Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Responding to Cruelty...

Today, you all worked perspicaciously on the Vocabulary quiz, and did a great job connecting our words to a section within Habibi. I loved seeing you all flip through the pages of our novel, and figure out how to connects words as diverse as LACONIC and EMPATHY to a section from our book.

It's all about the connections! As we continue to read, explore, think, debate, wonder, and challenge ourselves in Room 340 this year, keep contemplating how all kinds of texts, art, words, ideas, and experiences connect to one another. It's what makes us beautifully human--what helps our hearts grow and our brains form new synapses (remember those 10,000 gooey neuron connections we talked about!? Huzzah for neuron connections!).

Our word for the day, today, is APATHY. It is the exact opposite of EMPATHY. APATHY means the total lack of feeling / concern for someone else or for a situation. Here is an example of the word in a line: Sometimes, we feel apathy because we are being mean; other times, we feel apathy because--like Poppy in The Absolute Value of Mike--we are struggling with out own grief or problems. But we always hope to come out of apathy and into...EMPATHY!

Tonight, be sure to read to page 106 in Habibi. After reading, share your insights about this question below:

In our reading for today, Liyana talks with Bassam at his spice shop. A man enters the shop and is quite mean to Bassam, calling him an animal. After the man leaves, Nye shares how Liyana felt: "Later, Liyana wished she had chased him through the streets and hit him with her little spice bag," (95). 

Why do you think Liyana wishes this? And, if you were Liyana, what would you wish you had done? Do you think it would be your responsibility to respond to the man's mean comments and defend Bassam or not? Why or why not? 

66 comments:

  1. I believe that liyana wishes that she chaised the mad because cshe felt it was her responsibility to defend bassam because he is being friendly and did nothing wrong so she doesn't want a nice person to to get yelled at for no reason while she watches so she wanted to help.
    --brooke bourgeois

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  2. i think she wishes this because she dosent want people to be mean to her friend/calling them mean. if i where lyana i would talk back to the man and tell him to worry about himself.

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  3. I think Liyana wished this because the man was making an insult to Palestinians. I would have wished to talk to the man and say that I was a Palestinian Arab and that I was proud of it, because making fun of other religions is not okay.

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  4. I think life she was mad. I would have left him alone if I was her. But if I had a friend there i would defend him. But I wouldent have said anything
    David Sampson

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  5. I think Liyana wishes this because the man was very rude to her grocer who she finds as a friend. I would have wished I had done that too because I don't like to hear people being mean to my friends. I would think it's partly her decision to respond to the man's comment because it was a mean comment.

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  6. I think Liyanna felt angry and upset that the man was so rude. And I think you should stick up for people.
    -Colleen Guerriero

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  7. I think Liyana did this because Bassam is a nice and good man. He didn't do anything wrong. I would have wanted to defend Bassam because there is no reason to yell and just because Bassam isn't Jewish you shouldn't be mean. I think it would be my responsibility to defend him because the big man is not being fair and Bassam can't do anything because bad things would happen if he defended himself.
    -Angela Xing

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  8. I think she wishes this because it is inhumane to call someone an animal without being an "animal" yourself. I would have told him that I was an animal to and proud of it. I would think it was my responsibility because it is messed up to call people names and fight over petty little things.
    --Emily Rypinski

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  9. i think she wishes this is because it's not polite to call someone an animal because of racial diffrences. If i was liyana i would not hit him either because then i would be no better than him but i might say something or apologize to basam since he thought I was Jewish. Yes I do because the jewish man both thought i was jewish and was addressing me.
    Dwigght childers

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  10. I think Liyana wishes this because she thinks the grocer is a good person, also Liyana doesn't seem to have many friends so she was wishing she would stick up for her "friend". If I were Liyana I would definatly say something to him for the insults, but as it was said: "bad things would happen" if she responded physically.

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  11. I believe that Liyana wants to do that because Bassam didn't do anything wrong! He was just selling things, and the man comes up and starts insulting him. I would have wanted to send insults right back at that man.

