Obligation

In english class we were talking about the Singer Solution to Poverty and up comes the term "obligation." The question that was asked to us was, do we have an obligation to do something to help those suffering from poverty? Now thinking about that question my essential question came to mind and it made me wonder do I have an obligation to preform at my personal best? Honestly, I think it's my choice to decide whether I would want to preform at my personal best level. Then again I'm constantly reminded how we've all been given talents and gifts and how we're so fortunate to be given such valued lives. Although, that's what people expect of us, but does that make it our own obligation? The definition of obligation is, "something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc." ("Obligation." Dictionary.Com. 2007. Lexico Publishing Group. 28 Feb. 2007 .) If obligation is apart of the law then no I'm not obligated to do my personal best. By looking at the phrase "personal best" it could be overlooked since it's so generalized. When you say for example, my personal best to be a good citizen. Then would that mean I should be obligated to be a good citizen? By looking at the definition for now I'm basing this opinion by the law. To be the personal best you can be as long as it abides to the law is a safe choice and agrees with your obligation to be your personal best. Everything other than the law should be based on your own guilt. If you decide not to do your personal best then it's your own choice to live with that the rest of your life.

Literature Circle Reflection

Today in our literature circle we went straight into discussing deeper meanings and metaphors in the second book. We pretty much understood the meanings of the kikongan words, except for the term, kakakaka which meant to hurry up or a bathroom disorder. What we first talked about were the roles of the pygmies in the story. They are mentioned in the book although with a hidden purpose/significance. We imagined these pygmies to be somewhat of social outcasts or another midget tribe. Another topic we explored deeper into was the relationship with Methuselah and Adah. The question that was posed in the discussion was what was the role or importance of Methuselah. We noticed that Methuselah could be a metaphor as the Prices. Like the parrot the Prices are trapped in a way where they can’t fly at a 100% to escape the Congo. We decided and agreed that the story was a little more depressing especially since Kingsolver decided to end the second book with that final event of Methuselah’s death.
Another character we talked about was Ruth May because it’s a reoccurring event that she refers to snakes especially the Green Mumba (Deadliest Snake in the Congo). We talked about why she has this obsession and interest in such a threatening creature. It’s sort of terrifying to know she’s excited about this reptile because Ruth May is still such a young girl and it may be life threatening if she gets too involved with the Green Mumba.
Something that came up from the role of the New Critic was quite interesting. Reshley explained the group two quotes of which had significance. Reshley chose his quotes which related to the “hidden” struggle that the people of the Congo have to endure. First of all, the first quote helped envision the kikongans daily routine just to supply themselves with sanitary water. It was a hardship for them because they had to get water from a far away stream and then gather fire wood to boil the water in order to sanitize it. While on the other hand for the Price family it doesn’t really seem to explain what they have to go through in order to receive daily necessities. For the second quote, it talked about the games that the Price girls played compared to the games that Pascal’s tribe played. The names of the games could tell the difference, Mother May I and Hide & Seek compared to Find Food, Recognize Poisonwood & Build a House. The kikongon children it was just a game, but through the Price sister’s eyes they knew they were actually doing chores and difficult child labor.
As for the history of when this book takes place we learn that the Price’s are completely blinded to what’s going on in the world outside of the Congo. Since there are no radios or any source of communication to get the latest news the Price’s are unaware of the debates about the independence and salvation of the Congo. Politics visions for communism and debates on what’s best for the Congo compared to what’s good for the United States.

Literature Circle Lexicographer

Revelation page’s 86-186 (Lexicographer)

Kikongan Lexicon

A-ana: child
Akala: man
Bangala: the poisonwood tree
Beelezi: Belgians
Beto nki tutasala: What are we doing?
Bidila dipapfumu (137): cemetery for witch doctors
Dimba (117): listen
Dundu: Type of antelope
Frangipani: something that grows
Fufu: gluey paste from a stupendous tuber, used to make manioc
Fufu nsala: forest dwelling, red headed rat that runs from sunlight
Gree-gree (154): little bottle, kikongans believe their gods live in made out of sticks and shells
Jacaranda: something that grows
Kakakaka (145): Hurry up or disease that makes you go to the bathroom frequently
Katanga and Kasai (174): Mine locations
Lenzuka: people of the congregation
Mbote: hello and goodbye
Malala: oranges with red blood juice
Manene: path
Mangwansi: a bean
Manioc: derived from the word fufu, a food
Mankondo: bananas
Mawalala: rain far off in the distance
Mbote ve: no good
Mongo: mountain
Mvufu (156): Owl that is feared by Kikongans because it “eats” the souls of the dead people.
Nanasi: pineapple
Nanasi mputu: a papaya
Nganga (154): priest/ minister/ doctor/ poet
Ngonndo: red and black monkey
Nguba: peanut
Ngondi: kinds of weather
Nkazi ndolo: gentle weather
Nkento: woman
Nkoko: river
Nkundi: real friend
Nkyende: eel
Nuni ndolo: thunder
Nzolo (172): most dearly beloved, or thick yellow grub used for fish bait, or a tiny potato
Pagne: wraparound sheath used by women
Pili pili: red peppers used for spicing foods
Tata nzolo (172): father in heaven, they sang it in church
Zulu: sky

