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Celebrating small kindnesses and basking in the little things.

Monday, November 29, 2010

What we value


I have spent so much time lately with family--my kids, my husband, my sister-in-laws, and nieces and nephews. I know that the holidays are upon us. As this time grows closer, I get to be with those I value. To listen to the stories, to watch the smiles, to cook for those who appreciate it are what I love to do. I value the opportunity to spend time with those who enhance my life in a positive way.


The books we are reading, The Lone Survivor and Of Mice and Men allow us to examine what it is that we value. I think literature in general does this. I cannot read without thinking about what response I will have and I know that my responses are value based. I am outraged when I read about injustice. I am outraged when I see meanness born and raised. I am outraged when I read about the senselessness of death. My values come through. I read and respond based on my personal values, background experiences and because of who I am.


I ask you to think about what it it that you value. Think about a moment in one of the books we are reading or in a past book that you have read where your values were impacted by what happened on the page. Your response may have been anger, fear, frustration, excitement, etc.


Write about what you value and provide an example from a book in your reading experience that has impacted your values either for the good or for the negative.

52 comments:

Unknown said...

What i value in life is personal space, sleep, hanging out with new/old friends, thinking time, and a good book. I don't know if this counts as a value, but it makes me infuriated when i learn about kids being raised to have a closed mind and warped sense of right/wrong. While i was reading Lone Survivor, i get these tastes of what soliders go through and their personal mindsets. Although these tastes only last for a minute or two, they are enough to change my views. Now, to be clear, i originally never understood why men&women alike have joined the army with the fore-knowledge that they were about 80% going to certainly die for this corrupt country. Hearing Lutrrel's account gives me moments of refreshing epiphinys(<epiphinies?) as to why and how i should be more heartidly respecting those who've served.

nicky212 said...

i value my friends, family, music, and art. i think everybody values there family because they're always there for you and they don't judge you. they love you for who you are, not who you're not. in of mice and men george though of lennie as a part of his family and he kind of understood that he had to be pacient with him when nobody else would. music makes you think about your life and what you think is the most important things you should be focusing on. art lets you express your feelings on paper and i think that looking at emotions is a good stress outlet ...

Unknown said...

what i value is friends, family, my home, my pet,and the realness in people,for me, i value old friends so much because they know everything about you. the bad and the good and they except you still and you can be your complete self. what might be weird on here is my pet, but i realy do value her. when i'm home alone i can count on her to brighten my day, by running into a wall or steeling my cousin's bra.i remeber in "The Things They Carried" a part in the book really shook me, when Rat Kiley kills the baby buffalo after his friend died and how he wasn't killing the anilmal because it was in dangering anyone he was doing it to hurt. when i read this it made me thankful that i didn't have to go through that amount of pain or that kind of event.

Unknown said...

I value many things in life, like beauty, the power of stories, my friends and family, free speech, kindness and helping others, music, art, nature, tolerance, knowledge, peace before war, and love before hate.
A few years ago, I was reading a novel called Thursday's Child. I loved that book, it was very moving, and the ending made me cry. I don't (usually) cry when books end, or when people die in movies, so this was surprising to me. I'm not sure why it impacted me the way it did. Maybe it was how even when so many things went wrong, the remaining characters kept going on anyway. Maybe it was that Tin, a young boy in the story, spent all his time digging, and eventually left his family for a life of solitude underground. Maybe it was just the setting of a poor family in the great depression, I'm not really sure. I remember that it was a very sad book, in my opinion. I would highly recommend it, though some people may find it dull, there are many deeper meanings in this book. I don't know if I can say that this book changed my values. It just made me more aware of my privileged life and made me value it more. I'm curious if anyone else has read this, and what they thought of it. I found it very deep, moving, and sad.

Unknown said...

My values are science, techno music, technology, League of Legends, books, movies, art, scenery, nature, and many other things I can't seem to pull off the top of my head right now. My values for books changed when I read the book "The Hobbit". Book value was impacted a lot when I finished "The Hobbit", because now I have much higher expectations for how good a book should be. The Hobbit is filled with endless excitement, and awesomeness, and is probably the best book ever written. Because I have seen the LOTR movies, I could picture every scene of the book in full detail in my mind. Even when something big isn't happening in The Hobbit, it keeps you interested. My values on books in general sky rocketed because I didn't know such an awesome book was able to be written.