    --Colin McHugh

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  12. First, I think Liyana feels this way because she has not yet been exposed to this kind of behavior in the past. Places like Jerusalem contain lots of prejudice and social class discrimination, mostly because of it's religious past. If I were Liyana, I would stop the man and speak to him intstead of hitting him, but that would take courage and I wouldn't have enough.
    --Raiya Suliman

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  13. I think Liyana was mad at the man because he called Bassam an animal just because he is a different religion. I think I would also want to chase and hurt the guy because he was mean to a very nice man. I don't think it would be my responsibility to defend Bassam, but I do think I would want to defend him.
    --Grace Acton

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  14. I think Liyana wished this because she thinks the man was rude and mean to Bassam, who was actually friendly to her, and kind of made her feel closer to home. And if I were Liyana, I would feel that it was my responsibility to act upon that, especially because he was my friend, but not necessarily in the way that Liyana wanted to. I would probably try to reason with him, explain to him that Bassam didn't do anything wrong. But, like Liyana, I don't think I would actually have done those things. I would have thought them in my head, just like she did, because I would be too scared to actually do them.
    --Shreya Kumar

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  15. I think Liyana wishes that she chased the guy down the street and hit him with a spice bag maybe because bassam is her friend. Also right then bassam did not do anything wrong. I probably would would think them in my head and if that guy would say anything to bassam again, i would chase him. Bassam is just a nice person.
    --Olivia Gomez
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  16. I think that Liyana wished this because that man was really nice to her, he was not mean or bad in any kind of way(well that she knew of) and it is NOT OK for someone to come up to him and start yelling at him just because of his choice of religion. Everyone should have the right to chose there religion and not be criticized by there choice. Also if it was me I could not watch someone being yelled at for doing absolutely nothing. If I were Liyana I would probably, hopefully do the same thing as Liyana did.

    -Alondra Pacheco

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  17. I think the reason that Liyana wanted to that is because the man was being really mean to Bassam. I do not think it was Liyana's responsibility because she wasn't the one being mean. She is a friend to Bassam, and I could see why she would want to help (by being mean back to the man). I think that if I was Liyana, I would want to do those things to the man, but would have kept my thoughts to myself. I would try to help Bassam feel better.

    --Meili Stanten

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  18. I think Liyana wished that she had defended him because Bassam was like a friend to her and didn't like that the man was offending her religion. If I were Liyana, I would leave the man alone because I wouldn't want him to get physical and hurt me, but I would stay back once the man left and say sorry to Bassam and tell him that she is also Palestinian so that he doesn't feel bad about himself and that she is still his friend.
    --Emmalyn Mirarchi

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  19. I think that liyana wanted to defend the man because he was her closest friend in Israel I would not have want to chase him because it would probably get me shot

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  20. I think she wants to chase the man because not only is he insulting someone who has been kind to her, but he is also insulting her without knowing it. He says that the Arabs are like animals assuming she was Israeli but she actually an Arab like the ne the man insulted. I would want to act that way too-except that I would probably act on the and chase the guy around with a bag of spices.
    -Tessa

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  21. I think that the man insulted Bassam because he was a from a different religion. I don't think that I would my responsibility to defend Bassam.

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  22. I wish I would have done the same because no one deserves to be treated like dirt from anyone. I believe that it would be my responsibility to stand up for Basam, if he was my friend because friends stick up for friends, no matter what. Also, if Basam stood up for himself, he would have been beaten, but if I stood up I wouldn't get beaten because no one would beat a child in the middle of a highly populated area.
    ~Magnus Miller

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  23. I think Liyana thought this because she was obviously angered by the man's rude comment. If I was Liyana, I would probably think the same thing, but I would never act upon this thought because Liyana's family is new to the area, and rumor's spreading about their family wouldn't help them adjust.
    -Olivia Diodato

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  24. I think liyana wishes this because everybody is equal and nobody should make fun of other people like that. I think I would have stood up to the man and say what if that were you being called an animal you wouldn't like that. well I think bassam could stand up to that man with help from liyana
    -Jacob elliott

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  25. I think Liyana wishes this because Bassam is a nice person who was friendly to her and she feels bad she didn't defend him. If I were Liyana I would feel it was my responsibility to defend Bassam because he was friendly to her and she should treat him like a friend who you would defend. If I were Liyana I would have told the man Bassam is a nice and intelligent person then politely excuse myself and leave.
    Fiona Morrison

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  26. Liyana was mad at the man because he called Bassam an animal which was very rude, disrespectful and mean. She wanted to chase the man cause she thinks Bassam is a nice guy and that he shouldn't be called an animal. I would probably defend him because I don't think anyone should be called an animal and that everyone should be treated right.
    --Lucy Bodtman

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  27. i believe Liyana wishes this because buss am is her friend and she is protective. I think and would do the same as Liyana because friends should stick up for each other and protect each other. I do believe it would be my responsibility because Bussam is my friend and he is not brave enough to step up.

