Monday, December 14, 2009

Yourself First? Or Others?

Do you think you should take care of yourself first? Or others? I think a person does have a right to look out for themself first as long as it is not a selfish act. Taking care of oneself first is the primary basis for a person's decisions because once you make decision for yourself, you know how to make decisions for others too. If you don't take care of yourself first, you might not make the right decisions for other people and then that would only cause problems for others. Others probably won't want to help you either unless they are sure of what they are doing first. And that means that they will take care of themself first. Sometimes, people don't have to take care of themselves first but that is only if they have experience in what they are doing. But still, they should practice what they are doing so that they are sure of what they are doing. A person definitely passionate if they truly really want to take care of others first rather than themselves.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

A Christmas Carol

December 24, 1843

My nephew came today, for, it is Christmas Eve.... He told me, "A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!" Bah! Humbug! It was an impropriety. He then invited me to eat dinner with his family. I told him, "Good afternoon!" I have hatred for this time of year. Everyone is cheery, everyone is jolly. And no one gets any money! Yet still, everyone ignores me. And, have I not a problem with that. All the children run around telling the townspeople to have a merry Christmas. What right do they have to be merry? They are all poor enough! You find yourself a year older but not an hour richer! Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart! He should! I should tell all those fools to keep Christmas their own way, and let me keep it in mine! The only thing more ridiculous than merry Christmas is falling in love! Bah! Nothing in the world should be joyous. Nor happy, loving, merry, gracious, pleasing or enthusiastic! Just leave me, and my clerk here, alone. And do NOT disturb us ever! You shall only learn that I will shun you from my counting-house.........

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Pearl Symbolism

I think we learn that the pearl symbolizes great beauty, grace, and luck but at the same time the pearl can cause selfishness, greed, and protection.

Kino- Kino starts to act very protective for his family and the pearl because he now depends on the pearl to send his son, Coyotito, to school, to help his village, to get better new clothes and shoes, raise a family, and perhaps get a shotgun.
Juana- Juana becomes very excited for what could come to her family now that they have the Pearl of the World. But, when the people of the village start showing jelousy toward them, she become scared and worried and feels that the pearl has only brought evil, and should be thrown back into the sea, or broken in half. She feels that the pearl must be gone from her family.
Neighbors- The neighbors start to feel jealous and greedy, as if Kino doesn't deserve the pearl and they should have it because they are poor too and they also need help. They don't understand that Kino got the pearl because of luck not because he found it on purpose.
The Doctor- The doctor, of course, doesn't think much at all of Kino's family at first because he knows that they don't have money to pay him, but after he hears that Kino has found the Pearl of the World, he treats Kino as one of his prized patients.
The Priest- The Priest also acts kind of selfish because he never notices Kino before but now since he heard Kino was rich, he starts to think of what he has done for Kino and what Kino owes him.

The Townspeople- The townspeople are divided. Some feel very jelous of Kino and his pearl, some feel proud of Kino, because he is only a poor peasant, and some feel jelous and happy for Kino. The townspeople want Kino to share his wealth with them though, so that they all are rich.