My Summer!

My summer so far has been amazing! Directly after school ended I hopped on a plane and headed back to Lebanon, and it was so exciting. When I landed I had a feeling of nostalgia come over me probably because I haven't been there in almost two years. Everything was coming back to me though, such as: how Lebanese Liras look like, the horrible driving, the different language etc. It was an amazing experience now reminiscing over it. Since having sold our old house there, it gave me a chance to live with my best friend since we were three years old, Elie. Every time we meet it's like nothing ever changed, it all goes back like I had never left in the first place. 

I stayed there roughly a month before having to come back and in that time I did a lot. I saw some of my family that still lives there, old friends, and I had a great time. And I think the reason for that is because no matter where I go Lebanon will always be home to me. My friends and I went to the beach, go-karting, malls, cafes etc. All in all great experience in Lebanon.

However it had to be cut short because I had to come back and see my brother who was leaving for University at the time. So I came back and had about two weeks of just plain family time before he had to leave. It was kind of sad to see him leave but I knew this was coming, and I’ll see him again roughly in four months for when he comes back to AD in Christmas break.

Other than that (and for the remainder of my vacation), I have been and will continue to just do more school work. And if I have free time meet up with friends from school who are still here. Excited and motivated for the upcoming year. 

How to write about Arabs

Always and this is a must when writing about Arabs, in your title do NOT ever have any other name than Ahmad, Mahmoud, or Mohammed in the title, and make sure you mention something either about their struggles, or them being in sand, doesn't matter where they are actually from. To be honest you know what would be better? Don’t mention where he’s from, generalize him as Arab, because you and I both know they are all exactly alike; they’re all towel heads, and terrorists, so just by saying the word Arab you gave off the connotation of that’s who he is. 

Also, if you want to put a picture of who your character is and his culture, put a picture of an Arab holding a stick with one hand and him being on the side of a sand dune with a camel leash in his other.

In your text treat the Arab culture as one country. It is a hot and dusty wasteland where everyone is under the rule of some dictator J. In that ‘country’ every person has their own farm, with goats and camels only, be sure to state no other animal but those two. Oh and something you should already know, but I put it in a fun way to remember which is that ‘all Arabs are Muslims and all Muslims are terrorists’, or in a simpler nice little anagram ‘AAMMT’. For those of you reading this and wanting to write a text about Arabs and do not know what I mean, look up 9/11 and do not let anyone reading your pieces of work forget it.

 Obviously (and this goes without saying) BLAME THE WHOLE RELIGION. Not the 19 hijackers that actually did it, no, blame all Arabs and therefore all Muslims (referencing back to the fun anagram). So therefore label any Arab you see, make sure to push the idea that they all are terrorists, and that they should go back to their tepees and 4 wives.  

To be honest what else is there to write about? I feel like I’m missing something, let’s go through the checklist;

1.       I mentioned that they are all terrorists

2.       I mentioned that all Arabs come from one country

3.       AAMMT

4.       9/11

5.       Towel heads

Oh that’s right just to top everything off and show that there is a little good in having Arabs around, mention that the only use they have is that they can supply oil. Don’t mention that Russia, or China supplies a lot of oil as well just so you don’t come off as too offensiveJ.  If you use what I have taught you in this article, you will have the most factual piece of work about Arabs ever. You’re welcome! 

Language and Style Blog Post

‘A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.’  This quote by Mahatma Ghandi is the quote that resides with me when I look back at the novel of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. For the sole reason that I believe what Achebe was trying to do, was to portray his culture in a more realistic and less ‘ideal’ way. He wanted to stay true to his culture, traditions and nations beliefs. Even though the novel was originally written in English he uses poems, myths and stories to really display to the reader’s what the Igbo culture was really all about. For people from other parts of the world, where they might not have heard of the Igbo culture, they need tools for help in which they can further comprehend what is trying to be portrayed. Which is where Achebe’s unique style of writing with myths, traditions and stories come in to action.

The ‘oral tradition’ as it is called, is manifested in this novel through many aspects. For example: Song use. Achebe includes traditional songs in his novel. These songs are distributed throughout and give the novel a much more traditional African feel. Achebe uses both translated and un-translated songs in the novel which is quite compelling and interesting in the eyes of the reader considering that the entire novel was written originally in English. Therefore to have that mix between both languages shows the differentiation and diversity that Achebe has and uses in his writing. The first song that comes up in the novel is a children’s song: “The rain is falling, the sun is shining, / Alone Nnadi is cooking and eating”. The song combines cultural themes and traditions with imagery that helps the reader picture the story. The context of the song is “Gradually the rains became lighter and less frequent, and earth and sky once again became separate. The rain fell in thin, slanting showers through sunshine and quiet breeze”. There are other songs which are sung by people in the village and they have something to do with village traditions of wrestling, marriage, work, and even death.

