FINAL BLOGPOST- DEAR GIVER

In Chapter 19- Jonas learned about release, traumatized, he and the Giver devised a plan so Jonas could fled the community. Fortunately, it's not in rules that they can't go to Elsewhere and start a new life. So Jonas didn't break any of the job rules, page 68. It was a very careless mistake. But the Committee of Elders, aren't perfect beings. No matter how much they are doted on for "Perfection, Meticulousness and Intelligence". None of it is true, it's just another fabrication of lies to shield the truth about the committee, about release, about everything. The committee is a bunch of cowardly people, elected to try and boss people around and eliminate the past and create a better future. Though, it seems like all their doing is forming, a dictatorship, where the people don't really have a fair say in the rules. The community doesn't care, as it's been this way for a long time, so why change now? They create another problem in doing that as, they have to lie to make the community perfect, so in the end, despite tries, and edits, it's not the perfect community. It's a confusing, and suspenseful ending, as we don't know if he came to Elsewhere, he saw lights, and supposedly heard music. It leaves the reader hanging, so I fabricated my own ending.

Jonas decided that he wouldn't take release so seriously, so that he wouldn't die as well. Just like Rosemary did with the memories. He instead, refusing to put to waste a perfectly good life, and also cross the rules. Though Jonas, changed along the process of being a Receiver of Memory. Growth in wisdom, and a personal insight, that he was willing to share. A daring perspective and so much more. He lied and changed his views of the world, but never breached any of the rules if you think about it. The big step he took in stealing or rather borrowing the bike, is that he actually took the chance and broke some rules. 1: Leaving the dwelling at nights. 2: Stealing the Bicycle. He didn't think that it would be any good to have a life that didn't make any difference in the world. To feel as if you didn't make a difference in our world must feel horrible. Rosemary did, even though her life was short. Rosemary took all the memories good and bad to help the community.

In this Blog post, we were told to put ourselves in Jonas shoes. It's a bit difficult, but with the right amount of empathy, we can develop I wrote to the Giver as he understood Jonas and Elsewhere more then the others in the community. In my letter I gave Jonas a new family and a sense of belonging. Giver understands, and cares about him. He's the only adult who knows the pain of his duty and job, which is why I chose to give the Giver, the pleasure of being the receiver of this letter.

Dear Giver,
In the time, that you took me into your caring wing, I learned so much. I'm glad that I was in the company of somebody who I knew truly cared about me. Though, you opened me to horrible events of our past and Elsewhere, I still think that you did it for me. It's better to be knowledgeable than to be naive and under the shadows of the truth. No matter how horrible it is. You were the only one who stayed true to me, and never lied. I know that life in Elsewhere might be difficult but it's better than living in the CLOSED COMMUNITY which I ashamedly used to call home. I hope you're coping well without me. Oh, and I forgot to tell you. I brought Gabriel with me! I knew that you would disapprove, so I waited until now to tell you. I'm sorry that we never were able to say our goodbyes. But you're right, there's so many things in life to experience, and you shouldn't waste time with apologies. Apologies can be so overrated when everything has been said and done. So, right now, I'm in a cozy little cottage. It's Christmastime so Gabriel and I are adorned in festive red, green and white colors, while we are sucking on mint candies by the fire. The family that took us in is very kind, and don't have children of their own, so we were like a blessing from above for them.

In case you're wondering what we told the kind adults, I explained that we were orphans traveling and trying to find a home. I know it's an outright lie, but it's true, we might as well have been orphans with parents who don't care about us one bit. Even though the memories have left me, I still have a sense of where I am and what's happening around me. I learn quickly, the lady's convinced that I am from a foreign country, and don't know English, which explains why I lack in the some vocabulary. I'll let her go with that idea. Their names are Raymond and Angela, it's truly clear that they love each other and though they've just met us, they love us too. Their happiness and love is so genuine it's overwhelming.

