Excercise 1
1. A client delayed Joanne when she was leaving the office.
Joanne was delayed by a client when she was leaving the office.
2. The tennis club was holding a meeting at 6.30.
A meeting was being held by the tennis club at 6.30.
3. The doorway was blocked by Sheba, the dog.
Sheba, the dog, blocked the doorway.
4. Joanne had to take Sheba to the vet.
Sheba had to be taken to the vet.
5. Her condition worried the vet.
The vet was worried by her condition.
6. The dog was treated by the vet while Joanne went home.
The vet treated the dog while Joanne went home.
7. The vet told Joanne to get out of the house.
Joanne was told to get out of the house.
8. The telephone call confused Joanne.
Joanne was confused by the telephone call.
9. The police captured the burglar.
1. Children cannot open these bottles easily.
These bottles cannot be opened easily by children
2. The government built a road right outside her front door.
Outside her front door the government built a road.
3. Mr. Ross broke the antique vase as he walked through the store.
The antique base was brokeby Mr Ross as he walked through the store.
4. When she arrived, the changes amazed her.
The changes amazed her when she arrived.
5. The construction workers are making street repairs all month long.
Street repairs are being made by the construction workers all month long.
6. The party will celebrate his retirement.
His retierment will be celebrated with a party.
7. His professors were discussing his oral exam right in front of him.
His oral exam was being discussed by his professors right infront of him
8. My son ate all the homemade cookies.
The homemade cookies where made by my son.
9. Corrosion had damaged the hull of the ship.
The hull of the ship was damaged by corrosion.
10. Some children were visiting the old homestead while I was there.
The old homstead was being visited by some children while I was there.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing
¨So that nobody has to go to school if they don't want to¨
Summary:
This article talks about how the quality of education is decrasing due to the amount of children that are forced to go to school and hve no desire wht so ever in learning. This makes the teaching and learning reduce and therefore, the children who do want to learn are have thir education indangered because of those who don't want to.
Paraphrasing:
¨A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American education is in trouble.
One reason for the crisis is that present mandatory-attendance laws force many to attend school who have no wish to be there. Such children have little desire to learn and are so antagonistic to school that neither they nor more highly motivated students receive the quality education that is the birthright of every American.¨
Studies in the resutls of school exams, have proved how the learning of american children is beginning to fail.
This is because children are being obligated to attend school, when they realy dont want to learn. The main problem is because this children give little or no care to thier education and are not excited by learning.
Quoting:
¨There is no contradiction between the assertion that compulsory attendance has had little effect on the number of children attending school and the argument that repeal would be a positive step toward improving education.¨ both sudents would end up winning eventhough, ¨Most parents want a high school education for their children. Unfortunately, compulsory attendance hampers the ability of public school officials to enforce legitimate educational and disciplinary policies and thereby make the education a good one.¨
Summary:
This article talks about how the quality of education is decrasing due to the amount of children that are forced to go to school and hve no desire wht so ever in learning. This makes the teaching and learning reduce and therefore, the children who do want to learn are have thir education indangered because of those who don't want to.
Paraphrasing:
¨A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American education is in trouble.
One reason for the crisis is that present mandatory-attendance laws force many to attend school who have no wish to be there. Such children have little desire to learn and are so antagonistic to school that neither they nor more highly motivated students receive the quality education that is the birthright of every American.¨
Studies in the resutls of school exams, have proved how the learning of american children is beginning to fail.
This is because children are being obligated to attend school, when they realy dont want to learn. The main problem is because this children give little or no care to thier education and are not excited by learning.
Quoting:
¨There is no contradiction between the assertion that compulsory attendance has had little effect on the number of children attending school and the argument that repeal would be a positive step toward improving education.¨ both sudents would end up winning eventhough, ¨Most parents want a high school education for their children. Unfortunately, compulsory attendance hampers the ability of public school officials to enforce legitimate educational and disciplinary policies and thereby make the education a good one.¨
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Hamlet's Feelings
HALF LIFE- Duncan Sheik
I'm awake in the afternoon
I fell asleep in the living room
and it's one of those moments
when everything is so clear.
before the truth goes back into hiding
I want to decide 'cause it's worth deciding
to work on finding something more than this fear
It takes so much out of me to pretend
tell me now, tell me how to make amends
maybe, I need to see the daylight
to leave behind this half-life
don't you see I'm breaking down
lately, something here don't feel right
this is just a half-life
is there really no escape?
no escape from time
of any kind
I keep trying to understand
this thing and that thing, my fellow man
I guess I'll let you know
when i figure it out
but I don't mind a few mysteries
they can stay that way it's fine by me
and you are another mystery i am missing
It takes so much out of me to pretend
maybe, I need to see the daylight
to leave behind this half-life
don't you see I'm breaking down
Lately, something here don't feel right
this is just a half-life
is there really no escape?
no escape from time
of any kind
EXPLANATION:
This song, in my opinion shows Hamlet's feelings in act III. In this part of the novel, Hamlet shows the anger he has about his father's death and how he asks the question "To be or not to be". He asks himself whether to suicide himself or live. When he talks about this, he talks about death and how people are afraid and this is why the song relates to Hamlet.
In the lyrics these words appear: "To work on finding more than this fear." This could be related with the fear of death Hamlet talks about in one point. Later on in the song it says "It takes so much to pretend", here Hamlet is identified because he wants to take revenge but he can´t do it because he has to obey Claudius this means he has to pretend something he does not feel. At the end of the song when Duncan Sheik says the following: "Lately, something here don't feel right, this is just a half-life, is there really no escape?", we can compare it when Hamlet is son mad and agry about his father's death that he lets the reader know he wants to comit suicide.
I'm awake in the afternoon
I fell asleep in the living room
and it's one of those moments
when everything is so clear.
before the truth goes back into hiding
I want to decide 'cause it's worth deciding
to work on finding something more than this fear
It takes so much out of me to pretend
tell me now, tell me how to make amends
maybe, I need to see the daylight
to leave behind this half-life
don't you see I'm breaking down
lately, something here don't feel right
this is just a half-life
is there really no escape?
no escape from time
of any kind
I keep trying to understand
this thing and that thing, my fellow man
I guess I'll let you know
when i figure it out
but I don't mind a few mysteries
they can stay that way it's fine by me
and you are another mystery i am missing
It takes so much out of me to pretend
maybe, I need to see the daylight
to leave behind this half-life
don't you see I'm breaking down
Lately, something here don't feel right
this is just a half-life
is there really no escape?
no escape from time
of any kind
EXPLANATION:
This song, in my opinion shows Hamlet's feelings in act III. In this part of the novel, Hamlet shows the anger he has about his father's death and how he asks the question "To be or not to be". He asks himself whether to suicide himself or live. When he talks about this, he talks about death and how people are afraid and this is why the song relates to Hamlet.
In the lyrics these words appear: "To work on finding more than this fear." This could be related with the fear of death Hamlet talks about in one point. Later on in the song it says "It takes so much to pretend", here Hamlet is identified because he wants to take revenge but he can´t do it because he has to obey Claudius this means he has to pretend something he does not feel. At the end of the song when Duncan Sheik says the following: "Lately, something here don't feel right, this is just a half-life, is there really no escape?", we can compare it when Hamlet is son mad and agry about his father's death that he lets the reader know he wants to comit suicide.
Paraphrasing Exercises
1. ORIGINAL: "The Antarctic is the vast source of cold on our planet, just as the sun is the source of our heat, and it exerts tremendous control on our climate," [Jacques] Cousteau told the camera. "The cold ocean water around Antarctica flows north to mix with warmer water from the tropics, and its upwellings help to cool both the surface water and our atmosphere. Yet the fragility of this regulating system is now threatened by human activity." From "Captain Cousteau," Audubon (May 1990):17.
PARAPHRASED: Jacques Cousteau said that two important sources of heat and cold for our planet are the Antartic and the sun. Although these two, affect the climate of the entire world human activity is affecting the cycle these two have. When the cold water of the south runs into the north, to the warm waters of the tropics, these waters cool up as well as the surface.
2. ORIGINAL: The twenties were the years when drinking was against the law, and the law was a bad joke because everyone knew of a local bar where liquor could be had. They were the years when organized crime ruled the cities, and the police seemed powerless to do anything against it. Classical music was forgotten while jazz spread throughout the land, and men like Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became the heroes of the young. The flapper was born in the twenties, and with her bobbed hair and short skirts, she symbolized, perhaps more than anyone or anything else, America's break with the past. From Kathleen Yancey, English 102 Supplemental Guide (1989): 25.