-Christopher Fassih

Sean McClain said...

In my life, I have been taught to value the rights of the individual and the ability to protect ones own life at any cost. I felt an indescribable anger at the thought that the soldiers who put their lives on the lines for us--no matter the cost will be persecuted by our media and our left-wing radical politicians, all for the sake of boosting their careers.
By the way ChloeN140050, 80% of soldiers don't die, only about .56% die on a 15 month tour. thats 1 out of 181. please check your facts before posting such misguided information.

Matthais said...

browndwhat i value in life is space around me, my family/friends, and video games. it really irritates me when people get in my personal space, and talk about my friends and family. the book i am reading is of mice and men, and lennie thinks as george as his parents because he has no family. so george takes care of him and treats him like a parent so lennie values george like that.
Matthais Lohr

39leader said...

in every book i've read there has been aline between those who do evil and those who do good sometimes it's one apinion most of the time the other and there is always one thing that they have incommon that take the dark and light and see's the gray that is connected to it all what i value is life it self the thrill ao succes and the thrill of near faliur that is the ane that all charcters in the book's have and i believe that to quote a charcter from harry potter: "it's all about the choice's".

Unknown said...

What I value in my life is family, friends,respect and knowledge. All these things I have been raised to value. I value my family for raising me into the person I am today, I value friends for making me laugh when times get hard, I value respect for the one person who doesn't get to see it everyday, Lastly I value knowledge because without it the world would be bland. It upsets me when I see who people who don't have the values as me like respect or knowledge but I have to remind myself not everyone in life is the same. In The Lone Survivor Lutterll values respect for his comrades and in common I have the same towards my comrades (friends) I would never leave one to die alone just like he wouldn't.

ptoorxx3 said...

I value my family, friends,music, personal time,clothing, and the time I get spend with the people Ilove most in my life. I take the time to actually value the things I do have rather than what I don't have. The friends and family I have in my life, they are pretty much what complete my life and I value each of them alot. When Im not feeling like it's my day, they help me go through it and im sure everyone values the time that their family and friends make for them. While reading Of Mice and Men, I found that every little thing in your life hs a value. The people who have disabilities like Lennie, who knows how he must feel. He forgets and can't really stand up for himself. That impacts my values positively alot because when I see someone with disabilities i feel for them and not that i didn't before, but after this book i feel for them even more than i did before. I wish their was some way I could help them. I hate seeing people in pain. So this book Of Mice and Men has a postive imapct on my values.

Patty A said...

The things I value are my friends, family and sleep. In the book Of Mice And Men, some parts that show values are when Lennie talks about his Aunt Clara. this shows values by he loves his family. also how he is so concerned about George and if he is ok with what he is doing. this shows another one of Lennies values because George basicly is his whole family now and he needs somebody to listen to due to his disabilities.

Unknown said...

my values are very simple, I value the ability to have food and to have a home to live in, but most of all I value those that provide taht for me. I value my family, friends, and the school system. when ever I read a book set in an erlear time piriod I am infuriated because of how the the average person could not aford an education, and it only makes me value it more. In OF MICE AND MEN, I realized that mot all had a home, food, and family. for example when gorge had said that was there last 2 cans of beans. another part in the book that made me think about my values, was when goerge dicided to kill lennie to save him, it made me wonder if I could have done that in those same cercomstanses.

Unknown said...

The things I value in my life are music, books, the armed forces (especially marines), my friends, and my family. I value the armed forces so much because it amazes me the passion these solider's have for our country and how willingly they are to make the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our great nation. It made me angry when I read about the rules of engagement, and how it forces our troops to hesistate before they kill someone, that most likely needs to be killed for fear of being prosecuted at home and accused of being cold blooded murderers. It also infuriated me when I read how the taliban laugh at the liberal media, and cry to them about how abusive the troops are or how they killed their friend in cold blood. When our soliders hesitate it increases the risk of them being killed substantially, as was clearly evident in the Lone Survivor. Also in response to ChloeN14005's post, certain aspects of our country might be corrupt, but our country as a whole is not. We have so many more freedoms and oppertunties here then in any other country. Why wouldn't men and women join the armed forces to fight against rulers like the taliban, who beat up children and rule their country by bullying the citizens? Why wouln't they join to protect our freedoms, and our citizens from being attacked by radicals and extremists like the taliban? These people put their lives on the line every single day, and we do not appreciate them enough. Not that it matters to them, but they get paid so little for the sacrifices they make when our athletes get paid millions for dribbiling a ball up and down a court.
~Sarah C~

Unknown said...

