Comments by Megan Ekart Most recent public comments by Megan Ekart https://nowcomment.com/users/94782 Envy of Women https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2341396 https://nowcomment.com/documents/231819?scroll_to=2341396 "Seeing the woman as she was made them remember the envy they had stored up from other times." Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:06:55 -0600 Through Darkness there is Light https://nowcomment.com/documents/253210?scroll_to=2306744 https://nowcomment.com/documents/253210?scroll_to=2306744 The narrator gives a speech in this chapter relating blindness to racism and differences. Through this line of the narrator saying that by kicking him to the curb, they set him up for a possibility of achieving greatness. This line shows that through darkness there can be light. Through blindness there can be vision. Through division there can be unity. I believe the whole book is centered on bringing light to darkness. This line and chapter shows we can brighten up the dark. Mon, 01 Feb 2021 18:22:49 -0600 Finding Humor (Room 407:Indiana) https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=2298986 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=2298986 Thinking past the last 7 days I think about all the time I have spent with my friends. I was stuck in my house for 2 weeks with Coronavirus and this past week was my first week out. I have been with my friends almost everyday and we have not had a shortage on laughter. Being with my friends and being able to joke with them and smile with them is a different kind of happiness that is hard to explain. In my opinion there is no better feeling than having a good laugh. It is good to know now that laughing actually has positive effects on not only mood but also positive effects on physiological functions. Now I will make sure to set some time out to just have a good laugh everyday. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:43:29 -0600 Laughing (Room 407:Indiana) https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=2298980 https://nowcomment.com/documents/247448?scroll_to=2298980 When reading through this piece I connected most to this section. I feel like I am always laughing with my friends, family, and even strangers. Reading this line about how laughing has multiple positive effects on physiological functions shocked me. It is nice to know that when I am cracking a joke with my friends it is good for myself and for my friends. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:38:02 -0600 "Remember to Forget" https://nowcomment.com/documents/252045?scroll_to=2292227 https://nowcomment.com/documents/252045?scroll_to=2292227 I absolutely love this line the poem. I love the play on words of "remembering to forget." I think the play on words and other lively elements throughout the poem keep the reader on their toes and ready to listen. The poem overall kept people who are not of Indian heritage interested in the story and image presented throughout the poem. Tue, 26 Jan 2021 11:12:44 -0600 Link to "Heritage" by Elise Paschen (discovered and uncovered from the map at Living Nations, Living Words). https://nowcomment.com/documents/252045?scroll_to=2292226 https://nowcomment.com/documents/252045?scroll_to=2292226 Reading through “An American Sunrise” there was one line that stood out to me the most and that was, “We are still America.” This line makes me feel as though she knows that long ago her “kind” were not too excited to be living in “America”. I tied this to a piece by Elise Paschen, “Heritage”, and saw that she too says something along those lines. She talks about the white men killing Osage women and how “Indians were tied to the U.S.” This connect brings me back to history class when we learned about the trail of tears and other horrific events where the Indians were targeted. I feel like more in “An American Sunrise” the author pretty much says that they have been through a lot and things have been hard along the way but they are still here and they are going to stay here. This is their America too. https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/afc/afc2020004/afc2020004_12/afc2020004_12_ms01.pdf Tue, 26 Jan 2021 07:54:04 -0600 Change https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284934 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284934 How can you expect the world to change if you can't change? To keep the world moving and growing we need to keep moving and growing. As Michael Jackson sang we need to start "with the man in the mirror." If everyone in this world did nothing to change and explore we would be living without technology, air conditioning, phones, and many other things. We have to be open to this crazy and uncomfortable world. If we want to make a change in the world we need to first make a change in ourselves. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:24:15 -0600 Uniquely You https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284926 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284926 In both articles we have been talking about opening our hearts and minds to others. We have been talking about the importance of other people and their opinions, beliefs, and feelings. All of these things are very important, but it is very important to remember what we stand for. We need to keep our opinions, beliefs, and feelings in our hearts and minds before we can focus on what other people have to say. We all have our own personal identities and we need to remember that. We are all different for a reason. You are different for a reason. You are uniquely you. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:27:05 -0600 Ties with the Other Piece https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284894 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284894 Reading through this piece I have found multiple similarities between the two. For example, this sentence talks about what defines us. In a previous comment I made on the other article it also talks about what defines us. Both articles talk about growing as people and opening ourselves up to being uncomfortable. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:07:35 -0600 Disturbance https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284860 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284860 Looking at disturbance it might make you feel uncomfortable but that is a good thing. As Kristin Lohr says, "Growth is uncomfortable because you've never been here before- you've never been this version of you." This only proves that disturbance is a good thing because you grow from being uncomfortable and pushing yourself. We all need a little more disturbance in our lives. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:00:20 -0600 What Defines You? https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284733 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284733 Looking at this question it uncovers a lot of feelings and emotions. There are many things in this world that define us. Some of those things include race, gender, and religion. These things define us to others, but what defines yourself to you? What are you all about? Fri, 22 Jan 2021 08:55:31 -0600 Value your Opinion https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284714 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284714 It is important that while opening up your heart and mind, you keep yourself in mind. You can sometimes lose yourself when you get too caught up in what everybody else is thinking and feeling. You need to listen to others, but you need to remember to listen to yourself. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 08:55:31 -0600 Find Yourself Through Others https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284699 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284699 The author speaks about how she is able to see her own views by listening to others. Through reading this piece you can clearly get an idea that you should open up your ears, heart, and mind to others. Through opening yourself up you might find something about yourself that you didn't even know about. It reminds me of when I give my mom massages and she says, "I didn't know I hurt there until you started massaging there." Listening to others is the same concept. You might not know you agree or disagree with someone or something until it is brought up. This truly shows that opening yourself up to others can help you find yourself. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 08:55:31 -0600 2002? -> 2020 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284660 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251070?scroll_to=2284660 Looking at the year this piece of literature was written was a shock to me. Through the piece I continuously made connection to the election and to the pandemic. I felt like I was reading a powerful piece written in 2020 describing and giving advice to get through tough times. I believe that this piece is extremely important for others to read and hear especially during these times. Reading about having differences but succeeding together is something a lot of people need to hear as President Biden takes office. There is a lot of people out there that do not agree with Biden and the Democratic party, but as the text says, "It's not our differences that divide us. It's our judgments about each other that do." We are all human and we are also all American. Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:27:05 -0600 Do you Care? https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282052 https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282052 One of the vets tells Mr. Norton that the narrator is just a mark on his scorecard of achievements. He says that Mr. Norton does not see the narrator as a person and more as a "black amorphous thing". It makes you think do people actually care or do they act like they care so they can look caring. It is a deep and emotional thought, but it is also true in some cases. There are some people in this world that "care" about others and there are people in this world that truly care about others. If you think about it, what are you? Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:39:59 -0600 Incest https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282051 https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282051 I find it absolutely disgusting what Mr. Trueblood did to his daughter. I think incidents like these happen more in today's society than we know. I think it is important to recognize that things like these happen. We as a society need to be more aware of the evils in our world and shying away from them is not going to help. Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:17:26 -0600 Kill them with Kindness https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282050 https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282050 I think the grandfather's words resemble closely to words given to people dealing with bullying. It makes you think if racism and bullying are the same thing. People are bullied for many reasons and racism is people being bullied for their skin color. I wonder if people today were to hear those words and connect them to racism if our world would be more peaceful. Thu, 21 Jan 2021 01:02:13 -0600 Black and Blue https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282049 https://nowcomment.com/documents/250105?scroll_to=2282049 I thought it was a nice parallel to the middle of the prologue when the narrator refers to Louis Armstrong's song "Black and Blue". I think this parallel gives a unique insight into the narrator's race. Looking at the narrator question what he did to be so blue makes the audience draw a conclusion that the narrator is African American. Thu, 21 Jan 2021 17:46:47 -0600 I agree with Kennedy. https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191433 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191433 I also believe that the title is not based on the fact that they are neighbors with the couple that moved next door. I believe that the title is showing the audience that these men with mental disabilities are human just like you and me. They are not to be seen as just those "retarded" boys, they are to be seen as just the boys next door. Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:57:07 -0600 Keys = Love https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191376 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191376 I think that Norman giving a set of keys to Sheila shows how much he truly cares about her. I believe the keys represent power and independence to them. Norman make it very clear through the film that his keys meant a lot to him. Norman was able to share something that meant so much to him with Sheila which I believe is a true act of love. Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:40:25 -0600 Keys are Balancing https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191372 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191372 I think the keys give Norman and Sheila both a sense of importance and independence. I look at it like the keys are giving them power that they do not have because of their issues. The keys balance out their lives and make them feel like they are important and powerful. Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:37:46 -0600 The Box https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191355 https://nowcomment.com/documents/240008?scroll_to=2191355 The box covered in bows is a donut box. Through the whole movie Norman has showed his love for donuts because he works at a donut shop and loves to eat them. I think he not only loves donuts but loves them because the donut shop represents his independence and ability to work. Tue, 10 Nov 2020 08:04:25 -0600 Title https://nowcomment.com/documents/238201?scroll_to=2175001 https://nowcomment.com/documents/238201?scroll_to=2175001 I would have to agree that "The Fury of Rain Storms" is referring to depression. Depression in my opinion feels like a cloud just following you around. Depression is just a rain storm over your head all the time. I think the people who struggle or have struggled with depression can clearly make that connection because it is something they have lived with. Fri, 30 Oct 2020 07:38:55 -0500 Audience https://nowcomment.com/documents/238201?scroll_to=2175000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/238201?scroll_to=2175000 I think the audience is meant to be people dealing with their own depression or dealing with somebody else's depression as well. I think it is sometimes hard to visualize what you are feeling when you feel so lost and alone. I think it is important that the author is helping those dealing with depression in some way visualize a example of what it feels like to be depressed. I believe that people who have depression feel like they are alone in this world, but this poem is showing them they are not alone. Fri, 30 Oct 2020 07:33:10 -0500