1) “No, sir, it was diamonds. I found that out and I can’t tell how. Even father doesn’t know we rode in a airplane with diamonds. Mr. Axelroot said if I told, why then God would make Mama get sick and die. So I can’t” (119). - Ruth May Price

This made me question the reliability of Mr. Axelroot because right now my impression of him is very sketchy. This man seems to be keeping a lot of untold secrets possibly dealing with the Congo’s important resources (diamonds). This passage also helps us become aware that Ruth May Price notices and points out many key details that are important that other characters don’t quite actually see.

2) “Up to me to make amens? I see no amens to make! The Belgians and American business brought civilization to the Congo! American aid will be the Congo’s salvation. You’ll see!” (121). – Nathan Price

In this chapter of the book we notice that Nathan’s enemies are beginning to confront Nathan and complain to him about their problems with his preaching. Nathan’s views are strongly supported by his opinions to stay in the Congo and make a difference there. Nathan’s determination to change the Congo for the better is sturdy and he doesn’t plan to leave now, after all of his success he’s had so far.

3) “And, Anatole, do you not now sit at my table, translating the words of Tata Ndu’s bible of false idolatry and his sermon aimed at me in particular” (130). – Nathan Price

Nathan is aware now of the threat that Anatole poses, but he refuses to back down because he knows that if he stays and perseveres in the Congo then he’ll bring satisfaction to God. He’s also questioning his trust in Anatole because Anatole translates everything that Nathan preaches in church, now Nathan suspects that if Anatole isn’t translating correctly then there will be a great problem for Nathan.

4) “Who were you showing off for here, with your tablecloth and your fancy plate?” He said the words in a sour way, as if they were well-known sins…”And your pitiful cooking, Orleanna? The way to a young Negro’s heart is through the stomach – is that what you were counting on?” (134). – Nathan Price

We get a better idea of Nathan’s personality because he treats his family members very low with no respect at all. Sometimes I forget that Nathan even is a priest because he doesn’t correctly value at all the work and effort that his family does, especially his wife, Orleanna. I’m pretty sure Nathan is just letting out all his anger he held toward Anatole because they were just fighting earlier and after Anatole left Nathan had to let off some steam. Does Nathan fail to realize everything his wife and daughters do to support Nathan’s mission here in the Congo? Personally it angers me that Nathan doesn’t show any appreciation to his family for supporting him.

5) “…my bird is called the paradise flycatcher. In the notebook I keep in my pillowcase, in which I draw pictures of all things I know, I put a smile on the face of the paradise flycatcher and printed underneath, in my backward code for secrecy: NEVAEH NI SEILF FO FOORP WEN .REHCTACYLF ESIDARAP” (137). – Adah Price

I didn’t quite understand what Adah was talking about when she mentioned the Paradise Flycatcher. Why did she have to be so secretive to put the phrase, “Paradise Flycatcher New Proof of Flies in Heaven,” in code? Could this possibly be another metaphor relating to the way she feels about life in the Congo? Maybe what Adah means when she says, “Paradise flycatcher new proof of flies in heaven,” is really her opinion about her fathers religious teachings. That God is metaphorically this flycatcher that saves us by sending us to this heaven for flies.

6) “Lord of the feathers, deliver me this day from the carnivores that could tear me breast from wishbone!” (138, 186). – Adah Price

When Adah says this poem she first announces it when she talks about Methuselah after he’d been thrown out of the Price household. Adah still holds Methuselah as one of the family members because she hopes the best for his safety. She follows him and comes to his aid when she finds that he can’t fend for himself in the wild because he’s still accustomed as a house pet. The second time that Adah says this poem is after she finds only the remainings of Methuselah. This poem acts as a prayer as well hoping for Methuselah’s best wishes in heaven.

7) “I do not think he would recognize these fruits wholly concealed in their own skins. After he learns to do that, it will be another whole step to make him see that fruit is not a thing he must rely on the hands of mankind for, but grows on trees. Treason grows but for kind man” (138). – Adah Price

I thought this passage had an alternative meaning. Initially I assumed that this was talking about Adah’s paradise flycatcher, but when looking at this passage a second time it seems that Adah’s talking about herself. This metaphor is talking about how people judge Adah by first impression and don’t understand who she really is on the inside. She relates herself to a fruit and that she mustn’t rely on people criticizing her, but instead grow further as an individual. What was odd to see was the last sentence, “Treason grows but for kind man.” When it mentions treason it contradicts itself saying a kind man would do something immoral.

