KYONwhitmanslookout

3

The tale of the tortoise who stole all the bird's food because he made his name 'Alufyu' (All of you, to be honest I just made that spelling up) was to teach people not to be greedy, and not to be gullible as well. If you're greedy, you'll surely be left alone, alone in this cold //cold// world. You won't have any comrades to back you up, and all you'll have is all your merchandise, or money, or.. food that you gave everything up for. All those things can't replace friends and family (unless you're some weirdo scientist and make your couch come alive or something, but that is near impossible so I don't think most should try it). Anyway... greed is alive in //everything//, but you'll have to have the willpower to suppress it. Greed is one of the emotions that you're //supposed// to keep locked in, sure every once in a while you can be selfish and do a little something for yourself, but not //all// the time. So don't take advantage of it, or you'll face the consequences. Now onto being gullible, which you're not supposed to be. I, myself, am gullible. I fall for the stupidest things even if I know people are lying. So do what I say, not what I do! Never fall for something that's obviously a trap/trick/retarded prank! Obviously other will think it's //hilarious// but you'll just be embarrassed. You'll most likely regret your gullibility (I don't even know if that's a word) and might do something just as stupid to follow suit. Basically don't trust anyone, NO ONE, never! No, I'm kidding, do whatever you want. Oh, and this reminds me of The Hare and the Tortoise, basically because they both have turtles in them. The hare is so much faster than the turtle that the hare decides to take a nap. The turtle passes him and wins (Blah Blah Blah). To be honest, I didn't know any other fable things.. and this was the first one I thought of.

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 * MASCULINITY- IGBO AND AMERICAN WAY**:

The way Igbo describe masculinity is to not show weakness. They don't mind if you beat your wife, or kill someone, because it shows how masculine you are. It doesn't go by muscles or how deep your voice is, but how you act. Okonkwo shows his masculinity by yelling at everything that moves and by not controlling his anger and just going 'rawr' on everything. He's like a T-rex, only human. (Not that his brain is the size of a pea, I daresay). So my guess is that the men stomp around and break everything and that's how they show how muscly they are.. for reals. The American's are no better (hey, I don't want to take sides here). Most people that try to show their masculinity in America are usually really ignorant people (and I mean that in the actually meaning, not the slang). American's think masculinity are shown by 6-packs and huge biceps. It's shown by being a hero (and by being a man..though most of them AREN'T a hero). They show it by bullying people, or being rude.. or perhaps if they can get a lot of women. American's are based solely on image, and not personality, they think if you walk away from a fight you're a coward (but you're actually just acting smart.. which they most likely don't know how to be). Yea... I probably got nothing but insults for my country, but I love it all the same. <- Yay, America is pink! XD


 * THE WOMEN:**

Igbo treat their women horribly, but in all honestly I don't really mind. Things like that happen ALL around, not just in their culture. Sure, it's not right to just assume men are superior, but it happens. We can't change it, women can do SO MUCH and all people will see is the man. I don't understand why people can't just go with the flow. Okay, it's fine to beat your wife in the Igbo culture, woot, good job, now lets just go on our merry way. Just be happy that you weren't that woman and get on with your life. It happens everywhere you go, you can't change it, move along. There are things in this world that just happen because we're humans, and people always try to change it. (Maybe if people would stop trying to change things, we could get along, hmm? Yea, think about that).



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 * FIRST IMPRESSION:**

My first impression of this book was "Ugh, this is going to suck." and as we started reading I found out that I was **right.** I'm not interested in it very much, I like the books with __heroes,__ and __conflicts,__ and __suspense__! This has no conflict, in my opinion (of course). The only thing I like is that the main character is so ruthless. He stands his ground, and takes nothing from no one. Although, he can be a little rude..at times, but he's the 'hero' and he shows it (somewhat). I don't understand half of the things that go on in the novel, and if I don't understand things then my interest goes down hill extremely fast. Unless things (like a big battle, or death) happen, then I'm going to be very bored.


 * DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES:**

The Igbo is very...different, they have a different life style. The talk different, act different, think different. They still have a superiority of men, and have their own titles. Their wealth isn't by how much money you have, but have many wives and what 'rank' title you have. Though..the Igbo can be similar as well. Igbo celebrate Christmas as we do, and they give respect to elders. (Though here, it takes a little while longer for the children to realize respect). Plus, we're both humans, we have emotions and know right from wrong (some more than others). We make decisions, and cause accidents. It's just..how it is. Yea, other than that, I have no clue of how we're similar. I could say they're black.. but that would just make things weird.



Igbo at church. (I would hate to have to sit behinds the ladies with those things on their head.) ^^^^^^^^