Luna by Julie Anne Peters
Blue is my mother's favorite color, in fact. Through research I actually found that most girls prefer blues and greens and purples. Is this supposed to mean something significant? No, it's not. We can like any color really, no matter what any stereotype is. The reality is that humans find color pretty or interesting, and our interests cannot be confined within basic categories based on gender. I am a girl and I like blue. A boy can like pink, or purple, or turquoise, and it shouldn't matter. Whoever made the stereotype that boys like blue and girls like pink, has made our society forever corrupt in that girls and boys will always be judged on whether they hold the characteristics that each gender should have.
In the book Luna by Julie Anne Peters, the father is noticeably sexist-- which is hard to deal with when your son is a transgender. He is really into the idea of the females doing the housework and the males doing the handiwork. When asked why the sky is blue, he said: "because God is a boy. If God was a girl, the sky would be pink. As a' little boy the son wanted a barbie, so to the father there was "something wrong with him."
Maybe the father really isn't selfish, and he was just looking forward to having those father and son moments. Does that make it OK to force Liam (the son) to do sports, or work out in the gym? Not at all. Unfortunately, parents have their flaws. But failing to accept your child for who they are has some of the worst effects.
My little cousin Max likes the color pink. He has a pink hat, and a pink night shirt. His sister likes to play around in the dirt, and do sports, and rock climb. To me and to their parents, it doesn't make a difference. They can like any color and it won't make a difference, because they are both happy children who will succeed whether or not they like pink or blue. I don't see why that isn't the priority, but forcing your child into being the standard boy or girl is.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
What Would You Do For Love?
Tell No One by Harlan Coben
He turns his head slowly. That's when he sees the cop. He can't get arrested, only a few hours till he can see his wife for the first time in 8 years. So he runs. Through the park, the streets, and hides in a dumpster. The federal government on the search for what is truly an innocent man, driven by love to display himself as guilty.
Romeo and Juliet. They take poison for each other. Hunger Games. Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in the death games. In books and movies, scenes like these are sometimes viewed as dramatic, at the same time inspiring and heartbreaking. Some people might role their eyes. But what they don't see, is that these things are actually realistic. People act out of love all the time, but how far would you go?
Most kids our age won't admit that they'd care about someone so much that they'd risk their life for them. But put in a situation where you might have to, a lot of people would do it in a second.
Humans were given the gift of emotion. We are able to love, we are able to fell pleasure, we are able to feel guilt and dislike. We overlook that. But what would it be like if we could never feel anything. What if you couldn't tell your mother, "I love you" before you went to sleep-- because you didn't. What if your uncle came back from the military safely, and you couldn't feel happy? That is why we do extreme things for people we love. We don't want to lose that feeling.
If I was ever put in a situation where I could risk my own life to save a family member, I would. I guess that sounds like an overstatement, but it isn't. I mean, if you think about it, if you had to swim deep into the ocean to save your brother drowning, would you do it? I know, what are the possibilities of these things happening? Not many. But really, doing things for love isn't as extreme as stories portray them to be. It's an instinct.
He turns his head slowly. That's when he sees the cop. He can't get arrested, only a few hours till he can see his wife for the first time in 8 years. So he runs. Through the park, the streets, and hides in a dumpster. The federal government on the search for what is truly an innocent man, driven by love to display himself as guilty.
Romeo and Juliet. They take poison for each other. Hunger Games. Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place in the death games. In books and movies, scenes like these are sometimes viewed as dramatic, at the same time inspiring and heartbreaking. Some people might role their eyes. But what they don't see, is that these things are actually realistic. People act out of love all the time, but how far would you go?
Most kids our age won't admit that they'd care about someone so much that they'd risk their life for them. But put in a situation where you might have to, a lot of people would do it in a second.
Humans were given the gift of emotion. We are able to love, we are able to fell pleasure, we are able to feel guilt and dislike. We overlook that. But what would it be like if we could never feel anything. What if you couldn't tell your mother, "I love you" before you went to sleep-- because you didn't. What if your uncle came back from the military safely, and you couldn't feel happy? That is why we do extreme things for people we love. We don't want to lose that feeling.
