRE country of Iran is being judged and sterotyped falsely. Muslim extremists and fundementalists have taken over the country and turned the country upside down, all for the fear and paranoia of the citizens. They feel like nobody is "religious" or "devoted", enough to Muslim, that they enact and set up laws that force the religious values and enforce harsh punishment to those who do not follow or rebel. These extremists instantly judge all these people and look at them as immorals. To the government, women are seen as sluts who need to cover themselves entirely to make themselves unattractive to anybody. Men are viewed as a bunch of pigs who will jump on a woman the instant they see a strand of hair. All these people being judged influences the entire story of the oppression and violence. Everything negative that the Shah and his regime brought on, was a direct result of judging. I indeed have falsely judged people, but i mean who honestly hasn't? It is one of those live and learn things that you go through and realize that things are never what they seem. Being judged myself is always a hard thing to go through. It's like people have already written who they think you are and you have to rise above it to prove your whatever they think your not.
Bash- I've always found that talking about things that trouble you, is the best way to get things off your chest. To pour out emotions and feelings to somebody who will actually listen and care, is a redeeming feeling. However, for me, i rarely have anybody in my life that will sit down and really listen. I am an extremely open person about everything, however i still feel as i cant trust anybody to listen. There have been to many times in the past where i have made myself vulnerable, and it came back to bite me in the ass. It's sad to say, but i will never open up to anybody extremely unless i trust them. And right now, my trust factor is very low. I am glad that things in Chicago have been going fantastic for me, and i have no complaints. But i know that this will end eventually, and i really hope i can find solace in somebody that will lend an ear. I feel thought, talking things out with people really works. You would be supprised in the similar experiences the other person may have. Also as well, advice is always easy to give from an outside perspective. Feed off of what these people say, and really soak in their reccomendations to help out your choice. You'll find that they can usually suggest what is best for you and the situation, because they have no emotional ties to it. I do not really advocate bottling things up all together. It's good to keep somethings to yourself, file them away, and then pull it out later, but if you just keep cramming and cramming, eventually the folder is going to rip, and all your problems will fall out at once.
Bash- I've always found that talking about things that trouble you, is the best way to get things off your chest. To pour out emotions and feelings to somebody who will actually listen and care, is a redeeming feeling. However, for me, i rarely have anybody in my life that will sit down and really listen. I am an extremely open person about everything, however i still feel as i cant trust anybody to listen. There have been to many times in the past where i have made myself vulnerable, and it came back to bite me in the ass. It's sad to say, but i will never open up to anybody extremely unless i trust them. And right now, my trust factor is very low. I am glad that things in Chicago have been going fantastic for me, and i have no complaints. But i know that this will end eventually, and i really hope i can find solace in somebody that will lend an ear. I feel thought, talking things out with people really works. You would be supprised in the similar experiences the other person may have. Also as well, advice is always easy to give from an outside perspective. Feed off of what these people say, and really soak in their reccomendations to help out your choice. You'll find that they can usually suggest what is best for you and the situation, because they have no emotional ties to it. I do not really advocate bottling things up all together. It's good to keep somethings to yourself, file them away, and then pull it out later, but if you just keep cramming and cramming, eventually the folder is going to rip, and all your problems will fall out at once.
Day 13: Allie
Bashkim
I think talking about yourself and being able to show who you really are always makes you feel better when you're done. Often I'll drive myself crazy thinking about it but once it's over and done I feel relieved. Even if I was saying something that wasn't the best, just getting it off my chest always helps me and usually helps the situation I'm in. I always think it's best to be honest and to not keep things bottled up because when you keep things all inside you'll eventually explode and that can do more harm then help. When you let situations sit for too long and you wait, you could be hurting the situation more and hurting yourself and others too. In True Notebooks, I think the writing class is the best thing for the boys. I think they already have so much bottled up anger and so many issues that when you put that with them being confined to a jail cell, it only makes the situation worse. They end up taking out their anger on each other, or do stupid things like drugs to try and "relieve" themselves from everything that they've bottled up. By writing, they can take out some of that bottled up energy in a positive way and say everything that they have to say without worrying that they'll get in trouble with Mark or anything. I think everyone needs a way to get out whatever they have bottled up, so even if they're not ready to talk about it there's something else they can do so that they don't keep it locked up inside of them until they explode. Once you can really find a way to get what you want off your chest you'll feel so much better.
