TKAM in the World Today

One thing that I realized in TKAM that applies to my life today is that nobody deserves to be oppressed due to any factor.  I realized this because Boo Radley, in the novel, was depicted as a mean, gruff, scary character, but in the end saved the children from their attacker.   Also, I learned that I have to eliminate the single stories that I create, because most likely they are wrong.  An example  of this came in the book when everyone assumed that Tom Robinson was guilty due to his race, but he was actually innocent.  I can apply this to my own life by never assuming anything, because you know the saying about what happens when you assume.

Overall, I feel as though I could be doing better in this class this semester, as I could have done better on early worksheets and homework.  However, overall I do not feel as though I am struggling in this class.  One dangerous single story from TKAM that is still relevant today is the automatic assumption of black guilt.  I believe that people could disrupt this single story by becoming more trusting and accepting of everyone.  This is true because in class, a black student admitted that he had been followed before in a store, but no white student from the class had a similar story.  This example shows that the guilt assumption shown in TKAM with Tom is shown today throughout all parts of society.  #goodbyeblog

 

Tom Robinson

Personally, I do not believe that Tom Robinson committed the crime that he was accused of.  I believe this because, when Tom stood up, "His left arm was fully twelve inches shorter than his right, and hung dead at his side.  It ended in a small shriveled hand, and from as far away as the balcony, I could see it was no use to him. (108)"  I believe this helps prove that Tom is not guilty because Mayella had been punched in the right eye, and most likely any person who had done it would have used their left.  The single story that Bob and Mayella Ewell have about Tom Robinson is that he  devalues their property and he is dangerous.  I know this is true because on page 175, Bob sad that,"'Jedge, I've asked this county for fifteen years to clean out that nest down yonder, they're dangerous to live around 'sides devaluin' my property-"'  This shows that their opinion is clearly stated and believe based on Tom's race.  This single story is dangerous for Tom and the other African Americans in Maycomb because Bob Ewell is not the only person that believes in this single story, and leads to Tom and the others being treated unfairly in Maycomb.  I believe that Atticus hopes to disprove this single story by showing that Tom was nowhere near the crime, and that Bob Ewell was a liar, and therefore no better than an African American.  #freeTom  #tomaintdonenothin

TKAM and Oratory

The danger of creating single stories is that they oppress the people that they are directed at by changing how people look at them and think of them.  The oppression can sometimes follow them through their life and permanently oppress them.  One example of this came from my oratory article entitled: In Egypt, Sowing Seeds of Gender Equality.  In this article, it is stated that, "because of resistance from men - fathers, brothers, and husbands - many women still end up living in cages."  This quote shows that because males have grown up with the assumption that they are superiors, women live a rather horrible life.  One quote from To Kill a Mockingbird that also supports the single story that women are inferior took place on page 38.  On this page, Jem said , "'I swear Scout, sometimes you act so much like a girl it's mortifying."'  This quote shows that Jem believes that being a male is better than being a female, again regarding the feeling of superiority among males.  Overall, women in both times lived in oppression because the people around them were raised to believe that females are inferior and have inferior ways of living in comparison to males.  #femalesareNOTinferior #watchyourmouthjem

Practice what you Preach

Based on the quote in which Atticus says that before he can tell others what to do, he needs to be able to listen and stand by his own beliefs, I would have to believe that Atticus is a responsible parent that makes sure that he practices what he preaches.  I believe that he is trying to teach Jem and Scout that in life, they should always follow and do what they believe in.  One place where this occurs in the book is when Scout comes home from school and asks her father about representing a negro.  In response to this, Atticus explained to his children that in order to follow what he believes in, he had to ignore the chatter from the town that he should not defend Tom Robinson.  This shows that Atticus believes that in order for him to be able to live with himself, he had to do what he believed in.  #admireatticus #practicewhatyoupreach #respect

Single Stories from the Novel to now

In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the term "girl" is used in a manner that suggests that being female is socially unacceptable.  In my opinion, the term 'girl' is used in a manner that is that is similar to the novel, in the way that it is used as an insult more than a compliment.  In my opinion, the term "girl" in current day is used in a more derogatory manner than in a positive and encouraging manner, and due to this they are treated as inferior to males.  One example from the article "In Egypt, Sowing Seeds of Gender Equality" in which that is shown is from a female rights activist, Rabab Mansour.  She said that, "because of resistance from men - fathers, brothers and husbands - many women still end up living as if in cages."  This quote shows that due to resistance from males, females have been unable to reach their full potential in life in third world countries, which is a struggle faced in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird.  In this novel, being a female as a child is proven to be acceptable as long as you act like a male.  However, the young girls that act like girls are criticized and found mortifying.  One example of this took place between Jem and Scout, where Jem said that his sister was, "act(ing) so much like a girl it's mortifying."  This quote proves that Jem disproves of his sister, a female, acting like a "girl," but is ok when she acts like a male like himself.  Overall, some of the issues faced that were gender related in the novel in the 1930's are still taking place all across the world in places like Egypt, where the situation has gotten to the point in which the damage is almost irreversible.  #fixgenderproblems

  

Meaning of Single Stories in To Kill a Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, there are many single stories told about Negroes.  For example, after Jem, Scout, and Dill broke into Mr. Radley's yard, a negro was blamed for breaking in.  This is portrayed on page 54, when the children have come back from the yard and the adults are standing together talking about what just happened.  When Jem asked what had happened, Miss Maudie said that a negro had broken into the yard, although nobody had seen him.  This is a single story about race because nobody had seen who had been in the yard, a negro was the scapegoat for the crime and it was automatically assumed it couldn't have been a Caucasian.  Another time in which a single story about race is portrayed occurred on page 45.  In this setting, Miss Maudie told Scout that the rumors about Boo Radley were made up by Negroes.  This shows a single story because nobody knows who started the rumors, but it all ended up being blamed on African american citizens anyways.  #scapegoatingisntright #freeboo #dontshoot

      

Single Story Cheese Heads

A time that I made a single story occurred during the 2012 NFL Playoffs.  The single story that I created was that people in Wisconsin walked around with cheese on their heads.  I created this single story because all of the people in the stands that were Packers fans wore cheese on their heads.  This single story, as I realize now, is obviously a little off of what truly occurs in Wisconsin.  Obviously, as I look back now, the single story that I created was far fetched and completely absurd, but man would that be cool.  #cheesehead #idontlikethepackersbuttheyhavecoolcommercials #aaronrodgersdiscountdoublecheck  

About Me

My name is Noah Ring and I am a freshman at Westerville Central High School.  One thing that you may not know about me is that I play baseball.  I plan on trying out for the Central baseball team this Spring.  My current interests include baseball, watching pro sports, and The Ohio State Buckeyes.  My hopes for the future include graduating from high school with a cumulative GPA above 4.0.  After high school, I wish to attend Duke University to study law and continue to play baseball in college.  After college, I wish to become an agent for professional athletes.  My goals for this unit are to finish the unit with an A, study for the appropriate amount of time in order to ensure that I will get good grades, and to actually read the book.  I will make sure that I accomplish my goals by reminding myself that I will not get the A that I desire if I do not study for the appropriate amount of time.  #MyLife #YoungLife #AllAboutMe #JustPlayBall