Everyone fears something. Whether it be the dark, rollarcoasters, dogs, death, etc. When we read about the villages fearing Okonkwo's village we can relate it to other countries fearing other powerful countries. A main example would be our own revelutionary war. Many were too scared to fight England because they were bigger than us. Unlike the story however, we did fight a war and win. Though we did fear them. We knew that they had an army we did not, we were just a beginning and they had been around a while, the torture that we knew they would do if we lost. Americans were scared of losing. We also fear the unknown, things that have caused us pain and bad memories in the past, or things that can cause us pain in the future. Fears such as leaving family are hard to deal with. I think Ikemafuma was able to get past leaving his family because Okonkwo's wives and children were very kind to him and treated him like family. He even called Okonkwo father.
Last year we hosted a foreign exchange student and at first it was hard on her. She was able to Skype and call her family which made it better, but I wonder if she would have been able to stay without those sources. She talked to her family everyday and without that technology I think she would have been to homesick to stay.
Dani, I forgot that a foreign exchange student had lived with you for a year, so the fear of never seeing what you held dear again is a very strong fear. Technology does help with that fear.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree that the whole world, like the colonists and the English empire, have one fear in common, themselves and everyone else. I'd hate to admit it, but that's just our nature.
I will do ANYTHING to avoid my fears. But that doesn't help because, eventually, they catch up with you. Things like spiders, snakes, clowns don't scare me. However things like one of my family or friends dying, apocholyspe (can't spell it... the end of the war), the future, the inevitable, human nature... those things scare the living s**t out of me... Bra-va!!! Nice picture Dani, I also like how you use your foreign exchange student's personal fears... I bet that was hard!!!
ReplyDeleteTrue, during the Revolutionary War, we did fear England, but this is a a prime example of conquering your fears. If they hadn't, then we wouldn't be here now. MLK is also a good example because he had to be scared of what people might do to him (beatings, etc.) but he persevered regardless.
ReplyDeleteThere is fear in everyone and we found some way or another to tackle our fears. I loved all the historical examples showing that we have been fighting our fears since the beginning of America. You're right.It does kind of make you wonder what would happen if you lost track of your family, and wasn't able to contact them. Would you be the same after leaving the place you've known and loved? Would your family feel that you're a total stranger to them because they haven't seen you in so long?
ReplyDeleteEven the fear of failure on the part of the AMericans is very similar to O-dog, the fear of un-known is very powerful. And yes being able to communicate would be good for many purposes, I'm glad that helped her.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the americans were very afraid of the revolutionary war because Britain was all big bad scary powerhouse over there. But we conquered or fear and beat them down. If I were a foriegn exchange student I too would want to talk with my friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI liked your comparison to the revolutionary war dani! I can see how Nayeons fear of maybe coming to America could be related to Ikemefuna. He was taken to a village and lived with a family he knew almost nothing about. I would be scared in that situation too!
ReplyDeleteI agree how, like in your revolutionary war example, we can triumph over our fears, no matter what they are. Thats all part of surviving, and surviving pretty much goes hand in hadn with fear.
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