8) “We were preacher’s daughters to begin with, and now we were really onions in the petunia patch, amongst all those ninth-grade girls with flirty eyes and foundation makeup and bosoms poking out the fronts of their mohair sweater sets” (149). – Leah Price

From this passage we get the outlook of Leah and her opinions about life in Georgia. She talks about physical appearances where impressions meant everything. The way that the Price daughters were raised they didn’t really matter too much about the value of how you appeal to others. Leah compares herself to the way all the other classmates look and sometimes I’m assuming that Leah doesn’t always want to be known as the preacher’s daughter. She compares herself and her sisters as onions in a petunia patch which means that she sticks out (not necessarily in a good way) to the other girls in school. This is a whole other side to Leah because my initial impression of her is that she’s dedicated just like her father to religion.

9) “It used to astonish us that everyone here has so many children: six or eight or nine. But now, suddenly, it seems no one has enough” (170). – Adah Price

This passage helps give more of a background of the reality of the conditions that the Congo people deal with. We understand that many of the Congo children are fascinated with the Price sisters, but what we don’t know is that these children are suffering from diseases that the Price sisters are immune to due to special medicines they have access to. While on the other hand the Congo children are suffering each day and that’s what they value from the Price sisters, not only their appearance, but all the resources they posses as well.

10) “Only this and nothing more, the tell-tale heart, tale of the carnivore. None of what he was taught in the house of the master. Only feathers, without the ball of Hope inside. Feathers at last at last and no words at all” (186). – Adah Price

The final poem Adah tells us deeply concerns the Price sister’s beloved parrot, Methuselah. This tells us the relationship that Adah especially had with him. She valued everything that Methuselah had to offer as their house pet. She was use to having him always talking and saying things that would anger her father, but she wasn’t accustomed to the silence that has now arrived. I wonder why Kingsolver decided to capitalize the word “Hope?” Adah feared the day would come when a carnivore of the Congo finally took advantage of Methuselah and made him its prey. Methuselah played an important role to the Price’s; he was the one who revealed what went on in their household. He helped teach the Price’s about themselves and each of their family members as well.

Deliver Me

This video I found off the same site as the song "The Gift." The person who writes and raps these songs is known as Lyricks. This video really meant something because it wasn't just your normal public service announcement to help donate to people in Africa. It was more, it showed how this rapper, Lyricks went to help make a difference in this world. Like we tried to address in the Singer Solution paper that giving money is one thing but donating time and effort to better someone's life could mean more on a emotional level. In the video you can see that not only does Lyricks rap for the kids in Africa he also helps them have a good time and entertains them. What I thought was also interesting was that throughout the video clip there was titles on certain pictures. These pictures were disturbing at times but had a great effect of my impression of this video. It starts off as. This was my village. This was my school. She was my sister. He was my best friend. She was my mother. We are real too. I don't want money I don't want pity. I want to live. The video ends with a black screen with the sentence. They are invisible when we choose not to see. This was a powerful message because it's true. Whether you think it or not we go through our lives thinking nothing could be better. That may sound selfish, but there's always going to be someone who's in a worse condition than you and we forget that at times. Lyricks helped me realize that message and I admit I feel really guilty at times. These images we see about poverty, it's all reality and nothing faked. This video is just trying to tell us that we can all help out in any way or fashion. If your intent to help others is good than you should feel proud of yourself, whether if it's donating materialistic possessions or donating your time and effort to make someone smile today you've helped someone.

Top of the World

Top of the World

You don't know it, but
Sometimes, I go to a hill that overlooks the landscape's mask of city lights
For a sip of momentary grace.
On this brink of everything I know, I can gain
An eyeful of the lost Atlantis in the human soul,
And a breath that fills my lungs with the air between two stars.
If right now, you
Were to capture this elation In the framework of your mind,
Or find transcendance through these words,
Then at most you would know
Nothing
Of the beauty your existence throws to me.
For mine is a love no experience,
No thought, no measure, no words
Could ever degrade into reality by virtue of degree."

This video clip from Boy Meets World was really entertaining because the poem was very meaningful to me. The character who wrote the poem, Sean Hunter, cared deeply for Angela except he couldn't tell her how he felt because he couldn't tell her through a casual conversation. I personally enjoy to write poems and this was what inspired me to write because it taught me you can have much more meaning when you write with style. Sometimes when you say something in an extraordinary matter than words can speak louder than actions. When I viewed this poem it was interesting to imagine what the author was trying to say such as the line, "An eyeful of the lost Atlantis in the human soul, And a breath that fills my lungs with the air between two stars." I'm just found dumbfounded analyzing these words. When you speak in metaphors it makes what you're saying much more interesting.

Poisonwood Discussion

Background: Mrs. Watson asked us what the words in bold meant to us when we heard them. Down below are our personal definitions of the words and metaphors that we've come up with in class that we thought were seen throughout the book from pages 1 - 83. Below these terms were some questions that Mrs. Watson posed to our class to think about and give our personal opinions on.