PARAPHRASED: During the twenties, there were several acts that were against the law. One of them was the consumption of alcohol, which was broken by the people. This was because everyone who wanted a drink would get one in a local bar. This was the time where jazz extended throughout the cities and Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Amstrong and Count Basie became the most important celebrities of the time. With the jazz also came the flapper, the small skirts and the exaggerated hair do´s.
3. ORIGINAL: Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers," Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.
PARAPHRASED: Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers says that the use of helmet is the key to reducing bicycling accidents. These accidents are mainly because head injuries because people do not wear their helmet. Studies affirm that if the head is cushioned in the risk of a head injury decreases.
4. ORIGINAL: Matisse is the best painter ever at putting the viewer at the scene. He's the most realistic of all modern artists, if you admit the feel of the breeze as necessary to a landscape and the smell of oranges as essential to a still life. "The Casbah Gate" depicts the well-known gateway Bab el Aassa, which pierces the southern wall of the city near the sultan's palace. With scrubby coats of ivory, aqua, blue, and rose delicately fenced by the liveliest gray outline in art history, Matisse gets the essence of a Tangier afternoon, including the subtle presence of the bowaab, the sentry who sits and surveys those who pass through the gate. From Peter Plagens, "Bright Lights." Newsweek (26 March 1990): 50.
PARAPHRASED: Matisse paintings have always been oustanding by the sensory expresions the viewer feels when he/she sees the painting. For example, "The Casbah Gate" takes the viewer to the city of Tangier and the Bab el Aassa gateway near the Sultan's palace, where people can imagine the colors of the wonderful sunset.
5. ORIGINAL: While the Sears Tower is arguably the greatest achievement in skyscraper engineering so far, it's unlikely that architects and engineers have abandoned the quest for the world's tallest building. The question is: Just how high can a building go? Structural engineer William LeMessurier has designed a skyscraper nearly one-half mile high, twice as tall as the Sears Tower. And architect Robert Sobel claims that existing technology could produce a 500-story building. From Ron Bachman, "Reaching for the Sky." Dial (May 1990): 15.
PARAPHRASED: One of the most important skyscapers in the world is the Sears Tower. This tower has acchieved the best engeneering work of all times. Many people wonder how can this tower stay upright and will there be one that exceeds this height? Architect Robert Sobel says that with the new technology there will be buildings taller than the Sears Tower.
Friday, November 2, 2007
The Power and The Glory Blog # 9
The Final Chapter
Death, is a situation that is difficult to handle by most of the peoprl. Most of the times, when people have to confront death they take different points of view depending on how it affects them. Some people, deny death, others have different reactions or ways to see this situation. This is what happens in The Power and The Glory with the death of the priest. Some see it as a good thing and others dont't want to believe it is real.
The boy, is a good example who does not want to face reality. "He dreamed that the priest whom they had shot that morning was back in the house dressed in the clothes his father had lent him and laid out stiffly for burial. The boy sat beside the bed and his mother read out of a very long book all about how the priest had acted in front of the bishop the part of Julius Caesar: there was a fish basket at her feet, and the fish were bleeding, wrapped in her handkerchief. He was very bored and very tired and somebody was hammering nails into a coffin in the passage. Suddenly the dead priest winked at him—an unmistakable flicker of the eyelid, just like that." Pg. 221. The boy is in denyal, he wants the priest back, and here we see the importance of the priest and of christianity to the boy. He is loyal to his religion and knows how the priest was a good friend to him and how he wants him back to be part of his life.
Death, is a situation that is difficult to handle by most of the peoprl. Most of the times, when people have to confront death they take different points of view depending on how it affects them. Some people, deny death, others have different reactions or ways to see this situation. This is what happens in The Power and The Glory with the death of the priest. Some see it as a good thing and others dont't want to believe it is real.
The boy, is a good example who does not want to face reality. "He dreamed that the priest whom they had shot that morning was back in the house dressed in the clothes his father had lent him and laid out stiffly for burial. The boy sat beside the bed and his mother read out of a very long book all about how the priest had acted in front of the bishop the part of Julius Caesar: there was a fish basket at her feet, and the fish were bleeding, wrapped in her handkerchief. He was very bored and very tired and somebody was hammering nails into a coffin in the passage. Suddenly the dead priest winked at him—an unmistakable flicker of the eyelid, just like that." Pg. 221. The boy is in denyal, he wants the priest back, and here we see the importance of the priest and of christianity to the boy. He is loyal to his religion and knows how the priest was a good friend to him and how he wants him back to be part of his life.
The Power and The Glory Blog # 8
Reasoning vs. Church
Thought and reasoning have always been challenged by the church. Throughout history church has denied all class of reasoning and scientific explanations what so ever. Church, has always had a contrary point of view towards the sciences and the logical explanations of things. They have always based their point of view in what the bible says.
"The lieutenant said in a tone of fury: 'Well, you're going to be a martyr—you've got that satisfaction.'
'Oh, no. Martyrs are not like me. They don't think all the time—if I had drunk more brandy I shouldn't be so afraid.' Pg. 196.
In this passage the priest lets the reader know how he and the church think about thought and people who think. He tells he is not like the people who think, he is from the church, therefore he does not think and he is not like all other martyrs. Throughout the book, the priest lets us know his point of view in an implicit way. However, most of the decisions he makes are because of his toughts.
Thought and reasoning have always been challenged by the church. Throughout history church has denied all class of reasoning and scientific explanations what so ever. Church, has always had a contrary point of view towards the sciences and the logical explanations of things. They have always based their point of view in what the bible says.
"The lieutenant said in a tone of fury: 'Well, you're going to be a martyr—you've got that satisfaction.'
'Oh, no. Martyrs are not like me. They don't think all the time—if I had drunk more brandy I shouldn't be so afraid.' Pg. 196.
In this passage the priest lets the reader know how he and the church think about thought and people who think. He tells he is not like the people who think, he is from the church, therefore he does not think and he is not like all other martyrs. Throughout the book, the priest lets us know his point of view in an implicit way. However, most of the decisions he makes are because of his toughts.
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Power and the Glory Blog # 7
Solidarity
In The Power and the Glory, betrayal, companionship and the act of accusing is always very present when talking about the priest’s adventures. Through the pages we read how people are put between the wall and the spade and are forced to tell and confess what they know about the priest. Some people prefer to die or to be taken as hostages instead of telling the truth, but others accuse in order to safe their lives.
“You shouldn’t have told us Father, there are all sorts of murderers…’”Pg. 125. When the priest tells the other people that are in the cell with him they all wonder why he has told them the truth, many can go and tell the lieutenant who he really is. “He thought: that is when I shall be discovered – unless it’s earlier, for surely one of these people will betray me first. A long train of thought began, which lead him to announce after a while, ‘They are offering a reward for me. Five hundred, six hundred pesos, I’m not sure.’ He couldn’t urge any man to inform against him – that would be tempting him to sin – but after the same time if there were an informer here, there was no reason why the wretched creature should be bilked of his reward.” Pg. 128. The priest begins to think on how if there is a reward, people in the cell will blame on him and that will be the end for him. But this does not happen, the people in jail are also criminals and have solidarity an companionship towards the priest. “‘Nobody here,’ a voice said, ‘wants their blood money.’ Again he was touched by an extraordinary affection. He was just one criminal among the herd of criminals…He had a sense of companionship which he had never experienced in the old days when pious people came kissing his black cotton glove.” Pg. 128. Companionship and solidarity become an important aspect for the priest. He is saved from death because the other criminals know what it is like.
In The Power and the Glory, betrayal, companionship and the act of accusing is always very present when talking about the priest’s adventures. Through the pages we read how people are put between the wall and the spade and are forced to tell and confess what they know about the priest. Some people prefer to die or to be taken as hostages instead of telling the truth, but others accuse in order to safe their lives.
“You shouldn’t have told us Father, there are all sorts of murderers…’”Pg. 125. When the priest tells the other people that are in the cell with him they all wonder why he has told them the truth, many can go and tell the lieutenant who he really is. “He thought: that is when I shall be discovered – unless it’s earlier, for surely one of these people will betray me first. A long train of thought began, which lead him to announce after a while, ‘They are offering a reward for me. Five hundred, six hundred pesos, I’m not sure.’ He couldn’t urge any man to inform against him – that would be tempting him to sin – but after the same time if there were an informer here, there was no reason why the wretched creature should be bilked of his reward.” Pg. 128. The priest begins to think on how if there is a reward, people in the cell will blame on him and that will be the end for him. But this does not happen, the people in jail are also criminals and have solidarity an companionship towards the priest. “‘Nobody here,’ a voice said, ‘wants their blood money.’ Again he was touched by an extraordinary affection. He was just one criminal among the herd of criminals…He had a sense of companionship which he had never experienced in the old days when pious people came kissing his black cotton glove.” Pg. 128. Companionship and solidarity become an important aspect for the priest. He is saved from death because the other criminals know what it is like.