I can only say that I don't regret my decision or rather our decision one bit. I guess I should explain why I took Gabriel. The poor boy was going to be released and even my ex-father, agreed to it. OF course he did, as he enjoys RELEASE so much. Those words: RELEASE and FATHER, they taste disgusting as they lift off my tongue onto the paper I'm writing to you with. He never was my father, from now on, official or not Raymond and Angela are my parents. I felt a spark of compassion, as I thought of the little boy who couldn't sleep properly. Which was I helped him earlier on. Though, I didn't tell you, I gave a few memories to Gabriel, to help him sleep. It worked but, when placed with the night guard, since he doesn't have the intellectual yet to call back those memories, he couldn't sleep. He is like a friend to be now, and I know that he understands me, and will listen, I know it's selfish but I'm glad he's not old enough to reject my thoughts. He was so giggly, and happy exploring the environment, and it felt so contagious that I felt happy too.

By now, you've heard of missing bicycle from my dwelling, and before you ask, yes I took it. I'm even a little bit proud of my accomplishment, though it suggests that I am becoming a thief. But before you scold me, I had reason behind my thievery. I "borrowed" the bike. It's a much better word then stole, but it was borrowing without permission. As I was saying, I "borrowed" the bike, as it was the only bicycle with an extra child's seat. We (Gabriel and I) hiked long and hard, through the sizzling heat and the frosty cold as we left behind the community. I swear, I could feel those memories flutter out of me, like butterflies leaving the chrysalis. I held and grasped onto some for help and sure enough, when in the cold, there was need for some heat. The memory lasted only for a while, but it gave me strength.

Would you believe that at some point I felt that Gabriel would be better off being released and that I had endangered us all, without food or water? Believe it or not, it's true!! But, amazingly, that memory did wonders, no matter how short or long it lasted. It boosted up energy and wonders. If people knew what wonders good memories can do, they wouldn't ban them. But it's way too late now, they'll never know. I know I sound bitter but it's only towards them. Back to my story. Even as Gabriel and I huddled on the hill in the cold, freezing, shivering and trying to grasp warmth through it all, I felt a glimmer of hope, even as I pulled Gabriel close, bent forward and slid down the hill on the sled. It seems like you knew it would happen. You're awfully wise, but I guess it comes with memories. Maybe you're wisdom, added to the memories make you even more wise! I'd like to thank you as the memory gave me the knowledge of how to work the sled. I worried about a fall and the pain that would occur, but I sped down the mountain. I know that apologies can be overrated, but surely thanks is completely appropriate for this situation. I don''t think that you've ever been told this by anyone but your wife and children, but I appreciate what you've done for me. I really do. The lights from their cottage blinked reflectively, almost blinding but so beautiful in their special and sparkling way.

Once we were in the cottage, we fell on the food hungrily. I'm a bit embarrassed that they saw us like that. Unkempt, hungry-starving actually (I guess the professor was wrong, I was starving!). I've never tasted food so flavored and full of such diversity. Is there such thing as Tasting-Beyond? The food back in the community tasted so bland, but we could never complain, as we didn't think about it. Anyways, Angela lovingly combed our hair, dressed us and placed us by the fire. Truly, I've never met such wonderful people. We've only just met and they treat us like their own. If people were like this in the community, it wouldn't be perfect, what with release and all, but the love would make it seem close to perfect. Perfection shouldn't be anyone's' goal. Though it'd be nice to achieve, it hides back emotion, feelings and true love. Which is everything that our community is missing. I can only hope that with the memories, they learn a little about love. I wonder where your favorite memory went, I'd love to keep it, but I guess it went to a good cause. I have no need for a memory like that anymore, as I'm already living it.

I hope you don't feel excluded and forgotten. It would be horrible, as you are the reason that I'm here living a practically perfect life, while you're stuck with the community. It seems horribly unfair. I feel it's unnecessary but the occasion calls for it. So, thank you Giver. In your honor, and since I'm not there to give you a "hug"(one of my new vocabulary, they're are truly terrific! Anyways, instead of a hug, I'm dedicating this part of my letter to you.

