Great job for the groups who went today. For this evening blog which is mandatory, please discuss one of the following:
You can discuss the Coming of Age question by building off of something specific that someone in the group brought up. If possible, please say who made the statement you are commenting on and then talk about how this idea of coming of age could be something that affects you.
Or
Discuss the idea of religion as a political tool. Explain what was said about this and how it relates back to the uprising in Iran in 1979. Then connect the idea to something going on currently.
You will probably need more than 7 sentences for this and if your group went today you must answer the prompt about the other group.
56 comments:
Persepolis is a Coming of Age story. Marji had to deal with war and violence in her childhood. A couple people stood out to me in the group discussion. For example, I thought that Lauren Beattie brought up some good points in the discussion. One thing that she said that stuck out to me, was when she said that Marji's childhood was somewhat taken away from her. She said that the violence and war made Marji grow up a little. The war made Marji go through more of an adult-like childhood, compared to a regular childhood. The idea of coming of age could affect me in different ways. For example, my childhood did not revolve around war and violence. When I was younger I just played with toys and had play dates with friends. If I had lived my childhood during a war like Marji, I bet I would have grown up a lot earlier. Marji's coming of age occured earlier than a normal kid her age. In conclusion, I feel that the idea of Coming of Age greatly impacted the story, and if I were in Marji's situation, I would have grown up differently than I did.
Becca Need
3rd Hour
3rd hour
I am going to discuss the coming of age question. I think that Marji's childhood was shorter than a child usually lives. The war had forced Marji to grow up sooner than she would have normally. In circumstances that she was in, Marji had to face the realities of life, which forced her act more like an adult. Marji had to think and act like an adult in order to survive during the war. Much of her childhood was taken away from her because she had the responsibilities of an adult. Like the group said (I can't remember what a specific person said), Marji acted very immature when she smoked the cigarette. I don't think that one act turns you into an adult, and the cigarette for Marji did not push her into adulthood. I think that it was Marji's life experiences that transitioned her from a child to an adult. Being a part of the war, going to demonstrations and being well read all were factors that lead Marji to adulthood. I think that I am still transitioning from a child to an adult, however I think that my responsibilities are more like an adult's, so therefore I have to act more like an adult. My childhood was much longer lived than Marji. Because I didn't have adult responsibilities until my teen years, I was able to act like a kid for a long time. I think that my life experiences also transitioned me into adulthood, just like Marji. However, Marji grew up because she had to in order to survive, and I grew up later in my life on my own time.
The idea of using religion as a political tool, gets more followers. It can also cause people to bend their religion, going around whats against their religion like killing someone, by calling it something else like stopping a sinful person. People in the groups today said that people can be manipulated very easily by this concept, or religion being used as a political tool. A great example of the two things i just said is how terrorists are attacking America. They are under the impression that if they kill millions of Americans, or just people in general, then they're doing something that will get them into heaven instantly, and be favored by their god. When in reality by all or most sins, it is a sin to kill. Religion in the uprising in Iran is the fire to the uprising. It keeps people going because wearing veils and covering their bodies, is against their ways, and religion, and leaders are bending their religion so much that it is hard for most to tell what the origional religion was even like. And if there are religious followers following a powerful leader, than as we saw in Persepolis, there will be large conflict and fighting, and dissagreements within a country, or society.
I wasnt there for the discussion, but I am still going to build off of the first question. I agree with Becca, when she is saying that Marji kind of had her childhood taken away from her. She saw many things, and went through many things that made her grow up a lot faster than the normal children her age. She saw war and everything that came with it. She saw people get shot, stabbed, drowned, burned and even cut into pieces. She saw innocent people killed right before her eyes. She seen her family get torn apart right before her eyes. From all the things that Marji went through, yes she matured very quickly. She also became very educated though, and learned about many things that other kids her age probably hadnt a clue of. I think that if I would have grown up the same way as Marji, I'd be a completely different person now. I would feel like an adult already, and I dont know if I would like it. I like being a kid, or atleast young enough to not be labeled "adult." Right now is the best years of my life, right now, while im still growing and learning and figuring out who I am even.
Im going to discuss the coming of age. Throughout both discussions many people brought out many good points about how mature for her age Marji is and how well she deals with the revolution. In the discussion Lauren brought up great points in the development of Marji, she talked about how Marji was trying to be like the other average kid but that wasnt possible because she was so worried about the revolution. Another point that was brought up, i believe Lauren said it aswell but how Marji was trying to grow up so fast that she did something that isnt good for people, which was smoking that ciggarette. She may have thought she was growing up and maturing but in reality she was only hurting her own cause. These points dont affect me as much, but the one that has a more likely possibility of affecting me is trying to act older and trying to grow up. She is trying to understand the revolution and become apart of it but she is too young. I havnt experienced it yet but lately ive been thinking to myself and debating wheather i should join the military. It has been on the back of my mind ever since coming to high school. What if my life after high school doesnt turn out to what i hoped? I dont have high asperations but i am at least hoping to keep my head above water thats it. i think i have learned to calm down and just enjoy my last year mooching off my parents and to learn that the future is the future. If its the only option i have left then so be it, but i refuse to screw up the life i havnt lived yet.