The Power and the Glory Blog # 6
“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
This quote has been used throughout time to give advice when people are in trouble or have the need to succeed. This quote or phrase of advice can have in some cases good consequences but in others people can have negative consequences. By the way, this can benefit people but it is still a bad thing to do, this is an act of hypocrisy towards the enemy. In my opinion this advice is two phased and can prejudice as well as benefit someone. Throughout the book we have seen how the priest is in trouble, he has been chased for a long time now and he can’t trust nobody. In any minute he can be discovered and accused by some one in the various towns he has visited.
During the journey to Carmen, the priest meets a “mestizo” that wants to accompany him to Carmen. The priest who does not trust anyone tells him he does not want any company, the priest believes everyone is his enemy. “‘I didn’t need a guide,’ he protested mildly” Pg. 89. But after seeing that the “mestizo” won’t leave him alone, the priest then realizes it is better to have his enemy close and tell him the truth. “A voice said ‘You are the priest, aren’t you?’ ‘Yes.’ It was as if they had climbed out of their opposing trenches and met to fraternize among the wires in No Man’s Land. He remembered stories of the European war- how during the last years men had sometimes met on an impulse between the lines.” Pg. 100. The priest then confesses to his company that he is the priest the lieutenant has been looking for. The priest thinks the “mestizo” is his enemy and that is why he tells him, he thinks it is better to keep him close.
Even though the priest thought of keeping his enemy close it wasn’t any good for him. Enemies are enemies, and therefore as soon as they both arrived to Carmen the “mestizo” blamed on the priest. ‘Oh, he hasn’t any real chance. Unless he gets over the border. We’ve got a man who knows him. Spoke to him, spent a night with him.” Pg. 114. The enemy accuses the priest and in this case, the phrase of advice was no good to the priest. The lieutenant now knows where the priest is and has no where to go except the border.
This quote has been used throughout time to give advice when people are in trouble or have the need to succeed. This quote or phrase of advice can have in some cases good consequences but in others people can have negative consequences. By the way, this can benefit people but it is still a bad thing to do, this is an act of hypocrisy towards the enemy. In my opinion this advice is two phased and can prejudice as well as benefit someone. Throughout the book we have seen how the priest is in trouble, he has been chased for a long time now and he can’t trust nobody. In any minute he can be discovered and accused by some one in the various towns he has visited.
During the journey to Carmen, the priest meets a “mestizo” that wants to accompany him to Carmen. The priest who does not trust anyone tells him he does not want any company, the priest believes everyone is his enemy. “‘I didn’t need a guide,’ he protested mildly” Pg. 89. But after seeing that the “mestizo” won’t leave him alone, the priest then realizes it is better to have his enemy close and tell him the truth. “A voice said ‘You are the priest, aren’t you?’ ‘Yes.’ It was as if they had climbed out of their opposing trenches and met to fraternize among the wires in No Man’s Land. He remembered stories of the European war- how during the last years men had sometimes met on an impulse between the lines.” Pg. 100. The priest then confesses to his company that he is the priest the lieutenant has been looking for. The priest thinks the “mestizo” is his enemy and that is why he tells him, he thinks it is better to keep him close.
Even though the priest thought of keeping his enemy close it wasn’t any good for him. Enemies are enemies, and therefore as soon as they both arrived to Carmen the “mestizo” blamed on the priest. ‘Oh, he hasn’t any real chance. Unless he gets over the border. We’ve got a man who knows him. Spoke to him, spent a night with him.” Pg. 114. The enemy accuses the priest and in this case, the phrase of advice was no good to the priest. The lieutenant now knows where the priest is and has no where to go except the border.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
The Power and The Glory Blog # 5
Will the power overcome the glory?
When I started reading The Power and the Glory, I had always wanted to know why it has that title. Every time I had in the book in my hands I asked why it had the title, as soon I finished reading the first few pages I understood the title but I had a question about it. Will the power overcome the glory? I wondered if in this story the power would be so strong that it would take away the importance of the church and the glory itself. Throughout history, glory and church had always been in an important position where they took all the decisions and in some way controlled the people.
In The Power and The Glory, we can see how people realize that the church cant be the major power and we see how the new power overcomes the glory. This answered my question the power does overcome the glory. “The lieutenant said, ‘Is no one willing to help?’ They stood silent beside the decayed bandstand. He said, ‘You heard what happened in Concepcion. I took a hostage there…and when I found out this priest had been in the neighborhood I put the man against the nearest tree. …It’s much safer to speak now. Because I‘m going to take a hostage from here too. …This is your last chance.’” Pg. 76-77. In this passage, power (in this case the lieutenant) causes terror in the towns’ people; he threatens to get a hostage in order to know something about the priest. The lieutenant, overcomes the glory because, even though these towns’ people believe in church and in Christianity they are forced to leave their beliefs in order to stay alive. The lieutenant creates a huge terror amongst the people and they are forced to reject the glory; something in which they have believed all of their lives. Power overcomes the glory in a strong way, even Maria, the priest’s woman, is afraid of the lieutenant, “She said, ‘When you-know-what happened, I was proud. I thought the good days would come back. It’s not everyone who’s a priest’s woman. And the child…I thought you could do a lot for her. But you might as well be a thief for all good…’” Pg. 79. The power takes all the good things from the glory and makes it look as an evil organization and therefore cause the people to accept the power. This way the lieutenant can overcome the glory. The glory, the church and the traditions are being taken away from the major power. This answers my question; the power does overcome the glory.
When I started reading The Power and the Glory, I had always wanted to know why it has that title. Every time I had in the book in my hands I asked why it had the title, as soon I finished reading the first few pages I understood the title but I had a question about it. Will the power overcome the glory? I wondered if in this story the power would be so strong that it would take away the importance of the church and the glory itself. Throughout history, glory and church had always been in an important position where they took all the decisions and in some way controlled the people.
In The Power and The Glory, we can see how people realize that the church cant be the major power and we see how the new power overcomes the glory. This answered my question the power does overcome the glory. “The lieutenant said, ‘Is no one willing to help?’ They stood silent beside the decayed bandstand. He said, ‘You heard what happened in Concepcion. I took a hostage there…and when I found out this priest had been in the neighborhood I put the man against the nearest tree. …It’s much safer to speak now. Because I‘m going to take a hostage from here too. …This is your last chance.’” Pg. 76-77. In this passage, power (in this case the lieutenant) causes terror in the towns’ people; he threatens to get a hostage in order to know something about the priest. The lieutenant, overcomes the glory because, even though these towns’ people believe in church and in Christianity they are forced to leave their beliefs in order to stay alive. The lieutenant creates a huge terror amongst the people and they are forced to reject the glory; something in which they have believed all of their lives. Power overcomes the glory in a strong way, even Maria, the priest’s woman, is afraid of the lieutenant, “She said, ‘When you-know-what happened, I was proud. I thought the good days would come back. It’s not everyone who’s a priest’s woman. And the child…I thought you could do a lot for her. But you might as well be a thief for all good…’” Pg. 79. The power takes all the good things from the glory and makes it look as an evil organization and therefore cause the people to accept the power. This way the lieutenant can overcome the glory. The glory, the church and the traditions are being taken away from the major power. This answers my question; the power does overcome the glory.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Video Clip
This videoclip is the final scene of The Fugitive. This film was inspired in the book The Power and the Glory and it was directed by John Ford. This video clip shows how a new priest comes into town and the importance of christanity. It relates to the book because it was inspired by it an d beacuse it shows the arrival of a new priest maybe after the capture of the old priest.
http://http//es.youtube.com/watch?v=hinI_ZrMw-0
http://http//es.youtube.com/watch?v=hinI_ZrMw-0
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
OP-ED "A Swiflty Melting Plantet"
Demonstrative:
- "THE Arctic ice cap melted this summer at a shocking pace, disappearing at a far higher rate than predicted by even the most pessimistic experts in global warming. But we shouldn’t be shocked, because scientists have long known that major features of earth’s interlinked climate system of air and water can change abruptly."
- "This type of feedback in our global climate could determine humankind’s future prosperity and even survival."