I value humility, being alone, my family and friends, saying what you mean, and politeness. Humility is such a great trait to have. I have a lot of respect for people who are humble and don't gloat. I like to be alone when I'm in the mood and I expect people to respect my privacy, and I would do the same for them. I value my family and friends, of course, because they always have my back and support me. I love the phrase "I say what I mean and I mean what I say" because it implies that they lay it all out there for you to absorb and they don't beat around the bush. In the book "The Lone Survivor," Marcus Luttrell is very open about his opinion and he is clear about where he stands on certain issues, like the rules of engagement, and I really like that.

Politeness is so very important to me because it really stands out when someone goes out of their way to be polite to me, especially if it's someone I don't know. He was always very polite to the instructors and treated them with the utmost respect. This spoke to me in a positive way and really showed Marcus Luttrell's character.

Unknown said...

Sorry, I forgot to sign it again, that last comment was from Brooke C. in first period.

Unknown said...

What I value in life is personal space, family, friends, music, art, respect, and a awesome book. I love being be myself reading or dreaming. When reading the Lone Survivor, I feel what soldiers are going through.

A persons 'character' is important to me because it really stands out when someone goes out of their way, especially if it's someone I don't know. Luttrell is such a gentlemen when it comes to instructors and friends. This really showed Marcus Luttrell's character. It is also why I love the book:)

Maria said...

What I value on my personal life is
my family,friends, my own personal space, the music, the art my dreams,honest friends. I really value the peopl that ha been there for me, my friends. family,ect.I think that a lot of people value their faily and their friends because those people are the people that love you and a been there ther for you for good and bad.This is what I think and what I value.

ashleyfortney loves halliericzo said...

I value my friends, family, music, sports, free time and movies. These are the things that are most important in my life and get me through the day. In the book of mice and men the friendship of George and Lennie impacted my values of friendship. George became family to Lennie after Aunt Clara died and promised to look after him. This shows how a real friend should be in this type of situation.

Unknown said...

What I value most in life is personal space, hanging out with friends and leaving some time for my family. I don't like it when people get in my space. I'm reading the book Of Mice and Men. George takes care of Lennie and makes sure nothing bad happens to him and makes sure he doesn't get himself into trouble. Lennie values George and values George for treating him like his son or brother.
Emily Eggert

Unknown said...

What I value in life is family, friends, honesty, politeness, and having alone time. I value my family because they are always their for me and always support me. My friends are also there for me and support me. I can go to my family and friends for anything and they are always there to help me. I value honesty because it the truth is very important to me. Telling the truth is much simpler than telling a lie. I appreciate those who tell the truth. Politeness is something I value because I believe that it is important to respect others. I value alone time because I think that everyone needs time alone to think and to just get away from life for a little bit. In the book the Lone Survivor Marcus Luttrell cares about his family and friends very much. He also is very polite to his instructors and his friends. Luttrell told you what he valued and what thought about certain things like the ROE and I like that he does this.

-Kaitlyn R

Unknown said...

the things i value in my life are friends family music and respect. i grew up learning that there are many values to learn. There are very important values that you could live up too. i value my friends because growing up you live with drama problems at home and school. there are some situations where you arent comfertable talking to with you parents, so i rely on my friends. like in "of mice and men" lennie and george are really good friends and can rely on eachother if something has gone bad. i also value my family, espcially when my great-grandma died i found how close family became to me. george and lennie are very close in the book. Goerge says he finds them close like family. i aslo value music when i am sad i will try to listen to a song that cheers me up.

Unknown said...

What I value is my friends, family, music, writing, my pet, kindness, helping others, and peace. An example from the book Of Mice and Men George treats Lennie like one of his brothers even though he has a disorder George treats him with kindness and respect. By looking out for him and trying to take care of him the best he can because nobody else would they would treat him differently because of his disorder. It makes me feel like Lennie has a true friend that treats him like family because Goerge doesnt judge him or make him feel like he doesnt belong. By treating Lennie with kindness and helping him out as much as George can.

