Friday, October 22, 2010


Religion is useless. Countries all over the world are prejudice against other religions. It is also the same with government ideas on economy and gay rights. In Persepolis, these two issues come up.

In Persepolis, at the beginning of the book, a fundamentalist man was saying that bilingual schools had to be closed down because "they are symbols of capitalism". But later in the book, it speaks of how Marji's grandfather became a communist and he was tortured.
Since capitalism is religious compared to communism and Iran was religious, I think that's probably why they prosecuted communists. Even though people have different views, it's not that bad.

Marji's family's friends were whipped because they were homosexuals. Even though the government can't do that here, lots of people still use hate crimes towards gays, like in the short story Am I Blue?

People shouldn't hate on people just because of differences. Imagine if everyone had blond hair, blue eyes, were all obese and everyone's name Frank. There would be no differences between anyone and nobody would no anybody. It's also like this with school uniforms, I think, to make it be as if everyone's equal.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Princess Academy


"What really hard things are happening in the text?"

Well, at the Princess Academy, the girls under 18 from Mount Eskel compete to be the Academy Princess, and to take a shot at winning the Prince of Danland's heart. I could say that the Princess Academy is a nice place where the girls get along and help each other during recess, and that their tutor is a kind, moon-faced woman who gives out gumdrops on test days. Yet I can't. It's not true. In fact, I could say it's quite the opposite.

The Princess Academy's tutor, Tutor Olana, locks children in a closet with rats. The top students, Miri (the main character) and Katar are in major competition. Well, at least, so Katar thinks. Miri doesn't seem to be snooty and stuck up, like Katar thinks she is. Honestly, Katar is the one who is snooty and stuck up.

So far, the whole book is an issue. The lowlanders and mountaineers hate each other (lowlander traders cheat the mountaineers of their earnings) and the lowlanders are dumbfounded that the new princess will be from Mount Eskel, since it's only a territory.

In short, this tale of kingdoms, princesses and princes is not a happyfairy tale.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

The Shapeshifter - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe


In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Edmund is the Shapeshifter. Edmund is the shapeshifter because he does what will (or he THINKS will) be good for him. He is a greedy little pig who dislikes his so-called bossy siblings and will do anything for himself. In The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Edmund helps to lead the White Witch to his siblings so he can have Turkish Delight. He did not know that the White Witch (or, as he met her, the Queen of Narnia) was going to dispose of him, but he decided to bring his siblings to her because she promised he could be a prince. Although later his little sister told him she was evil, Edmund didn't take notice and went along to help the witch.

Although he didn't know that the White Witch was going to kill him and his siblings, I can't understand how Edmund could be so STUPID. He found out that she was evil, but he didn't care because all he wanted was to become Prince of Narnia and eat more Turkish Delight. Perhaps he also decided not to listen to Lucy because the Witch said lots of Narnians hate her and say bad things about her, but I don't think that's true. I think Edmund is a spoiled brat who will do anything to get anything he wants.

Even though he returns to the "side" with his siblings and Aslan, I still really despise Edmund and I think I always will.