TKM's Trial Radio!

This week my friend Sebastián Barriga and me decided to act a Alabama's Voice Radio Station in the Court Case of the book "To Kill a Mockingbird". We decided to do this together because we think it's much better and enjoyable. Also, in radios, journalists are rarely alone.

TKM Part 2 Questions #1

The last few weeks I've been reading the second part of To Kill a Mockingbird, so I'll answer the following questions about it.

Chapter 12

1. Comment on Jem's and Scout's visit to First Purchase Church. What does Scout learn about how black people live?

They learn that black people were much poorer than whites, because they didn't have hymns. Also, most of them didn't know how to read or write. Apart from this, they noticed how Calpurnia changed his way of talking when she was surrounded by negroes. Finally, they also felt that black people were kind to them because their father was helping a Negro.

2. Explain why Calpurnia speaks differently in the Finch household, and among her neighbours at church.

Because she must adapt to where she is. Also, negroes will probably feel offended if she talked "white english" in the First Purchase Church.

Chapter 13

3. Aunt Alexandra thinks Scout is "dull" (not clever). Why does she think this, and is she right?

Aunt alexandra says this because she thinks Scout doesn't act as proper lady. Also, the old woman thinks Scout is not behaving as a Finch should.

4. How does Aunt Alexandra involve herself in Macomb's social life?

She had very good relations in town. She rapidly stablished friendships with the women of the city and she always said how proud she was of the Finches. The old women will commonly get together in the afternoons to have tea and talk.

5. Comment on Aunt Alexandra's ideas about breeding and family, in contrast to Atticus' visions. Who's right, do you think? Why?

Aunt Alexandra expresses that she thinks all members of a family should act as the family wants them to. Therefore, she thinks every Finch should act correctly and accordingly with the family's values. In the other side, Atticus supports the children and thinks that every person should build their life according to what they think is correct and the social circumstances they are involved.

Chapter 14

6. Comment on Atticus' definition of rape. How suitable is this definition as an answer to Scout?

Atticus said rape is "Carnal knowledge of a female by force and without concern". He told the pure truth to Scout, instead of avoiding it as Calpurnia did. It's not strange that Calpurnia didn't want to talk about those things with the children because she thought Atticus should decide in their education and values, not her.

Sports: London 2012 Olympic Games!

The last few weeks every person in the world was paying attention to what happened it London, because that city was hosting one of the biggest events in the world, the Olympic Games. For me, this games were special. I have some vague memories of Atenas 2004, and good remembers of the organization of Beijing 2008. But this years it was different, it was in England. Honestly, I appreciate every culture in the world and I think China have been doing great improvements in their country and society, but I still prefer the European style. Also, considering all the economic problems that Europe have been going through, London 2012 showed us that those countries aren't just history.

Although I couldn't watch the Opening Ceremony, I enjoyed most of the sports in the first week. Unfortunately, the second week of games I had a lot of tests so I couldn't watch much of them. However, I made some time and enjoyed the whole Closing Ceremony with my father. So many great moments, which from I'll highlight the John Lennon Tribute and the appearance of Queen, although I didn't like the woman who sang with them (We can't compare her with the great Freddie Mercury).

Finally, I'm must express my disappointment with the chilean sportsmen. This year our country had a very bad performance in the Olympic Games, but I hope we'll improve it. Now I'm looking forward to Rio 2016 and I'm pretty excited with the addition of Rugby Sevens in the Olympic Games!

The Help: Some Useful Questions!

As I expressed in my older entries, we recently watched The Help. To complete my interpretation of this movie, I'll answer some questions the teacher gave us!

1. In your own words, write what was meant by "separate but equal." How did people in Jackson, Mississippi - including the ladies of the Junior League in "The Help" - try to apply this principle?

It's clearly a very special phrase. Although they may be equal, they're still separate. Here I make the following reflection: Why would they have to be separate if they are equal? It seems to be a contradiction. For example, the toilets were different because whites were afraid they could catch an infection from the negroes.

2. Do a simple online research about Jim Crow Laws. Identify what outcomes - forced upon domestic workers - were present in "The Help".

Jim Crow Laws may be appreciated through all the movie. As this laws enacted between 1876 and 1965, the times of the movie include some of their commands. For example, blacks seemed to be something more that workers, because they have a dependance with the whites, which made them be near slaves.

3. Explore the themes in "The Help" and develop your ideas by continuing the following sentence:

"The maids in The Help took a risk by telling their stories. Even though they knew they could be shot to death in their front yards, they went ahead with the project. If people are not willing to take risks, they will never solve their problems"

TKM's Contexts: Watching The Help!

Our last classes in school have been centered in the book we've been reading, "To Kill a Mockingbird". To learn more about its context, we spent two classes watching a movie called "The Help", which is based on a book wrote by Kathryn Stockett and shows the racial differences in the United States in the 20th century.

