TKAM response journal chapters 11 and 12

#2-

A quote that I can connect to is when Atticus is explaining why he is defending Tom Robinson to Scout and he says, "...but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience" (Lee 105). I can connect this to my own life because I can see people around me who do things to fit in with others, but even though their actions fit in with others, that does not mean that what they do goes along with their personal morals and standards. For example, their are people that I know that drink to be accepted by their friends, but I know that I would not be able to drink because I would be guilty and, as Atticus explains to Scout, my conscience does not abide by the morals of the majority of people that I know.

Another quote that I made a connection to while I was reading was when Calpurnia answers Scout's question about why she speaks differently in church than at the Finch's house and Calpurnia says, "...folks don't like to have somebody around knowin' more than they do. It aggravates 'em" (Lee 126). I can see this in the world and people around me, as well as in myself, because it makes a person feel inferior and belittled when they are made out to look like they do not know as much as another person. When other people know more about any particular subject than I do, I admit that it makes me frustrated because I have the natural desire to be more  knowledgable than others and I do not like it when someone is superior to me. I can connect this concept to the rest of the world as well because I think that people feel threatened by others who are smarter than them, and they become angry and defensive towards the person because they do not know what else to do.

TKAM response journal chapters 9 and 10

#10-

A quote that I found particularly moving was when Scout is listening to Atticus' conversation with Jack and he says, "Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don't pretend to understand..." (Lee 88). This quote tells a lot about the kind of person Atticus is because he is saying that he does not understand why people are so prejudice towards others. He is saying that it is pointless for people to make such a big deal of any situation with a black person in it because he sees everyone as equal human beings. Unlike others, Atticus uses empathy instead of being prejudice, and I can apply this to my own life by putting myself in other people's shoes instead of judging them and pointing out their differences. This was yet another quote from Atticus that proves that in the end, we are all equal human beings.

Another quote that was moving to me was when Miss Maudie is talking to Jem and Scout about their father's shooting skills and she says, "If your father's anything, he's civilized in his heart... I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things... People in their right minds never take pride in their talents" (Lee 98). This quote made me stop and think because it says a lot about the world and how people think. Miss Maudie is saying that Atticus has no intention of being superior in any way to any other living things on earth. She is also saying that people who have real talents do not have any desire to share them with other people. I can see this in my own life because I know people that have unique talents, but do not share them with others because they do not feel the need to be better than others, just like Atticus.

TKAM response journal chapters 7 and 8

#5-

I am having trouble understanding how Scout did not notice Boo Radley putting the blanket over her shoulders when she was standing next to Jem and watching the fire at Miss Maudie's house. I think it is unusual that Jem did not tell her what was happening when  Boo Radley was behind her. Also, when Jem tells Atticus and Scout that the blanket came from Boo Radley he says, "Just think, Scout... if you'd just turned around you 'da seen him" (Lee 72). I don't understand why Jem did not say anything to Scout about the blanket before Atticus brought it up with her, and as I was reading this part of the chapter I could not tell whether or not Atticus and Jem were joking with Scout or if they were serious.

Also, I am wondering how Miss Maudie is so optimistic about her house burning down. When  Scout and Jem talk to her about it the next day she says, " 'Don't you worry about me, Jean Louise Finch. There are ways of doing things you don't know about. Why, I'll build me a little house and take me a couple of roomers and- gracious, I'll have the finest yard in Alabama" (Lee 73). It surprised me that Miss Maudie was not very upset about her house burning down just a few hours before she talked to Scout and Jem. I don't think that I would be as optimistic as her, and while I am confused at her behavior, I understand the way I reacted to her because I cannot relate to what she is going through.

TKAM Response Journal chapters 5 and 6

#3:

When do people stand up for what they believe in?

People stand up for what they believe in when other ideas challenge their beliefs. A quote that displays this was when Scout is talking to Miss Maudie and she says, " but sometimes the Bible in the hand if one man is worse than a whiskey bottle in the hand of- oh, of your father" (Lee 45). Miss Maudie is saying that many people can become very defensive of their religion when they meet people who may challenge what they believe in with other religions. These people  have the idea that their beliefs are the only right beliefs, and this can cause serious tensions between them and others. 

How can we use empathy to break through the barriers of prejudice?

Atticus Finch answers this question when he is mad at Jem, Scout and Dill for trying to give a note to Boo Radley through his window and he explains, "What Mr. Radley did might seem peculiar to us, but it did not seem peculiar to him" (Lee 49). This shows that although  the things that others do may seem unusual or weird,  it does not make sense to judge them for it because some people may judge you for the things that you do.  I can connect this to our discussion in class and the "Nacirema" activity that we did because when it comes down to it, we are all human beings and there is no reason for us to judge each other. 

A day in a paramedic's shoes

My alarm is the most annoying sound in the world- one of those repetitive Iphone marimba ringtones. It's still dark outside, and cold too. I roll over  and  my alarm must have woken up my husband, George, because his tired eyes glare back at me through the darkness.

"Good morning," he groans.

