Something that really made me think about this book was its ending. The book ended with obscurely and confusing. Personally, I wanted to hear how he returned to his hometown and moved on and how everything in the holocaust affected him although we see previous of his life when he talks about the future, for example when the Parisan woman gives coins to the starving kids.
Eliezer went through a lot of changes as the book progressed. He gradually lost his faith on God after he abandoned them and left them to die. I don't blame him because I am sure that many did the same. Even myself, when something goes wrong question where is God. If with mere problems I wonder that, imagine the fury and rage that they most have gone through after they were left to die with no reason at all. The other notable change that he undergoes relates to his father. Clearly, his relation with him gets weaker and weaker and as he sees children who beat their parents to death, he questions himself about his father and if he is an important person or someone who absorbs his energy and eats food that could be his. This idea sounds crazy, to kill your own father and it is not backed up, not even under this sircumstances but the line between what is right and what is wrong had already been crossed and what was sane and insane was no longer something different.
Definitively the book is great and the title fits perfecly, specially because there is no day after the book, its simply night and sorrow. The last sentence of the book. when he glances at a mirror and a corspe stares right back at him symbolizes all the pain that they went through and also means that death was pretty much what they went through. It is one of book that makes you question yourself many things and makes even a slight difference in your life. I had already read a book about the holocaust in 7th grade but i dont remember the name. The diffrence was that that book was based on the adventure on how the escaped and etc. This book is more of a memoair with fiction. I am looking forward to read similar books.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Night, Caged Animals
From what I've read, I cant stop thinking on how innocent these people are. Is the fact that they dont know what is awaiting them and the false hopes that they have that it'll all get better what makes them so animal-liked. I beleive that that is how Germans saw Jews with their twisted thinking and that's why they had to go through similar processess.
For instance, think about a pig that lives with his family on a farm and one day, he is taken away, probably suspecting that there is something wrong since that had never happened to him, yet thinking that there is a small chance that the outcome is satisfying. As time passes, he gets closer to the butcher and thats where he sees other pigs like him, being slaughtered and teared into pieces by the butcher. Thats when he definitively knows that he is going for the worst. He thinks about all the moments in which he was warned by his companions, those who knew what was going to happen yet, didnt beleive them because had a false hope and those ideas seemed bizarre at the moment.
Probably he thinks about the moment in which he could've run and tried to escape,obviously with a risk of death but having an option to survive is bigger than having to die at all costs. This reminds me to a part of the story, about in page 16, 17 in which he says that nor the Jews or the Germans were running the Ghetto, it was false hope. It really puts you through a lot of thinking, how someone was able to manipulate a whole country to follow his wicked ideas of freedom or purity which affected consequencially the rights of Jews who didnt do anything to deserve. I beleive that the author's purpose at the beggining of the book was to show their fear and the stress they followed with a hope of something that never came. That makes me thing, how do all these animals feel when they go through this same process? How did all these people felt after they lost everything without any reason. It really makes me thing, were does Karma fits in all this?
For instance, think about a pig that lives with his family on a farm and one day, he is taken away, probably suspecting that there is something wrong since that had never happened to him, yet thinking that there is a small chance that the outcome is satisfying. As time passes, he gets closer to the butcher and thats where he sees other pigs like him, being slaughtered and teared into pieces by the butcher. Thats when he definitively knows that he is going for the worst. He thinks about all the moments in which he was warned by his companions, those who knew what was going to happen yet, didnt beleive them because had a false hope and those ideas seemed bizarre at the moment.
Probably he thinks about the moment in which he could've run and tried to escape,obviously with a risk of death but having an option to survive is bigger than having to die at all costs. This reminds me to a part of the story, about in page 16, 17 in which he says that nor the Jews or the Germans were running the Ghetto, it was false hope. It really puts you through a lot of thinking, how someone was able to manipulate a whole country to follow his wicked ideas of freedom or purity which affected consequencially the rights of Jews who didnt do anything to deserve. I beleive that the author's purpose at the beggining of the book was to show their fear and the stress they followed with a hope of something that never came. That makes me thing, how do all these animals feel when they go through this same process? How did all these people felt after they lost everything without any reason. It really makes me thing, were does Karma fits in all this?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Analects 19 & 20
I am really confused about these two last books. The first one is the knowledge of his disciples that is similar to his but nothing as remarkable as what I read in the past books. The one quote I liked in book 19 was the last one. The second book is another of Confucius relations of balance, which I mentioned on my previous post.