Personally, I don't watch movies very often. They commonly bore me and it's hard for me to enjoy them. For example, I saw Batman last week and I found it not fun and too long. However, I loved "The Help". It's strange, because I wouldn't expect to have fun watching a movie for educational purposes, because people tend to think that everything related with learning is boring. The way they combine the reality and social problems in the US with an intriguing story about a young and white women who wants to stop discrimination and writes a book with the unfair stories of black women is awesome.

However, one thing that I would reject about the movie is how they stereotype people. This is because the movie shows black women as wise, intelligent and poor people, while they represent white women as superficial, stupid and immature persons. I found this difference too extreme and I can hardly think it was really like that in those times. By this I mean that I'm sure discrimination was strong in those times, but you can't expect people that watches the movie to believe that every blond is dumb.

Although the drawback expressed above affected my opinion about the movie, I still liked it a lot and had lots of fun watching it. Also, it helped me to understand in a better way the reality people lived in those times and how some rules, as the Jim Crow Laws, influenced in people's life.

Essay: TKM's Part 1

We spent the last week of classes writing a graded essay about the first half of "To Kill a Mockingbird". My thesis was "To Kill a Mockingbird represents a break to old beliefs". To support it, I based my argumentation in Atticus, because I think he is the person who acts as what he thinks is correct, instead of following the social paths. Therefore, through all part 1 we can appreciate that he raises his children with special values. Also, he is a lawyer and he is currently helping Tom Robinson, a negro, something that society rejects. However, in my argumentation I also use the chapter when Jem cut off the tops of Ms Dubose's camellias, because I interpret it as a metaphor in which Jem is braking with social patterns, as he cuts the flowers.

Finally, in my conclusion I included the fact that Harper Lee represents some very hard years in US history, and how that problems must be solved with changes in the american society.

TKM: Part 1 in Depth!

To Kill a Mockingbird is a book I'm starting to like. I finished reading Part 1 last week and it's getting interesnting. To clarify my thoughts about the book, I'll answer some guiding questions.

1. What is the reason for the author's choice of a young narrator?

"To kill a Mockingbird" represents some very hard years for the US people. To express this tense situation in a kind and friendly way, Harper Lee uses a young girl, so the reader can understand the circumstances from an innocent but true point of view.

2. How does Jem and Scout's views of Boo Radley change during  part 1 of the book?

At the beginning, Scout and Jem see Boo Radley as a strange ghost. They fear the Radley's house and are afraid of its mysteries. However, as the time passes, Scout and Jem's view changes positively and they want to get nearer Boo. Moreover, in chapter 5, the guys write a letter and show it to him by the window to invite Boo to play with them. At the end of Part 1, the seem to lose some interest in this boy, because they are occupied in the fire of Ms. Maudie's house and then, in Ms. Dubose reading. However, in the first half of the book they never get a convincing explanation for the weird situation of the Radleys. 

3. Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person. Describe times when Atticus, Scout or Jem walk in someone else's shoes. How does this change how they view the situations? What role does this advice play in sympathy and compassion? 

When Scout realizes that Walter Cunningham didn't have lunch, after some problems with the teacher Jem invited him to have lunch in their house. There, Scout protested because Walter was pouring to much Syrup in his lunch, which caused Atticus and Calpurnia to punish him by sending Scout to the kitchen. Also, when Atticus gets to know that Jem cut Ms. Dubose's flowers, the old man made him go and read her book every day for more than a month. This was to teach Jem that he had to judge people according to their problems and circumstances.

4. How do you think Atticus managed his role as a single parent? 

In my opinion, Atticus is a great father. He is the old wise man of the story, and he tries to teach his children with everyday problems. Also, he is supported by Calpurnia, who in some way replaces de missing mother.

5. Discuss race issues in part 1 of the book.

To Kill a Mockingbird represents many problems of the US society in the last century. One of them is Racism. Most of the persons who lived in Maycomb discriminate negroes and all the people who helped them. In Part 1, Cecil Jacobs and Ms. Dubose show an strong opposition to the black people. However, Atticus Finch brakes this belief and helps Tim Robinson, a black man. This situation causes a lot of problems for Scout, problems that she hardly understand. 

6. From your reading of part 1, What does To Kill a Mockingbird teach us about how people cope with issues of race and class? Do you classify people in your world as different "folks?" Do you see those sort of distinctions today? 

Harper Lee's book expresses the cruel reality. I think racism nowdays is much softer, but there are still some problems because persons differences. In my opinion, this happens mainly because we love to classify things. We don't see people as they are, but as components of groups or divisions of society, with peculiar characteristics. Therefore, we naturally tend to defend the groups we involuntarily belong to and discriminate others.

7. Who is your favorite character from part 1 and why? 

Without doubts, Atticus Finch. He represents the thoughts of a developed man, someone who is looking towards changes and the future. He breakes old beliefs and behaviours and view things in a different way. He is not afraid to go against society if he thinks he is doing something right, and he is dedicated to educate his children.