--Jordan M.--

erdlycommaerin said...

Some things that i value in life are my friends and family, personal space, and the fact that i have a roof over my head. The pretty little liars series really impacted my values for the good, and the bad. It positivly impacted my values because the girls in the book stuck together through think and thin even though they were going through many horrible situations. They also negativly impacted my values because some of them turned on their family to try and gain respect, and money.

Alexia C said...

The things I value in life are, my friends and family, personal time with myself and honesty. My friends and family are the people who support me no matter what happens. They inspire me everyday to be a better person and to move foward in life. Without them I wouldn't be the person I am today and thats a major aspect im so thankful for. Personal time is very much necessary for me. It's the time of the day where I get to examine whats going on in my life, listen to music, read a good book or just sit in silence and relax.There are times where i need to figure something out and it really helps being alone because there is nobody else to judge my opinion so I'm more confident with my decisions. Honesty can go so far and I appreciate it and when people speak the truth. Its hard because in life I learn that you cant always trust everybody so when Im certain that I won't have to deal with lies I know I have the right people surrounding me. Throught out the book Lone Survvior, I noticed how he expressed his opinions; knowing that his statements were very contradictory but i kept in mind that this book was sort of like therapy fot him. He's dealing with a moment in the past, examining every single step that led to it and that just made me realize that any moment could be the moment that could change a whole lifetime. So I should appreciate everyday and be happy with what I have.

Unknown said...

some of my values include friends, family,and music. The Lone Survivor has impacted ny values in a good way. For one, i wa able to see what soldier s go through on a daily basis. Luttrells situation turned very bad in a short time and I learned to appreciate the time i have with mt family and friends because i never know when the last time i see them will be. The commmitment to make it through to the end is apparent in each of the navy seaals. i think it is iimportant to have friends that will stick by you, even when times get tough.

iamthelightofjesus said...

I value God, my family, my beliefs, life, friendship, and so many other things! I am reading this book called 'The R Father' by Mark Hart for Life Teen, and it toouches on what we value, and how we should treat those things. I value the concept of community, because the worst punishment for a human being is solitary confinement. We need to focus on the WE aspect of life instead of the I. Think about it...how do you feel when you are not included and you have to be ALONE because people are only thinking of themselves?

Nicole R said...

I value so much in life. Friendship, love, family, beauty, and so much more. Perhaps the thing I value most is life itself, which is very hard to describe. When I was young, I was much more naïve. I never thought I could get hurt, that I was and would always be invincible. Now, I realize life is much more fragile than that, and it can be shattered just as glass could be. If taken care of, though, that glass could survive for ages. Sometimes, the inevitable shattering of that glass is not an external thing, but an internal problem. My family still feels the pain of my father's previous stay in the hospital when he died and was 'revived'. He, too, though himself invincible when he came home- but his heart still had problems, and as a consequence we've taken many unexpected trips back to the doctor. Despite all of this, we've gotten through. My family is loving, and that has kept us from possibly going mad with worries. For me, that internal turmoil has been cured by my friends. Friendship and life go hand in hand in my eyes, you can't have one without the other. That theme may have been expressed in one of my favorite books, The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
I have never understood why I love this book so, but I just simply do. It is the story of one girl, Katherine Tyler, who's grandfather had passed away- he was the only family she had, he was her guardian. She had family in the American colonies, and 'Kit' goes to the even though she has never met them. Stricken with grief after her grandfather's passing, she befriends an old woman who the town fears is a witch. They form a special bond, and Hannah (the old woman) shows Kit how friendship is truly important, and how it can save a person. She later opens Kit's eyes to love, and Kit returns the favor to her by saving her life when angry villagers go to burn Hannah's house. I suppose that deep down, I always knew that Hannah's lessons were true, and that my friends were what would keep me going. Now, I see clearly how my life relates to that story, that I was like Kit. I'd almost lost something, almost like Kit had lost her Grandfather, and I suppose that we both also found comfort in our friends, and that was what inspired us both to give our all and live life to the fullest, trying to put bad situations in the shadows and keep moving on.

iamthelightofjesus said...

oops...forgot my name again... this was A.Plumlee

Nicole R said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nicole R said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jen said...