Will Michaels 2nd hour
Religion is considered a political tool in the book. Here in America, religion isn't mixed with politics, but growing up in 1979, Marji's world did. In the class discussions today, they talked about how the government would use religion as a tool to control the people and take over Iran. They would twist situations around and somewhat bend their religion. For example, killing people isn't ok, but the government made it seem like it was ok. In todays world, terrism is and example. Terrists believe that if they kill people in another country for their own country, it will make them a martyr. This concept to them is good, making what they did ok. They use the excuse of "getting into heaven free-card" for their actions, because religion truely is a big thing for these people.
People use religion to fihgt wars all of the time. Its all about power. If you want the power, you have to fight for it, but to fight for it you have to have justification. At least in most cases you do. Even the uprising wasnt about religion. It was about one group wanting the power, and they were willing to fight for it. Today, the government is trying to tell people that they are fighting a war to try and help the people of Iraq. Its a lie. Its all about power. The real reason our troops are over there is oil. The middle east is riddled with it, and if the U.S. is on good terms whith whoever is in power, we are going to be sure that we do get it, and that it will be cheaper.
I think that them using religion as a political tool makes them have more like people that follow them. They used religion for like every excuse to be in war. They got more people to be included in the war. The religious peoplebend their rules sometimes because of this. They dont kill people but its ok if their bad people that they kill. They think that a key around their necks will help them get into heaven. They think they will be forgiven by thier god. They still use this today making religion a reason to fight. Not as much as back then but they still do.
Katlyn Twigg 2nd Hour
Well sense i have do do the Coming of Age one i guess ill start off when the group was talking about Marjane smoking. I don't remember who said it but they said that marjane was only smoking becuase she say adults doing it and she wanted to be an adult. I disagree with that statment. I believe that Marjane did smoke the cig becuase she saw grown ups doing it but also smoked becuase she was curious. Every younge adult is curious about things and wants to try them. The group also talked about her stealing the cig to try to be more adult like but in reality acting like a child. I agree with the group on this one. She wanted to be an adult so she stole somthing. Now only a child would think like this. Some may steall to try to be cool or impress there friends but not to be looked at as an adult. I think that all Marjane wants is to be apretiated and to get attention. She sometimes feels out of the loop, so she does rebelious things to try to get some attention. Like when she skipped part of school. I think she was trying to show her mom that she still existed and could make bad or good choices. I think she wanted her mom to care about her. DOnt get me wrong her mom loved her but as a child you sometimes dont feel that from your parents.
Zack Ruffin
I am going to go with the first one. I do think that Persepolis is a coming of age story. Marjane had was forced to grow up very fast. She was very mature for her age and very eager to learn about her family and government She read lots of books so that she could understand what her parents were talking about. From what I can remember of the group someone said that Marji's childhood was sort of taken away from her. In the time period she grew up in, life was based on war and religion. During my childhood, I hungout with friends and played with toys. Had I lived in an era based on war, I'm sure I would have grown up a lot quicker also.
Cody
Religion as a political tool. The government forces the religion onto it's people. The upper middle to higher classes tend to ignore them/rebel from it. However, when people are poor, they are desperate for anything to make their lives better. Even a "key to Heaven". The government is using this to recruit young men to go die for their country. This relates to the uprising in Iran in 1979 because the government their tried to take territory and recruit people to fight because their god willed it. Religion is the driving force behind the uprising. Two people are fighting over which belongs to who. They can't agree so they sin and kill each other. The government is using religion to recruit more people for a lost cause. It's a never ending loop of who's right and who's wrong. Like to little kids fighting. This idea isn't used today in America but a recent event I can think of is Terrorism. Terrorist are told him they become martyrs, they will get into heaven and get 23 virgins or whatever to do with as they please. Sounds like a pretty good deal, when your desperate.
Religion as a political tool is kind of like controlling people in a sense. People become more against things once the government has become very religious. The thing people do against their religion isn't a good idea. Like in the book the older people started yelling at people in the road who didn't dress properly. Our country isn't really like that now. It's a free country. Everyone doesn't have the same views as others which causes conflict with people. But its better to have a diverse country then all the same religion. I think this because that causes people to be different and thats good. Everyone is their own person. And in Iran everyone had to look alike and woman had to hid away their faces. Just because of their religion.