Allie
In True Notebooks, of course all of the inmates are being falsely judged by the outside world, but they are also judged by each other. Benny is called a "buster" by the other inmates and when they decide to write about it all of the other boys simply just pick on Benny in their essays. Benny's called a "buster" because he's weak and an easy target. All of the boys pick on him and he doesn't fight back, therefore he's considered a "buster" but when Benny talks to Mark, it shows that he's no buster at all. He doesn't want to fight back because he knows the consequences for fighting aren't worth it. He keeps to himself and ignores them because he is trying to do better. Just because he's not a fighter, doesn't mean that he's a buster or even afraid, it just shows that he's a bigger person and is trying to learn from his past mistakes that got him to where he is now. All of the boys have misjudged his quietness for fear when in fact, he's not really all that scared.
On a daily basis, we are all making false judgements about other people as well as being falsely judged. I think what we all have to remember is that we shouldn't judge if we don't want to be judged. Before I moved to Milwaukee, I went to a small catholic middle school in Madison and it was full of pretty much all of the same people. Everyone was rich and preppy and everyone knew everyone so it was like a comfortable family and we were all so alike there was nothing really to judge. When I moved to Milwaukee freshman year and started going to an arts school I realized that all schools weren't like how my middle school was. There was so much diversity and so many different kinds of people, and because I wasn't used to that I judged everyone who wasn't like me and made assumptions about them. There was a girl who was really quiet and wore black all the time, I thought she was scary and weird and just because of how she looked I was kind of afraid to talk to her. Once I actually did start talking to her I realized that she wasn't scary at all and her wardrobe consisted of way more than just black clothing. Now, she's been my best friend for almost five years. If I hadn't let go of my judgements and just continued to not speak to her because of how she looked, I would've missed out on a really great friendship. I think judgement is a form of ignorance; we're afraid of what we don't know so we make assumptions and stick to them and refuse to let the truth in. I think going to an arts college is a really helpful thing for people who haven't been around much diversity. The world is such a diverse place but we'll never realize it if we don't step outside of our boundaries and learn new things. I am thankful that I got a chance to go to an arts high school and that all my ignorances were broken down and I am even more thankful that I can continue going to an arts school for college so that my knowledge of others can only continue to grow.
I think talking about yourself and being able to show who you really are always makes you feel better when you're done. Often I'll drive myself crazy thinking about it but once it's over and done I feel relieved. Even if I was saying something that wasn't the best, just getting it off my chest always helps me and usually helps the situation I'm in. I always think it's best to be honest and to not keep things bottled up because when you keep things all inside you'll eventually explode and that can do more harm then help. When you let situations sit for too long and you wait, you could be hurting the situation more and hurting yourself and others too. In True Notebooks, I think the writing class is the best thing for the boys. I think they already have so much bottled up anger and so many issues that when you put that with them being confined to a jail cell, it only makes the situation worse. They end up taking out their anger on each other, or do stupid things like drugs to try and "relieve" themselves from everything that they've bottled up. By writing, they can take out some of that bottled up energy in a positive way and say everything that they have to say without worrying that they'll get in trouble with Mark or anything. I think everyone needs a way to get out whatever they have bottled up, so even if they're not ready to talk about it there's something else they can do so that they don't keep it locked up inside of them until they explode. Once you can really find a way to get what you want off your chest you'll feel so much better.
Allie
In True Notebooks, of course all of the inmates are being falsely judged by the outside world, but they are also judged by each other. Benny is called a "buster" by the other inmates and when they decide to write about it all of the other boys simply just pick on Benny in their essays. Benny's called a "buster" because he's weak and an easy target. All of the boys pick on him and he doesn't fight back, therefore he's considered a "buster" but when Benny talks to Mark, it shows that he's no buster at all. He doesn't want to fight back because he knows the consequences for fighting aren't worth it. He keeps to himself and ignores them because he is trying to do better. Just because he's not a fighter, doesn't mean that he's a buster or even afraid, it just shows that he's a bigger person and is trying to learn from his past mistakes that got him to where he is now. All of the boys have misjudged his quietness for fear when in fact, he's not really all that scared.
