Two sides to each story?

In Power, Omishto feels she is on both sides of the story feeling horrible. Knowing what Ama did to the panther was wrong but also, considering it was right. After this incident going to trial, Omishto feels changed as Ama feels changed. Having protesters at trial, they feel it is wrong to "kill land, animals, and to destroy any of it." Omishto feels they "do not see themselves or know their own history." On the other side, the native protesters speak for Ama and want to make an argument for "our rights." Omishto once again claims, "both sides are wrong, but both sides, also, are right." At the end of the chapter, the people at trial believe "there is not enough evidence beyond a doubt." Omishto feels Ama was wrong, but "she too is creature, animal." Omishto feels they went against their wills, but Omishto goes on to say " who am I to judge, me being such a part of this other world, both these other worlds." At the end of the chapter, it is also mentioned that story is all the people want, as if their is a part they have to have or need.

Power

In our class discussion we discussed what cultural landscape meant. Defining its meaning, I came to find cultural landscape as a geographic area defined by lifestyle of those who live there. In the novel Power, we see Omishto feeling comfortable and safe in her boat. She feels as "a whole continent" being surrounded only by water. The cultural landscape defines Omishto being an independent girl. Ama feels connected with nature and the "spirit world." Her home not being filled with lights, or a television, her affection was shown towards the outside of her home filled with Cuban lizards and plants looking like gold. Ama was viewed as a simple woman in the eyes of most of the people.

Omishto and Ama both do not live around others. Living in a boat or a house with a strong desire for nature, they are different people and do not care what others think of them. Their relationship truly is shown as Omishto stays with Ama as she kills the panther which she knows is wrong.

As I identified cultural landscape and its relations with the characters in Power, I looked back on our first personal essay. In our first essay we wrote about a place or space significant to us in order to tell others something about ourselves. I feel this relates to Omishto and Ama explaining their place and space. This allows the reader to identify who they are based on the place and space they live in and how it brings out their character.

This Blessed House

This Blessed House shares the relationship between Sanjeev and Twinkle a couple married for a short time, and their conflicts. The couple truly relates to the saying "opposites attract." They have only known each other for 5 months and during this time I feel they are now noticing their differences. As they move into a "blessed house," Twinkle finds many religious objects and feels great importance from them. The religious objects seem to suite Twinkle's personality. Twinkle's personality is looked upon as being free-spirited as her husband is worried about what other's will think, especially when concerning the "Virgin Mary" statue. Sanjeev is a very picky man and shows a little bit of obsessive compulsive disorder in the way he always cleans up ashes off the floor from Twinkle's cigarettes. The couple show their differences towards each other, but with different personalities sometimes the saying "opposites attract" is true.

Making a difference?

Ever wonder how you could do something to make a difference? Going to the presentation on the Darfur conflict, really caught my eye. Having a graduate of Notre Dame tell a story in which she and a few others were arrested to make a difference, struck me. To this day she told us even with her misdemeanor, she is still glad she made a difference in someones life. Professor Miguda explained to us that even though the conflict is over in Darfur the crisis is still there. She goes on to say women and children are still hurting to this day. Professor Miguda tells us that we can make a difference in one's life rather it be big or small, we can save someone by doing an act.

Names: What do they truly stand for?

As I reached the ending of Lucy, I concluded that just like Lucy, we often have our own meaning behind our names. Names our often what shapes you, and how it reflects on oneself. We are often given nicknames in which people characterize or define us through shorter names then our given name. Some people are named after relatives, finding similar qualities later on in their life relating to the person’s identity. I do not feel though names have personalities themselves. When we are given a name at birth, as we grow older we shape our name by doing the things we do. We represent our own name by being the individual that we are. Names clearly have meaning and reflect upon what we do with our own lives to shape it’s meaning.