I value my family, friends, relaxation, respect from others, hard work, and good health. While I was reading the Lone Survivor, Lutrell explained the meaning of friendship and how it was not in a SEAL's nature to leave another man behind. These are true friends, they will always be there for you and help you through every step of the journey. Lutrell also is a really good soldier and very family oriented. I believe that if Lutrell had not grown up in a loving family who gave him respect and showed him kindness he would not be the same man he is today. I think family is the most important thing in a persons life. Without them I would be nowhere. Sometimes I can not stand them and I know they feel the same about me sometimes, but I know they will always love me and be there for me no matter what. Lutrell and the Lone Survivor let me really see how important family and friends are in a person life. I now realize that without them I would not be as far as i am today.

candice w said...

I value family, friends, music, and my violin. Friends and family should go in the same group because my friends are considered family. When I read "The Outsiders" it reminded me of my family because just like the Curtis’s my family is very close. They are always there for and help each other. That is how things are in my family, including friends. Family is truly the most valuable thing to me. Reading about Ponyboy’s family really makes me value the life I have. I don’t live in poverty or crime like Ponyboy’s. I will always value my family.

Unknown said...

A book that influenced me to my surroundings is The book the fire thief. Because it shows me how not to be in life. Including lying or cheating or stealing. I want to be respectful to others like friends or family. This book will make me change the way I am to be better. And the book made me think of who I want to be when Im older and that's being a NFL superstar that can be humble to others less fortune it than me.

Anonymous said...

Through the years, I have come to value many things. These include the food on my plate, the roof above my head, a warm jacket to keep me warm during this cold season, the friends I see everyday at school, the education I receive during school, the three barking dogs I come home to everyday, and a comfy bed at night. I value my rights and liberties as a citizen of the United States as well as the freedom to make my own choices. I also value courtesy, integrity, honesty, common sense, art, music, and literature. However, I would have to say what I value most is my family. Reading both The Things They Carried and The Lone Survivor has made me think more about my family and how much I rely on all its members. The soldiers in the two books mentioned had to go through the harsh days of war without the help of their families. If I was put into a situation where I was sent to war, I am not sure what I would do, not being able to contact the ones I love or ask them for advice when needed. It definitely makes me appreciate my family a lot more and helps me realize the value that my family holds in my life.

Morgan 2

casiem2014 said...

What i value in life is friends and family. When I read the book Of Mice and Men the last part of the book impacted my values negatively. It impacted my values negatively because George kills Lennie because he became to much trouble and George didn't want to let Lennie suffer from what Curley was going to do to him. This impacted my values negatively because I couldn't even think about killing a friend or a family member. Even if someone was going to make them suffer I would just fight to help my family member or friend.

Hanna, 1st period said...

The things i value most in my life are my friends and family. In any book in general where i read about someone dieing, it just makes me think about how life would be if someone i care about were to die. This makes me very sad and it makes me realize that they are very important to me and no matter how angry I get at any of them I will always forvie them because I love them. It makes me want to be a nicer person to them and to be more respectful at any time.

Leah said...

My values are honesty, trust, loyalty, friends, and family. In the Lone Survivor, Marcus Lutrrel has to decide to either go against the ROE and protect himself and his fellow SEALs, or be honest and let them go. It really tested him because it was a matter of what was right and honest. I was angry at this point in the book because I feel that it is unfair for people in the military to make these types of decisions. I don't think I could ever make that type of decision on the spot.

grace said...

what I value is people and what makes them different, what makes them tick. They could be lying theives and still be my friend. I really want to know why they think and make decisions the way they do. I read a book called Turnabout a year or so ago, and I wondered what in each of these old peoples' lives had made them want to become young again, leaving all that they loved behind. And the one woman who went crazy and escaped to find her son, what was she thinking as this was happening? How deep her despair when her own son couldn't even recognize her. I value peoples' different beliefs, ideas, ways of life, and treasure the stories of how they came to be this way. I don't think this affected me negatively or positively really.

hallie314 said...

As a sister, daughter, friend, and teammate, I value a lot of things in life. First and foremost,I value my family. I love how can do a hundred things wrong and they will still always love me. My friends have been through everything with me, and I know they always will be. I especially value my team. In just a few months, one group of kids became family, and I'm so lucky to be a part of it. Finally, I value time. I appreciate how so many people would take time out of their lives for me. And I hope that's what people can think of me, too. In "Of Mice and Men," George and Lennie are all each other have. They are each others' bestfriend, family, and teammate. No matter what, they always have to stick together. This is why I personally didn't agree with George's decision to kill Lennie. Lennie had the same amount of right to live as anybody else, even though he made a few mistakes. Lennie never meant any harm, and he would always apologize. George should not have taken the easy way out and killed him, but helped him get through this situation.