Deliberative:
- "When warming becomes its own cause, we might not be able to stop extremely harmful climate change no matter how much we cut our greenhouse gas emissions."
- " In response to the new dangers of climate change, we need a similar mobilization — of mothers, of students and of everyone with a stake in the future — now."
Monday, October 1, 2007
The Power and the Glory Blog # 4
Changes Through Time
Why are people so afraid of the "major power"? It is amazing to see how people's point of view change through manipulation and bribe. Through out the book The Power and the Glory, Greene has demostrated how important religion is to the townspeople and how they are loyal to their faith. This in a way, shows the reader that once christianity had been an important power in Mexico.
With the search of the priest done by the Leuitenant, people in the different villages start to change their views towards religion and demostrate a great fear to the major power, in this case the Leuitenant. "It wasn't hte welcome he had expected..."Pg. 62. Before, these people waited for the priest's visit and recieved him with great joy but due to the fear that the Leuitenant has caused he is not welcome anymore in any of the nearby villages. " 'What's the matter with you all? ' he asked. ' Why should you be afraid?' ' Haven't you heard...?' 'Heard?' 'They are taking hostages now -from all the villages where they think you've been. And if people don't tell... somebody is shot... and then they take another hostage. It happened in Concepción.' "Pg. 63. It is amazing to see how one can change its loyalty to religion only because they want to live, because they are afraid to die. This is manupulation from the Leuitenant, only because he wants to capture the priest and this is the only way he can do it. He involves the townspeople in a problem that is not theirs and manipulates them only for his good.
Why are people so afraid of the "major power"? It is amazing to see how people's point of view change through manipulation and bribe. Through out the book The Power and the Glory, Greene has demostrated how important religion is to the townspeople and how they are loyal to their faith. This in a way, shows the reader that once christianity had been an important power in Mexico.
With the search of the priest done by the Leuitenant, people in the different villages start to change their views towards religion and demostrate a great fear to the major power, in this case the Leuitenant. "It wasn't hte welcome he had expected..."Pg. 62. Before, these people waited for the priest's visit and recieved him with great joy but due to the fear that the Leuitenant has caused he is not welcome anymore in any of the nearby villages. " 'What's the matter with you all? ' he asked. ' Why should you be afraid?' ' Haven't you heard...?' 'Heard?' 'They are taking hostages now -from all the villages where they think you've been. And if people don't tell... somebody is shot... and then they take another hostage. It happened in Concepción.' "Pg. 63. It is amazing to see how one can change its loyalty to religion only because they want to live, because they are afraid to die. This is manupulation from the Leuitenant, only because he wants to capture the priest and this is the only way he can do it. He involves the townspeople in a problem that is not theirs and manipulates them only for his good.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
The Power and the Glory Blog # 3
Ignorance and Ingenuousness
When I was younger, I never had a clear idea of the problems or situations that where going on around my home. I acted very naive and so did my sister, we where children and therefore didn't have the obligation to worry or to understand what was going on. When I grew up I understood and now I have to take important descions and worry about what is going to happen. Children, most of the times are not aware of the real situations their parents or grown-ups are in. They always act towards most of the situations with ignorance or ingenuousness becuase it is not their problem yet.
In the book, we can see this ignorance and ingenuousness with the daughter of Captain Fellows; Coral. She is thirteen and is not aware of the political and religious situation that is going on in Mexico and of the "real" life her family is going through. The first example of this is when Greene compares Coral with her mother. "Terror was always just behind her shoulder: she was wasted by the effor t of turning round. She dressed up her fear so that she could look at it - in the form of fever, rats, unemployment." Pg. 33. Mrs. Fellows is scared she is tired of life but on the other side Coral was not. "She was very young -about thirteen -and at that age you are not afrai of many things, age and death all the things which may turn up snake-bite and fever and rats and a bad smell. Life hadn't got her yet; she had a false air of impregnability."Pg. 33
We continue seeing Coral as a naive girl when she tells her father that the priest is in the barn. "'Lying? Good God,' Captain Fellows said, 'You dont mean he's here.' 'Of course he is here,'Coral said." Pg. 36. Altough she seems to take "grown-up" decisions such as telling the Leuitenant to stay in the hammoc she does not seem to notice what is really going on. Mr. Fellows knows what is really going on and knows the seriosness of the problem when he is warned by the Leuitenant. " 'He is a priest. I trust you will report at once if he is seen' The Leuitenant paused. 'You are a foreigner living uder the protection of our laws. We expect you to make a proper return for our hospitality.' "Pg. 35. Coral is naive, she does not know what is going on and therefore helps the priest hide in the barn but she doesn't know the consequences because of her ingenuousness and ignorance because she is still a child.
When I was younger, I never had a clear idea of the problems or situations that where going on around my home. I acted very naive and so did my sister, we where children and therefore didn't have the obligation to worry or to understand what was going on. When I grew up I understood and now I have to take important descions and worry about what is going to happen. Children, most of the times are not aware of the real situations their parents or grown-ups are in. They always act towards most of the situations with ignorance or ingenuousness becuase it is not their problem yet.
In the book, we can see this ignorance and ingenuousness with the daughter of Captain Fellows; Coral. She is thirteen and is not aware of the political and religious situation that is going on in Mexico and of the "real" life her family is going through. The first example of this is when Greene compares Coral with her mother. "Terror was always just behind her shoulder: she was wasted by the effor t of turning round. She dressed up her fear so that she could look at it - in the form of fever, rats, unemployment." Pg. 33. Mrs. Fellows is scared she is tired of life but on the other side Coral was not. "She was very young -about thirteen -and at that age you are not afrai of many things, age and death all the things which may turn up snake-bite and fever and rats and a bad smell. Life hadn't got her yet; she had a false air of impregnability."Pg. 33
We continue seeing Coral as a naive girl when she tells her father that the priest is in the barn. "'Lying? Good God,' Captain Fellows said, 'You dont mean he's here.' 'Of course he is here,'Coral said." Pg. 36. Altough she seems to take "grown-up" decisions such as telling the Leuitenant to stay in the hammoc she does not seem to notice what is really going on. Mr. Fellows knows what is really going on and knows the seriosness of the problem when he is warned by the Leuitenant. " 'He is a priest. I trust you will report at once if he is seen' The Leuitenant paused. 'You are a foreigner living uder the protection of our laws. We expect you to make a proper return for our hospitality.' "Pg. 35. Coral is naive, she does not know what is going on and therefore helps the priest hide in the barn but she doesn't know the consequences because of her ingenuousness and ignorance because she is still a child.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Power and The Glory Blog # 2
Money=Success
Throughout history in various cultures and societies, money has meant success. This, has been showed in two ways. The first way, is the way everybody should gain succes; by hard work and effort. But the second way is the easy way to get money and to get what people want, this, is called corruption. History has demostrated that in various conflicts and situations, the major power has most of the times used corruption to avoid problems or to get what they want. This "major power" most of the time has been the church or a religious figure, that have had the power of the word of the townspeople. People, bribe people usually that have no means what so ever and have no idea of the mistake they are making.
Throughout history in various cultures and societies, money has meant success. This, has been showed in two ways. The first way, is the way everybody should gain succes; by hard work and effort. But the second way is the easy way to get money and to get what people want, this, is called corruption. History has demostrated that in various conflicts and situations, the major power has most of the times used corruption to avoid problems or to get what they want. This "major power" most of the time has been the church or a religious figure, that have had the power of the word of the townspeople. People, bribe people usually that have no means what so ever and have no idea of the mistake they are making.
In The Power and the Glory, the power of the church is inmense and the conflicts are all because ot this major power. When collecting the indulgences, the church is strict and does not permit anybody to skip this payment. "And the priest came round with the collecting bag taking their cetavos, abusing their small comforting sins and sacrificing nothing at all in return-exceot a little sexual indulgence."Pg. 22-23. Church, is seen as an authority that no one can challenge and everybody is afraid of this power. This means that if people pay idulgences they will be free and they will be at peace and therefore have a succesfull life but others, that have no money will suffer the consequences. But is that suffering in the church's principals?
Another example in the book of money eaqual to succes is when Mr. Tench narrates the situation in jail. " They came bowing, hat in hand, ne behind the other. 'so-and-so drunk and disorderly.' 'Fined five pesos.' 'But I cant pay your excellency.' 'Let him clear out the lavatory and the cells then.'"Pg. 20. Here, the major power is the Leuitenant and he is using corruption, to gain money and permit the people leave with no charges ans therefore have succes. But people who cant pay this "five pesos" will be in jail. These people who can not pay maybe are the good people and the ones that can pay can cause more trouble if they are set free.