Religion is a political tool by politicians getting members of society on their side. Its a way to manipulate the structure of the government if its not ideal to the person who wants to change it. The uprising in Iran was a situation where leaders found religion as a powerful tool in which they could use to make things their way. The leaders abused religion as a tool, and the people of Iran were getting sick of it. For example, The leaders forced women to wear veils, and were very strict about not letting any hair show. Most of the women didnt understand why they suddenly had to hide themselves. They werent sure why they were doing something they didnt believe in. Religion can get people on your side. With the most recent presidential election, there were candidates with a mix of religious backgrounds. Mitt Romneys mormonism gained him support from citizens who share the same beliefs. The point is that a candidate could win out the election due to their religion. It would be a shame if another candidate who is a better fit for the job lost because the winner used religion as a political tool.
In life, i feel that based on what events that may take place durring ones child hood may vary in that persons Coming of Age. In todays discussion, I feel the two whom had great points in this topic were lauren and zack. Both of them stuck out because of the comments they had made which had stuck out to me and really made me understand the whole topic in general better. One of the main things that was pointed out was that due to the tragic events which occured during Marjane's childhood that it caused her childhood to almost be taken from her due to all the dangers. Thsi really is a sad thing if you think about it because Marjane really cant control what is happening with her government and country. Her loosing her child hood is pretty much summing up how her parents are so protective of her all because of the war which is going on. Stepping away from Marjane's situation, i feel that many things here in my life may be influenced by the whole coming of age. As i grow up and reach my influential high school years, many people around the world are starting to descover all of these drugs as well as making it very easy to get in others hands. Being in highschool, theres nothing better than getting through a long week of school and then being able to have fun on the weekends. But due to the use of drugs by teens, my parents are constantly keeping an eye on the friends i hang out with along with the places i choose to go to ad hang out at. The coming of age in these situations really start to hurt me as my parents become very strict on all the things i do. Growing up and being a kid is the best part of someones life but as more and more terrible things happen, more consiquencees and rules are inforced by different people such as parents.
conman
Going off of what Chris Loder said today in class, politics and religion shouldn’t mix, makes sense but is going to happen. I think that when people are put in situations, like the wars between Iran and Iraq, it’s their nature to have religion circling them day-to-day. Therefore, it is going to happen politically during the war as well. Everyone during that war based their allies on their religion most of the time. In the beginning of the story, Marji said that the king was chosen by God, but was he? Most people believed it even though he took over the empire. So these beliefs raised a type of disagreement between people. One major event happening now, is the Arab women wanting to switch to Christianity but cannot due to their government. The United States have been trying to help Iraq turn over to a democracy. Women want to do so because they are not seen as equal individuals in society. Many of these women are having secret, underground meetings because they have switched their beliefs to Christianity. If any of these women are caught, the government will execute them. So, should politics and religion mix? No, but they do anyways whether people like it or not.
Lauren Beattie
3rd Hour
You can discuss the Coming of Age question by building off of something specific that someone in the group brought up. If possible, please say who made the statement you are commenting on and then talk about how this idea of coming of age could be something that affects you.
Myself, and Lauren Beattie said that this Coming of Age was taken from Marji. Also, we agreed that the childhood act of smoking the cigaratte didnt make her come out of childhood. When the war came into Iran and struck their lives, it caused chilren to be mature. They normally took on more responsibilities, and had to grow up. This was in fact correct for marji. I dont think this cigarette pushed marji into adult hood. I think that this act was immature and somewhat set her back. For me, at this age i was nowhere near this. I was someone who played hokcey and baseball all day. I would never even consider reading a book.
People use religion as a political tool all the time in foreign countries. Government leaders twist the truth by saying their god wants them to do something for the country. For example in Persepolis the religious fanatics forced all of the women to wear veils. They claimed that it was for their own protection. This relates to the uprising in Iran because using religion as a polictical resource caused to people of Iran to become upset. This upset them because the new government made the men grow beards. It also made the women wear the veils again and most of them didn't like wearing it. An example today of using relgion as a polictical tool would be the terrorist in the middle east. Most of the middle eastern countries today are run by religious leaders. Also Iran was still ran by the religious fanatics.
I am going to talk about Coming of Age. This has a lot to do with Marji in Persepolis. Although i cant remember who talked about this, i do remember them saying that she lost her childhood. This is completly true. If i think back when i was a child, i didnt ever think about politics, or anything that was going on in the world, mainly becuase i didnt have to. Marji was only ten years old, and was already so educated about the war and knew so much than an average ten year old would know. So yeah, Marjis childhood was lost. No child should have to go through such violence and cruelness.
I am going to discuss the idea of religion being used as a political tool. During the discussion today Chris & Zack discussed that in the book Persepolis the government used religion to get the young kids to join the army, promising them a better after life (the golden key). The government manipulated the young boys. When people a poor they try to find ways to make their life better. In 1979 the government of Iran used religion to make the women wear veils. If women showed their hair it was making them permisquis. People use their religous beliefs to gain politcal advantages. The government of Iran used religion as a tool to manipulate their people into following the Shah's rules. Currently Al-quida uses religion as motivation for people to kill. They promise a life of paradise in their life after; people are brainwashed to do terrorist acts. A person will tie a bomb to themselves and explode it in a group of people all in the name of religion. Religion is a personal freedom and should not be used for politcal gain.
