Opinion Response: Malala Yousafzai

It is really interesting how the media makes things more difficult for terrorists (or Talibans). For example, we are able to look at the case of Malala. I believe that it is unbelievable that an 11 year old was able to speak against the Taliban group and be heard, because anyone can oppose anything, but it is another thing that people all over the world hear and feel called upon for help. I think that this is what the media and Internet were initially made for, to inform people around the globe of what is happening and for people to express what they want other people to know. In this case, Malala is informing the world of her feelings of oppression and her voice against the Taliban. Without even knowing Gul Makai, her pen name, I immediately respect her and think of her as a heroine. I believe that her parents, and even Pakistan, should feel pride and honor in having such a wonderful daughter/citizen. There was something that I was unable to understand about one of the articles. I don't understand why was it prohibited to play music in your car, what's the difference of music in your car, or playing it at home. Does it affect the way you drive? If not, then why was it prohibited? This articles were really well written and they were based in an interesting topic, women oppression, but I would like to listen to the point of view of the Taliban, just to see what points they establish as proof of their religious extremism and fanaticism.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Dowry

I think I could relate to this part of the book in which Marji says that her alerts might come visit but that they would not live together again. I think that this is probably how a teenager feels when he heads off to an overseas boarding school. I imagine that there are mixed feelings of happiness and sadness, since there will be more independence, yet you won't live with your parents. This is explicitly expressed in the book when Marji's parents recall the vacation Marji spent in France alone. When this occurred, Marji exclaimed: "It's true, that was great...real independence." The reason why there would be feelings of sadness is because of what I previously mentioned, Marji's parents not living with her. I suppose that I would not have these feelings until I head over to university, that is if I decide to study overseas. I am not planning on a boarding school so there is no opportunity to feel this is in the next three years. But I suppose that I will study overseas so the opportunity to feel this mixture of emotions will come in 4-5 years.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Passport

I can connect the events that occurred in this chapter with what happened in WWII since many people were prosecuted because of their beliefs. This happens as well in this chapter, when it is mentioned that the 18 year old, Niloufar, was hiding in Khosro's house. She was a communist which is why the state searched for her. Since Khosro was hiding the communist he had to escape too, and ask for asylum in another country, in this case Sweden. You could say that the communist might be Anne Frank and Khosro was the one who hid her. This critical is also expressed through the closing of the boundaries so that no one can leave (it was the same in Nazi Germany). Another aspect that contributes to the situation is that some people created fake passports so that some people could leave illegally. Concluding, I see that this situation must occur in all of the countries who live a war, especially those in which there is some type of religious influence amongst it.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Sheep

When it is announced that Mohsen was found dead, drowned I immediately believed that the murderers had wanted it to look as an accident (which did not really happen). Nevertheless, I connected this event with the book "Eagle Strike" by Anthony Horowitz which belongs to the Alex Rider series. In this book, the antagonist, Damian Cray, wants to destroy everything that has to do with drugs by sending a nuclear missile to each of these areas. Anyways, he does all of this by setting a cover of being in charge of the producing of a video game. When a journalist asked too many questions about his game, he arranged an accident for her, in which she got hit by a car and died. This is the part of the book that I was able to relate to 'Persepolis' since I initially believed that Mohsen's death would have looked like an accident. I find it interesting that his death was done so abruptly and possibly not even planned, therefore, I conclude that it must've been a gang (not the government) who ended with the life of this man.

Reading Blog Persepolis: Persepolis

I can relate with Marji's ignorance when her parents mention the story of the man who died of cancer but then was considered a martyr, just as an excuse to protest agaisnt the shah. This usually occurs to me when I am sitting at the dinner table on a Shabat dinner and my parents and grandparents begin speaking of recent events I had not heard of, especially when they are not important, but are merely a community rumor and gossip. For example, they might begin talking about how this young woman is going to marry this other guy. The annoying thing is that when I ask who they are, their answer is always: "You don't know who they are." I can understand her feelings of not knowing, since it has happened to me before and it does not feel good to be this way. One feels desperate and has that feeling that this conversation might've been important but it will only add to the list of 'Unfinished and Misunderstood Conversations'. It definitely is annoying to feel this way and I can almost feel her urge to read and understand what her parents were talking about.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Veil

Questions:
What might the veil represent? Does it represent the submission of women?
Are bilingual schools really symbols of capitalism? Or of cultural acceptance/tolerance and cultural diffusion?
Why did Marji's mother need to dye her hair? Was she scared that they would prosecute her? Would it be the government or some gang?
Why is Marji so naïve and wants to be a prophet when she's already ten? Also, how come she doesn't see that you can't just forbid pain?
Why can't she see that the previous prohets were not declared prophets until they were over 30 years old? Why does she insist that she's a prophet?
Why does she believe that she's talking to G-d and not a product of her imagination, since there is no known definite shape of G-d?
Doesn't she realize that the last prophet (Mohammed) was told the same? (You are my choice, you are my last and my best choice, p. 8).
What do the change of clothes, specifically to that type of clothes, on page 9 mean?