Mbote: The Congo term for greeting and departing/Hello & Goodbye
Anatole: Teacher/translator for church and translates what Nathan preaches
Axelroot: The pilot that transports supplies to the Price family
Demonstration Garden: Garden
that Nathan takes care of and nurtures to grow plants
Mama Tataba: The cook and maid for the Price household whose physical appearance is a little deformed and leaves the Price's because doesn't approve of Nathan's baptizing
Methuselah: Parrot who
reveals overheard secrets/words in the household such as "damn"
Brother Fowles: Missionary before Prices arrived.
The Verse: Certain scripture
in the Bible that daughters repeat and rewrite to be punished.




How Kingsolver make the Price daughters so unique?

Kingsolver makes each Price daughter so unique in their own way because he gives each girl a specific role in the family. He tells you where they stand in terms of "rankings" of the household from the views of the parents. This is normally based upon the daughters physical and mental appearance. Kingsolver differentiates each daughter by allowing all of them to give their side of how the story goes including thoughts, feelings and beliefs on important matters.


Specifically what do the daughters reveal about themselves, each other, their parents and their lives in Africa?

What is quite noticed throughout hearing each girls thoughts is that they constantly compare themselves to their sisters. Whether it is how they look to what their parents think of them. These comparisons tell us a lot about each daughter's personality as well as physical appearance.

Metaphor

• Poinsonwood Tree - Nathan tries to "uproot it" relates to the Congo village Nathan tries to change it.
• Methuselah - Nathan sets Methuselah free by throwing him out the door. Nathan has trouble relating and interacting with the Congo villagers. They like and favor Brother Fowles over Nathan.
• Demonstration Garden - You have to adapt to surroundings. Nathan is just spreading his seed of Christianity to the Congo people and it's killing him because they don't want to accept it.
• Adah finds serenity with the Congo surroundings. Outside it's hard to judge her and easy to misinterpret who she is personality wise. People like Nathan and others where the Price's use to live in Georgia misjudge who Adah is. Unlike the Congo people who can also relate well to her as well since they are both victims.
• Rachel Price acts vain and judges people plenty of times. She isn't really into trying new things like the whole Congo experience. To the Congo natives Rachel is noticed the most because her features stand out to them the most since she looks very different with her long blond hair.
• Leah Price wants to be accepted by her father, Nathan so she helps her father in anyway possible.
• Ruth May Price is a simple and at times forgetful child as she wonders around. When Kingsolver has Ruth May speak she normally reflects on what is going on in the story and gives backgrounds on certain characters. Since Ruth May is the youngest she is very accepting of her surroundings and is coping pretty well with this Congo experience.
  

Poppin My Collar

This video speaks to me because it has a very good message. I believe the message the group Three Six Mafia was trying to portray was that dreams can come true if you work hard at it. This song is one of my favorites because it has a sweet beat to it and suggestive lyrics which makes a lot of sense when analyzing them. What I thought was quite interesting was when they switched from being old to young throughout the song. It reminds me that whatever age you are you can strive to what you want to be just as what those kids did in the beginning of the music video as they tried to sell their candy merchandise. They were working hard to make an honest days work in order to pay for their "piece of mind" as they so called it. When they use the term "poppin my collar" I believe they're referring to being successful. When I get older I hope that I'll be "poppin my collar" until I die.

Good Use of Judgement

This video was a trailer for the sequel to the movie jackass. I had just finished watching the movie and the stunts and pranks they pull are very disgusting and hilarious at the same time. After viewing Jackass 2 it made me want to try some deadly stunts just for fun and laughs, but unfortunately for me it was three in the morning and I was tired so I went to sleep instead. Just as I was about to go to bed I started to think if the movie made me want to do a stunt what would happen to others who've watched it? Even though the video warned its viewers not to re-attempt anything preformed in the movie I'm sure plenty of people have tried and have gotten seriously injured. Which poses the question, are moviemakers creating suitable movies for viewers? After watching Jackass 2 I'd have to answer that question by agreeing that moviemakers aren't setting a good example to the public.

Myself Against I

Sometimes when you want to achieve your personal best you get overwhelmed of the competition you're facing. You might even have the idea that when you reach your personal best you could beat some of the toughest opponents or players of professional level. That may lead you astray from your original goal of key word your personal best. If you focus on yourself instead of your opponents then you'll teach yourself new things. You can learn alot more about how you play and how you can make yourself better. According to a writer of the book "Personal Best," Marc Woods says,"In beating cancer as a teenager, I may have lost a leg, but I gained a new respect for life and a second chance. My experience taught me to approach life in a different way. It taught me to measure myself against my potential and not against others. It taught me about personal responsibility. It taught me that life is about being the best person you can be." Which is indeed a valuable lesson. When you finally do reach what you think is your personal best then you'll find maybe you could be better than your toughest opponents, but not always. The thought of determining yourself to be better than someone is not thoroughly becoming your personal best, so don't just limit yourself to comparing to others.

