October Post Reading

 "The choices we make about the lives we live determine the kind of legacies we leave."

    This is a very powerful quote. It applies to the book very strongly. These two will both leave legacies. One will leave a legacy as as successful writer who wrote two New York Times Best Sellers. And one who will go down in history as the boy who helped his brother kill a man and got a life sentence. These outcomes are all due to the choices the two boys made, events that occurred in their lives, how and where they were raised. These things caused the two boys to be how they are today. 

     The Wes that is in jail was raised in the hood. He went to jail for the first time when he was very young. He was destined for prison I suppose. He was around bad influences and his father was a drunk. He was not raised in the best environment for a child, and this ruined him. His brother was an especially bad influence. Wes' brother had been killing people and dealing drugs for quite some time, and he was no good for Wes. If Wes had made better choices and been around better influences he may not have been in this situation. He could have the same life as the other Wes. He could have gotten helped out his mother with money problems.But he chose to risk his freedom for some money. This quote could have changed his future if he had heard it and took it to heart. But his actions ruined his life.

     The Wes that is successful was raised in a great environment. He was taught to not hit women and his parents were very loving towards him. His father was a very nice man and treated him well. This is almost the exact opposite of the other Wes. The choices of their family members affect them. The Wes that is in prison is a prime example of this.

     This quote is very powerful to me. It acts as a reminder for me, it is a guide. It reminds me to make sure the choice I'm making is the correct one. Hopefully this will help me out when I leave my legacy. Hopefully I will be successful and not rotting away in jail. My parents have made good choices and are raising me right. Hopefully in the future I will make all the right choices. I know I will make a few mistakes during my life but most likely they will not be this severe.

      This quote is very powerful to me. I honestly think that this quote will stick with me and guide me through my life. It will put me on the right path to be a better person.

      

October Pre Reading

3. In life, it often seems like certain people get all the breaks, while others never have any luck (except bad luck).  Discuss what you see in terms of "the way privilege and preference work in the world."

In life many people get the easy way out. They get all the shortcuts while other have to take the scenic route. For example, people who are born into wealthy families often have many advantages of those who are born into families experiencing poverty. Some rich children will never have to work a day in their life but will still be rich. While poor children will have to work their entire lives. Rich children are able to pay tuition and attend college. While poor children will have to work for tuition or get student loans and have crippling debt for the rest of their lives. This is one of the many privileges in the world.

Another privilege is race, and religion, or even gender. In the Middle East women are given less rights and are basically objects for men. They are not allowed to get an education. Sometimes they are forced to cover themselves up and other times they do it to follow their religion, and they voluntarily do it. The women are beaten in many cases and are not treated as equals. Even in the U.S. They have less rights. They are paid less than men in many cases. They work just as much and maybe even more than men but still get paid less. This is one of the gender privileges in today’s society.

All through history and everywhere in the world people are persecuted for their beliefs. Especially religious beliefs. There are intolerant people all over the world. In the Middle East there is conflict against the Muslims and Jewish people. They argue over where they both can and cannot pray. They hate each other. They have gone as far as to riot and kill people of the other religion. It is a very violent long term altercation. In America recently there have been people rallying against people who believe in the Islamic faith. They protest Islam at Mosques and wear shirts insulting islam.I believe that in America people of the Christian faith have more privilege than people who believe in other things such as Islam. Christians get away with more things due to the fact that Christianity is the main religion in America. For example Kim Davis. She denied a couple a marriage license due to the fact that it was against her religious beliefs. This was part of her job as a government employee. I just feel like if she was a Muslim person and this happened to a Christian couple there would have been more jail time, and more of an outrage from the American people.

In America there is the privilege of race. People in America are discriminated against. One of the biggest people discriminated against are African American people and Mexican people. Many people are turned down for jobs because of their skin color. Sometimes there will be a highly sophisticated African American or Mexican person who is qualified or maybe even overqualified will be denied the position due to the color of their skin. Then maybe a white person will come to the job and have the same qualifications and be accepted. This is very wrong. All discrimination is wrong. These privileges are part of everyday society and should not be. It is sad but it is the truth. Bigotry and ignorance is becoming overwhelming.