Persepolis is a comming of age story. Satrapi had to deal with war and the constant terror of staying alive. As was discused today, Satrapi's childhood was taken away from here in the midsts of the tragity that was going on in her everyday life. I think that Lauren said that. Another would that I really liked about her childhood was that it was tanted said by john kent. I just thought to myself what it would be like to live in such a corrupt society that reliogn decised what happends over governemt. I think that this affects me because we ourselves are in the middle of a war right, even though its not being fought on our soil we have to deal with the death of our people. We are in constant alert of terrorist attack, and never know when on ecan take place. Like the one on christmas.
John McLean'3rd hour
I am going to answer the Coming of Age question. Marji's childhood got cut short because of the time period she was in. Growing up while a huge war is going on makes you grow up quicker then the time period and country we live in. Some people say when kids have to grow up in an area where there's a lot of violence that kids tend to grow up and mature quicker in order for them to survive. Something that they talked about in the first group was when she smoked the cigarette. I cant remember who brought it up first but they they had a continuous conversation about it. They said how Marji believed that was her way of not being a kid anymore. I feel like smoking one cigarette doesn't mean your grown up yet. And I feel like she thinks shes grown up but deep down shes still just a kid. She doesn't have the mind setting of an adult all the time. If she did think like grown up then she would know that being grown up is more than smoking a cigarette. But, I do believe that her childhood was cut short because she had to grow up and know more about war and death and such at a lot younger age then most kids.
Hannah Aittama
2nd Hour
using reliogon as a politacl tool is a way tov take advatage of the ppl without them even knowing it. its a type of manipulation just like how they sent those children to war. The only reason they even believed them was because there belief in religoin. now, they gave these kids a key to paradise at least thats wat they called it but really they were just trying to get free soiders and a poor childs life isnt worth as much as a rich childs life. i dissagree with that but thats how they saw it.
I am going to blog about the comming of age topic. Persepolis is a whold book about comming of age. Marji has to see violence and a political war every day, which forces her to mature very early. Marji's "childhood" was cut very short due to this. Both groups broght up very good points in the circle disscussion. Lauren pointed out how violence and war made Marji grow up, i truley agree with this, most eight year olds would just ignore all of what was going on then (which zack i think pointed that out) Marji on the other hand was very curious and wanted to know more and more about the revolution, therefore showing she forced herself to grow up. Rachel talked about when she smoked that her childhood wasnt lost she was simply rebeling, i half agree with that because i dont think that her "childhood" was lost because in alot of aspects she is very childish, her her sense of innocence was lost which is a big part of childhood. I think that if i was living back then the war would make me grow up too, the war would drasticly affect and rush my childhood becasue my parents dont hide me from things and keep me very involved.
Religion is used as a political tool because it will get people to do what you want. If you say and express all the good things of your religion and mix it in with some untrue things it may help you. For "Persepolis" the government wants people to follow there order and keep the shah in. This worked for a wile but soon peoples freedoms over ran it. There was debates on there religion and how they should practice it and eventually people seperated iin society. In todays society reigion is still like that in the middle east. People have on going wars just to protect there beliefs. Governments around the world use religion as a source of overpowering there people and making them do what they want. Terrorist activity is all dedicated to there religion and stoping americas. We get into major struggles over this and it hits back at home with terrorist threats within our soil. They only want one thing right now, power and to have everyone convert to Islam.
Religion as a political tool. Governments use religion as a way to minipulate the people of their country. Today as americans we dont really see this within our government. However, this is a huge problem in other countries. Power hungry governments use religion as a way to get people to conform. Theu write pointless laws based upon religions and come up with useless constraints to do what they say is best for their people. Personally, I dont think the government should really have any power. I think that they should protect the country and leave whats best for the people up to the people. The government has always tried to use their power to minipulate us. I think that in America it is not as big of a problem but we can see it happening within the taxes we have to pay and the borderlines we cannot cross. I beleive that something should be done about the power that governments hold and how they use it. Im not suggesting anarchy but I am suggesting that something be done to gain the majority of the power back.