Peace By Inches

(excuse the cussing)
This video relates to my essential question because it contains words of wisdom that teaches me about life and hard work. It helps me to realize and actually value the amount of an inch. The coach is speaking to his players because they're losing a football game and he thinks they're in "hell." He believes that in order to come out of "hell" they're going the have to crawl inch by inch. This relates exactly to my essential question because if I'm trying to reach where I've set my goal upon I'll have to work in the same metaphorical term that coach used, "inch by inch" to make it to where I want to be. "On this team fight for that inch. On this team we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch because we know when we add up all those inches that's going to make the f***ing difference between winning or losing." When you think about it as a whole you begin to imagine yourself putting all the effort you can for something so small, an inch. Then again your one inch closer to where you need to be and if you continue to fight for all these inches then your outcome will be victorious. "In any fight it's the guy who's willing to die who's going to win that inch. I know I'm not going to have any life in me because I'm still willing to fight and die for that inch because that's what living is." His philosophy of fighting for an inch is truly inspirational because he shoves the fact in your mind that fighting for just one inch isn't going to be easy you're going to have to kill the guy who's fighting with you just so you can have that inch. He mentioned something important earlier that every second and every inch matters in a game or in life whether you believe it or not. He said, "Life is this game of inches...The margin for error is so small. One half a step too late or too early you don't quite make it. One half a second too slow too fast you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us." All it is, is a matter of who's going to win the most inches. If I want to achieve my personal best it would take more than just practice, it also takes execution when it matters. With the correct balance between determination and optimism you'll with out a doubt obtain those inches.

Adah Eyes

Sunrise Tantalize, evil eyes hypnotize: that is the morning Congo pink. Any morning, every morning. Blossomy rose-color birdsong air streaked sour with breakfast cookfires. A wide red plank of dirt – the so called road – flat – out in front of us, continuous in theory from here to somewhere distant. But the way I see it through my Adah eyes it is a flat plank clipped into pieces, rectangles and trapezoids, by the skinny black – line shadows of tall palm trunks. Through Adah eyes, oh the world is a-boggle with colors and shapes competing for a half-brain’s attention. (30).

Through my Adah eye’s I see a sunny day’s surprise. Faster than any sunrise. I plan to rewind my Mondays. Slowly forget Sundays. Sundays forget slowly. From here to there walk on this colorless path they call direction. Encompassed by leaves, they own me. Surrounded by this concrete mess. I swear, you don’t know me. I walk with a limp in my step, but that doesn’t slow me. Let’s walk to class. Will you be my valentine? I just couldn’t let this opportunity pass. Before you judge what you’ve accepted, let’s watch now as enemies break bread. I’m a silent rebel in the heat of battle. Losing interest in me leaves me in shackles. Already the scene is calm and serene. If you hear my opinion you’ll assume I’m obscene. You do what’s okay, but what I do is based from what I say.

Poinsonwood Bible Girls

Background: Mrs. Watson asked us to give our opinions on each of the roles the children Leah, Ruth May, Rachel and Adah will have in the Poinsonwood Bible.

Leah, I believe will play the role as the suck up religious follower. She'll always wants to be with her father and win over his attention to her in order to be just like him when she grows up. Her role may also be to mirror her father and be there so that the father can present her with more religious thoughts and passages.

Ruth May will be important as she plays the opinion giver in the story and helps us (as the reader) by providing us with key details in the book about each characters actions and thoughts. She can also be the middle person who helps end rising tensions that break out since the Price family has moved to Africa.

Rachel's role would be to act like the tourist, and have the attitude like she "wishes she could be back home" type of daughter. Sometimes in the book she seems like she doesn't even want to be in Africa in the first place. I predict as well that she'll be the snotty, vain "blonde" girl who always compares herself to the Africans of the Congo.

Adah I'm curious to see how her handicap and gift would play a exciting role in the Poinsonwood Bible. Although she doesn't seem to be the most outgoing and most looked upon daughter in the household I think there's more that meets the eye with Adah.

Poisonwood Bible Quotes

Leah

"The education of his family's souls is never far from my father's thoughts. He often says he views himself as the captain of a sinking mess of female minds," (36).

I found this quote significant because it tells a lot of the background of the father. In the book we notice he's a very religious follower of God. It's interesting though how the author would frame this sentence to say that "...he views himself as the captain of a sinking mess of female minds," Does that mean he doesn't appreciate and respect woman as equals? Maybe it's the fact he's surrounded by females that has him somewhat uncomfortable. Sometimes the father's morals and thoughts are sometimes questionable because we know he's a preacher of the words of the Lord, but can we hold him to stay reliable?


"'Because, Leah, the Lord helps those that help themselves.' 'Oh!' I cried, my heart rushing to my throat, for of course I had known that. If only I could ever bring forth all that I knew quickly enough to suit Father," (37).