Megan McNamara said...

I value my family, the people I can go to when I need advice, the ability to express myself through the arts, music, and the escape of imagination. All of these values help keep my life balanced and easier to go through. In The Lone Survivor, in many instances of battle and points when the trainees had to push the limits of their body and mind, an escape was needed. When I say an escape, I mean something that allows your mind to take a break from reality, if only for a moment, so when you come back to the real world, coping with it is a little easier. Reading the mind-stressing events these men had to go through makes me appreciative of imagination. It's not only the escape if your having a blue or boring day, it's what allows me to create art.

Haylie said...

I greatly value inspirational literature; novels that make me feel like a better person simply after reading them. Four years ago I was not a very frequent reader and I was not to fond of the idea of reading. I thought that books were pointless and unnecessary. I was searching for something, a book that changed the way I thought, changed my perspective on the world and changed the way I felt for the people in it. I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven after my mother recommended it to me on her ravid book search, hoping to find me a book I actually would enjoy. This was the first book that I truly did adore. The Five People You Meet in Heaven made me feel wholesome, rich with feeling and stronger simply after reading it. The novel touches on many philosophical principles: death, love, religion, life, sacrifice, loyalty, raising children and holding bitterness. The main character, Eddie, sacrifices his own life to save a young girl from dying. Once he dies, he passes through Heaven meeting five people, some of which he had never actually met in his lifetime. However, each of the five people either he effected or they had effected him. Within the book, the author, Mitch Albom states, “Love like rain, can nourish from above, drenching [people] with a soaking joy. But sometimes, under the angry heat of life, love dries on the surface and must nourish from below, tending to its roots, keeping itself alive.”(164) He also explains, “Lost love is still love, [Eddie]. It takes a different form, that’s all. You can’t see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.”(173) Both of the previous quotes speak to my heart strongly. After reading this book I felt that my heart grew in size, my perspective of the world changed and I had an awakening feeling of wholesomeness. All of the feelings Mitch Albom’s literature provides me I value so dearly. Since reading Mitch Albom’s inspirational work of The Five People You Meet in Heaven I have also read his other exquisite writings of Tuesdays With Morrie, For One More Day and Have A Little Faith. After reading all of these books I even further value such extraordinary literature. I greatly value the gateway these books have provided me with to becoming the wholesome person I feel to be today.

Haylie R. LA 2

Allie said...

I value my family and my friends. Without my family or friends I won't be able to do anything without their support. In a book i have read is the The Last Song. In that book the girl both cares about her dad and her friends that she meets. If it wasn't for her caring so much about her dad, her dad wouldn't of been able to make it as long as he did.

Unknown said...

The things i value in my life a my family and friends. I think everyone values there friends and family because they are there for use and they let use be who we are and not have us hide it! I think in the book Of Mice and Men George does value Lennie even though Lennie isn't really about to understand what George is saying all the time! I also thing he values Lennie because he has been traveling with Lennie for a while and they have been with each other for a while.

Unknown said...

I value Family, friends, basketball, personal space, and free time. I value family because they are always there for you, love you and trust you with anything. I value friends because they are there for you, help you out with stuff that you dont want to talk about with anyone else, and sopport you throught anything and everything. Just like how George was with Lennie. lennie had promblems and george was there for him and understood what was wrong with lennie. George helped lennie out with alot.
-Courtney B

Unknown said...

What I value in life, is life itself, and those who ues it to their advantage. I care for all forms of life, weither it be an ant or my great-grandfather, I respect and attempt to care for all life-forms. I also believe in the idea that taking ones life is just plain wrong. My christian faith, and my parents, teach me in this world that taking someone's life is wrong, by any and all means. In chapter eight of The Lone Survivor, Luttrell, Danny, Axe, and Mikey of SEAL Team 10 are up in the mountains, scouting for a notorious Taliban leader. When they run into some traveling farmers, all foun of them have to vote on deciding weither to kill them, or let them live, and risk being discovered by the Taliban. I do not know if Marcus' faith persuaded him to let them live, or the fear of ending up in jail for killing them, but they had all decided to let them go. This moment actually shocked that his faith could persuade him to allow a life to live in such a dangerous country. Mainly, because in any armed forces, you are tought two things overall, self-defense and how to KILL. Now after seeing this, it give me a possitive feedback of somesort that if I were to go into war today, I could make the same decisions that Marcus would have.