19.21 Zigong said, “A gentleman’s errors are like an eclipse of the sun or the moon: when he errs, everyone notices it, but when he makes amends, everyone looks up to him”.
This quote is great but what I liked wasn’t the meaning but what it said. It used a comparison between something that was mysterious back then as an eclipse to the path of a gentleman which I believe is really important in the book because from what I read, a gentleman is that who follows the path to goodness. I’ve liked this book so far for its richness in comparison because after all, no one is able to understand every single quote, mainly because it applied to a whole different system of ideals that the one on which we live.
19.21 Zigong said, “A gentleman’s errors are like an eclipse of the sun or the moon: when he errs, everyone notices it, but when he makes amends, everyone looks up to him”.
This quote is great but what I liked wasn’t the meaning but what it said. It used a comparison between something that was mysterious back then as an eclipse to the path of a gentleman which I believe is really important in the book because from what I read, a gentleman is that who follows the path to goodness. I’ve liked this book so far for its richness in comparison because after all, no one is able to understand every single quote, mainly because it applied to a whole different system of ideals that the one on which we live.
analects 15 17 18
From book fifteen you can deduce that he was very independent in a way. Confucius didn’t let anyone or anything to change his ideals. I admire that because not many of us can say that they are influenced by what happens around them. Yet, I’m not saying that we should ignore other ideas or points of view but that we shall not take them for granted. For instance, if everyone likes blue and I like red, I should continue liking red instead of blue unless I my self think about it and end up liking blue.
Something that I see often in his passages is that he always questions everything. For example, he might say that gentleman aren’t trustworthy just because they are honest or if someone is smart doesn’t mean he is a good speaker or vice versa. I believe that those are the questions you have to ask if you want to keep your own ideals because if you say that everything that shines is gold, then you’d be following incorrect, misleading ideas or propositions.
I really liked a passage in book 17. The passage is 17.23 and talks about balance. He says that courage without righteousness would end up in being a criminal while righteousness without courage would end up in a political disorder. This makes me think that about all of what he has said on his past books and now I think that the most important thing for Confucius is balance because without balance you have nothing. I believe that he is very wise because I cant think about a philosopher or a successful person that carried an unbalanced life.
Something that I see often in his passages is that he always questions everything. For example, he might say that gentleman aren’t trustworthy just because they are honest or if someone is smart doesn’t mean he is a good speaker or vice versa. I believe that those are the questions you have to ask if you want to keep your own ideals because if you say that everything that shines is gold, then you’d be following incorrect, misleading ideas or propositions.
I really liked a passage in book 17. The passage is 17.23 and talks about balance. He says that courage without righteousness would end up in being a criminal while righteousness without courage would end up in a political disorder. This makes me think that about all of what he has said on his past books and now I think that the most important thing for Confucius is balance because without balance you have nothing. I believe that he is very wise because I cant think about a philosopher or a successful person that carried an unbalanced life.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Analects 7 8 11
I discovered that one of the secrets of the great philosophers of all times is that they are able to remain calm in all the situations. Confucius manages to remain serene and that, we all know, allows us to take the best descisions. I beleive that what happens around you doesnt have to affect you and therefore, you could remain calm while chaos surrounds you.
I also beleive that music is very important for anyone with such qualities because music allows you to express feelings and let go of emotions that are held up deep inside you. Music is essential and i beleive it could also be used in meditation. I think that Confucius is very similar to Budda in many ways. Both of them didnt have the necessity to bring a God or a superior self onto their teachings. Both, from what I know, beleived on reaching a higher self which Budda calls Nirvana. They beleived strongly on meditation, or rituals in Confucius case and they remained calmed in all of the situations.
One thing I admire about Confuicius is that he accepts other teachers and acknowledges their ideas because after all, in book 7 he stated that he isnt inventing, he is repassing or recreating what others have said. I think this makes you smarter, if you gather many ideas, you end up with your own which make sense, I dont beleive there's been one prophet or philosopher that hasnt been influenced by other's thoughts.
