Life of Pi - Question 1

          Although the main character of Life of Pi may seem irrational, I think his irrational ways are understandable considering the traumatic events that occurred. No one but the author knows which story is real, but both stories are tragic either way. Pi, mathematically speaking, is an irrational number. I think the choosing of Pi’s name was absolutely intentional, meaning even the author perceives Pi as irrational. The significance of Pi’s madness is that even though his way of thinking seems irrational to us readers, everything makes sense to him and that’s what matters.

          Pi has three different religions. Completely irrational.  But even though he has all these religions, he has reasons as to why he does. Irrational means the same as unreasonable. Pi’s religion isn’t unreasonable because it makes sense to him. Religion is personal and everyone has different views and beliefs. Religion is all about what the INDIVIDUAL believes in.  Just because Pi’s beliefs are different doesn’t make them unreasonable. He believes in God and has respect for people who at least believe in something/someone even if they’re beliefs are different. Religion, just like the truth, is open to interpretation. Pi understands that other people have different beliefs and justifies his way of thinking when he explains that he doesn’t respect people who have no religion. He talks about how everyone should at least believe in some kind of God. This shows he at least has some reason behind his beliefs. He chooses to believe in God because he feels not having a religion is wrong and the combination makes sense to him.

          I believe Pi’s “lying” about his story is absolutely justifiable. Regardless of which story is true, he made up the other version to cope with the real one; as explained by the author in an interview. Just like much of society, Pi sugar coated his story to make it easier to accept. We downplay and twist things around all the time to make them easier to cope with. When something big happens at my house, we usually tell my younger brother a less intense version of the story or a version that won’t have as much of an effect on him. I don’t find this irrational at all because it doesn’t change what happened and it helps from causing more pain with the situation. I think this easily relates to Pi in the way that, if he changed the story to animals instead of people it made him a little more detached emotionally from the chaos. The actions of the characters would also be easier to accept because animals are supposed to act savagely, while it is not acceptable in society for a person to act like the characters in Pi’s stories did. I think Pi was just trying to loosen the emotional attachment to the story to ease his mind. Mainly because instead of having his mother killed, he would have an animal killed in the story. Although Pi loved animals and had plenty of respect for them, a family member would have more of an emotional attachment for him. Pi changing the story doesn’t change what really happened and doesn’t harm anyone. If anything it helps him overcome and accept his traumatic experience. Pi’s lying may be irrational but in his instance I think it is totally justifiable due to the severity of his experience. The officers would still get the information they needed about the ship sinking. The changing of the stories affects no one but Pi, so if he wants to make it easier to process and live with, I think that’s justifiable. 

Girls found - Mayes Dead. (Current event 4)

This story has been a hot topic for the past two weeks or so. As explained in my previous current event, Adam Mayes kidnapped a mother and her three daughters in Tennessee. The oldest daughter and mother were found dead, both strangled. Mayes was found recently with the two younger girls in Mississippi. He killed himself before authorities could arrest him. His wife and mother are being charged as being involved as well. I think it's horrible what these girls have witnessed. Not only did they see their mother and sister killed, but they watched Mayes kill himself also. I also think it's pathetic that someone gave false information in order to try and get the $175,000 reward. I can't believe someone would be selfish enough to do that. What if the police would have followed that tip & Mayes would have gotten away? Its repulsing to think that someone could have the will to do something so horrible. The story is already tragic enough for someone to try and make it worse. I hope they feel horrible about themselves. I have up most sympathy for the little girls who made it alive. They didn't deserve any of those events to happen to them. They won't ever be the same. They won't ever have the mindset of normal young girls. Its sad to think that Mayes and his accomplices could so easily ruin these little girls lives. I also feel bad for their father. He lost two of the most important women in his life & he still has two more to look after. He must be struggling endlessly to stay strong for his girls.  What makes me mad is that the few people involved could cause so much pain. I can't understand what would ever justify taking someone elses family. Mayes had a family of his own, why didn't he care for the pain he was inflicting? Why did he do it? Some people can be so cruel, it'll never cease to amaze me. Ever. The stories seem to get worse and worse as time goes on. I don't know if it's because I'm older now and I'm more aware, or if society is crumbling before our eyes.