I haven't been at school the last couple of days because of my grandma with cancer, but I'll try my best to respond to the question. From what I read, I agree with Lauren's comment that Marji's childhood was taken away from her in a way. It seems like she did not have much of a choice whether or not she wanted to grow up, she was almost forced to in a way because of her environment. While kids in other areas of the world get to grow up in a sheltered environment, Marji is exposed to war at a young age. Her parents want her to understand what is going on, so Marji learns about the troubles that come with war: death, rape, violence, fighting, inequality, and so much more. She learned to stand up for herself and it made her mature more quickly than what is expected of a child. If I had grown up in an environment such as Marji, I would have been different than I am today. I think I would even possibly be a little different of a person than I am today. I know my parents tried their best to shelter me from adult problems and issues that kids should not have to worry about. If they hadn't sheltered me, I have no idea how I would handle situations. As I grow older, my parents teach me about real world problems and allow me to learn on my own, but I think I can handle difficult truths better now than I would if I were years younger.
In the story Persepolis, one of the major themes is Coming of Age. In the first circle discussion, Rachel brought up the idea that Marji is very naive through out the story. I agree with Rachel because it is apparent that Marji is naive to many things that go on. It is most obviously seen when Marji's parents are discussion the man who had died of cancer, yet the town called him a martyr. She was completely naive to why her parents were laughing. She is a young girl so it is understandable. After that experience Marji attempted to understand better by reading books about the wars. When she was finished reading, she still did not understand. This left her still naive. This idea totally has affected me before. I remember all the time when I was much younger, my parents would let me watch Austin Powers because I did not understand the jokes. I always laughed when I saw my parents laugh, yet until I watched it again after coming of age, the jokes all started to make sense. Marji is still too young by the end of the story to totally understand and be less naive.
I am going to discuss Persepolia as a Coming of Age story. Everyone in the group made some good points. But I don't remeber who said what. I think Marji tried to grow up too fast. I think she tried to grow up to try and understand what her parents would talk about. For example, instead of playing ball outside she would be reading comic versions of Carl Marx. Or she would play a torture game instead of something like tag. And all the struggles Marji went through made her mature alot differently than an average child would.
Religion can be a powerful tool if enough people believe in your religion. Thats why Iran was so successful at using religion as a political tool. They used the shah as a symbol of god to tell the people gods bidding, because the people of Iran need a powerful figure to look up to. With the Shah as leader he can not make decision and say they are gods will, and lie to the people of Iran; because they believe that the Shah is doing gods bidding. In todays world we could use the war on terror as an example of religion as a political tool. The Al Quida interpret gods will into killing westerners and bringing the the middle east back to traditional values. They say that they are doing gods work to bring in more believers to do the Al Quida's job.
Persepolis is a Coming of Age story. Marji had to deal with war and violence as she was growing up. The war had forced Marji to grow up alot quicker than she would have. In some circumstances that she was in, Marji had to face the realities of life. These forced her act more like an adult. She had to think and act like an adult in order to survive during the war. She really didnt get to live her own childhood she was aslways told what to do and how to act. She always had be be prepared which forced her to be mature. coming of age hasnt really effected me. Ive always have got to do what i wanted as long as i dont get introuble. I have responitables but i also have freedom. I dont take advantage of what i have because i love the way i was raised.
I believe that if there is the idea that a person becomes of age, that this can happen anytime in their life. One of the people in the circle discussion mentioned that just because Marji smoked a cigarette, that did not make her a more mature person. I completely agree with this. When a person's mind is able to rationally make decisions, then I believe that they are "of Age." Marji could act immature at times too. When she played her roll playing games with her friends, and when she mocked her teachers, she was not mature. Marji also, on the other side of things, had to grow up much faster. She had to hear stories about her family members and friends getting killed, protests, riots, and much more. People in the circle group mentioned this, and I believe that it is very true. Marji was very interesting in how she could act very mature, and very childish. This is the way she is (in the story), and it really shows just how she grows up.
In Persepolis, it is very clear that the government uses religion as a tool. The book takes place in 1979, which is when the uprising took place in Iran. The Shah was over thrown and taken over by Islamic fundamentalists. This new government used religion as a tool to oppress the citizens of Iran. This was said today during the second circle discussion. One example the group used today was when the schools forced the kids to take a religion class and also forced the girls to wear veils. Currently, I see the same thing going on in the middle east to this day. I have heard in the news how women are not allowed to drive or go outside wearing unless they have veils covering everything but their eyes. It seems to me that men in the middle east are using religion as a tool to oppress women, just like the government used religion to oppress the citizens in Persepolis.
Religion is deffiantly used as a political tool. In Iran they gave away keys and said if you fight in the army you get a free pass to heaven. Of course this is a lie but it worked anyway. Religious views is also used as an escape goat. For example, during the Holocaust Germany blamed the Jews for their problems. They made the citizens that by killing them they would be solving their problems. Kings and queens also have gone to war over religion, so clearly it's a factor in wars also. Today, in foreign countries they tell people that terrorism on United States is a Godly fight. This is used to encourage them to bomb and attack us. Religion can be used to gain power and make people do what you want them to do.