On a daily basis, we are all making false judgements about other people as well as being falsely judged. I think what we all have to remember is that we shouldn't judge if we don't want to be judged. Before I moved to Milwaukee, I went to a small catholic middle school in Madison and it was full of pretty much all of the same people. Everyone was rich and preppy and everyone knew everyone so it was like a comfortable family and we were all so alike there was nothing really to judge. When I moved to Milwaukee freshman year and started going to an arts school I realized that all schools weren't like how my middle school was. There was so much diversity and so many different kinds of people, and because I wasn't used to that I judged everyone who wasn't like me and made assumptions about them. There was a girl who was really quiet and wore black all the time, I thought she was scary and weird and just because of how she looked I was kind of afraid to talk to her. Once I actually did start talking to her I realized that she wasn't scary at all and her wardrobe consisted of way more than just black clothing. Now, she's been my best friend for almost five years. If I hadn't let go of my judgements and just continued to not speak to her because of how she looked, I would've missed out on a really great friendship. I think judgement is a form of ignorance; we're afraid of what we don't know so we make assumptions and stick to them and refuse to let the truth in. I think going to an arts college is a really helpful thing for people who haven't been around much diversity. The world is such a diverse place but we'll never realize it if we don't step outside of our boundaries and learn new things. I am thankful that I got a chance to go to an arts high school and that all my ignorances were broken down and I am even more thankful that I can continue going to an arts school for college so that my knowledge of others can only continue to grow.
Question Day 13: Tatum
Bashkim:When I had the chance to talk about how I felt It made me feel much better. I expressed my self and had people understanding what i went threw. I gets all the drama off of my chest and takes a huge load off of my shoulders. That helps me not build up anger and snapping off. It made me feel better about my self also. My self esteem went up alot and i was in a happier mood that before. All i need is someone to relate to and I will be just fine and my sad emotions depleat. After i told people about the situation it made me nervous on how they was going to reacct. I thought they was going to laugh at my emotions and put them down. I thought people wouldnt relate to the situation i was going threw. You dont feel alone anymore when you get a good responds from the people you were talking to. For the people who keep things inside and dont tell no one, that is maybe the worst things you can do to your self. Your emotions build up and you will be very stressed and depressed. When you feel down you need to speak to someone about your emotions. Let it off your chest cause all you doing is starting up a vocano eruption. I prefer talking to a familly member a close friend or a therepist on how u feel. Dont make the mistake and holding it in because thats how you mess up in life.
Day 13 Response- Megan Schaus
Bashkim-
The answer to your question is yes. Whenever there is a writting assignment about how we feel about something, or a conflict we have endured, it didn't only make me feel better, but comforted me. It made me feel like everyone I was reading to has been through a similar problem like mine, and that they can make a connection with me. Your always going to come across someone who doesn't understand what your saying, or just isn't making the effort too.
I would strongly recommend expressing the way you feel to someone if you have something bottled up. When I say someone, it doesn't have to be a lot of people. It can be someone as simple as your best friend. Getting certain thoughts and feelings out in the open, can benefit you. It can also give someone else inspiration at the same time. Who knows, when you express your thoughts, most likely there is someone going through the exact same thing. You may even end up making a really good friend out of the whole situation.
If you don't feel comfortable telling someone like your best friend, talk to someone like a parent or sibling. Either way, I think there is always a feeling of relief in the end.
The answer to your question is yes. Whenever there is a writting assignment about how we feel about something, or a conflict we have endured, it didn't only make me feel better, but comforted me. It made me feel like everyone I was reading to has been through a similar problem like mine, and that they can make a connection with me. Your always going to come across someone who doesn't understand what your saying, or just isn't making the effort too.
I would strongly recommend expressing the way you feel to someone if you have something bottled up. When I say someone, it doesn't have to be a lot of people. It can be someone as simple as your best friend. Getting certain thoughts and feelings out in the open, can benefit you. It can also give someone else inspiration at the same time. Who knows, when you express your thoughts, most likely there is someone going through the exact same thing. You may even end up making a really good friend out of the whole situation.
If you don't feel comfortable telling someone like your best friend, talk to someone like a parent or sibling. Either way, I think there is always a feeling of relief in the end.