    ~~~Dylan Ashe~~~

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  28. I think that Liyana wished that because she had kind of befriended Bassam, and she felt that no one should be rude to him, because he is her friend. If I were Liyana, I would have just told the man that that wasnt the right thing to do, and that he was a jerk, but i wouldnt be violent. I do not think it is Liyana's responsiability to defend Bassam because it is his job to defend himself, but if she wanted to, she could help him.
    --Anna Shlimak

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  29. I think liyana wishes this because bassam didnt do anything, that guy just came up and started insulting him. I would want to chase the guy because I would want to stand up for bassam

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  30. I think liyana wished this because the man made bad and rude remarks towards Bassam. If i were Liyana i would step up and talk to the guy that he is saying rude stuff to Bassam and ask him to apologize to what he did.
    --Pasha Sahin

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  31. I think Liyana wishes this because when the man began to act quite meanly to Bassam, she began to become more protective of her ancestors and religion. Liyana starts to believe that it's her "duty" to not take the discrimination from the jewish man and many like him.

    If I were Liyana I would feel that it WAS my responsibility to act upon that, mostly because he was just being rude to someone who didn't deserve it and that he was basically telling a nice man AND me that we were animals! I honestly would like to say that I would try to reason with him or talk to him, but I think I would probably act rude back on instinct. I probably wouldn't hit him with my "little spice bag," but I don't think my reaction would help bring peace.

    -- Allie Hunter

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  32. I think that Liyana wished she did this because Bassam was her friend and somebody just came in and called him an animal. Just because of his religion! If I were her I would want to the same thing!!!!!!

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    1. Not because of his religion, he just wanted to be a jerk.
      Charlie Carbonell

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  33. I believe Liyana was mad because the man called her friend Bassam and animal just because he was of a different religion. I think it is your responsibility to stand up because some people are shy.

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  34. I think that Liyana wishes this because that is truly what the man deserves for calling someone he doesn't know an "animal." But, while I would probably like to go chasing him down the street, they did the right thing. It was smart of Bassam to ignore the man because if he yelled back, he would have showed signs of weakness, which would make the man taint him more.

    ~Lwiza AitDowd

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  35. I think Liyana wanted to do that because she feels bad that she let Bassam be taunted like that and didn't stand up for him. Also, she feels like that could have been her since she is half Palestinian.
    Liza Toll

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  36. I think that it was partly her responsibilty and partly Bassam's. It was Bassam's, but if he does not or is too shy to, then it becomes Liyana's responsibility to do so for him.
    (I did not mean to post the last one, I hadn't finished typing yet.)
    Liza Toll

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  37. I think that Liyana thought that the man deserved to be hit because he called her friend an animal. I would do the same as Iiyana by ignoring the man but I would also be mad. Julia Proteau

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  38. I think Liyanna wishes this because she is Palestinian to and she could relate to how he feels if someone had called her a animal. If I were Liyanna I would have just kept my mouth shut like Liyanna so that man wouldn't have come after me.
    -Paul Witmer

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  39. I think Liyanna felt like that because she knows how Bassam feels if someone called her a animal. If I were Liyanna I would have kept my mouth shut so the man wouldn't have come after me.

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  40. I think that Liyana wishes that she said something to the man because she felt bad for Bassam because of what the man said. I would feel bad for Bassam but i don't think it would be my responsibility to stand up for him. Also she doesn't know anything about the man he could hurt her if she said or did anything to him.

    --Natalie L'Ecuyer

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  41. I think Liyana might of been mad because Bassam was her friend and she thinks she should of stood up for him. I think it is good that she didn't hit the man with the space bag because then the man would get really mad at her and might hurt her.
    --George Earnest

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  42. I believe Liyana was because the man called her good friend an animal and she cares about him. I think that it was good that Liyana and Bassam ignored the man because who knows what he would've done if he yelled on glared at him

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  43. I think Liyana wants to do this to the man because the man was being mean to her friend and she was mad that he would say that. If I was Liyana I would stand up fr Bassam because it would of showed her braveness and also it would take the attention away from Bassam.

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  44. I think Liyana wanted to do this because the man insulted a friend of hers who was very nice, just because of his religion. I think that I would have wanted to chase him too. I think it would be my responsibility to defend him because he wasn't standing up for himself.
    - Rachel Shrives

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  45. I think that I would stand up to the man that shouted an Bassam because to me I think that when people disagree with other peoples religions that it okay but if that person goes up to them and tell them that their religion is stupid and that he is an "animal" I would take that to offense because it is Bassam's choice as to what religion he would like to practice and to have someone go up to him and tell him that it is stupid is extremely rude. If I were Liyana I might have yelled back to the man something like, " that was very rude!" or maybe even saying " He is allowed to choose what he would like to practice and it is not your decision to choose it for him!" But deep down inside me I would have really wanted to throw or hit him with the spice bag.
    ~Caroline Mara~

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  46. I think she wishes this because she feels like she should defend him because he did nothing wrong and it was mean to say. I think he should not have ignored it because he should stand up for himself and not rely on someone else to stand up for him.
    Stefan Scornavacca

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  47. I think that Liyana was angry at the man because he made fun of Bassam. I can relate to that. I would feel the same, but also, Bassam should have stood up for himself. The man saw that he put Bassam down, and that just makes him proud.