Kristen Pauly
2nd hour
I chose to discuss the coming of age. Im not sure who made this statement but it was a boy who said "she said smoking the cigarette was kissing her childhood goodbye but it seemed pretty childish that she thought that." I completely agree with what that individual said. The idea that you can leave behind childhood with a single action is completely ridiculous. Leaving childhood is a slow proccess i think and smoking a cigarette deffinitly doesnt cover it. You have to mature, which marji deffinitly has not. She still acts very childish and thinking that is childish, just like the reader said. Coming of age is something that effects kids my age every day. we learn new things and learn from our mistakes on a daily basis and thats part of coming of age. We mature, some of us, and hats a huge part of coming of age.
Religion as a political tool is a good example throughout the story Persepolis. The reason it was said to be a tool is because it can be used to fix things. It also can be used against a person or even groups of people. As Chris said in the discussion this religion was forced on the people of Israel. It relates to Iran during 1979 because thats the time the revolution started. Thats the time everything went down in the country. Today religion is just as important as it was back in 1979 not much has changed. Still to this day religion is still used as a political tool. An example is the way Sara Palin talks about how religion language is used as a political tool in different countries. The way people talk about their own religion can be used as an informational tool because the different beliefs people.
The idea of religon as a politcal tool is kind of like have control of people in a way. People become more angry with the gov. and tend to turn agianst it when tthey have become religous. People start fighting agianst their own religion. Like in the book the older people started yelling at otheres for not dressing they did. Our country sure isnt like that anymore. It's free. People veiw things differently then others, it might cause conflict with people. Its better to have different veiws on things then country with no differentces.
I'm going discuss coming of age. A really big topic that almost everyone touched on in the group was Marji's cigarette. after being yelled at by her mother Marji decides that she doesn't want to be a child anymore. so she steals a cigarette and declares that with that cigarette goes her youth, that she is not longer a child anymore. i found this very childish. you cannot just declare that your childhood is gone. i think what she was trying to do was make herself appear more mature and grownup. i think that is she thought she was mature she could no longer be treated as a child. as well as that i believe that was just a way for her to rebel against her mother. I know i have done something i knew my mother wouldn't like because i was mad at her. i think it is the same thing for Marji she doesn't want to be controlled by her mother so shes showing how uncontrollable she is, and how mature she is. coming of age affects me because i am still young and still becoming more mature. i know i won't be able to just leave being a child with a cigarette but in time i will evolve in to a grownup.
In the war in Iran the government used religion to get more people to fight. For example, they told 13 year old boys that those fake golden keys would get them in to heaven. It makes it harder for people to understand whats right or wrong in their religion sometimes.I say this because the government tells them one thing while their religion tells them the opposite. The government tells them that killing people isn't a sin and that it will get them into heaven. Of course, who wouldn't want a free ticket into heaven? So tons of people went to fight thinking that even though they're killing people it's not a sin, when in fact it is. Killing people is a sin in, as far as I know, all religions. Terrorists are great examples of people who are manipulated by religion. Their government tells them that if they kill themselves in order to kill others then they will go to heaven and get 72 virgins. Which is bull crap in my opinion.
James Richardson
3rd hour
The idea of religion being a political tool is nothing new in history. It has been used since the beginning of time. Politions use religion as a form of control. It was used to keep people in order, and easliy minipulated. People are so connected to religion that you can use it to control young minds. In the uprising in Iran, the schools taught children that the Shah was chosen by god. They wanted the childrent o follow what he said, no questions asked. Then, after the revolution happened, and the Shah got kicked out of power, the schools taught children that he was a bad person and denied that they ever connected him with god. Another way religion was used was with the veils, and having western ideas in general. Anything western was banned, to keep people from free thinking and demonstrating revolts. The veils were used to control women, and keep them from uprising. By trying to put religion majorly back into the culture, the governmant could control its people, with no free thoughts. This connects to many things going on today. Currently, there are countries useing religion to tkae over people. Mainly in the middle east, but also in India, religion is a huge battle and war. People kill each other because they are not the same religion, and I believe emphasis of the government can be a factor.
Megan Kastelen
2nd hour
For the blog I am going to talk about the coming of age topic. In class today when we held our discussion it was brought up that Marji's childhood was gone with the cigarette. I don't really agree with this statement. Smoking the cigarette was her starting the process of her childhood coming to an end but not the actual end. Marji lives in a country where it is very common to grow up fast. They live in situations and deal with events that in a moment could take away your childhood. However it amazes me how even through all the violence and problems Marji still remains childish. Yes, in some ways she matures, but in other ways she hangs on to her childhood. Even in the end of the novel there are aspects of her that are very childish. So as far as her childhood being gone with the cigarette to me is ridiculous, because Marji is just one of those people who can be going through the worst times and still hang on to her inner child.
Taylor Dieck
3rd hr.