I also beleive that music is very important for anyone with such qualities because music allows you to express feelings and let go of emotions that are held up deep inside you. Music is essential and i beleive it could also be used in meditation. I think that Confucius is very similar to Budda in many ways. Both of them didnt have the necessity to bring a God or a superior self onto their teachings. Both, from what I know, beleived on reaching a higher self which Budda calls Nirvana. They beleived strongly on meditation, or rituals in Confucius case and they remained calmed in all of the situations.
One thing I admire about Confuicius is that he accepts other teachers and acknowledges their ideas because after all, in book 7 he stated that he isnt inventing, he is repassing or recreating what others have said. I think this makes you smarter, if you gather many ideas, you end up with your own which make sense, I dont beleive there's been one prophet or philosopher that hasnt been influenced by other's thoughts.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Paraphrase exercises
1. "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.
Antarctica produces the largest amount of cold on earth. It is responsible for keeping our planet and our atmosphere safe and cool and its water currents mix with the tropical waters and stabilize our environment. In fact, Antarctica plays a mayor role on our climate but unfortunately, we risking that stability due to our actions. Captain Cousteau," Audubon (May 1990):17.
2. 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.
80 years ago, things were very different. Back then, drinking was illegal but they all knew of ways to drink it. Mafia spread all around the cities and police officers were unable to stop it. Jazz became popular and it affected the Childs’ lifestyle. Since then everything changed because new heroes appeared, and everything, including the hairstyles and fashion changed. Kathleen Yancey, English 102 Supplemental Guide (1989): 25.
3. 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.
Hundreds of people die every year because of riding bicycle. The majority of them are caused by concussions and many of them are students. Studies have proved that wearing a helmet lowers the risk of concussions by remarkable numbers. The purpose of these helmets is to absorb the hit and ensure the safety of the passenger. Helmets save your life. Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers," Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.
4. 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.
Matisse is an expert at painting living art. He recreates anything from the gentle wind to the sweet smell of fresh fruits. His ability to recreate life-liked paintings makes him deserving of being one of the best painters in history. It’s the fact that he feels what he is doing that makes his paintings so real and wheather he paints tragic scenes from war or a summer afternoon, he is the best at making you feel it. Bright Lights." Newsweek (26 March 1990): 50.
5. 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.
How tall can buildings get? The sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois ranks amongst the highest buildings in the United States. Yet, plans don't sop here, there are plans of constructing a building that would reach 800 m in hight which means that it will be two times bigger than the Sears Tower. Not only that, but there are enough materials to build a building with 500 floors. From Ron Bachman, "Reaching for the Sky." Dial (May 1990): 15.
Antarctica produces the largest amount of cold on earth. It is responsible for keeping our planet and our atmosphere safe and cool and its water currents mix with the tropical waters and stabilize our environment. In fact, Antarctica plays a mayor role on our climate but unfortunately, we risking that stability due to our actions. Captain Cousteau," Audubon (May 1990):17.
2. 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.
80 years ago, things were very different. Back then, drinking was illegal but they all knew of ways to drink it. Mafia spread all around the cities and police officers were unable to stop it. Jazz became popular and it affected the Childs’ lifestyle. Since then everything changed because new heroes appeared, and everything, including the hairstyles and fashion changed. Kathleen Yancey, English 102 Supplemental Guide (1989): 25.
3. 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.
Hundreds of people die every year because of riding bicycle. The majority of them are caused by concussions and many of them are students. Studies have proved that wearing a helmet lowers the risk of concussions by remarkable numbers. The purpose of these helmets is to absorb the hit and ensure the safety of the passenger. Helmets save your life. Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers," Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.
4. 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.
Matisse is an expert at painting living art. He recreates anything from the gentle wind to the sweet smell of fresh fruits. His ability to recreate life-liked paintings makes him deserving of being one of the best painters in history. It’s the fact that he feels what he is doing that makes his paintings so real and wheather he paints tragic scenes from war or a summer afternoon, he is the best at making you feel it. Bright Lights." Newsweek (26 March 1990): 50.
5. 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.
