Monday, October 22, 2012
Period 4/5, Blog for Week of 10/21
Topic 3: The Development of Identity
Directions: In a comment, respond to the prompt below in 300+ typed words. Also be sure to respond to a classmate's comment so that we can keep our classroom conversation going.
"A person does not simply 'receive' his or her identity. Identity is much more than the name or features one is born with. True identity is something people must create for themselves by making choices that are significant and that require a courageous commitment to in the face of challenges. Identity means having ideas and values that one lives by." -Thomas Merton, Contemplation in a World of Action
Using examples from literature, history, science, film, and/or your own experiences, write a response in which you develop your point of view as to whether identity is something people are born with or given or if identity is something people create for themselves.
Be sure to answer all parts of the question fully. Your comment/response to my prompt should be 300+ words. Your comment/response to a friend should be 50+ words. Your blog entries must be completed by 11:59 pm on October 21, 2012.
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Identity is something that you create for yourself because your identity is who YOU are. Identity isn’t something that you get when your born or for who you are to other people, that’s reputation. Identity is who you really are deep down. Nobody can give you an identity. They can influence you to be who you are but they can’t tell you who to be. Your identity is basically who you are, what you stand for, how you behave, and how you feel about certain things and that’s all stuff that comes from who you are. In the story “Harrison Bergeron” Harrison is “identified” on the television as a dangerous criminal. His true identity is actually more of an innocent one belonging to a simple man who wants to excel in life and be the best person he can. In the story “On the Sidewalk Bleeding” a young boy named Andy has to deal with the very topic. In the story Andy, a child who plays for “The Royals“ is at an event of the sort with his girlfriend. He decides to “take a break” from the action and go outside. But as he is walking out the opposing team “The Guardians” jumps him and stabs him directly under the ribcage. While this happens the boy yells “That’s for you Royal!” As Andy lay there for quite some time he toys with the thought about whether or not he wants to be a royal. He slowly finds out what he really wants and who he truly is, and he puts all of his strength that he has left into taking off his jacket and ridding himself of the old Andy. But before he can show everybody the new Andy, he dies. Soon after his demise a police officer begins to investigate the situation. The officer finds the jacket by his dead body and then says “A Royal ‘eh.” His girlfriend jumps in and says “His name is Andy!” The cop then says under his breath “A Royal ‘eh.”
ReplyDeleteKevin, this is a very focused, thoughtful, and well-written response! I enjoyed reading your interpretations of the stories we worked with in class. You used them very effectively in supporting your argument. Nice job!
Deleteit was a very deep essay good job
Deleteit was very good i liked it a lot
DeleteI agree with you Kevin, I think you wrote that out good and explained in a good way that identity comes from within and from who you really are inside. I also agree strongly that nobody can make you be something, they can influence you but they can’t change you from who you really are inside.
DeleteIdentity is something you create for yourself. Its almost like your reputation in school, you build it up as you move on through grades. That’s one of my opioion. My other opion is your idenitiy is who your are as a person. Theres a law in this state stating you can not steal someone identity. Why would you want to be someone else? For there money? For the nice things they have that you don’t? your identity is you as a person. Its how you act you talk what you look and anything else about you. You need your own identity because if you didn t have you own identity anyone can call me any name they wanted to. My name wich is also some of my identity is Michael cirrincione. This name represents me and who I am as a person. My English 9 teacher has a name that represents how she is as a person to. For example, in the novel “the necklace” mme. Leisel had a good identity. She was a trusty. And she was also loyal to her promises. She told the lady she would return the necklace she borrowed but she lost it. There for she went out and bought a very expensive necklace. That put her through 10 years of debt. She comes to find out the necklace was fake and only worth a couple hundred dollars. My point is identity is what you make youself. You can make your identity a bad thing or a good thing. When someone talks about me in a possitve way I hope they are using the correct terms for my and representing me in a way I would want to be represented in. all in all I think everyone should have there own identity. We should all be able to be proud of our names and how we stand for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI liked what you said about stealing others identities. Why would you want to be some body else? You wouldnt you just want that persons things or their qualities. When people envy other people they envy them for their things or mayb they envy what other people think of them. Identity is something that nobody can ever take away from you.