    -Vivien J

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  48. I think Liyana wishes this because the man called Liyana's friend Bassam an animal. If i was Liyana i would make the man apologize for being rude, just because Bassam had a different religion.

    ~Olivia Noyes

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  49. I think liyana wanted to yell that at the man because its disgusting how someone would call another person an animal because of their religion. I probably would have said a little word like stop to him because I would be kind of scared myself. but I would still want to do something for Bassam.
    ~ Cierra Wilkins

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  50. I think that Liyana wishes this because the man should never call someone he doesn't know an "animal" just because he believes in a different culture than him. and I think that Bassam is smart for ignoring the man instead of fighting and that Liyana should be upset because that man has no right to call someone "Animal".
    -Ainsley Jones

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  51. I think that Liyana was mad at the man because he called her friend Bassam an "animal" because of his religion. There would probably be some anger put fourth to that mean man. Even though it wouldn't be your responsibility to stand up for Bassam, I know I would choose to stand up for him.

    --Anna Laursen

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  52. I would defend Bassam because this guy is a jerk and Bassam isn't. I have no idea if this "insult-er" was at all related to Bassam or how, so I wouldn't mind insulting him.
    ~Charlie Carbonell~

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  53. I think Liyana did this because it was incredibly rude for the man to call him that. I may want to yell at him and chase him but I do believe that ignoring him is best.
    ~Bri

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  54. I think Liyana wishes this because this man had been so down right rude to Bassam. If I was Liyana I wouldn't have chased him down the street and hit him with my spice bag like Liyana later wanted to, but I would've questioned him on why Bassam is an animal and why I should go to a "better" store. I also would've taken the man outside to talk so as not 2 make Bassam feel bad about himself.

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  55. I think she thinks that because they were sort of friends. I would have wished to stand up for Bassam in that situation because I would want to stand up for my friends. I think it would be your responsibility to respond to the man's mean comments and defend Bassam because you should stand up for and defend your friends.

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  56. I think liyana wishes this because Bassam is her friend and when someone is reacist and discriminating towards Bassam. Also, since she is from america she is not used to people being like this. If I were Liyana I would stick up for my friend and defend them.

    --Kellie Sundeen

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  57. I think Liyana wishes this because calls Bassam an animal. If i was Liyana i would make the man apologize and stand up for my friend.

    --Mark Goldsher

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  58. I think she wishes this because Bassam is her "friend." I wouldve stood up for one of my friends. In my opinion sticking up for one of your friends, should just be natural.

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  59. I think Liyana would wishes this because she and Bassam are good friends, and if you see your friends bring hit, you usually want to stand up for them, edpically if they can't. Racism isn't that common in America, so Liyana isn't used to this happening, but it's more common in Palestinine, because of the conflict of the Palestinians and Israelis

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  60. I think she thought this because Bassam is her friend and if some dude came up to Ben and called him an animal I would slap him.

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  61. i think she felt that way because she had empathy for bassam and there friends and friends need to stick up for each other

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  62. I think that she thinks that because somewhat they are friends, and just as I would do she wanted to stand up for Bassam and not let that man "push him around" or in this case call him an animal.

    Christopher Pickreign

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  63. I think that i would have stood up for Bassam, because he seemed pretty innocent, and was a friend.

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  64. i think liyanna wishes she had done this because she thinks nobody deserves to be treated that way and called names like that.If i was her i dont think i would have hit him with spices rather i would stop him and tell him that what he said is not okay and demand an appology. i think it is my responsiblity because this person was just a random citizen who is agenst bassams belifs and he probably doent even know bassam. its not his place to discriminate agenst his belifs because this guy has his own belifs thats what bassam belives in and this stranger needs so respect that. (longest response ever)
    jess

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  65. I believe Liyana was right in doing nothing. I know how Liyana felt, she was angry that she had not acted, but if she did chase the man it would cause useless drama. When she cools down I believe she will not regret her decision. If it were me in Liyana's shoes I would do the same as she had done, I'm a child and hold little authority, I wouldn't have been able to change the tides of the conflict.

    Nick Joe Lewis

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