These two powers, the church and the Leuitenant are important in the book because both are powers that people look up to and are afraid. This, makes me wonder if both authorities are connected or work by separated? Is the church allied with the Leuitenant to gain power and to corrupt the townspeople?
The Power and the Glory Blog # 1
Loneliness and Depression
One of people's major frights is ending up completely alone with no friends, family or nobody to talk to. This feeling/State leads to depression. In the beggining of the book The Power and the Glory, Mr. Tench expresses his situation and the way he lives. He is completely alone in a country that is not his. "It had been talking to a stranger, Mr. Tench thought, going back into his room, locking the door behind him (one never knew). Loneliness faced hime there, vacancy. But he was as accustomed to both as to his own face in the glass."Pg. 18.
Mr. Tench, lives alone and knows nobody. This character can be compared with Kapuscinski in The soccer War when he narrates that no sickness is worse than being alone. "More devastating than malaria or amoebas, fevers or contagion is the disease of lonliness, the disease of the tropical depression. Defending yourself against it takes iron resistance and strong will. (Here begin a description of depression.)" Pg. 138(The Soccer War).
These two characters live by themselves and in a country different from their own. They are both experiencing political and cultural conflicts where they don't have much to do but they still prefer to stay there, rather to go bck to their countries. Altough the narrations and plots of the book are very different Mr. Tench resembles to the character of Kapuscinski. Loneliness and depression connects both of the characters.
One of people's major frights is ending up completely alone with no friends, family or nobody to talk to. This feeling/State leads to depression. In the beggining of the book The Power and the Glory, Mr. Tench expresses his situation and the way he lives. He is completely alone in a country that is not his. "It had been talking to a stranger, Mr. Tench thought, going back into his room, locking the door behind him (one never knew). Loneliness faced hime there, vacancy. But he was as accustomed to both as to his own face in the glass."Pg. 18.
Mr. Tench, lives alone and knows nobody. This character can be compared with Kapuscinski in The soccer War when he narrates that no sickness is worse than being alone. "More devastating than malaria or amoebas, fevers or contagion is the disease of lonliness, the disease of the tropical depression. Defending yourself against it takes iron resistance and strong will. (Here begin a description of depression.)" Pg. 138(The Soccer War).
These two characters live by themselves and in a country different from their own. They are both experiencing political and cultural conflicts where they don't have much to do but they still prefer to stay there, rather to go bck to their countries. Altough the narrations and plots of the book are very different Mr. Tench resembles to the character of Kapuscinski. Loneliness and depression connects both of the characters.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Response to Adrew Rice: The Passanger
When reading Kapuscinski, the hardest thing to analize is his character inside and outside of his books. Your point of view of Kapuscinski resembles very much to mine. "He is everywhere, behind and between the front lines, and yet no one ever seems to notice him." Kapuscinski was a risk taker, he wanted to be everywhere covering every situation but who noticed him? He was completely unoticed and it seemed to me no one ever worried about him. "He made himself invisible, in other words: a secret agent. And yet, insinuating as he was, it's hard to imagine a correspondent less likely to make a successful spy. one ever seems to notice him." I cite your words because after reading your article I thought they were perfect to describe Kapuscinski. Eventhough, this writer is difficult to decipher either inside of his books as a character or outside as a writter, The Soccer War is an excellent narration about what is happening in the world at that time.
The Soccer War Blog # 8
Racism
Slavery and the trade of Africans, made people conscious of the differences in the cultures and traditions. In the past, racism became a rough topic and colored skin people where vastly discriminated and had absolutely no human rights. Throughout the years this has changed and there is not as much discrimination, but it some communities’ people still have many negative opinions towards this issue. This is a concern in society that can be argued for ever but still many people won’t understand that EVERYONE has the same rights and that EVERYONE has absolutely no right to be discriminated. In the last pages of the book Kapuscinski narrates how he hates racism and the difference in color. “I can’t bear that language, that language of white, black and yellow. The language of race is disgusting.” Pg.231. He expresses this to Kofi, in a village in Ghana, but Kofi then explains that he talks about white just as he has been taught. “For a hundred years they taught us that the whit is somebody greater, super, extra. …We knew exactly as much as they wanted us to know. Now it’s hard to change.” Pg. 231. It is about time for people all around the world to make a change and eliminate racism and discrimination. Although there are differences between cultures and beliefs there should be no discrimination what so ever.
Slavery and the trade of Africans, made people conscious of the differences in the cultures and traditions. In the past, racism became a rough topic and colored skin people where vastly discriminated and had absolutely no human rights. Throughout the years this has changed and there is not as much discrimination, but it some communities’ people still have many negative opinions towards this issue. This is a concern in society that can be argued for ever but still many people won’t understand that EVERYONE has the same rights and that EVERYONE has absolutely no right to be discriminated. In the last pages of the book Kapuscinski narrates how he hates racism and the difference in color. “I can’t bear that language, that language of white, black and yellow. The language of race is disgusting.” Pg.231. He expresses this to Kofi, in a village in Ghana, but Kofi then explains that he talks about white just as he has been taught. “For a hundred years they taught us that the whit is somebody greater, super, extra. …We knew exactly as much as they wanted us to know. Now it’s hard to change.” Pg. 231. It is about time for people all around the world to make a change and eliminate racism and discrimination. Although there are differences between cultures and beliefs there should be no discrimination what so ever.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The Soccer War Blog # 7
An Excuse
Excuses are used by most of the people to cover a lie, to comfort someone, to take advantage oaf a situation or to create conflict. This has been seen throughout history in several wars and events. A concrete example of this is narrated in The Song of Troy. In this narration, Paris, the prince of Troy falls in love with Helen, the wife of Menelaus, the heir of the throne of Sparta. Helen’s beauty leaves Paris astonished, this causes him to kidnap Helen and take her to troy. Meanwhile, all the Greek nations unite and create a plan to rescue Helen. They say they just seize Troy and gain power in that nation. But the real purpose of the seize, is to gain control of the trade in the Hellespont channel where plenty of money is gained. They use the excuse of Helen to fight against the Trojans.
In The Soccer War, Kapuscinski narrates a very similar story; Honduras and El Salvador use the excuse to fight. “These are the real reasons for the war: El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, has the greatest population density in the western hemisphere (over 160 people per square kilometer)…Honduras (12,000 square kilometers) is almost six times as large as el Salvador, but has about half as many people (2,500,000)…Relations between the two countries were tense…There were pogroms. Shops were burned. In these circumstances the match between Honduras and El Salvador had taken place.” Pg. 182. The excuse of The Soccer War was a soccer match but actually both countries had other reasons to fight for.
Excuses are used by most of the people to cover a lie, to comfort someone, to take advantage oaf a situation or to create conflict. This has been seen throughout history in several wars and events. A concrete example of this is narrated in The Song of Troy. In this narration, Paris, the prince of Troy falls in love with Helen, the wife of Menelaus, the heir of the throne of Sparta. Helen’s beauty leaves Paris astonished, this causes him to kidnap Helen and take her to troy. Meanwhile, all the Greek nations unite and create a plan to rescue Helen. They say they just seize Troy and gain power in that nation. But the real purpose of the seize, is to gain control of the trade in the Hellespont channel where plenty of money is gained. They use the excuse of Helen to fight against the Trojans.
In The Soccer War, Kapuscinski narrates a very similar story; Honduras and El Salvador use the excuse to fight. “These are the real reasons for the war: El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, has the greatest population density in the western hemisphere (over 160 people per square kilometer)…Honduras (12,000 square kilometers) is almost six times as large as el Salvador, but has about half as many people (2,500,000)…Relations between the two countries were tense…There were pogroms. Shops were burned. In these circumstances the match between Honduras and El Salvador had taken place.” Pg. 182. The excuse of The Soccer War was a soccer match but actually both countries had other reasons to fight for.
The Soccer War Blog # 6
A World to Discover
During summer vacations, I had the opportunity of being in a magical place in the north of Colombia; La Guajira. When I reached this place I realized that I had been missing out of such beautiful places. This was because I had a routine where I had forgotten there is a world outside for us to discover.
Throughout the years, the ideas and facts about technology, new ways of thinking and the everyday life in an office or in a city have become ver popular. This, has made people to start to depend on technology and to have an every day routine and forget that there is a world outside needed to be discovered. When I talk about discovered, I do not refer to it as for the people to be the first to find, learn or explore, but for the people to discover as for the first time in one's experience. People who never get out of their homes and offices who depend on the internet or on T.V's are missing out of tons of things that happen all around the world.
