eat. sleep. blog.

Gods…Goddesses…Men…Women; Sexism Ruling  Societies

Sexism can be described as a major recurrence in The Odyssey which separates the power of each class in the society (which relates to The Bible). The immortal gods (men) are placed in the highest ranking with the greatest amount of power (like Zeus), then the goddesses (women) like Athena reach second of the ranking of power. Following the goddesses, comes the men in the society like Telemachus and the lowest class is filled by the women in the society like Polycaste, the youngest daughter of Nestor who bathes Telemachus. This idea lingers throughout the book and Athena provides one example of someone who emphasizes this class system based on sex. Athena the goddess of wisdom lives in Mount Olympus under the reign of Zeus her father and the man that makes all the decisions. However, Athena being a goddess sits higher than the normal people living on the ground who are both men and female. After receiving permission from Zeus, Athena goes down to the ground and disguises herself as a man, even though she is a woman, so she can be respected by the society. If Athena had changed kept her women form, she probably would not have been welcomed and would have been ignored by the people.

Sexism also ties a string to The Bible because God, who is shown as a He not a She, puts himself on top of the world. God also makes covenants with only men like Abraham and Isaac and no women receive blessings or covenants with God. If you really think about it, sexism still runs throughout societies all over the world. Even in the United States there haven’t been any women presidents like many other countries. In addition, many places throughout the world men continue to earn higher wages than women. In modern times, peoples minds are still screwed to think that the father will earn the money while the women stays at home working and the husband’s gets priority over the wife to make decisions. Even though we connect sexism more with the past, it still lingers between modern societies creeping in people’s minds forcing them to think that men have a domineering role over women.

Image Credit: http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4738/sexistremarkshi4.gif

Sons v. Father: Family Rivalry

This flag represents the differneces in a family like the juxtaposition between Jacob and his sons.

Jacob tells his sons, ‘“[M]y numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.”’ But they said, ‘“Should our sister be treated like a whore”’ (Gen.34.30-34.31). Jacob fears for himself and gets angry with his sons when they stole all the wealth and killed all the men who were with the Hivites. Shechem goes to his father Hamor and wants to marry Dinah after he seizes her, but none of the daughters want to marry the Hivites. Hamor offers land to Jacob and he accepts for his daughters to marry them if the men are circumcised. The sons of Jacob steal and kill because Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite seized Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, by force because he fell in love with her.

This statement shows that Jacob only fears for himself because he doesn’t want to die, not giving much thought of what Shechem did to Dinah. I think Jacob has a selfish character because he allows his daughters to marry the Hivites even with what they did to his daughter because he would get more land and possessions. This demonstrates that Jacob will do anything that benefits himself.  However, Jacob sons did whatever they could for revenge of what Shechem did to his sister and risked there lives for Dinah. I think that Jacob juxtaposes his sons because his sons dangerously killed and stole from others to show the Hivites that what they did to his sister is wrong and the Hivites should be punished for it while Jacob just wants what benefits himself.

Image Source: http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/rivalry_flag_-_usc_vs__ucla_18673big.jpg

Irreplaceable Love; A Son Taken Away from his Father

God tells Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be names for you” (Gen. 21.12). Abraham feels a little distressed after finding out that Sarah doesn’t want his other son from the slave girl to live with her own child Isaac. God comforts him by explaining that he should listen to his wife and because of him he received the son Isaac. He also tells Abraham that his son from the child of Hagar, the girl slave, will receive a nation, even though he is being sent away.

I don’t think that Abraham should do everything his wife says, he should have right to do with what he wants with his son. Everyone no matter what gender they are should be able to have a right to do what they want. I think Sarah’s jealousy over Hagar’s son forces her to make Hagar and her son to leave because she wants all of Abraham’s attention focused on Isaac. I also think that Abraham’s son from Hagar should be able to stay with his father. God tells Abraham not to worry that his son is leaving because he will be receiving a nation. However, I think that nothing can make up for the time he has no father, even if he receives a nation. I think it remains crucial for children to grow up with a mother and a father that loves you rather than getting presents to make up for it. No concrete object can replace a person who could have been a big influence in your life.