If I was ever put in a situation where I could risk my own life to save a family member, I would. I guess that sounds like an overstatement, but it isn't. I mean, if you think about it, if you had to swim deep into the ocean to save your brother drowning, would you do it? I know, what are the possibilities of these things happening? Not many. But really, doing things for love isn't as extreme as stories portray them to be. It's an instinct.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Live by the Morals You're Taught
Children's books often use rhymes, vibrant colors, silly characters and silly situations to convey a powerful message that is important for kids to learn early on. But children's books also introduce conflict--good vs evil--to a young audience. The reason: the world isn't perfect, and you can learn from your mistakes if you never make one. One thing you shouldn't do when explaining something to a child is fully sugar-coat life, because then the child will grow up unfamiliar with how to solve problems.
For example, most are familiar with the all time favorite author Dr. Seuss. Known for his made up words, rhyming tales, and odd-looking creatures. But as we learned from The Lorax, there is more to the story than just goofy pictures. Its about the Oncler who comes to the hill where the truffela trees grow. The land is beautiful, but despite the Lorax's pleas, he chops down the truffela trees and drives the other creatures away to benefit his factories. When the land is raw and bare, and the business is done, he gives a truffela seed to a child to start anew. The message is that no good comes to greedy people and to never give up. By giving the kid the seed as opposed to an adult, it shows that small actions can make a difference, and that kids have the power to make change happen.
I thought The Lorax was a great story, both packing a powerful theme and still reaching the interests of the youthful audience. All the messages portrayed in this tale will always be relevant. It shows that there are people in the world who will do what they please for money. People who kill creatures, pollute the air, and then leave when the land can no longer help the owner make a profit. It also shows the children that they can be greedy, but there are consequences. You will lose the respect and trust of your friends. It also implies that you can repair even the biggest of mistakes, so never give up.
In reality, there are cruel people who walk around the streets. In reality, everyone makes mistakes. While some are bigger than others, it is important for a child growing up to know that in general, conflicts arise. Children's books are important because you live by the morals you are taught. If children know that there are imperfections with the way our world is, then they won't be effected greatly when one comes their way. To have conflict in a made-up story, means that if their is conflict in a book, there is also issues in the real world. Story books are a good way to teach life lessons, and preparing the reader/listener for what's to come.
For example, most are familiar with the all time favorite author Dr. Seuss. Known for his made up words, rhyming tales, and odd-looking creatures. But as we learned from The Lorax, there is more to the story than just goofy pictures. Its about the Oncler who comes to the hill where the truffela trees grow. The land is beautiful, but despite the Lorax's pleas, he chops down the truffela trees and drives the other creatures away to benefit his factories. When the land is raw and bare, and the business is done, he gives a truffela seed to a child to start anew. The message is that no good comes to greedy people and to never give up. By giving the kid the seed as opposed to an adult, it shows that small actions can make a difference, and that kids have the power to make change happen.
I thought The Lorax was a great story, both packing a powerful theme and still reaching the interests of the youthful audience. All the messages portrayed in this tale will always be relevant. It shows that there are people in the world who will do what they please for money. People who kill creatures, pollute the air, and then leave when the land can no longer help the owner make a profit. It also shows the children that they can be greedy, but there are consequences. You will lose the respect and trust of your friends. It also implies that you can repair even the biggest of mistakes, so never give up.
In reality, there are cruel people who walk around the streets. In reality, everyone makes mistakes. While some are bigger than others, it is important for a child growing up to know that in general, conflicts arise. Children's books are important because you live by the morals you are taught. If children know that there are imperfections with the way our world is, then they won't be effected greatly when one comes their way. To have conflict in a made-up story, means that if their is conflict in a book, there is also issues in the real world. Story books are a good way to teach life lessons, and preparing the reader/listener for what's to come.
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