In all the mad rush, I never learned your name as you told me to call you the Giver. I can only hope that you'll be able to return this letter with response to some of my questions. When you are ready to go join Rosemary, don't forget to warn me. If you were to cut contact because you're released, and I didn't know, I'd be devastated. I wish I could meet your wife. While we're at this, I might as well confess that I stop taking pills for Stirrings while in the community. I fell in love with Fiona, though she'll never know, I guess I hoped that she would be assigned as my wife in the future. When I learned that she was a potent part of RELEASE and that she exuded skill, it made me stop loving her. I think of her frequently though, perhaps things could of worked out I guess! I can only wish that I'll find someone just as great as Fiona, minus the lies and release skill of course.

Here in Elsewhere, there's no pressure. At this moment we're just children, and there's no rush needed. We still have responsibility, and I do some chores around the house, but I feel relaxed and comfortable. Sure, we're scolded for being bad, which is rare, as Gabe and I always try to be as nice as possible. They say we're so angelic. Back to you. I miss you a lot, but as someone very important once told me (reference Mr.Thomas), we shouldn't spend time saying how much we'll miss the person, we need to speak about what we especially enjoyed about the person. So, I'll make a list of the things that I liked about you.

Here it is: I like that you always were so easy to part with good memories for my sake, even your favorite memory. Especially if there was only one memory of it. Secondly, I admire how you're identity is so masked, though limiting for me, it blocks out questions from nosy people, who don't have the right to ask you questions like that. Third, I love how you're so passionate about the Receivers of Memory. I know that Rosemary was your daughter, so that causes you automatic passion and love. But, you treated me as a son, even when I was stubborn and frustrated, you took me in, and took good care of me. Fourthly, I like the ability to create and improvise plans on the spot. I mean it took a day, but it was considerably quick for such a complex and effective plan. Finally, I love how you are always ready to learn new things, and listen to me, my problems and my life. You're a great listener, I've never had someone so attentive to my problems. Rosemary was lucky to have a father like you.

This ends my letter to you on a rather cheerful, yet teary note.
I enjoyed so many things about you, and you always had so many things to offer.
I'll end the tearful note with a rather peppy and meaningful goodbye.
Goodbye Giver!
Though there's a lot of the community I regret I will never regret meeting you, or becoming the Receiver of Memory, no matter what pain occurred.
After all, I wouldn't be on this lovely adventure, if I did, would I?

Love, and tons of hugs,
*JONAS* your adopted grandson

Blogpost 3- Commenting

For the 3rd blog post, we had to comment on somebodies blog in our group. I chose to comment on Kat's two blog posts. As Kat's blog has a template theme I commented through a blog post on my blog!

Blog post one: First of all, I think it was very nice, when you explained the book, characters and the plot you knew so far. This made it so that one who hadn't heard of The Giver before, would know some background information and understand your thinking and logic better. You could of also explained the Literature Circles process, and what parts of it that you despise specifically-response,questions, passages or even vocabulary. You used quotes to demonstrate the various rituals and standard practices of the community and described them, before explaining what you thought and comparing it to OUR community's practices. I think that your transitions were very smooth but you could of added a bit more to them- this is only if you wanted to- for example: talking about feelings a little and how they affect our life, before launching into a paragraph about the feeling rituals and practices in the community. Great ending, as you added a bit of perspective and reality into the ending by saying that some of the practices and rituals cover up the flaws and hide the fact that the community is anything but perfect!

Blog post two: I think you did great on this blog post. I enjoyed how you put a lot of perspective into this. You were honest and you were yourself. It was very interesting how you talked a bit about the discussions and led into it, instead of just jumping into the discussion questions. Though you could have been able to start with a different introduction, so it would be a little different from blog post one. It was nice how you talked about why or why not you chose a certain question. It was also a very original idea to tie both questions 2 and together, and branched out on each one of them. However, at some point--you said: I don't KNOW why I am so fond of the discussions...I guess I just love to talk! I love hearing other people's opinions and hearING their view of the matter. I capitalized the parts you forgot words in. Other then that, you gave good quotes for support and evidence, as well as mentioning the time, place and discussion that was going on during the quote. You gave many reasons, and was to the point. You talked about war and murder and other bad things in OUR community that could frighten people out of making choices. It was a very interesting blog post and I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks for completing your blog posts on time and very efficiently so that I could comment on it!
Again, Great Job!!