Apple101 said...

I value what I'm lucky to have, my family, good deeds, happiness, justice, freedom, determination, my friends, free speech, the freedom to think, and much, much more.

A book that really showed my values was "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy". It showed that I valued happiness and freedom when Lizzie and Turner were out with the whales. It again showed freedom and determination when Turner was told not to be with Lizzie but he stayed by her side. It showed good deeds, and that people can change when Mrs. Cobb welcomed Lizzie into her home, and when Turner's father died fighting for Lizzie's rights.

This book also showed that I value justice, fairness, and freedom, because it made me outraged when Lizzie and her village were jugded because of the color of their skin. I was horrified when Sheriff Elwell puts Lizzie and her people into an insane asylum, just so they could turn the island, these people's homes into a resort. I was upset, and angered when I read that Lizzie died ten days after being in the asylum. My values were so against this that I cried, and it's just a work of fiction.

I guess I never realized how real your values can make a book, fiction or non-fiction. Or that your values can determine how you interpret, or how you feel about the book.


~aPerkins~

Corey McComas said...

Above all else I value my family. This is what my parents have instilled in me since I was a little girl. The way this relates to the story of Lone Survivor is in regards to my Grandpa Drury. He served in the Korean War, and I kept thinking of him while I was reading the book and the personal battles that he must have had to deal with while he was a soldier.

Unknown said...

I value the family and friends that I have. In the book, Of Mice and Men the ending came as a shock to me. I understand that George was doing the right thing by shooting Lennie in the head, but because of the things running through his head at the time amazed me that he went through with it. He must have been thinking how close he is to Lennie, his best friend, almost like brothers. All the times that they looked after each other, even if it was more of George looking after Lennie. If they were so close it was almost morally wrong for George to do this. I put family and friends first, which is exactly what George did with Lennie up to the point where he shot him. Although he was protecting him, it still seemed like and unjust ending. That is how my values reflect on this scene in, Of Mice and Men.

Unknown said...

While reading Lone Survivor, I find that what impacts me most emotionally is when Luttrell retells a moment where a character shows true valor. Valor, honor, merit, courage, they all ring the same chords in my heart. I've never felt the way I did when I read about SEAL Team 10. I cried every time a SEAL got shot, and just kept pressing on. Not because of themselves, but because of their brothers-in-arms.
I play the french horn. And ironically, if I had to describe a french horn, personify it, I would choose the word 'valor'. Perhaps that is why it is my favorite instrument to listen to, perhaps that's why it's my favorite instrument to play. Whether I knew it before or not, I'm starting to notice that valor is something I truly value.

jake b said...

The beginning of the holidays for me is when my family and I go out to buy presents for each other and later that day put up the christmas tree.

Fabian said...

I value patience, friendship, respect, and preservance. All these values are shown by the the navy SEALs throughout the entire book, especially Marcus. One moment in Lone Survivor that impacted my values in a positive way and made me think about them was when Mikey gave up his life in an attempt to communicate with the HQs, just for a small chance of his teammates surviving. I think that requires a very strong personality to do that, especially because the chance of survival was so small even if the other SEALs would have came to the rescue.

Unknown said...

I value my friends and family because they are the ones that mean the most to me. I also value them because i know that they're always going to be there for me. Through the rough times & the good, i know i can always count on them to help me through it. I'm kind of going through a rough time in my life right now because my great-grandpa just passed away early this morning & i was a little upset coming to school & my friends asked me what was wrong & i told them what happened & they're were telling me that they were sorry & trying to comfort me & that's how i know i can count on my friends. With my family, we we're all trying to comfort each other on facebook with my cousins or other family members who couldnt be with the rest of my family at this time. I love my family & friends to death & would never trade them for anything. I can't really remember a moment in a book that i have read that would go along with my values but my family and friends are what i value the most.
-Bridget M. (posted late)