Tara Funicello
My Brother Sam Is Dead Chapters 1-5
Literature Circle role: Connector
Some connections I found between this reading and other people places, events, authors:
1. One obvious connection I made was the American Revolution to our current war. While we are not fighting over sides, in our country we do argue whether or not we should be in war. While we all felt the pain of the original attacks, many Americans do not feel going to war is the answer. There are many heated arguements here about what good we are doing overseas.
2. "These agitators can always manage to stir up the passions of the people for a week or so, but it never lasts. A month later everybody's forgotten it- except the wives and children of the men who've managed to get themselves killed" (Pg 7).
I think this quote is especially relevant in today's world. We hear news on the television or radio about something horrible that has happened, and we react strongly and quickly. Unfortunately, we quickly forget about the event and move on with our lives, until something else happens. While it is expected for us not to live our lives in fear or anger, we must not forget the conditions our citizens are dealing with. This can be applied to a war situation, like the book, but also in more local situations (homelessness, poverty, criminal acts etc.). Change will only happen if we remember what everyone before us has fought for.
3. Tim's perspective of his brother Sam reminded me of my own family dynamic. When I went away to college, or currently while my younger sister is doing the same, we always wanted peace when we were all together. Coming home to visit meant enjoying the family time. We always tried to save any silly bickering for another time, because we understood how nice it was to be together. Thinking of Thanksgiving approaching, I couldn't help but think about how outside situations influence everyone, and bringing fmaily together does not change that.
4. On page 62 Tim descrbes how the war did not seem real since he did not know the people involved. For a long time I felt the same way about our current war. I had known people who were in the army, but it did not become real until a friend of mine was sent to Afghanistan. Suddenly paying attention to the news and staying informed was much more important. I can imagine that Tim felt similar once Sam became involved.
5. On page 70 Mr. Heron asks if Tim wants to deliver "business letters" for him, although the reader knows that it involves the war. This reminded me of the book Toliver's Secret, in which a young girl carries a message for George Washington from a Patriot. This connection led me to predict that Tim is going to accept the mission and delivers the notes.
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Tara,
ReplyDeleteThis book definitly has connections to real life situation for all of us. Even though it is in different time period(and a different war) than we are experiencing, it still have the same personal elements behind it.
In my family, everyone is very accepting of others perspectives about religion, war, policis, economics, etc. We are all open to others opinions and wouldn't judge people because they see something differently. In MBSID, the father basically disowned him and doesn't want to hear his decisions for his actions. Yet, there are many families out there who want their children to do as they have done.
Tim's theory about how he doesn't feel the effects of the war because it is not occuring around him is definitely something I can relate to. I really didn't think so much about the war until my cousin was deployed to Iraq. Just like you, my family is all "in the know" about the upcoming news of the war.
I'm glad we found the same connections in the book. Also, I am surprised how most of the situations that Tim and the Meeker family are experiencing are occuring as we speak in our day in age. Nice connections!