In The Soccer War, Kapuscinski lets us know that he wants to discover the world, that he is against of offices, routine and furniture. "Furniture divides man from man; people cower behind furniture like birds into holes...While many whole categories of furniture may be man's serviceable insturmnets, his slaves, in the case of a desk a contrary relationship obtains: man is its instrument, its slave...Once plunked down behind one a man will never learn to tear himself free."Pg. 146. When Kapuscinski arrives to Poland he is put behind a desk to do wrk but after a few days he is desperate and wants to go out to find the world he has not discovered, the world he has not written about. Because of this he goes to South America, Chile and finds how different culture is.
During summer vacations, I had the opportunity of being in a magical place in the north of Colombia; La Guajira. When I reached this place I realized that I had been missing out of such beautiful places. This was because I had a routine where I had forgotten there is a world outside for us to discover.
Throughout the years, the ideas and facts about technology, new ways of thinking and the everyday life in an office or in a city have become ver popular. This, has made people to start to depend on technology and to have an every day routine and forget that there is a world outside needed to be discovered. When I talk about discovered, I do not refer to it as for the people to be the first to find, learn or explore, but for the people to discover as for the first time in one's experience. People who never get out of their homes and offices who depend on the internet or on T.V's are missing out of tons of things that happen all around the world.
In The Soccer War, Kapuscinski lets us know that he wants to discover the world, that he is against of offices, routine and furniture. "Furniture divides man from man; people cower behind furniture like birds into holes...While many whole categories of furniture may be man's serviceable insturmnets, his slaves, in the case of a desk a contrary relationship obtains: man is its instrument, its slave...Once plunked down behind one a man will never learn to tear himself free."Pg. 146. When Kapuscinski arrives to Poland he is put behind a desk to do wrk but after a few days he is desperate and wants to go out to find the world he has not discovered, the world he has not written about. Because of this he goes to South America, Chile and finds how different culture is.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The Soccer War Blog # 5
"Life is a challenge, and only those who live up to the challenge really know what it means to live."
In life you have to take risks, not only physical, but mental risks that will challenge yourself and will make you learn new things and become a better person. I believe this is a very good way of seeing life, but until a certain point. Until the point you know it will be safe for you. This quote is perfect to explain this thought, because it says you have to experience things to know what they are like.
When I read the following passage from the book it made my connect it with this quote. "I was driving along a road where they say no white man can come back alive. I was driving to see if a white man could, because I had to experience everything ormyself. I know that a man shudders in the forest when he passes close to a lion. I got close to a lion so that I would know how it feels. I had to do it for myself because I knew no one could describe it to me."Pg. 130. It connects perfectly to the quote because Kapuscinski wanted to experience and to know what it would be like. But allthough it connects, I think he is taking too many risks because he doesn't know he will get out alive. And for a job, this is too risky.
In life you have to take risks, not only physical, but mental risks that will challenge yourself and will make you learn new things and become a better person. I believe this is a very good way of seeing life, but until a certain point. Until the point you know it will be safe for you. This quote is perfect to explain this thought, because it says you have to experience things to know what they are like.
When I read the following passage from the book it made my connect it with this quote. "I was driving along a road where they say no white man can come back alive. I was driving to see if a white man could, because I had to experience everything ormyself. I know that a man shudders in the forest when he passes close to a lion. I got close to a lion so that I would know how it feels. I had to do it for myself because I knew no one could describe it to me."Pg. 130. It connects perfectly to the quote because Kapuscinski wanted to experience and to know what it would be like. But allthough it connects, I think he is taking too many risks because he doesn't know he will get out alive. And for a job, this is too risky.
The Soccer War Blog # 4
"Kapuscinski's Reports Hit Communism at Home"
At the beginning of the report, it is said that Kapuscinski was a reporter a covered the "hot spots in the late 1950's" which is true becuase in The Soccer War he narrates about Africa's situation and he is the narrator in his own stories. Once again I refer to the following quote in the book to relate it with the report. "In the course of a moth I had driven though five countrie. In four of them, there were states of emergency. In one, the president had just been overthrown; in a second, the president had saved himself only by a chance; in a third, the head of government was afraid to leave his house, which was surrounded by troops. Two parliaments had been dissolved. Two governments had fallen. Scores of political activists had been arrested. Scores of people had been killed in political conflicts." Pg. 127. Kapuscinski was int he hot spots, he always wanted to cover every topic that had to do with politics, thanks to his own country, Poland and its communism.
I was surprised, when in the report it was said that Kapuscinski had to live in harsh conditions only to cover the hot spots he talks about in most of his narrations. It would be very hard for me to accept the job Kapuscinski had if I wasn't sure I was going to be safe and if I had to pass over difficult times. The job of a reporter who is a critique must be very difficult becuase when you critique someone or a situation, many people will go against you or will defend your point of view. This, makes the job even more dangerous and makes it a job where you have to take many risks. In the book, Kapuscinski talks about Ben Bella and Boumedienne; "I want to defend Ben Bella just as I am going to defend Boumedienne."Pg. 106. He talks about both in a good way but he also criticizes both.
At the beginning of the report, it is said that Kapuscinski was a reporter a covered the "hot spots in the late 1950's" which is true becuase in The Soccer War he narrates about Africa's situation and he is the narrator in his own stories. Once again I refer to the following quote in the book to relate it with the report. "In the course of a moth I had driven though five countrie. In four of them, there were states of emergency. In one, the president had just been overthrown; in a second, the president had saved himself only by a chance; in a third, the head of government was afraid to leave his house, which was surrounded by troops. Two parliaments had been dissolved. Two governments had fallen. Scores of political activists had been arrested. Scores of people had been killed in political conflicts." Pg. 127. Kapuscinski was int he hot spots, he always wanted to cover every topic that had to do with politics, thanks to his own country, Poland and its communism.
I was surprised, when in the report it was said that Kapuscinski had to live in harsh conditions only to cover the hot spots he talks about in most of his narrations. It would be very hard for me to accept the job Kapuscinski had if I wasn't sure I was going to be safe and if I had to pass over difficult times. The job of a reporter who is a critique must be very difficult becuase when you critique someone or a situation, many people will go against you or will defend your point of view. This, makes the job even more dangerous and makes it a job where you have to take many risks. In the book, Kapuscinski talks about Ben Bella and Boumedienne; "I want to defend Ben Bella just as I am going to defend Boumedienne."Pg. 106. He talks about both in a good way but he also criticizes both.
The Soccer War Blog # 3
Greed for Power
Are political wars, used to improve a country's situation or only for the greed of power? Throughout the book I have wondered if all of the politics of the countries that are named in The Soccer War, are fighting because they want to improve their county or only because they just want to have the power. At the beggining, Kapuscinski states valid reasons to have a war, but these benefit the towns people, they are for the good of everybody and not only for the goog of the politicians and the high class of the countries. For example, wanting to free Algeria from France and making it an idependent country where there are original and unique customs. But as the book continues these reasons start to dissapear and the only thing Kapuscinski writes, is about the political issues and wars that are going on in the five countries he has visited. "In the course of a moth I had driven though five countrie. In four of them, there were states of emergency. In one, the president had just been overthrown; in a second, the president had saved himself only by a chance; in a third, the head of government was afraid to leave his house, which was surrounded by troops. Two parliaments had been dissolved. Two governments had fallen. Scores of political activists had been arrested. Scores of people had been killed in political conflicts." Pg. 127
It is amazing to see how wars go around political issues and that's about it. The presidents and teh governments don't actually care about what their people think, what their people want and what is the best for their country. The greed for power is clear in each of the five coutries that have been narrated until this point, and it is unbeliavable to read and to think that thousands of people were killed and politicians didn't actually care because all they wanted was to reach power. "Everywhere there was an atmosphere of tension, everywhere the smell of gun powder."Pg. 127
Are political wars, used to improve a country's situation or only for the greed of power? Throughout the book I have wondered if all of the politics of the countries that are named in The Soccer War, are fighting because they want to improve their county or only because they just want to have the power. At the beggining, Kapuscinski states valid reasons to have a war, but these benefit the towns people, they are for the good of everybody and not only for the goog of the politicians and the high class of the countries. For example, wanting to free Algeria from France and making it an idependent country where there are original and unique customs. But as the book continues these reasons start to dissapear and the only thing Kapuscinski writes, is about the political issues and wars that are going on in the five countries he has visited. "In the course of a moth I had driven though five countrie. In four of them, there were states of emergency. In one, the president had just been overthrown; in a second, the president had saved himself only by a chance; in a third, the head of government was afraid to leave his house, which was surrounded by troops. Two parliaments had been dissolved. Two governments had fallen. Scores of political activists had been arrested. Scores of people had been killed in political conflicts." Pg. 127
It is amazing to see how wars go around political issues and that's about it. The presidents and teh governments don't actually care about what their people think, what their people want and what is the best for their country. The greed for power is clear in each of the five coutries that have been narrated until this point, and it is unbeliavable to read and to think that thousands of people were killed and politicians didn't actually care because all they wanted was to reach power. "Everywhere there was an atmosphere of tension, everywhere the smell of gun powder."Pg. 127
Literary Circles Vocabulary
- Marengo
- Algiers
- Slumped
- Hearse
- Geraniums
- Inquires
- Taciturn
- Strode
- Brandished
- Chaplain
- Dwindling
- prince-nez
The Soccer War Blog # 2
Two different countries, but same situation.
