Religious Places

Islamic Mosque--When we first visited the Mosque I felt that the place was very sacred a well looked after although it was so empty and deserted. The feeling that I got from it was not really a religious enlightened one, but like it was just a place for rest, not of spiritual connection. However, the intricate symmetrical designes of the building were engrossing and most interesting. As a whole I thought that it must be a perfect place for worship as it peace and serenity might lead to deeper connection with Allah.

Chinese Temple--Personally, the chinese temple was nothing new to me as I visit temples like these myself. When I tread through the halls, having the pungent smell of smoke all around me, it reminded me of home. On the other hand, this temple has lost a lot of its spirituality, and therefore appeals more to tourists. My case in point-- the fortune readings.

One strong detail that I found that varied from the other places we visited was the fact that most of the building was red. The Mosque in particular was very plain and mostly consisted of white, wheres the Hindu temple was alive with colour. The main purpose of the temple is not for Buddhist prayer, but more for ancestry respect and giving.

Hindu Temple--All in all, I found the Hindu temple most interesting as it is a foreign place for me. The immaculate amount of colours that surrounded the place made me feel welcomed though I was a stranger. The people in prayer tolerated us though only one of us were actually Hindu. The detail that was on the ceiling and shrines were breathtaking. Most of the patterns and designes were symmetrical, but it was not similar to the Islamic designes. From what I saw, the Hindu's gathered in prayer seemed to be performing some sort of daily ritual to give thanks to their gods.

Auschwitz Study

*Where were the prisoners who were freed flee to?

*What happened to the anti-Nazi parties?--Killed?

*How had even the slightest glimmer of hope saved the prisoners from intentionally doing something rational to want death?

*What was the reasoning for Hitler and the Nazi's targeting the Jew's and Roma's/Gypsies?

*Is there such thing as a good Nazi soldier?

Opposites

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Statement

"If you disagree with a rule, law, or public policy, it is better to remain silent than to speak out and risk punishment."

This statement, I feel, is a huge insult to personal freedom. Though the law is made to protect people and to discourage wrong doings, it also sometimes can limit people. There are many people around the world who take for granted that the law is always right. But would it be, if the creator if the law is bias, racist, sexist, etc.?

The book 'The boy in striped pyjamas' deals with an innocent boy discovering the bias prejudice assumptions about Jews. The rule about this is to capture all 'proud and open' Jews. This is the law, so then should the Jews give up something that they truly believe in? Is this right?

If you disobey the law and face penalization, then so be it. No matter how sever the consequence is, because maybe, if you decide to be brave about it, then other will follow.

What is a good life?

To me the true essence of what a good life is, is to be happy with what you've got. This means, even if you've got a million dollars, that doesn't mean you're happy. That just means you're rich, but you might not have a friend in the world. I think the ideal compromise is to have a healthy balance of family, friends, and fortune.

However, the happiest people I've seen are the ones with nothing at all, just a family and a lot of hope. So that shows that if you appreciate what you have and hope for the best you've got all you need to be happy.

My Identity

My two Person story

Someone like you #2

Halley has gone through a major transformation, form being the one who obediently obeyed her mother, to now having to support her life-long friend, Scarlett, who is generally the more social, outgoing one, and basically 'her voice'. But now things have changed and Scarlett now needs someone to support her, as things have taken a turn when her boyfriend, Michael, has died. However, Scarlett, is hiding her emotions, and just trying to focus on other people.

One of the passages to support this is:

"...But he was like, everything to me, you know, everything" (said, by an insensitive friend)

I looked over at Scarlett, who was studying the pavement, and I said, "I'm so sorry, Ginny."

italics= The part that proves Scarlett's inability to talk about it.

Someone Like You #1

"So I reached over and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her, and held my best friend close, returning so many favours all at once. We sat there for a long time, Scarlett and me, with her house looming over us and mine right across the street staring back with its bright windows."
~Pg 21- Chapter 1.

This passage explains her emotion journey during the whole of chapter 1. It shows how she (Halley), comforts her best friend (Scarlett) through a tough time. This shows her sympathy and loyalty as a friend. To me it is the most important passage through-out the whole book (which I've read) because there are tough times between their relationship but they battled it out and proved that you really can't let go of friendship. Clearly it shows that they have BOTH been highly supportive of each other as Halley is basically cradling Scarlett, but it describes how she has done the same for Halley.

My Journey Book

My Journey Book:

~Someone Like You~

By:

Sarah Dessen