Coming of Age is a key element in the story of Persepolis. A topic discussed today by the group was the point of the story when Marji smokes a cigarette and tells herself that she is an adult from that point on. Rachel commented that the entire action was childish because Marji actually thought that by smoking a cigarette she would automatically graduate into adulthood. Also the group discussed how Marji's childhood, compared to ours, is much different. They felt like she was more mature at a younger age and that she missed out on childhood things(I agree with them totally). They thought it unusual that instead of playing with toys as a young girl, Marji read books about the war and its happenings. Zack commented that when he was at the age when Marji was reading those books he had no motivation to read, let alone something as "boring" as the war in Iran. The group felt that the war kind of forced Marji to become more mature at a faster pace.
Audrey
I'm going to write about the Coming of Age. Going along with what Chloe said, the group before mine really got involved with the topic of Marji's cigarette, as well as her going against her parents wishes and still going to the demonstration. After she was yelled at by her mom for the second time, because of her actions, she was done being a child. Although, in the group discussion, they all said she was never really had a childhood, it was taken away from her. I disagree, I believe that she chose that life. She could of done what the other kids did, but she didn't, she was different. She chose her own childhood. Anyways, Marji was fet up with being treated like a child, even though it was for her own good. After the fight with her mom, she went to the basement to smoke a cigarette that she stole from her uncle in the previous weeks. She thought that smoking a cigarette with make her "cool" and not a child anymore. She thought she would finally be considered an adult. I don't feel that her smoking a cigarette will declare her as an adult. When she did that she was acting very immature. The only reason why she did smoke the cigarette was because she was mad at her mom and she wanted to prove a point. At one point in life we are all mad at our parents and then want to prove them wrong but, you have to know what's right over wrong. Even when my parents and I fight, and I know they don't know what their talking about, I don't go and do something stupid. I settle it in a mature manner. Even though Marji is very mature for her age, in some ways she is still very immature. I feel this is because she wanted to know all about what the adults were talking about, she was always two steps ahead of everyone else her age, she never got to be silly when she was a child. The Coming of Age affects me because I'm still growing, learning, and maturing. I have to admit at times I do act very childish, but that's completely normal. In time I will grow out of it.
Alanna Nagi
2nd hour
I am going to talk about ow the idea of religion as a poitical tool.I think religion has a huge part in politics. In 1979, Iran was run by a strict religous government. Religion played more of a roll of rules of Iran. Currently in Middle eastern counties they are run by very religous goverenments. Most people n those contries live their life based off their religion. I think that religion shouldnt be used in government becasue some poelple may be more effected by what goes on in the government
Jake F.
Coming of Age is a major part in the stroy. We see that Marji grew up way before she should have. The statement that her childhood had been taken from her was extremely true and it really stood out to me. Marji's life and counrty was corrupted by war and a corrupt government. This corruption had huge affects on her as she grew up. Marji started dealing with things at age 10 that people in the States could probably ever imagin. We dont have experience war and death and fear all the time. The idea of Coming of Age is something that affects me a lot. When i was 10 my dad died and I that caused me to grow up before i should have. i had to start dealing with things that kids my age didnt usually have to deal with. I didnt have to deal with anything comparable to Marji, but it still took away some of my childhood.
Religion is a very important and crucial theme that is represented in Persepolis. But often when this was taken place religion began to become tangled up with politics. The Government used religion as a loop hole to get into the minds and thoughts of the people. By doing this they were pretty much able to minipulate the people however they wanted this was shown on (pg99) when the government gave the poor soilders a key to heaven for fighting in the army. When the government started to intervien with peoples own will to choose there religion people revolted and it became a bad nasty situation. I think that all the government did with religion was use it as a bribe to put fear in the people hearts and souls that if they didn't do what they said they wouldn't be happy in the after life. Bribes are used every day all around the world. It could be as simple as giving a child a dollar for him to give you information or as big as thousands of dollars to keep you alive from someone who wants you dead.
Taylor wattles
I would like to build off the thing that was said in the group about Coming of Age. That is, that this whole scenario was kind of forced upon Marji. I believe it was Lauren and James who said that. She was born into the time period when there was war and corruption. During this time, she had to learn how to start to kind of grow up. She started to read books so she could learn about the problems around her, because she didn't understand them. This forced her into adulthood, which was also kind of forced upon her. This affects me because I am very similar to MArji in the fact that I grew up learning about the things around me, such a politics and the economy. However, the difference is that I chose to learn about it and she was kind of forced. Even though she made the choice to read books, she would have been very lost in the world at the time, because she couldn't just be a kid. This is not the case with kids nowadays, but I think I have become a yopung adult by learing about the problems around me.
JohnKent
1-14-10
Yes, religion is used as a political tool. Our political leaders are expected to have a high moral code. If caught doing something inappropriate they are crucified in the press. In the U.S. it would be difficult to do what happened in Iran. The U.S. is just one big melting pot of cultures and religions. Iran’s people are mainly Muslim and easily able to manipulate everyone. The leaders also control the flow of information as another way to manipulate people. Here in the U.S. there are so many ways to get information around that it is hard to prevent the flow of information. In the story Marji’s father never believed anything in the news until he checked with the BBC.