*Cindy*

Blog Post 2- The Giver

These are the blog post questions given:
1. When Jonas learns all about colors, he claims "it isn't fair that nothing has color". Why does he say this?
2. Why does Jonas find the instruction about lying so disturbing?
3. Why does The Giver say that making choices would be frightening for people?

I chose question three: Why does The Giver say that making choices would be frightening for people? I chose this question as I was able to relate more to it. I could relate to my life and the life of others in our world, as choices are a very big part of life on Earth. We can try to avoid them but they'll always be there. Blocking us until we make the choices, then we can pass through and continue our lives!

First of all, what are choices? They’re decisions that we make on our own or with the help of others to determine lives. Choices, they can be good and bad, liberating and sometimes binding. You can’t get through life without making a couple of choices. It shows the world what type of person you are. If you make one bad choice or mistake it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person. Its part of the process, we thrive on bad choices, that we make or others make. It allows us to know not to make that choice again. A bit like falling off your bike, or falling while ice-skating, it’s always better to take the chance and learn about it. If you skate and hold onto the railings- like I do, it doesn’t allow you to take that chance, maybe fall a little and learn how to ice skate. If we all could apply that in our lives- especially me, I think that we could surprise ourselves with all the things that we could do.

I think I have surprised myself with all the things that I could do, even though I thought I couldn’t. I know what you’re thinking- what does taking chances have to do with choices? Well, when you take chances you’re making the choice or decision to try it out. In March and last December there were these huge slides that plunged downwards, I was so afraid of doing it. I even backed out on riding one of the smaller slides! After, I saw my sister slide down courageously, so I decided to go. It was very thrilling. There have been sometimes when I don’t make good choices- like staying in bed all day and missing out on the fun, not listening to my parents and not being nice to my siblings. But I’ve decided to change that, by making good choices. So whenever there’s a chance to do something, I take chances and do it. I’m glad to see how far it has gotten me in life.

In the Giver, they don’t allow or encourage choices. It isn’t part of their lives, even though it’s an essential part of growing up! When you learn to make choices, it shows growth and maturing. Now, in our young lives we have begun to make more choices. Before, we could get away by shrugging and saying: I don’t know, you choose! In the Giver they don’t have the chance to make those choices. I think that the closest they get that is falling off their bikes, or hurting themselves in any other way. Though even through this, they still have relief-of-pain. When you make choices it makes life so much more interesting!

In their "Utopian Community" nobody makes choices. Only the Committee of Elders make the choices. They believe that they have more experience and know what's right for them. In fact, nobody knows what's right for you except you and the parents who actually love you- even more than you know. Since their parents don't love them really, only they know what's right, and they refuse to make those choices. They're assigned jobs, spouses and children. Never have they really made choices that affect their lives. The citizens of the community are like puppets and the Committee holds the strings, and without any will they just follow- no questions asked because they don't know what else to do. They're protected from wrong decisions, but in the process don't make any decisions.

The Giver said that it would be frightening for the people of the community to make their own choices because as said before they are in fear of bad decisions. They believe that it's too risky, and will follow the lead of Committee of Elders who seem to know the difference between right and wrong. Truthfully, nobody can, unless all of their decisions made were bad and they know fully about all of the wrong decisions people can make. That is completely impossible. Knowing absolutely nothing about the choices they can make, they can't make any difference in their lives, and agree with sameness. To them, SAMENESS is safe, and they don't think it's dull or boring as they've never been introduced to anything else. They don't and aren't willing enough to learn about choices so they can't make any rules for themselves.