When I first read this quote I imagined Leah to respond in a very sarcastic tone. Then again seeing that she's grown up with her father always teaching her religious lessons I'm thinking she's learned to respect him by now. Then I read the last line, "If only I could ever bring forth all that I knew quickly enough to suit Father," which tells me she tries hard to impress him by showing her understanding of his religious lessons. Although it may sound harsh, I view Leah as a "suck up" to her father to gain his approval. Compared to the rest of his daughters, Adah for example, isn't as favored upon as Leah.


Rachel

"Of course, everyone kept staring at me, as they always do here. I am the most extreme blonde imaginable. I have sapphire-blue eyes, white eyelashes, and platinum blonde hair that falls to my waist. It is so fine I have to use Breck Special Formulated and don't care to think what I'll do when my one bottle that Father allowed runs out," (47-48).

From this quote we learn a lot about the character Rachel. Unlike the rest of the daughters she's not the most modest. She's taking this whole experience of moving to Africa in the wrong way. She acts like she was forced to live there as if she was abandoned. She views herself at a higher rank as well, standing above the Congo natives. She imagines herself as a "queen" in a sense introducing a whole different world to the Africans.

"Yet, for all her slaving over a hot stove, two million miles away. He just mostly stared out at the river, where no one was fixing to get dunked that day, whatsoever... every one of them no doubt thinking he's king of the world," (49).

Since the day the Price family arrived to the Congo the father seemed to have a major impact on the lives of the Africans. He dictates their whole culture and assumes they'll all listen and follow his demands of changing religion and the way they dress etc. It'd be interesting to find out the African perspective in the story I'm predicting that Mama Mwanza will give the Price family a native view of their impact on them.

Ruth May

"They used to be white but now they're dirt-color. Anything that ever was white is not white here. That is not a color you see. Even a white flower opening up on a bush just looks doomed for this world," (50).

I thought this quote was very deep and meaningful. It possessed a lot of possible ideas as well as possible meanings. "Even a white flower opening up on a bush just looks doomed for this world," my first impression was that it was speaking metaphorically about the Price's new experience moving to the Congo and living in this new environment. As I read the second part of the last line, "doomed for this world," it'd made me think again. What would make the author say such a thing, that a white flower would make a bush looked doomed for this world, just wouldn't make sense. Maybe he was inferring that a new influence in a metaphorical relation to the flower, the Price family to the Congo, the bush. It might be a positive experience or a negative one depending on how the inhabitants of the Congo accept them.


"'Do I have to tell you girls ever single minute don't stare!' But now Mama looks too. Sometimes she says to us or just herself, Now Tata Zinsana is the one missing all the fingers, isn't he? Or she'll say, That big gouter like a goose egg under her chin, that's how I remember Mama Nguza. Father said,'They are living in darkness. Broken in body and soul, and don't even see how they could be healed," (53).

This gives us a lot of information about the thoughts and ideas of the experience the Price's are undergoing currently. This allows us to get inside their heads of their feelings for the people they're interacting with on a daily basis. For one thing we know that the parents as well as the daughters don't view the Africans as high as themselves because of their physical disfigure and unfortunate conditions. You can tell even though the father is trying to help them I receive this negative vibe about him. Especially about the line, "They are living in darkness. Broken in body and soul, and don't even see how they could be healed," Maybe that's what I dislike about the father. He assumes that his teachings are always correct and thinks he's helping this race to become "manageable".

Adah

"When I finish reading a book from front to back, I read it back to front. It is a different book, back to front, and you can learn new things from it. It from things new learn can you and front to back book different a is it?" (57).

It's interesting to learn about the character Adah. She is a new and different character that stands out above the rest of the other three sisters . Adah brings something to this story that is out of the ordinary it makes me curious as to what her role is as a character in this fascinating story. I also looked at this quote in a metaphorical sense as if Adah was talking about herself of what you could learn from her. In my opinion she relates herself to a book and how she reads it. If you get to know Adah by just her appearance then you won't understand her. On the other hand if you get to know her thoughts and personality you'll find she's a very unique and bright individual.

"...Serene as the Virgin Mother in her barnful of shepherds and scabby livestock, one amazing, beautiful thing: a large, oval white platter painted with delicate blue forget-me-nots, bone china, so fine that sunlight passes through it. Its origin is unfathomable. If we forgot ourselves we might worship it," (61).

At first when looking through this quote I didn't quite understand the appearance of this object that seems very valuable and idolized to be described in such a manner. When looking up the definition for forget-me-nots and unfathomable I've learned about flowers and origins that just can't be discovered. It's appalling how they describe this platter, although the author does a great job of illustrating it's importance to the Price family, "If we forgot ourselves we might worship it." I thought the significance of this quote would carry on and have a bigger role in the story. The last line got me to think a little more. "If we forgot ourselves we might worship it," meaning how religious their family is. It seems that all the father talks about is religion and passages from the bible, so I thought this quote was being directed towards him.