I guess I will discuss the coming of age question. Marji had to deal with a lot growing up such as war and violence. It forced her to grow up faster than any child should have to. He had to face stuff which made her into more of an adult figure. I thought the group did a good job discussing this and really broke it down well. There was good points made that you can force yourself to grow up sometimes. I agree and disagree with this statement because so situations are real extreme that you have to think mature but its hard to do most of the time. Also the group brought up the fact that Marji thought the cig would make her an adult. I dont think that smoking makes you an adult and i think that she just thought it would make her mature. I think if anything it did the opposite because she didnt even like it. Overall though she is severely mature for her age.
Blanz
2nd
The coming of age shows alot throughout Persepolis. In the group discussion today Lauren brought up how Marji was pretty much forced to grow up. I believe this statement was true. Through her life she deals with as an older person than she is. The war and all the violence is going on while Marji grows up, she has to make decisions and learn things more on her own. Also because her parents were very busy. Many of these are stated in todays discussion. Another example from the dicussion the shows the coming of age is when Rachel K. talked about how Marji said smoking her first cigarette made her grow up, and no longer a child. I dont think this is completely true. I think that just because your your and you smoke or something that adults or older people do, doesnt make you just not a child anymore. I do believe that you lose some innocence but its not just becoming an adult, alot more goes with it. Coming of age definitly affects me because its that point in my life now. Things that i do now change my life and may take some innocence away but it doesnt mean im all grown up and not a child. As you grow up, things change, and you adjust to your surroundings.
In the story, Marji childhood is taken away from her in a sense. Since there was a revolution going on while she was young, it forced her to mature faster. Under the circumstances, she was basically forced to act more like an adult. She had to think more adult-like in order to survive. Except when she decided to smoke a cigarette for the first time, it was really immature she said that she was leaving childhood just because she smoked a cigarette. In the first group someone that Marji smoking the cigarette didnt make her mature, in fact it made her takes steps back to being childish. I really dont think one thing, esp smoking a cigarette, makes you an adult. Experiances make you grow up, and mature, but no one specific thing can prove you're an adult. Marji experianced alot of things, like the war, the religious revolutionaries, etc., that forced her to mature. She was stopped by to religious women, and harrassed for her outfit and wrongly worn veil. I am not a religious person, and if 2 adults stopped me for being 'dressed wrong', and harrassed me as they did Marji, I would probably react the same way. In the book, Marji doesnt seem to be HUGE into religion, besides the whole prophet thing. So, it probably freaked her out to be stopped like that over her 'punk' look. Throughout the story, Marji continues to mature in more ways than a child her age should, its all from the things she went through/experianced.
Sam Tedder
2nd
I am going to blog about the 2nd one. In this story relegion is a political tool. Back during the uprising in Iran relegion was forced upon the citizans, they had no choice unless they wanted to be executed. There are many different places this is talked about in this book. One would be when Satrapi is going to school and forced to wear the veil because her relegion and government say all women have too. An example from todays society would be terrorists. Their leaders have got then so convinced that they will get anything they want if they kill themselves for something. They don't realize that they will not be rewarded for there acts, but be punished. That just go's to show how much relegion plays a role in politics.
Well, i think that the idea of religion as a political tool is a huge theme in this story. During the circle discussions today, it wasn't really brought up a lot in the first group, but the second ground discussed it more in depth. I don't really know who said it, but someone brought up the point that the shahs had been using religion and fear of the all mighty against his people for many years. They discussed how this drastically affected the stability of the Iran culture. I think it was Chris L. who brought up the point that this religious brainwashing is what caused the civil war within Iraq during the war with Iraq. This caused the huge, long struggle between the fundamentalists and the modernists and the huge split between the two sides. The government has been abusing the power of religion to gain political power for years, and even today. We can even see this around the world today. This is shown in many middle eastern countries. Many of these countries either dramatically support or deficit one religion in order to gain a majority's support. This shows how eager governments can be to take advantage of even our most precious values in today's societies.
i was absent for the groups so i really don't feel i can properly answer these questions.
I am going to talk about the Coming of Age question. Marji didn't have the childhood most people would ask for. She was involved in very adult issues at such a young age. She was forced to mature without even knowing it. Even though her child like behavior was inside of her, she still matured quickly. I think Mikki Nosek said the comment about how she wasn't automatically an adult because she smoked the cigarette. In fact it made her look immature by stating the fact that she was becoming an adult because of a rebellious act. Something like this could affect me because if I went through the experiences she did, I would learn quickly too. I would make my own judgements on things, just like Marji, and stand for what I believe in.
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