In Colombia, throughout the past years there have been many refugees or "desplazados" in the big cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali, ect. This has been because of the guerrillas, who have caused tons of violence in the towns of these people. It is unbelievable how one group of people that only cause harm to people are capable of making people leave their homes and towns only to survive and to be alive. This refugees arrive to big cities, without a home and a job, most of them have big families and it is very hard for them to fin a job that can sustain their whole family. For this reason most of them live in the streets in a complete misery. This situation can be compared to the soccer war when Kapuscinski relates the situation in Algeria and what war caused to Algerian villages. "Three hundred thousand feld Tunsia and Morocco. At the same time, throughout the whole war, people from the villages -where repression hit hardest- fled to the cities, where, today, thirty per cent of the Algerian population now lives. Most of them have no jobs, but they do not want to go back to their village, or they can not return because the villages no longer exist." Pg. 102. It is sad to see this situations, and it is surprising how it can happen anywhere around the world. This is what war causes, death, poverty and misery.
In Colombia, throughout the past years there have been many refugees or "desplazados" in the big cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali, ect. This has been because of the guerrillas, who have caused tons of violence in the towns of these people. It is unbelievable how one group of people that only cause harm to people are capable of making people leave their homes and towns only to survive and to be alive. This refugees arrive to big cities, without a home and a job, most of them have big families and it is very hard for them to fin a job that can sustain their whole family. For this reason most of them live in the streets in a complete misery. This situation can be compared to the soccer war when Kapuscinski relates the situation in Algeria and what war caused to Algerian villages. "Three hundred thousand feld Tunsia and Morocco. At the same time, throughout the whole war, people from the villages -where repression hit hardest- fled to the cities, where, today, thirty per cent of the Algerian population now lives. Most of them have no jobs, but they do not want to go back to their village, or they can not return because the villages no longer exist." Pg. 102. It is sad to see this situations, and it is surprising how it can happen anywhere around the world. This is what war causes, death, poverty and misery.
The Soccer War Blog #1
The Stranger in the Soccer War
"Ahmed Ben Bella, the president of Algeria, was overthrown on June 16, 1965. It happened during the night-time changing of guard, just after two o'clock in the morning." Pg 95
With the overthrow of the president Ben Bella in Algeria, this book can be compared to The Stranger. With the first line of the book we can see that Ben Bella is a stranger to his country, to Algeria. After the war, the president becomes a stranger to most of the situations,the country's misery and conflicts are out of his hands and people are discontent with the president they have. Although the situations are not the best and Algeria is a hard country to govern Ben Bella could have taken messures to improve the county's situation. Mersault and Ben Bella have the same "problem" they're both strangers to something and this causes them to end in situations they have never wished for. Mersault is a stranger to life such as Ben Bella is a stranger to his country.
"Ahmed Ben Bella, the president of Algeria, was overthrown on June 16, 1965. It happened during the night-time changing of guard, just after two o'clock in the morning." Pg 95
With the overthrow of the president Ben Bella in Algeria, this book can be compared to The Stranger. With the first line of the book we can see that Ben Bella is a stranger to his country, to Algeria. After the war, the president becomes a stranger to most of the situations,the country's misery and conflicts are out of his hands and people are discontent with the president they have. Although the situations are not the best and Algeria is a hard country to govern Ben Bella could have taken messures to improve the county's situation. Mersault and Ben Bella have the same "problem" they're both strangers to something and this causes them to end in situations they have never wished for. Mersault is a stranger to life such as Ben Bella is a stranger to his country.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Stranger Blog # 6
The Stranger
Throughout the whole book I have wondered who is the real Mersault? But after finishing the book I have come to realize Mersault is a complete stranger to me and to his own life. "The chaplain knew the game well too, I could tell right away: his gaze never faltered. And his voice didn't falter, either, when he said, 'Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?' 'Yes,' I said." Pg. 117. With this passage, Mersault shows he has no feeligs what so ever, he has made everyone understand that he is a stranger not only to himself but to everyone that surrounds him and the sad thing about it, is that he doesn't actually care.
"'I am on your side. But you have no way of knowing it, because our heart is blind.'" Pg. 120. Mersault has no feelings and does not care about what will happen with his life, he has shown throughout the book that he is the stranger and this is why he is judged guilty at the and of the trial.
In the last two pages of the book, Mersault realizes how he has been a complete stranger to everything that surrounds him, and eventhough he realizes late Camus makes a good end out of it. "And I felt ready to live it all again too. As of that blind rage has washed me clean, rid of me of hope; for the first tiem, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifferece of the world. Finding it so much like myself, so like a brother, really, I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again."Pg.122-123.
Throughout the whole book I have wondered who is the real Mersault? But after finishing the book I have come to realize Mersault is a complete stranger to me and to his own life. "The chaplain knew the game well too, I could tell right away: his gaze never faltered. And his voice didn't falter, either, when he said, 'Have you no hope at all? And do you really live with the thought that when you die, you die, and nothing remains?' 'Yes,' I said." Pg. 117. With this passage, Mersault shows he has no feeligs what so ever, he has made everyone understand that he is a stranger not only to himself but to everyone that surrounds him and the sad thing about it, is that he doesn't actually care.
"'I am on your side. But you have no way of knowing it, because our heart is blind.'" Pg. 120. Mersault has no feelings and does not care about what will happen with his life, he has shown throughout the book that he is the stranger and this is why he is judged guilty at the and of the trial.
In the last two pages of the book, Mersault realizes how he has been a complete stranger to everything that surrounds him, and eventhough he realizes late Camus makes a good end out of it. "And I felt ready to live it all again too. As of that blind rage has washed me clean, rid of me of hope; for the first tiem, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifferece of the world. Finding it so much like myself, so like a brother, really, I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again."Pg.122-123.
The Stranger Blog # 5
Mersault as an Outsider
Throughout chapters 3-4 in part two, unconsciously Mersault watches the trial as if everything were happening to someone else. "In a way, they seemed to be arguing the case as if it had nothing to do with me. Everything was happening without my participation. My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking my opinion." Pg. 98. Mersault is not concious of what he is going through and he is not aware of the seriousness of this case. Once again I recall my Honesty vs. Ignorance blog and ask to my self, is Mersault beig ingnorant towards the situation? Or simply he does not want to realize the situation he has to confront.
Throughout the trial Mersault realizes its him they're talking about and that both, the prosecutor and his lawyer have in a way deciphered his life. "But all the long speeches, all the interminable days and hours that people had spent talking about my soul, left me with the impression of a colorless swirling river that makes me dizzy."Pg 104.He is now aware that peolple talk about him but that confuses him. The prosecutor says Mersault is guilty and eventhough his lawyer is wanting to defend him at one point of the trial everybody knows that Mersault will be judged as guilty.
Throughout chapters 3-4 in part two, unconsciously Mersault watches the trial as if everything were happening to someone else. "In a way, they seemed to be arguing the case as if it had nothing to do with me. Everything was happening without my participation. My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking my opinion." Pg. 98. Mersault is not concious of what he is going through and he is not aware of the seriousness of this case. Once again I recall my Honesty vs. Ignorance blog and ask to my self, is Mersault beig ingnorant towards the situation? Or simply he does not want to realize the situation he has to confront.
Throughout the trial Mersault realizes its him they're talking about and that both, the prosecutor and his lawyer have in a way deciphered his life. "But all the long speeches, all the interminable days and hours that people had spent talking about my soul, left me with the impression of a colorless swirling river that makes me dizzy."Pg 104.He is now aware that peolple talk about him but that confuses him. The prosecutor says Mersault is guilty and eventhough his lawyer is wanting to defend him at one point of the trial everybody knows that Mersault will be judged as guilty.