"Ugh," I say jokingly. George rolls over and falls back asleep almost immediately. He doesn't have to be at work until 8:00. I escape the grasp of my warm, fluffy blankets that don't want me to get up just yet. I take a warm shower- the only one I'll take for the next 24 hours. I really do love my job, and I don't mind working today. I only work two 24 hour shifts a week- Friday and Sunday- but don't get me wrong, it adds up. It just seems that most people hate everything at 5:30 in the morning, so here I am in the shower, thinking about quitting and curling up in my bed for the rest of my life.

When I get out of the shower I tip-toe to the closet to get my uniform. I put on my white collared shirt that smells of chlorine bleach, and stick my paramedic pins into it on the short-sleeve. Next, I pull on my blue, polyester pants that have about a million Velcro pockets on the sides of them. In the bathroom I dry my hair and put it into a ponytail. No makeup today- I'll just be dirty and sweaty anyway.  I grab my backpack that I packed last night, my blanket and pillow for my bunk at the garage and my paratrooper boots, and kiss George goodbye. When I get downstairs I throw everything on the table and sit in one of the black dining room chairs. I proceed to untie my black boots. They have been through a lot more than one could imagine, but certainly don't appear that way. The two paratrooper boots have miles of black laces and reach a few inches higher than my ankle. They are made of squeaky black leather and have thick rubber bottoms. Their toes are steel, but this is concealed by  sparkling, polished rubber. I slip them on and tie them up.

When I get to the garage I check in and put my stuff in my bunk room- it's almost 7:00.  I greet my partner.

"Happy Friday, Rachel. How are you feeling?" This is Rachel's second week back from recovering from a back injury she got from lifting a heavy patient down a flight of stairs.

"Hey, Sarah. I'm great! Fully recovered!" She replies.

We go through our routine check list of all of the medicine and equipment in our ambulance, and then relax and wait for our first call. Normally we would be on a call from the moment we walked in to the moment we checked out, but Rachel and I have been with the company for a while and we have the lightest 911 shift there is- it is for the paramedics with the greatest seniority.

Then we get a call at around 8:30 in the morning. A woman in her late 50's is having a heart attack and we respond to her house with our lights and sirens. The police and fire department show up with us, and we carry the very stubborn, 350-pound woman down the flight of stairs in her apartment building. She is embarrassed that the police and fireman are there, and I tell her that they were only there to help carry her down the stairs. When we are in the ambulance heading to the hospital I explain to the woman that I need to give her four aspirin, start an IV morphine, and nitroglycerin. She tells me that I am not a doctor and she only needs me for a ride to he hospital. This annoys me because I am trying to save her life and I can do everything that a doctor can, but we take her to the hospital anyway.

We return to the garage and for the rest of the day we take naps and get some easy calls. I sleep through the night, and I get home at 7:00 AM the next day. I say hello to George, take off my tight, uncomfortable boots, and get in the shower.


     

Although he has not played a big role in the story so far, my favorite character is Atticus Finch. He is a wise, leading character that guides Scout and Jem when they have questions or are confused about something that has happened to them. For instance, when Scout is conflicted about Miss Caroline's reaction to her literacy after her first day of school he tells her, "You never really understand a person until you consider things in their point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" (Lee 30). This displays his knowledge about the situation that Scout is in, and that he knows the power of empathy. I think that he is motivated to help others solve the issues in their lives because he has the point of view that everyone is equal. This makes me wonder how he came to view all people and situations this way. I have never met someone like Atticus, who never judges or looks down on another person. I predict that Atticus will become a more important character in the events in the novel, and will try to solve the issues that the characters may face with his deep understanding of justice and empathy. This understanding is shown when Scout says that it is wrong of Mr. Ewell to spend his children's food money on alcohol and he says, "Of course he shouldn't, but he'll never change his ways. Are you going to take out your disapproval on his children?" (Lee 31). Atticus Finch looks at every point of view before making assumptions, and I am sure he will play a cricial role as more events unfold in the story.

Response Journal- #10

A quotation that was particularly moving to me was when Scout explained that she was born knowing how to read and she says, "Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing" (Lee 18). Scout is saying that she was born reading, so it has never seemed like a privilege to her- just as breathing seems to everyone. This idea made me think about the things that I take for granted in my life. The things that I have had since I was born, such as a warm home, food on the table, and new clothing. I have always had all of these things, so I do not see them as privileges as another person might. As Scout does not love reading, I do not love the things that I have had since birth because I do not understand how lucky I really am to have them.

Another quote that was moving to me was when everyone is Scout's class wanted her to defend Walter Cunningham and she thought, "Miss Caroline and I had conferred twice already, and they were looking at me in the innocent assurance that familiarity breeds understanding" (Lee 20). She is saying that when someone knows who another person is and has spoken or met with them before for one reason or another, it makes it easier for them to understand the person and therefore solve an issue with them. I can apply this to my own life because it is always easier for me to talk to a person that I am familiar with than someone that I don't know at all because a person that knows me will most likely understand where I am coming from and will respect my point of view. This idea can also apply to all of the prejudice in the world because if racist people could be familiar with and understand the other side if their argument that one race is superior to the other, they might see what the other side is going through and stop being prejudice.