Image Credit: http://thevinylvillage.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/broken-heart.jpg

Building Blocks to Heaven: Working between Similar and Diverse People

In the Bible the Lord says, ““Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech”’ (Gen. 11.7). The Lord says this when all the people migrated from the east to the land of Shinar and they all speak the same language. The people decide to build a city and build a tower that will reach the heavens. The Lord notices that since they all speak the same language and share similar beliefs that all their plans can be made possible.

I think God changes the languages of all the people and moves them around the earth to test the people if they can work together even with their differences. I think testing the people who don’t understand each other is a good idea because it will teach the people to work with people who speak and act differently then themselves. It teaches the people that they can only accomplish their goals if they work with each other no matter who the people. It is a good lesson not to discriminate against others because than that will lead to chaos.

I think God also makes the people different to create diversity so that not everything remains the same because then nothing is interesting, but instead remains normal. God sees that when people share similarities like language they can work together and make anything possible like building the city. I think that God did not want everything to be so easy and everything possible accomplished. I think it is good to create a challenge because then everything remains the same level and accomplishing one goal is as easy as another.

Image Source: http://underthehill.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/tower-of-babel-19-jun-091.jpg

Growing Stems of Knowledge: The Tree of Good and Evil

In the New Oxford Annotated Bible, in Genesis 2.9 it states, “Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”(Oxford 13). The narrator talks about God forming the Garden of Eden with a special tree. He also puts a man into this garden, wild animals, and rivers.

God commands the man that he can eat the fruit off of any tree except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or else he will die. This tree symbolizes a test that this man must perform. The tree tests his trust and honor to God because if he listens and respects God’s order it proves that the man is trustworthy. However, if the man breaks his promise and eats the fruit off the tree God knows that he does not trust God because even with the consequence of death he would eat the fruit. 

I think that God places this tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the center of the garden to emphasize its importance and how everything lives around the tree and the idea of good and evil. I think God makes the tree to remind the man and others that they can choose to perform evil or good and that choice stays in the center of all their lives and their choices. This tree also demonstrates that all actions contain consequences no matter what one decides.

Image Source: http://ucscplant.ucsc.edu/ucscplant/Grounds/images/bw_oak_tree.gif

Appearance v. Reality; Digging under the Skin

Lyra describes the appearance of the bear, Iorek Byrnision with and without his important armor, by saying, “Without is he was formidable. With it, he was terrifying.” (Pullman 32) This quote emphasizes the use of the theme appearance versus reality because Lyra demonstrates that without even knowing the bear she can already form feelings and opinions about him without any proof.

Appearance versus reality plays a big part in the book, The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman. Iorek Byrnkson displays his frightful appearance with his large mass and fierce look, but demonstrates an even scarier and more powerful façade with his armor. Appearance tricks Lyra into thinking his nature is scarier than he actually is. Looks of people often deceive one’s true personality. For example, celebrities are displayed on magazines with pictures of themselves and people typically misjudge or assume things about this celebrity through their looks. People laugh and think someone acts sanctimoniously just by the way they dress, or make judgments that they are anorexic just because they look skinny and how the picture was captured.

In To Kill a Mockingbird, an example of appearance versus reality takes place when Scout makes accusations about Boo being a scary, weird, crazy guy even though he turns out to be very loving and caring. Making false assumptions can sometimes degrade the person who assumed wrongly and make them feel bad about themselves.

Proposition: Appearance makes up only the skin of somebody, but the real meat and bone of a person is found deep inside where one’s heart is, to reveal one’s personality and character.

Pullman, Philip. The Golden COmpass. N.p.: Laurel Leaf, n.d. Print.