"This is our permanent order: Leah, Ruth May, Rachel, Adah. Neither chronological nor alphabetical but it rarely varies, unless Ruth May gets distracted and falls out of line," (62).

By learning the this order it helped me get a better understanding of where each person lies in the "ranks" of the household. It was kind of assumed that Adah would be the last person in the order because of her misfunctioning. Although it was surprising to learn that there was even an order because I'd imagine that the parents who offer the "word of God" would have such shallow intentions.

Leah

"None of us spoke. For Adah that's normal, of course, and for that very reason she often gets accused when none of us speaks up. And truthfully, if any of us was disposed to use curse words, it would be Adah, who could not care less about sin and salvation," (66).

This quote relates to the quote up above how the daughters are viewed and ranked. This enforces the reasons why the family looks down upon Adah because in the story as soon as someone curses it becomes a major deal in the household. It's interesting to learn what Adah's views are on sin and salvation that she doesn't really care to much about it when her whole family is pretty into religion being their purpose in Africa.

"I remember running to throw my arms around Mother's knees when he regaled her with words and worse for curtains unclosed or slips showing - the sins of womanhood. We could see early on that all grown-ups aren't equally immune to damage," (68).

This quote helps build my case that the father is very strong dictator in the family. Since he's the only man of the household he's given such a demanding figure. The mother doesn't have too much of a say in how things are run in the household because all their teachings come straight from the bible. This relates directly to the quote, "...all grown-ups aren't equally immune to damage." This quote is a great example of how the mother is viewed by the father as well because he views women in general as unequals, "sins of womanhood." Sometimes he looks down upon them as well like he assumes they're bound to sin and just waits for them to prove he's right. This passage also helps inform the reader that it's not only the children that receive punishment it's also at times the mother.

Quintessential Item

Background: Mrs. Watson asked us to find an object that we think is an essential need in life. This item must be something extremely important and valuable that we can't live without.

My quintessential item of which I couldn't live without would have to be my computer. My computer is my main source of thought. I've typed out homework assignments, essays, thoughts, feelings and emotions which are all saved on that specific piece of hardware. I also value my computer because it helps me explore a different world. I can research things on the interent that I've never learned before. The interenet also provides me with a way to learn what the newest songs that were just released or the most updated news reports. Anything you can think of the internet probably has it available. I also hold important mp3 music files on itunes. Without my computer i wouldn't be able to upload music onto my ipod. Music is what keeps my alive in a way also. But I wouldn't be able to listen to music unless my computer wasn't there. All these important options that the computer offers such as instant messaging helps me to keep in contact with my friends. Now that we base every single item of work we do on the computer I'd be devistated if I didn't have access to mines.

That's What I'll Give

"Nothing Less," in my opinion one of the most epic songs ever created. It shows determination and the pursuit of happiness. They describe one mission, their life goal to give nothing less and to be nothing less. They've analyzed their well being through their life stories and background history. Within the song they reveal all the steps and stages you must face so you can get everything you can out of life. 1. Birth 2. Belief 3.Respect Awareness 4. Love 5. Re-evaluation of the previous steps 6. Mixed Emotions 7. Prevented from reaching heaven. They illustrate these great points in life and they leave it at that so they wouldn't be anything less of who they are. They talk about themselves as artists and their struggle to be the best they can be to unlock their potential as rappers and as individuals. My favorite line in that song is, "...I know my expectations are high, but I refuse to lay low ... even though they say no, I follow through if it's true." They persevere so that their, "... outcome is legendary and nothing less," which sums up the whole song and their persistence to be where they wanted to be in life. They portrayed a message saying if you desire something you've got to give everything you can to obtain it. Another way you can put it is by the phrase, "I gave it my all." This relates to my essential question of how to reach my personal best because it reveals an important factor which is motivation and perseverance. If I'm planning to achieve my personal best then I must maintain these essential components or else I'll never make it.

Genesis 1:28

And God said unto them,
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it: and have dominion
over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

This quote sounds like one persons opinion about what God had told them to do and what their purpose on earth is. It reminds me of divine right where the kings in the middle ages told the townspeople God granted him and his family power over the land. The main section that enforces my opinion is this phrase “…dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” To use the word dominion is strong signifying seniority and authority.

This quote implies many things about how people should behave. It insists that we take charge of this world and become in a way our own "dictators" by utilizing the world to the fullest. It’s one opinion, but it doesn’t mean people should be pressured into living this way.
This quote relates to the following chapters because it promotes and helps build a message that it’s saying to the reader. The first chapter sets the scene of an unfortunate family in the Congo of Africa who lives off the jungle and its resources. What the quote is implying is that we should all make use of what we’re provided on this earth and we shouldn’t feel limited to what’s around us.