ReplyDeleteI believe that identity is something you do create for yourself. You need to make something of yourself if you want a certain group of friends or to prove yourself to someone. If you want to be nice than be nice to everyone But if your mean to just one person and they go around and tell everyone that your so mean then that puts you in a bad position. Or if your nice to a teacher your automatically a teacher’s pet. No matter what no matter your attitude towards anyone you’re going to get judged on something you do. For example when I first met my friend in 6th grade she gave me a really dirty look. During recess she actually was the one who came up to me and started talking to me. I was surprised that she did this after she gave me a dirty look but I was willing to be nice because after all she made the first move. She stared to talk to me and she was actually really nice and I shouldn’t have judged her by something she did but by who she was. Now she is my really god friend and I’m happy she came up to me and showed me that is shouldn’t judge people from what I hear or see but who I know and what I physically see. I was always taught to be the best I can be so that people see the best of me and don’t judge me for who I’m not. Growing up with my father and grandmother they always were telling me things like Actions speak louder than words and treat people the way you want to be treated and if you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything. One that I remember that my Father used to tell me is that don’t judge book by its cover, always read what’s inside before you throw it or put it on your shelf.
ReplyDeletei really like how you explanied how you make you identity. so i really like your writing it was very good.
Deletei really liked your essay it was really well writen, and relatable. like i feel the same way about about judging a book but its cover. my mother tells me the same thing. but anyway i really like what you wrote and it was interesting.
DeleteYour identity is created by your actions.Your actions throughout life are what shapes your identity.Identity is also going to decide how people think about you.It will decide if people are going to like you or not.In the book "That was Then This is now",one of the characters steals and commits all types of crimes.People think of him as a crook and don't like him.People try to avoid him even his best friend.I remember a kid in fourth grade that tried bullying everyone around.He created an identity that people didn't like.So not one person wanted to be friends with him.Identity can be created in several ways.If your cool and chill you'll create a good identity for your self. If your annoying and do stupid things you'll create a bad identity for your self.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion identity is something people that create themselves. You are not born with an identity you make choices and decisions that create your identity. Your identity changes as you grow up, your attitude and personality changes from when your three to when you sixteen. Identity is who you are as a signal person. No two people’s identities are alike. You have to make your own identity to have a group of friends like you. It’s the same as if someone tells you you’re very nice, they tell everyone else you’re nice. But if you are rude to someone and they do not like you they will spread rumors and tell people not to be friends with you because you are rude. For example when I first met my friend in fifth grade she did not like me at all, and I did not like her. She was really mean and gave me dirty looks all the time and said things about me. So instantly I did not like her and did not want to be friends with her. But in sixth grade we kind of talked and I still did not like her but I guess we were friends. In seventh grade she was in my homeroom and we talked all the time and we really became friends. So the point of this story is that you should not judge a person just by the way they act. Even though I judge my friend that day in fifth grade we both got over it and now we are best friends. No matter how you act you will be judged by how you act and by your personality and your identity. So all in all you make your identity you are not born with it, your identity is made by how you act and the decisions you make.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you partly that identity is created by one's choices and decisions that you make, but I also think that identity is a trait you are born with. I also agree that no two people's identities are the same, their traits and experiences make them who they are and different from one another.
DeleteMy point of view as to whether identity is something people are born with, given to, or if identity is something people create for themselves, is that identity is given to them, and they create it for themselves. The way that identity is given to people is, let say, when your parents teach you a saying. For example my mother tells me to don’t judge a book by its cover, actions speak louder then words, if you have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all, and respect others the way you’d want to be treated. Like, this one time I was really irritated with my neighbor and I basically wanted to yell at them and talk back to them, but then I remembered my mother once told me if I have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all. In a way I consider that to bite my tongue and walk away. So, I did exactly that and it paid off because if I had said something smart I would have gotten into a lot of trouble. So now since that day every time I get irritated or annoyed by someone I just bite my tongue, because if I have nothing nice to say I don’t say anything at all. Anyway, the way that someone makes their identity for themselves is the way they act. For example, this one time I was watching this movie about a bunch of girls who were making fun of this nerdy girl, and the group of girls where know around the school as bullies and no one liked them. Anyway to get to the point the way they acted is the way they are portrayed. They are nasty and people saw that, they created that image of them selves buy making fun of the girl, and they where ok with it. They didn’t care that they were hated by everyone in the school. So, that is how someone can create their own identity, whether it was a good or bad identity. That is my point of view on the topic...
ReplyDeleteSorry this is a day late. My computers were all shut off by the cable company and i had to evacuate Ocean Gate. Identity, is the most important possession someone could have. Without it you are nothing. I have watched my fair share of CSI shows and Identifying the victim is usually always a problem. When someone goes missing, the family you came from never wants to be the one that has to announce their child dead. It's never an easy thing to do. No one can make your identity, a name means nothing. You give yourself your identity by acting and being the way you do and are. Just like in the story the cop only referred to Andy as a royal, because that is the identity he chose for himself. I'm sure that the day Andy was born no one expected him to become a royal, he chose that life for himself. Identity is how you are distinguished and that bright purple jacket would do that. That's why Andy was stabbed, because of that bright purple jacket. If he wasn't wearing it, I doubt he would have been stabbed. Everyone should know that it is Andy's fault he got stabbed. He knew he was in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time, and he chose to go anyway. Even when people came to help they didn't want to... because of that jacket. They were very afraid that a rival gang member would find them. Always remember that you choose your own fate, and this is just a prime example of that. Andy chose his own fate, he didn't choose to be stabbed of course, but he chose to be a royal the reason he was stabbed. This is my essay, I'm tired good night.