Monday, August 27, 2007
The Stranger Blog # 4
"Happiness doesn't mean that everything is perfect; it just means that you have decided to look past the imperfections."
This quote can be related to Mersault's life in prision in the first chapters of part two. After Mersault kills the arab at the beach, he is sent to prision and an case is open to see wether Mersault is guilty or not. During this time, Mersault narrates how depressing and boring jail is. "There are some things I've never like talking about. A few days after I entered prision, I realized I wouldn't like talking about this part of my life."Pg. 72. He then says that his first days are terrible, but then he starts to accomodate to the circumstances and this is when I decided to relate this quote to the book.
"The first months were hard. But in fact the effort I had to make helped passs the time." Pg. 77.
Mersault here shows how he doesn't see the hard things anymore, he has decided to look past the imperfections of being in jail and shows the posititve side and tells how he learned to pass time to make his stay at prision more pleasant.
Once again, Mersault shows his "positive attidude" in the following passage. "Appart from this annoyances, I wasn't too unhappy. Once again the main problem was killing time. Eventually, once I learned to remember things, I wasn't bored at all."Pg.78. Mersault looks past the imperfections and shows how he invented activities to make time go faster. This occupied him, making him think in other things besides prision. With this attitude Mersault in a way forgot how depressing jail could be and he learned to look past the imperfections to be happier.
This quote can be related to Mersault's life in prision in the first chapters of part two. After Mersault kills the arab at the beach, he is sent to prision and an case is open to see wether Mersault is guilty or not. During this time, Mersault narrates how depressing and boring jail is. "There are some things I've never like talking about. A few days after I entered prision, I realized I wouldn't like talking about this part of my life."Pg. 72. He then says that his first days are terrible, but then he starts to accomodate to the circumstances and this is when I decided to relate this quote to the book.
"The first months were hard. But in fact the effort I had to make helped passs the time." Pg. 77.
Mersault here shows how he doesn't see the hard things anymore, he has decided to look past the imperfections of being in jail and shows the posititve side and tells how he learned to pass time to make his stay at prision more pleasant.
Once again, Mersault shows his "positive attidude" in the following passage. "Appart from this annoyances, I wasn't too unhappy. Once again the main problem was killing time. Eventually, once I learned to remember things, I wasn't bored at all."Pg.78. Mersault looks past the imperfections and shows how he invented activities to make time go faster. This occupied him, making him think in other things besides prision. With this attitude Mersault in a way forgot how depressing jail could be and he learned to look past the imperfections to be happier.
The Stranger Blog #3
Marie's "Guidance"
Throughout chapters 5-6, Marie becomes an important character in Mersaults's life. More than a company, she is some kind of a guidance for Mersault. Since the beginning of the book it has been clear that Mersault is a stranger to life, and he shows his ignorance towards many things. Marie, in way, teaches Mersault to see life differently and shows him several aspects of life that are unexplored for him. This makes Mersault to depend on Marie's company, for example, the day they go to the beach with Raymond, Marie is the one who wakes him up and packs for Mersault.
Marie, also makes Mersault aware of what he wants. "I got up right away because I was hungry,but Marie told me I hadn't kissed her since that morning. It was true, and yet I wanted to." Pg. 51. This passage shows how Mersault does not have the initiative to kiss Marie although he wants to. But it is Marie that makes him aware of what he wants. In this chapters Marie becomes an important support to Mersault who changes his way of life in a good way.
Throughout chapters 5-6, Marie becomes an important character in Mersaults's life. More than a company, she is some kind of a guidance for Mersault. Since the beginning of the book it has been clear that Mersault is a stranger to life, and he shows his ignorance towards many things. Marie, in way, teaches Mersault to see life differently and shows him several aspects of life that are unexplored for him. This makes Mersault to depend on Marie's company, for example, the day they go to the beach with Raymond, Marie is the one who wakes him up and packs for Mersault.
Marie, also makes Mersault aware of what he wants. "I got up right away because I was hungry,but Marie told me I hadn't kissed her since that morning. It was true, and yet I wanted to." Pg. 51. This passage shows how Mersault does not have the initiative to kiss Marie although he wants to. But it is Marie that makes him aware of what he wants. In this chapters Marie becomes an important support to Mersault who changes his way of life in a good way.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Stranger Blog #2
Ignorance vs. Honesty
Ignorance and honesty can be associated in the story in relation to Meursault. Throughout chapters 1-4 this character is shown as a truly honest person in every sense, but there are several events that make me doubt if Meursault's honesty is because he is saying the truth or simply because he is ignorant to many situations that happen all the way through the first chapters. The first event that makes us realize this "aspect" of Meursault is when Marie asks him if he loves him.
"A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so." Pg. 35. Mersault is very honest with his answer to Marie's question yet his ignorance is clear when he says "it didn't mean anything but.." because he is not aware of the real emotion that implies. Meursault then narrates that Marie was sad with his response, but eventhough he is aware of Marie's emotions it seems he doesn't seem to care, but this is because Mersault ignores the importance of Marie's question.
Another event where Meursault's ignorance is present is when Raymond, Mersault's neighbor, is attacking his mistress. "Marie and I went to see, too. The woman was still shrieking and Raymond was still hitting her. Marie said it was terrible and I did't say anything. She asked me to go find a policeman, but I told her I didn't like the cops."Pg. 36. In this case, Mersault shows his ignorance to the serious situation that is going on. The woman is being beaten up and Mersault shows no reaction at all, if he would be aware of the seriousness of the situation he would have gone for a policemen eventhough he didn't like them. His response, once again shows his honesty but his ignorance at the same time, because he says the truth about not liking cops but under those circumstances there is no such excuse as "I didn't like the cops."
With these two situations Mersault uses his honesty, showing that he is not honest because he wants to but because he is ignorant to many things in life.
Ignorance and honesty can be associated in the story in relation to Meursault. Throughout chapters 1-4 this character is shown as a truly honest person in every sense, but there are several events that make me doubt if Meursault's honesty is because he is saying the truth or simply because he is ignorant to many situations that happen all the way through the first chapters. The first event that makes us realize this "aspect" of Meursault is when Marie asks him if he loves him.
"A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so." Pg. 35. Mersault is very honest with his answer to Marie's question yet his ignorance is clear when he says "it didn't mean anything but.." because he is not aware of the real emotion that implies. Meursault then narrates that Marie was sad with his response, but eventhough he is aware of Marie's emotions it seems he doesn't seem to care, but this is because Mersault ignores the importance of Marie's question.
Another event where Meursault's ignorance is present is when Raymond, Mersault's neighbor, is attacking his mistress. "Marie and I went to see, too. The woman was still shrieking and Raymond was still hitting her. Marie said it was terrible and I did't say anything. She asked me to go find a policeman, but I told her I didn't like the cops."Pg. 36. In this case, Mersault shows his ignorance to the serious situation that is going on. The woman is being beaten up and Mersault shows no reaction at all, if he would be aware of the seriousness of the situation he would have gone for a policemen eventhough he didn't like them. His response, once again shows his honesty but his ignorance at the same time, because he says the truth about not liking cops but under those circumstances there is no such excuse as "I didn't like the cops."
With these two situations Mersault uses his honesty, showing that he is not honest because he wants to but because he is ignorant to many things in life.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
The stranger Blog # 1
The beggining of "The stranger", reminds me of a funeral I went some time ago. The vigil before the day of the funeral, where the friends of Madame Meursault go and mourn for her, reminds me how in the funeral I assisted, several loved ones of the defunct also went to the vigil. Even though it reminds me, it is ironic, because the book describes the situation as a very easy one where none of the charactes appear to be very sad as of the funeral I went people were very sad and were giving support to all the relatives of this person. Although the circumstances are different, in the book, Mesieur Meursault is the only relative present in the vigil and none of the friends of Madame Meursault are giving him support. It is surprising how one can take the death of a mother so easily, in other cases the mourn and the vigil would have been different mostly because the different relationships people can reach with their "Maman". Comparing this situation with the one I lived, I have started to realize the main character, Mesieur Meursault, is a complete stranger to the reader and in a way to himself.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to my blog! My name is Juliana Andrade, I am a 12th grade student in CNG in Bogota, Colombia. The purpose of this blog is for everyone to comment on different books and to learn how to enjoy literature. I hope you enjoy this blog.
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