Over the past year, I have been required to read a number of books with all kinds of messages. Some books have been about who we are as people, others science fiction with clues to the future, but one of the most touching and well written stories we have read is Lois Lowry's The Giver.
Jonas is an Eleven, and he is very anxious about the upcoming ceremony of the Twelves. In his world, turning twelve means growing up. It means slowly leaving the world of childhood and entering training for a future occupation. Jonas attends his ceremony to learn his future job, but is shocked when his identity number is skipped at the assignment. But he need not worry, because he is soon announced as the new Receiver of the Memory, the most honored position in all of the city. Throughout his training, memories of olden times are transmitted to Jonas, and he is given all the pain and suffering and all other unknown emotions that were known in past times, but not in his own.
Themes of controversy were represented throughout the book. Choice and freedom was a big issue between Jonas and the Giver. After the idea of choice was presented to Jonas, he began to wonder why the people in the community were not allowed to make their own decisions, such as their occupations or their spouse. He debated with himself over the pros and cons of choice, thinking that it would not be safe for people to decide because they might not make the right decisions.
Another controversial issue brought up in the book was euthinization. When a person in the community became to old, or if a newchild was not acceptable, the were released. Everyone in the community viewed this as wonderful for the old and sad for the young. In their minds, the concept of release was just a transport to another community. Jonas learns later that during release the life of the person is taken away, which introduces him to the concept of death.
The Giver was an exceptional, life-changing book, and I would recommend it to anyone, young or old.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Closet Cross Examination
DA: So Miss Bray, I see that your closet is quite...unorganized.
NB: Uhm...yes sir.
DA: I see here that you have repeatedly stored uncommon closet items in this space for several years now.
NB: Yes sir. I suppose I have.
DA: Do you not find anything odd about that?
NB: About what, sir?
DA: Miss Bray, could you tell me what this is?
NB: It is an unpacked box, sir.
DA: Hmm...suspicious. And could you tell me what is in it?
NB: Just some stuff from my old house.
DA: You mean to tell me that after living in this house for three and a half years, you still have not unpacked all of your belongings.
NB: I guess not.
DA: Hmm...suspicious. And these clothes...could you tell me where they were stored.
NB: I believe they were just sitting in my suitcase. Oh, and those were thrown on the shoe shelf. And that shirt was on the door knob.
DA: So it is true that you don't actually place things in your closet in a controlled manner?
NB: Well, yes.
DA: Upon entering your closet, we also found a roll of duct tape, an abandoned Mr. Potato Head, and a witch's hat. Tell me Miss Bray, are you a witch?
NB: Not that I know of.
DA: Well then why do you have a witches hat in your closet?
NB: I am not sure sir...
DA: Hmm...suspicious.
NB: Uhm...yes sir.
DA: I see here that you have repeatedly stored uncommon closet items in this space for several years now.
NB: Yes sir. I suppose I have.
DA: Do you not find anything odd about that?
NB: About what, sir?
DA: Miss Bray, could you tell me what this is?
NB: It is an unpacked box, sir.
DA: Hmm...suspicious. And could you tell me what is in it?
NB: Just some stuff from my old house.
DA: You mean to tell me that after living in this house for three and a half years, you still have not unpacked all of your belongings.
NB: I guess not.
DA: Hmm...suspicious. And these clothes...could you tell me where they were stored.
NB: I believe they were just sitting in my suitcase. Oh, and those were thrown on the shoe shelf. And that shirt was on the door knob.
DA: So it is true that you don't actually place things in your closet in a controlled manner?
NB: Well, yes.
DA: Upon entering your closet, we also found a roll of duct tape, an abandoned Mr. Potato Head, and a witch's hat. Tell me Miss Bray, are you a witch?
NB: Not that I know of.
DA: Well then why do you have a witches hat in your closet?
NB: I am not sure sir...
DA: Hmm...suspicious.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Celebration
I find cause to celebrate when I have worked hard to pull something off. Since January, I have been working hard every day on my part in The Sound of Music. I would walk around my house going over my part in the music that I sang, or I would run through my lines in my head.
All of my hard work paid off, because recently my high school performed our play. We had great audiences each night, and no matter what little snags we ran into along the way, we always got to the end with great results. Though I am extremely sad that the play is over, I am happy that my friends and I were all able to try hard enough to have a wonderful show.
All of my hard work paid off, because recently my high school performed our play. We had great audiences each night, and no matter what little snags we ran into along the way, we always got to the end with great results. Though I am extremely sad that the play is over, I am happy that my friends and I were all able to try hard enough to have a wonderful show.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
I Wear the Mask
I wear the mask like everyone else,
Hiding my face, hiding myself.