ReplyDeleteI think an identity is something that you create for yourself, not something that you are born with. Throughout your life, you are forced to make decisions and act accordinly to issues. You become you through life experience and what you want to be. An example is in the book, "That was Then, This is Now." The main character was constantly stealing and fighting, but throughout the story, he begins to become more mellow and dosen't want this life. That is a strong example of how someone can create a new identity for themselves and are not simply born into something. another example is in the story, "On the Sidewalk Bleeding," when the main character is stabbed for being part of the Royals. You can obviousely infer that this wasen't his entire life and that his life dosen't revolve around this life in a gang. Your life isn't what other people make it. Your life, your personality, your identity, is what you want to make it.
ReplyDeleteI feel a persons identity can be created through life experiences and memories made. I also feel that a person is born with their own unique identity as well. Each person is born with a certain eye color, hair color, height, weight, or body type. They also have some sort of markings on their bodies that make them one of a kind, whether it is a birthmark on their pinkie toe, or a mole on their cheek. A person can also make an identity based on their life experiences through memories they have created. I watched a movie not that long ago called Face Off with Nicholas Cage and John Travolta where a doctor surgically switched their physical traits and switched them so one man physically became the other. When they woke up, the good guy was the bad guy who had to prove to all that knew him, that his physical identity was taken, but his personal identity proved to everyone that it was really him. He had to figure out a way to make everyone believe through his memories that he made with his wife, kids, and friends that he was the good guy, and a switch was made. Even though his outside identity appeared to be the bad guy, his memories made with the people that knew him defined his personal identity to all who knew him. So, I feel one's personal identity can be defined both ways. One can argue their individuality based on outward appearances as well as specific memories that only they could have made.
ReplyDeleteIdentity is the what represents you. It is like if you go to apply for a job you would have to have a good identity. If you had a bad identity then the wont hire you. To get a good identity you would have to do good things to save the earth. Like you could go out and help with the community and help clean up out planet and make it better. And you would receive a good identity. One time me and my dad went all the way up north just to help with the community and help them get through what they were going through. We brought them food we got them close. Me and my dad got a good identity. I have a good identity because imp always looking to help someone out always. if only the whole entire world had a kind of attitude that ms orlowskys then our wolf would be perfect. ms drowsy changed me as a person she maid me realize that you have to work hard to get something good. She has a great identity. my moms friend has a very bad identity because she always put her in front of every one else. when I see someone helping people I feel good. when ever I help people I feel good inside I feel like I did the right things. you cant just be born with a good identity you have to do the right thing and work hard at it if you want to have a good identity. what imp trying to say about identity is that you have to make it your self and try too make a good identity. if you want friends your going to need a good identity. there not going to want to be friends with you if you have a bad identity because then they cant trust you and that's not a good reputation.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think identity is not just your name, or how your dress, or what you look like, but it is who you are deep down inside. That may sound corny, but it's what I truly think. In this generation people expect for no one to be different and for everyone to like the same things or act the same way. Honestly, it's upsetting to me. I feel like no one is their true selves anymore. Seeing how people change from elementary school from now is crazy. You could be friends with someone for the longest time and not even have a clue in your mind on who they really are. I look around and see the different groups of people and it kind of amazes me at who could be in them. Someone who I thought I knew is a completely different person and I'm not sure if they were lying to me about who they truly were, or if their lying to their new group of friends. Identity is obviously something that everyone is born with, but no one is born with the same one. Sure you can like the same things or have the same name, hair, or eye color but that doesn't mean that you're exactly alike. You create your own identity and you shouldn't be embarassed of who you are deep down inside. I know this sounds blunt to say, but if someone doesn't take you for who you are then who cares? You shouldn't. INstead of trying to please other people you should please yourself because your opinion is what should matter most to you. You don't need someone in your life who doesnt except you for who you are or what you belive in. Moral of the story and what I'm trying to say here, you are your own person and you have your own identity and don't ever chan ge that about yourself.
ReplyDeletewhen is the next blog due?? please answer if anyone knows!!!
ReplyDelete