Life Flashing before my Eyes; Nothing More Valuable than Family

The words “Happy birthday dear Maggie, happy birthday to you!” drowned out as I collapsed to the wooden floor hitting my head against the corner of the table on the way down. My dreams brought me flashbacks of the last 100 years of my life, including both sad and happy memories. Suddenly, I time travel back into time and am viewing the birth of my beautiful grandson, and then watching my husband die in excruciating pain from a car accident.  

            My life flashes before my eyes and I relive the same moments as if I were watching a slideshow of my past. I remember when my daughter, Elizabeth, had her 16^th birthday and she said she didn’t want any presents because she already owned everything she needed, which was a loving family. I retain that memory so vividly because what she said felt like winning a million dollars, because I felt important and loved. All my memories flooded past me, and feeling the emotions rushing passed made me want to live life all over again. As I recalled another past memory, I sensed a push on my shoulder and I found my self in a hospital bed with my embracing family surrounding me. They all flood me with questions about how I feel, and they explain to me how scared they felt. I look into all their eyes and their warmth soaks into my skin. Looking at all these people forces me to realize how much they played a role in my life. My kids, and their grandchildren contain so much value in my life and I know I will be leaving the world soon, so I won’t see the good they will shower onto the world.

Talent v. Energy; Which one becomes most important?

“Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It’s dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.” (Billie Jean King). This statement remains true in every aspect of life, however in this example it provides evidence that women contain the same athletic potential as men. Anyone can have a talent, men or women, but the difference turns out how you much you work at it. Title Nine improved the world of sports for women tremendously.

Overview of Title XI: Overview of Title Nine

Purpose of Title IX- Insight about equality in sports

Women have the right to the same equality as men, because like men, women do not give up and wish to achieve the same goals as men. Women show determination in all areas, but demonstrate their strength in sports. However, before Title Nine girls couldn’t play any sports like football, but now girls play on college football teams as kickers. Even if a girl doesn’t seem to contain talent in something, it doesn’t mean they won’t become good at it. Women proved that they can be as good as guys and deserve the same rights, especially in getting sports scholarships in college. If someone shows determination and stoutness, than they can reach their goal easier than the people who think they don’t need to practice if they hold a talent. Including self-confidence into one’s work ethic remains important, but too much causes self-pride.  People learn that to want something remains a simple task, but actually working hard hours for that something including taking sacrifices, eventually pays off.

Proposition: Containing a talent and wishing to reach a goal remains worthless, unless one practices until perfection and takes sacrifices, than it holds meaning. 

Quote Source: King, Billie Jean. “Inspirational Quotes (from athletes).” Women’s Sports
     Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2009.
     <http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/Tips-And-Tools/
     I-Am-A-Coach-Or-Administrator/Inspirational-Quotes.aspx>.

Life’s Murkiness: Another Cinderella Story?

Sarah Mathews left the world behind her when she sauntered into the deep murky forest. She would sit on the hard wooden bench and let the soft, comforting wind sway her back and forth, while her troubles washed away. Sarah came to this special place of hers whenever she found time, so she could escape her evil and stout mother. Her mother took complete control of Sarah, treating her with complete disdain.

In a way, Sarah felt like Cinderella because of her daily chores, her rude siblings and her wicked mother, but felt different because Cinderella finds a person who loves her unlike herself. Every day she completed the tasks of washing the clothes, floors, windows, and cleaning all the rooms in her sumptuous house. She also needed to clean the Mercedes-Benz that her mother drove ostentatiously. This all took place after school, which she treasured because she loved learning and the teachers. Following school, Sarah was forced to hike up to her house, located on the pinnacle of the hill which felt more like a steep mountain to her, while her sisters comfortably rode in the Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile her father, her only strength of living every day, slept torpidly because of his cancer eating away his energy. Sarah would visit him discreetly in his luxurious room, even though her mother forbade it.    

However, Sarah did not know all things about her life, like how the young man, the governor’s son, felt complete adoration for her.  During the school day he would stare at her with deep love shining in his eyes, but Sarah’s troubles would keep her mind busy causing her not to notice.