The chapters, I’m assuming are going to describe the relationships between mankind and nature. This book might solve the question we’re trying to solve this sophomore year about what kind of world is this and how do we live in it. There may also be some situations of this missionary woman struggling to survive with her four daughters and we’ll see how she copes with her condition.

Interview

Background: An assignment given to us in class was to interview a friend about his/her thoughts about two essays we've read in class titled, "The Singer Solution to World Poverty," by Peter Singer and, "The Gift" by Ian Parker. After reading both papers heated debates and points were risen and now through this blog you can have the opinion of one of my classmates.

1) What do you define as a morally decent life?
To live a morally decent life is simply taking care of yourself & your family by respecting your fellow man. I also think that to live a morally decent life you have to give respect in order to gain it.

2) After reading both essays do you feel like you have an obligation or guilt to live a morally decent life?

No, after reading to what Singer had to say I felt disturbed and angry at his opinion. He had no reason to tell me what I should do with my money and how I should spend it. I bet if he was put in that situation then he wouldn’t have done what he advised.

3) After reading Singer’s essay do you have an increased awareness of how you spend your money or any differences in your decisions of personal management?

No, my feelings of how I spend my money are still the same and haven’t changed after reading his essay.

4) Who do you think has lived a morally decent life? Anyone famous like Martin Luther King Jr. or Gandhi, people who’ve fought for more than just poverty but human rights, justice and peace?

Yes, I believe that Gandhi has lived a morally decent life because he practiced self sacrifice. He gave up his time and effort to create a point to those that opposed him and tried his best to make a difference in so many people’s lives. He tried his best by sacrificing what he had to change the world and benefit his people. He was an all around type of hero. He was well educated and was a good husband. He fought to justify religion, harsh taxes, and simple rights to help improve everyone’s lifestyles.

5) When you say donating “efforts” what would you do specifically that could affect a great deal of people?

What I would do to help a great deal of people would be by going to that specific place and giving my time and effort to educate them. I would teach them morals and set up many community service projects.

Pursuit of Happiness

Is everything a matter of choice? Is there no difference between spending money on yourself and spending money to save someone's life? Is every individual entitled to the pursuit of his or her own happiness regardless of the consequences? Are some happinesses (I know it's not a word. Just humor me) more lasting and meaningful than others?

To answer all these questions in an overall perspective I think everything is based on a matter of choice. The decision you choose is totally up to you. You shouldn't feel pressured to spend your money on yourself or someone's life. You should be entitled to base on your own satisfaction upon yourself. There should be no obligation to spend the money you earn for another purpose that you don't approve of. There is some limit to what someone can define as happiness. If it’s satisfying to them to steal from stores then no, that particular individual should not pursue their own happiness. The consequences would be enormous if their “happiness” wasn’t contained and grew out of hand. If we had a clearer image of what, someone’s so called happiness would be then maybe I could identify the situation properly. Depending on what they would pursue, for example if it’s against the law then I wouldn’t advise it. There are some examples that cross the line between entitled and constrained. That’s why there are laws in this world that prevent people from hurting others and keeping us in a safe environment.
Movies have raised our imagination to differentiate what seems decent to do and what is irresponsible. Writers of movies formulate situations where the character finds it difficult to distinguish the line between breaking the law for the better of their own regard and breaking the law for other peoples sake. I honestly can't pick a side. If you were confronted with the situation that the "Singer Solution to World Poverty" offered. If you had to choose between your life savings or a child (of whom you don't knows life). Of course you'd have a guilty conscious if you chose to save your car instead of a child's life. Would you consider this decision wrong and immoral if they were to pursue their own happiness? Singer also poses the statement that we all could live off of $30,000 a year because of the basic necessities of living. He says if we live off of everything we need instead of buying things we want then everyone in this world would benefit. Although he researched that, "...evolutionary psychologists tell us that human nature just isn't sufficiently altruistic to make it plausible that many people will sacrifice so much for strangers," (4). It's true that i honestly wouldn't spend majority of the money I've worked for and donate it to total strangers who are less fortunate. To answer the question, is there no difference between spending money on yourself and spending money to save someone's life, yes there is a difference. Spending money on yourself is to help benefit your own means and if you were to spend money to save someone else's life that would benefit them instead of your own.
On the other hand, if the scenario was someone trying to improve themselves in a sport or a job then they should go on and try for it. Regardless of what you’re trying to pursue, you always have a choice in life.I'm sure there will be some people who have a stronger idea of happiness than others. What causes there to be a difference is their will and passion to obtain that "happiness." As well as this situation for instance, let's compare the happiness of a child who desires to win a pop warner football game compared to the happiness of a pro football player who was in the super bowl. I'm sure whoever was in that super bowl situation would have desired to win more than anyone else.
Of course we can all agree that there will always be someone trying to prevent you from reaching to where you want to be. If it really makes you happy just consider the consequences and never put someones life on the line. If you don’t want to be punished by them then don’t follow through with it, although if your will to obtain happiness is that great then you should go for it.