Lastly, Achebe uses many folk tales in his novel to mainly exemplify the personality traits of the different characters. There are instances where folk tales are used to give complexity to certain characters’ inner thought process and psyche. In chapter seven, Okonkwo is defined as telling stories to his sons. He told them stories of the land—masculine stories for that matter, of violence and bloodshed. This is another example of how traditions are so highly worshipped in the Igbo culture, because this is clear evidence showing how stories were being passed down from generation to generation. Nwoye knew that it was right to be masculine and to be violent, but somehow he still preferred the stories his mother used to tell, and which she no doubt still told to her younger children (here we see again the story telling through generations). This tales show both the traits of Okonkwo and Nwoye, and sets them up for the rest of the story, and supports the differences that these two main characters had.

In conclusion these are just a few samples of how Achebe makes use of myth, legend or other stories and tales, in the novel Things Fall Apart.

Obierika Memoir

I was so stupid, so ignorant and so blind, to not have been able to see what was happening to our culture, traditions, and land. I let the curious side of me explore, and adapt to the changes that were taking place because of the white men. Where did that get me? The one man that challenged these men is now dead hanging from a tree. And I am still alive, the roles should be reversed. I let this happen, while Okonkwo was the only one who questioned what was happening, and he did this rightfully so.  Okonkwo came to me wanting to start a rebellion against them, but I rejected his idea. He was my best friend, and I could not stand by him when he needed me the most, what does that make me? They distracted us with their religion, new ideas, their new culture, and new traditions, but for what price? To scavenge and take our resources from our land, to destroy our culture, our traditions, our religion and again who was the only one able to see this and want to do something about it…Okonkwo. You should be ashamed of yourself letting your best friend go like that. You’re a coward. Where do my Igbo people go from here? Well, they don’t. Younger generations will grow up learning in the education systems of the white men, learning their traditions, their cultures, and their religion. Unless we rise together and take back our land that is rightfully ours. This is for you Okonkwo, sorry I didn't help. R.I.P. 

Paper 2 Practice

1- To what extent has an awareness of context enriched or enhanced your understanding of Things Fall Apart?

Achebe’s first novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ is a novel that may stir up several reactions. What is meant by this is that due to people’s cultures and traditions, they will react to other people’s cultures in different ways. For example: In class we read this article that showed how a western girl viewed things fall apart, which was that she said it was ‘sexist’ due to the fact that in the novel there is a lot of domestic violence against women in the Igbo culture. However, in that same article a girl from Nigeria said that it is part of her culture. Which is where I stand due to the fact of the deeper understanding of the text that I have, as a result it is clear to see why things are the way they are in the novel.

               The novel ‘Things Fall Apart’ revolves around the character ‘Okonkwo’. Throughout his life Okonkwo has strived to be compared to anything but a woman. This is because of the influence his father ‘Unoka’ left on him. Which was that he was: lazy, poor, and a thief. This left the impression on Okonkwo that his father was very feminine. Consequently Okonkwo worked hard to be the complete opposite of his father, because to him Unoka was represented as a coward that couldn’t fend for himself.

               Coming from an international school where viewing different cultures is vital, I didn’t judge what was happening in the book as a ‘bad’ thing. Just because from the get go it was clear to see that what they were doing and what was happening was enriched in their culture. I also understood that this book was not up to date with where their society could be now, because the novel is set in the 1890’s. A lot could have changed from that time to this day and age, and even if it hasn’t in my perception what they believe in and what they do is part of their culture, and shouldn’t be for others to judge. Since the Igbo culture is a very strong believer (as a community) in their religion, I do not believe they should be judged for following it. For example: With killing the twins in the evil forest, it might not seem normal to westernized people, however to them it is very much like a law. It’s embedded in their culture, tradition, ways and life for that matter. I do see and understand here the European and Western side are coming from because to them killing children is barbaric and not allowed to say the last, but I do also understand the Igbo side which is that it is part of their culture.

               To truly grasp why Okonkwo beat women though, we have to remind ourselves of his father Unoka. Unoka being portrayed as gentle and feminine, he was evidently nice and respectful to women and other beings. Therefore Okonkwo (as mentioned before), saw everything his father did as feminine. Which is why he did everything vice versa of what his father did, in this case if his father was nice to women he decided to be mean, if his father was weak he would be strong etc.

               In conclusion by fully understanding things fall apart it has changed my view on how I see the Igbo people. Considering that it has opened me up to the understanding, that they do everything based off what their traditions, culture, ancestors, and religion has taught them. That is very relatable to me because same like them we learn a lot form our culture, traditions, ancestors and our chosen religions.

Thank you for reading! 