While on the outside I may revere,
Inside I am angry.
A merry melody I am ever singing
My voice forever and always ringing,
But what I am thinking is not like
The song that everyone else hears.
Happy every day, all the while
Staying tied together with a smile,
But as my emotion bottles up
I am slowly coming undone.
Even if I am hurt and sad,
Depressed, vindictive, sometimes mad,
My mask smiles on all the time
To protect everyone else
Disclaimer: I am not depressed. I do not have anger issues or schizophrenia. I just don't tell people when I am sad or angry(most of the time).
Hiding my face, hiding myself.
While on the outside I may revere,
Inside I am angry.
A merry melody I am ever singing
My voice forever and always ringing,
But what I am thinking is not like
The song that everyone else hears.
Happy every day, all the while
Staying tied together with a smile,
But as my emotion bottles up
I am slowly coming undone.
Even if I am hurt and sad,
Depressed, vindictive, sometimes mad,
My mask smiles on all the time
To protect everyone else
Disclaimer: I am not depressed. I do not have anger issues or schizophrenia. I just don't tell people when I am sad or angry(most of the time).
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
St. Patrick's Day
If you know me, then you know that I am NOT at all, in any way, a festive person. I never dress in holiday attire and get easily annoyed with people who do get "in the spirit." So I am sure you can tell I am not lying when I say that this morning when I put on my green shirt I was not even almost thinking about it being St. Patrick's Day.
Every year on this day I am swamped and crowded by a sea of green. And I don't like it. I have worn green on this day very few years, and if someone pinches me for not wearing the color... I typically pinch them back, regardless of if they are wearing green or not. So really, to be quite honest, St. Patrick's Day is not a big deal at all to me. It is just another day of the year of which everyone just happens to look the same.
At least I will admit my less-than-stellar view of this holiday, but you can call me a grinch if you want. (At least then I would be green[[:)
Every year on this day I am swamped and crowded by a sea of green. And I don't like it. I have worn green on this day very few years, and if someone pinches me for not wearing the color... I typically pinch them back, regardless of if they are wearing green or not. So really, to be quite honest, St. Patrick's Day is not a big deal at all to me. It is just another day of the year of which everyone just happens to look the same.
At least I will admit my less-than-stellar view of this holiday, but you can call me a grinch if you want. (At least then I would be green[[:)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Persuasion
The persuasion technique that I use most in life is pathos, appealing to the emotions. Some of the circumstances I have used the method in include:
1. Convincing my mom to order something from a fundraiser. - Many fundraisers make their way to my family, especially from band. I can always convince my mom to order something by telling her that ordering helps the band get new equipment, and helps us travel. She knows I love band, so she loves band as well.
2. Getting myself ungrounded. - Once my mom grounded me from going to an event in town, but I let her know that I had already agreed to give a ride to friend, and that if I did not get to go, neither did the friend. Eventually, her sympathy and pity for the friend won out.
3. Getting a new puppy. - I told my parents that I felt left out because all the other children in the family had their own pet, and I did not. I guess they felt bad for me, because I totally got a new dog.
Others use this method in life all the time. One of the most common ways this method is used is in advertisement. Publicity agencies use this method all time to try to convince people to donate money, or help out with a special cause. Hospital ads use pictures of sick children to appeal to the emotions of people to get them to donate money for supplies or research. Charity organizations use sad stories of people whom they are trying to help to convince others to pay for food, or books, or whatever else the charity is asking for. Pathos can be seen everywhere, everyday.
1. Convincing my mom to order something from a fundraiser. - Many fundraisers make their way to my family, especially from band. I can always convince my mom to order something by telling her that ordering helps the band get new equipment, and helps us travel. She knows I love band, so she loves band as well.
2. Getting myself ungrounded. - Once my mom grounded me from going to an event in town, but I let her know that I had already agreed to give a ride to friend, and that if I did not get to go, neither did the friend. Eventually, her sympathy and pity for the friend won out.
3. Getting a new puppy. - I told my parents that I felt left out because all the other children in the family had their own pet, and I did not. I guess they felt bad for me, because I totally got a new dog.
Others use this method in life all the time. One of the most common ways this method is used is in advertisement. Publicity agencies use this method all time to try to convince people to donate money, or help out with a special cause. Hospital ads use pictures of sick children to appeal to the emotions of people to get them to donate money for supplies or research. Charity organizations use sad stories of people whom they are trying to help to convince others to pay for food, or books, or whatever else the charity is asking for. Pathos can be seen everywhere, everyday.
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