Georges Response Day 13
Allie:
During Mark's class some of the boys tend to verbally battle with Benny Wong. Benny always points out the logical and usually Nathaniel or Francisco are there to go the opposite direction. Benny is more than willing to stick to his guns, not just prove the others wrong or right. In all aspects of it you can see Benny is even trying to change the other slightly, broaden their minds and stop being so one sided. I have made false judgments on many occasions of many people. One in particular is now my best friend. It couldn't have been more than a week in freshman year and this kid sits next to me for the first time, he wasn't there the whole first week. Right off the bat I thought great, now I got a sketch ball dirt bag who is going to come to class to rip on the teacher and when he feels like coming in. To my surprise, he ended up talking to me first and I knew my judging was wrong right away. I found out the reason he had not been in class for the week was because he was in Europe and literally just got off the plane. I've been to Europe and it's a long flight, your not the best looking person at the end of it. This could explain the dirt bag part stereotype I mentioned because he looked like crap and strung out. Now he is one of, if not, my best friend. That brings me back to my official unofficial judgment of myself being a dick. I don't see how this can come into somebody's mind first. Unless I really come off as a dick I have nothing to complain about but when I hear that it makes me think of how I really present myself. Maybe not right then and there but when that happens I sit and think of all the possible ways I can come off as that. I still haven't figured it out, if anyone thought that of me first let me know!
Bashkim:
When I was younger I went to meetings for kids that were involved with addiction in the family, all we did was talk about us. I would feel like the world was lifted from my shoulders every time I walked out that place. Even while I was talking everything negative that was coming out of my mouth felt like it was being sucked out of my body. The anger, sadness, and experiences would dissipate. I still have these things in my mind but now they are just morsels compared to mountains. I highly suggest to talk about problems but with people that not only listen but have experienced some of the same things, and overcame them. I recommend this because if you are a bottle-er and never tried talking to anyone than you can very well be missing out on life changing/saving conversation and people. From my experience which lasted a little over two years I can say I came a long way. Not only am I a better person but now I have experience on both sides, misery and rehabilitation of personality, perspective, and life. Without the chance to be able to speak I can very much not be who I turned out to be.
During Mark's class some of the boys tend to verbally battle with Benny Wong. Benny always points out the logical and usually Nathaniel or Francisco are there to go the opposite direction. Benny is more than willing to stick to his guns, not just prove the others wrong or right. In all aspects of it you can see Benny is even trying to change the other slightly, broaden their minds and stop being so one sided. I have made false judgments on many occasions of many people. One in particular is now my best friend. It couldn't have been more than a week in freshman year and this kid sits next to me for the first time, he wasn't there the whole first week. Right off the bat I thought great, now I got a sketch ball dirt bag who is going to come to class to rip on the teacher and when he feels like coming in. To my surprise, he ended up talking to me first and I knew my judging was wrong right away. I found out the reason he had not been in class for the week was because he was in Europe and literally just got off the plane. I've been to Europe and it's a long flight, your not the best looking person at the end of it. This could explain the dirt bag part stereotype I mentioned because he looked like crap and strung out. Now he is one of, if not, my best friend. That brings me back to my official unofficial judgment of myself being a dick. I don't see how this can come into somebody's mind first. Unless I really come off as a dick I have nothing to complain about but when I hear that it makes me think of how I really present myself. Maybe not right then and there but when that happens I sit and think of all the possible ways I can come off as that. I still haven't figured it out, if anyone thought that of me first let me know!
Bashkim:
When I was younger I went to meetings for kids that were involved with addiction in the family, all we did was talk about us. I would feel like the world was lifted from my shoulders every time I walked out that place. Even while I was talking everything negative that was coming out of my mouth felt like it was being sucked out of my body. The anger, sadness, and experiences would dissipate. I still have these things in my mind but now they are just morsels compared to mountains. I highly suggest to talk about problems but with people that not only listen but have experienced some of the same things, and overcame them. I recommend this because if you are a bottle-er and never tried talking to anyone than you can very well be missing out on life changing/saving conversation and people. From my experience which lasted a little over two years I can say I came a long way. Not only am I a better person but now I have experience on both sides, misery and rehabilitation of personality, perspective, and life. Without the chance to be able to speak I can very much not be who I turned out to be.
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