Jonas is completely different. As the Receiver of Memory, he learns about choices. He's becoming more and more like a normal teenage boy in our world- or in Elsewhere. He's at the point when choices are really important to people, and they want to make their own choices just for the sake of it. You're independent and your parents don't make choices for you and it's very exciting. Jonas doesn't have that chance so that leaves him upset and confused. You can see this when Jonas protests and wants to choose a different colored tunic.-Page 97. The Giver reveals that it doesn't have to do with the colored tunics- it has to do with making his own choices -Page 98. For a moment Jonas seems almost human, but the Giver tells him about bad choices, and Jonas switches back to his narrow "Utopian" mind frame- Page 98 and 99. Though he is still not satisfied with the conversation afterward, he is still frustrated with the fact that they can't make choices. Believe it or not, Jonas wants to change the rules! The rules prevent choices and free expression. SAMENESS limits Jonas and causes him to have higher intellect then friends, family, teachers and even the Committee of Elders; because he knows deep inside that it isn't right for everything to be the same-Pages 97-100.

Thanks!
*Cindy*

Blog Post 1- The Giver

1. Would you want your future to be decided by others? Why or Why not?

2. How do you feel about the "standard practices" and "rituals" in the community?

3. Why is interdependence fostered in the community?

I chose to answer question number three. I chose it as, interdependence is one of the most important parts of life today and I believe I'd be able to relate a bit more. Interdependence today is focused on the fact that we learn about teamwork and how to depend on others in life. It's basically preparation for independence. We depend on our parents for money, support, love and care as well as a roof for us to stay underneath. Later on in life we learn to let go of our dependencies, and spread our wings. This allows room for independence. We learn how to depend on ourselves and ourselves only as we grow up get jobs and drift away from our dependent lives and become adults. We can make space for our own lives.

Now we can learn a bit more about the question and dig a little deeper. Interdependence in Jonas's community is a big part, (huge in fact) of the community. Interdependence for them is less messy, and more formal. It involves things such as buttons on the back of jackets so that they have to depend on others to button it for them. This is helpful to induce interdependence and forms many bonds. They help each other but they don't lend money as we do for financial support, because they don't have any financial problems.

Finally, interdependence is fostered in the community to prepare them for the huge amount of responsibility dropped on their shoulders at the age of twelve. It prepares them for their jobs. It helps them become more dependent on others. This is important because in such a small community it's helpful if everyone can rely on each other. Then they can all follow the rules together. This way everyone has a bond with each other, and they all enjoy being in each others company. Though we have the same levels of interdependence, we don't have as many bonds. They are forced into making and creating relationships with others and relying on each other. You can have your best friends, but there is nobody that is excluded from friendships.

When the four, five and six year olds wear the back buttoned jackets they start to learn how to be co-dependent and ask each other or family members for help while buttoning the jackets. As it's literally impossible for them to button or unbutton themselves. Then when you reach seven, you're able to get front buttoned jackets- a visible symbol of independence. Then at eight there are small pockets on your coat- which signify that you're old enough and mature enough to take care of your own belongings. I think that the aging and symbols are given to early. It's okay to be mature at eight, but independence should start a bit later then seven. Sure, you can feed yourself, you can walk by yourself and take care of yourself, but it doesn't mean that you should be completely independent. This is one of the major differences from our community and Jonas's community. Independence and Interdependence is staged at different times and is represented differently.

Independence in our community means: getting a job, going to college and university- abroad or in your home country, earning your own money, having your own house and even starting your own family. This starts much later on in our lives, but in their community they start their jobs at twelve. For us that's much too early, but for them it only seems normal. It is a lot of liability for such young people. Even though our communities differ in strategy, staging, representation and a lot more, we still agree on one thing. We all agree that interdependence should be fostered, so that they can be ready for the lives ahead. This way, they have connections for the future and can always ask for help when needed. After all, even when independence starts, interdependence never ends.

Thanks!

Enjoy your weekend!

*Cindy*