Chinua Achebe: Okonkwo Cahracterization

One of the reasons why the novel Things Fall Apart is a tragedy and can be related to so many other tragic works is because the main character, Okonkwo, fits the classic example of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is, by short definition, is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction.One of the major themes that develops throughout the story because Okonkwo is a tragic hero is the theme of ‘Culture vs Tradition’. This theme focuses on the clashing of the traditions that Okonkwo wants to uphold by the Igbo people, with the culture and religion of the colonists. Since Okonkwo goes against everything he considers to be weak and feminine, he decides to retaliate against the ‘white man’ because he does not want to seem girly. To some extent Okonkwo’s defiance of cultural change is also appointed to his fear of losing societal position and rank. Because his sense of self-respect is reliant upon the traditional criteria by which society judges him. He develops this theme as a tragic hero because if he were to adjust his ways and find compromise with the missionaries, it would not have led to his decision to commit suicide. I believe the reason Chinua Achebe chose a tragic hero as a protagonist is because he wanted to impact his readers by not making it the typical fairy tale ending, but where it ended with Okonkwo’s death in the end. To show that colonizers really affected people, and to basically give a voice to everyone that went through the same situation. Chinua Achebe wanted people to feel for Okonkwo in the end, since throughout the entire novel he was the focus for nearly the whole book. Therefore he wanted the reader to get attached and then snap them out of reality by showing it did not end well, and there really were no winners. 

Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Adress

In a speech that was comprised of only 10 sentences and 272 words, Abraham Lincoln was able to shine light on something that would resonate not only with his audience, but one that would echo through time. Why is this short speech so notable?

First, it is vital to recall the context. America was in the middle of a bloody civil war. Union troops had only four months earlier defeated Confederate troops at the Battle of Gettysburg (which is widely recognized as the turning point in the war). Thus, I believe the stated purpose of Lincoln’s speech was to bestow a plot of land that would become Soldier’s National Cemetery to honour the deceased. However, the Civil War still raged on and Lincoln comprehended that he also had to encourage and inspire the people to continue the fight. Therefore the speech is mainly a mix between motivating people to keep fighting and also honouring the fallen. I believe that Lincoln had one main audience which was the country in general, however he had a bigger purpose with this speech. I believe he made it short and easy to follow so that it could impact future generation, a speech to resonate in the ears and minds of generations to come.

(In italics and bold are going to be the words of Abraham Lincoln during the speech and under them are going to be my thoughts and views on the speech itself.)

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

§  “Four score and seven” is much more poetic, much more elegant, and noble than “Eighty-seven”. This is appropriate, because 87 years prior, the United States had won its freedom from Britain and thus embarked on the “Great Experiment”.

§  Lincoln reminisces to the audience about the basis on which the country was founded: liberty and equality. This is a perfect set up to the next sentence.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

§  Here, Lincoln signals the task. The values on which the nation was founded are under attack.

§  He encompasses the importance of the fight beyond the borders of the United States. It is not just a question of whether America could survive, but instead a question of whether any nation established on the same principles could live. Thus does the war — and the significance of winning it — take on an even greater importance.

We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

§  Lincoln turns to distinguish those who have fallen for their country.

§  He uses contrast well. By stating “those who here gave their lives that this nation might live” Lincoln makes what is possibly the ultimate contrast: life vs death. This has an immediate impact on the audience because the use of contrast is persuasive in a speech because it directly proves the persons point, showing the good that come out of their side.

§  He uses consonance — the repetition of the same consonant in short sequence — through words with the letter “f”: battlefield; field; final; for; fitting. This has an effect on the audience because it makes the speech seem more impressive and appealing and add certain amount of intensity and beauty to them.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground.

§  Notice the use of a “triple” sort of repetition: “can not dedicate … can not consecrate … can not hallow”. Triples are a influential public speaking technique that can add authority to your words and make them notable.

§  Say the sentence out loud and hear the powerful cadence and rhythm.

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

§  This sentence is full of sincere respect for those who fought. It is an expressive way of saying that their actions speak much greater value than Lincoln’s words. This pulls on the audiences pathos and really put the situation in perspective.

§  There is an alliteration as well: “poor power”. The function of alliteration in speeches is to be both attention getting and memorable.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

§  There is a double contrast here, in this sentence: “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here” / “but it can never forget what they did here.”

§  Note the appeal to something greater. It is not the United States that will never forget, but the whole world.

§  Ironically, Lincoln was wrong with this statement. Not only have his words been remembered to this day, they will carry on to continue to be remembered in the future. Which as stated before was the reason I believe he made his speech this way, for it to be remembered later on.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

§  The final two sentences of the address signal a call to action, a resolution to complete “the unfinished work”.

§  They are packed with inspiring words such as “dedicated”, “nobly”, “great”, “honoured”, “devotion”, “highly resolve”, “God”, “birth” and “freedom”. To inspire the audience to do the great task he asks of them.

§  There are a couple of contrasts here: “the living” with “the honoured dead”; and “these dead shall not have died in vain” with “this nation … shall have a new birth of freedom”.

§  Prior to this, Lincoln said that, in a sense, they could not bestow the ground. Here, he tells the audience that to which they must be dedicated: “the unfinished work” and “the great task remaining before us”.

§  He finishes with a powerful triple repetition (as mentioned before) that has become famous throughout the world: “of the people, by the people, for the people”. This repetition displays authority when being said.