How tall can buildings get? The sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois ranks amongst the highest buildings in the United States. Yet, plans don't sop here, there are plans of constructing a building that would reach 800 m in hight which means that it will be two times bigger than the Sears Tower. Not only that, but there are enough materials to build a building with 500 floors. From Ron Bachman, "Reaching for the Sky." Dial (May 1990): 15.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Analects 4 to 6
Analects 4 to 6
I am surprised by the Fact that in chapter 5.9, he mentions someone called Hui which is better than him. If he was better than him, why aren’t we reading Hui’s texts instead of Confucius? I wonder what amount of knowledge and followers do you require to be remembered in history because I think that back then; it was easier than now a days. The guy that invented human clonation isn’t being honoured as he should. Honestly, clonation is far more important than the creation of manners in my opinion. Maybe I’m discarding the fact that these people weren’t as great in the time of their lives as they are remembered these days. Maybe I could be remembered as a hero in the future but I wont be as great in my life. I’m sure this was Jesus’ case and he gained more followers after his death. I hope this is the case because nowadays what we need is heroes, prophets, and people that change our lives for better. If they will appear in a not so distant future, it’ll be great but if not, our civilization will start to decay.
I am surprised by the Fact that in chapter 5.9, he mentions someone called Hui which is better than him. If he was better than him, why aren’t we reading Hui’s texts instead of Confucius? I wonder what amount of knowledge and followers do you require to be remembered in history because I think that back then; it was easier than now a days. The guy that invented human clonation isn’t being honoured as he should. Honestly, clonation is far more important than the creation of manners in my opinion. Maybe I’m discarding the fact that these people weren’t as great in the time of their lives as they are remembered these days. Maybe I could be remembered as a hero in the future but I wont be as great in my life. I’m sure this was Jesus’ case and he gained more followers after his death. I hope this is the case because nowadays what we need is heroes, prophets, and people that change our lives for better. If they will appear in a not so distant future, it’ll be great but if not, our civilization will start to decay.
Analects 1 to 3
Analects 1 to 3
What I liked about these teachings is that he doesn’t involve any religion at all. He talks about being good, about being a good person not a god-like person and this makes it easier since our religion shouldn’t affect our behaviours in regards to society and etc. I find it amazing, how he uses radical thoughts for the moment and manages to get all that followers. In my opinion, there is not just one right way to do things and that’s why I think that what he teaches is very important. He has a different way of solving things like for example, he states that he prefers to guide people based on rituals rather than on punishment because rituals makes them feel ashamed while punishments makes them want to avoid them and cause them to brake the law. Another thing that I admire of him is that he stated that he had no plans of ruling a civilization or controlling the world. He wanted to express his teachings, that were enough work to do, and he didn’t want to do anything else.
What I liked about these teachings is that he doesn’t involve any religion at all. He talks about being good, about being a good person not a god-like person and this makes it easier since our religion shouldn’t affect our behaviours in regards to society and etc. I find it amazing, how he uses radical thoughts for the moment and manages to get all that followers. In my opinion, there is not just one right way to do things and that’s why I think that what he teaches is very important. He has a different way of solving things like for example, he states that he prefers to guide people based on rituals rather than on punishment because rituals makes them feel ashamed while punishments makes them want to avoid them and cause them to brake the law. Another thing that I admire of him is that he stated that he had no plans of ruling a civilization or controlling the world. He wanted to express his teachings, that were enough work to do, and he didn’t want to do anything else.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Job Last Entry
God is never wrong, God can't be wrong because he is God and if he is wrong, He isn't
God states on this text that he is superior in every aspect when compared to humans when really, i don`t see much difference between humans and God. The differences are stablished according to him because we've seen on the text that he doubts to forgive Job and in fact, chapters 35 & 36 are based on proving that God is better and shall not be compared to humans. If he sees us as inferiors in that way, I don't want to imagine the way he treated the slaves because if we were to draw a "Food chain", Slaves are below humans and therefore animal-liked to God.
I have to admit that I was surprised to see that God finally rewarded Job and granted him more than what he had before. I guess that the story we would've been told is that there was a man called Job and he was the best in the world. The devil cheated on him and to grant his loyalty, altough he was guilty of cursing God, God duplicated his belongings and made him even happier and succesful.
The real story, God took everything from Job and he almost accept it but finally lost it and cursed God. He then was mad at God and was looking for answers and then was convinced that God didn't have anything to do with his actions, God being so "generous" decided to forgive him (in my oppinion God was the one that had to apologize) and gave him more goods which arent important because after all, supossedly, material things arent as important.
To prove God's arrogance:
"Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go tom y servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept" Job 42:8
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