Thursday, March 8, 2007

Tradition

Reading this story I have noticed a reoccouring theme, people are afraid of change. You first see it with Boo Radley when you learn about his father locking him in the house because he was a "crazy trouble maker". Mr. Radley, in my opinion did this because he was afraid to lose the reputation he had built and sacred of the change that might come with that. Next, I saw it in Aunt Alexander when she so wanted Scout to be the traditional southern little girl in frills and a with soft spoken tounge. Again, why because she was afraid of something throwing the "tradition" out of balance. This is most evident when Atticus is called up to defend a black man and the whloe town disaprooves. Like the boy at school who called Atticus a "nigger lover" to Scout did he even know why he was doing this or was it just what his father had taught him? The whole town of Maycomb just had running through their blood to dislike black people, it wasn't a matter of why...it was all a matter of tradition.

8 comments:

Emily Osment said...

I agree with you totally! When one person does something it eventually turns out that more and more people begin doing the same thing too. This kind of pertains to the way the people in Maycomb treat colored people. It could all be different if a few people would have realized in the beginning that colored people are no different from caucasian people. We are all created equal to a certain extent and color shouldn't matter. My whole point is that it all is just a game. It seems as though we do not have our own minds and thoughts anymore. They should forget about what other people say and do and just think for themselves. It shows the lack of integrity in a person when they cannot stick up for what they believe in! Who know's how the rest of Maycomb feels about the whole situation, but I bet not everyone would feel the same way if they actually spoke what they actually felt instead of following everyone else's idea.

txncutie said...

I also agree with you! I know that when I was in the musical Fiddler on the Roof they whole town was about tradition!It wasn't about your own opinion but the opinion of everyone around you!Tradition was a big deal to the people along time ago! I thnk this concept also applies in this story! I think that if you grow up in a community full of people who are racist...then it will offect the other people around them and what they think about the issue!

ginger said...

Geprge, that is really ironic because I was thinking about that play when i posted this!!

honey said...

Good post. It's all about the genetics. You will most likely have the same behavior as the person you are with more than someone you don't spend time with.

Chazz Michael Michaels said...

uhh "honey"... I don't think gentics has anything to do with this situation. a person isnt born with a preset way of thinking and acting. they have to be taught to be that way, either by there parents, society, or both. saying people are born genetic rascists just doesn't make any sense at all. dont get me wrong, people are born with sin, but saying rascism is passed throught the DNA of a parent to his/her offspring just add up. Do other bloggers feel the same way about this as me?

Emily Osment said...

I agree with you Master Shake! I don't think it is very likely to be born a genetic rascist. You can easily become a rascist by the influence your parents have on you, but you are not automatically born with it! Sorry "honey," I just don't think it is possible.

Unknown said...

I defiantly agree. I don’t think there is any scientific research that leads to the idea that thoughts and actions are pasted from DNA. Genetics only deals with resemblances, characteristic, and qualities of a person. Racism is a choice so that would also make it impossible for it to be passed through genetics. Just like Master Shake said the way a person thinks and acts is dependent upon how and where a person is raised. Also the people they are surrounded with as they grow up will affect their future thoughts because they will be strongly influenced by those people’s thoughts and opinions. Most likely they will have the same beliefs that will affect their actions that could potentially lead to racism.

Rashad said...

It is not possible to be born a racist, but if you are told from birth that this person is your enemy then you will probably not want to be nice to them or even be around them.