Source:
Rich, Phillips, Sutton Joe, and et al. "Girls 'within inches' of kidnapper who turned gun on himself." CNN. N.p., 11 May 2012. Web. 14 May 2012. <Girls 'within inches' of kidnapper who turned gun on himself>.

Just a reminder:

My last blog was accidentally the rest of the book, so I have 3 blogs rather than 4.

Current Event - Mother & her daughters abducted in TN

A mother and her three daughters were abducted recently in Tennessee by Adam Mayes. Two bodies were found in relation to the abduction, but the bodies have not yet been identified to the public. I've been hearing about this story all day. It's all over the media and it's all anyones been talking about. I was a little scared hearing about it. Even though I hear about little kids getting taken all the time this one scared me because one of the girls was only two years younger than me. Not only did they take her but her mom as well. I can't imagine the horror they are going through. I pray that they're found and that their abductor put in prison. Some of the rumors say he plans on taking them to Mexico and using them for money, probably prostitution. It's so sickening. There are so many other ways to make money. He's scarred those girls for the rest of their lives. I hope they make it through their crisis alive. My heart goes out to them. It breaks my heart to think that this could've happened to my family. It makes me think twice when I'm out of the house, I'm more alert now. I appreciate having my family around. Even though my mom is really strict and protective, I understand. If she wasn't the way she is with us, the probability of a situation like this happening to us would be much higher. I wish we lived in a world where things like this didn't happen. I guess that won't ever happen... For now I've just got to worry about my family and hope that these girls and their mother are found alive soon.


Source:
CNN Wire Staff, . "Bodies found in probe of alleged abduction of 3 Tennessee sisters, mother." CNN. N.p., 2012. Web. 5 May 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/05/us/tennessee-missing-children/index.html?npt=NP1>.

Part Three - Life of Pi

WOAH.

Not only did I get caught up in reading the book as if Pi was real. I got caught up thinking that the story with the animals was true! I didn't see the change in stories coming at all. The book never tells which story is true, but I think it's safe to assume that the one without humans is the accurate story. I make this assumption with the thought that, we humans like to "sugar coat" things, make this seem better than they really are. Pi changed his story as a way to cope with the tragedy I think. At the same time... part of the stories don't match up. Pi trains Richard Parker  in the version with animals. If Richard Parker symbolizes Pi for the story without animals, who does Pi symbolize in the story. If Pi is Richard Parker, there needs to be someone who is Pi. Was that just an added character? A figment of his imagination maybe? Someone to keep him company? That's the only mismatch I see, but that doesn't necessarily mean the story without animals isn't the real story. I think the way the author wrote the book was very thoughtful. It points out how savage we are in nature although we hate to admit it. When worst comes to worst, thats what happens. The story sounds a bit extreme, with the cook butchering the sailor and all, but I can see how the desperation could cause a person to do something so horrible. Now, I don't know if I would be able to do that, but I can see how someone else would. After all, the first level on the Hierarchy of Needs is Survival. People will do whatever it takes to save themselves. It's sad to think that Pi would have to witness all the events first hand and its mind boggling to think of what he must've been thinking. He grew up around animals, he understood them and he understood how dangerous they were in the wild. Altering the story from humans to animals is probably the only way he could accept what had happened. I think the story with the humans is right, but I could see the animal story being true as well.

Part Two - Life of Pi Analysis

I really didn't think I would like this book. It's actually really interesting to me. Pi becomes almost an animal himself. He kills fish with his bare hands even though it's totally against his beliefs. His character completely transforms. I think its ironic how he knew so much about animals and now he's almost like one himself. His only focus is survival. Before he talked about how animals usually prefer the zoo to wild life. Now I know why, even though the animals are caged up they still have food and shelter and all the other necessities. Out in the ocean Pi and Richard have to fend for themselves. Its better in my opinion to live a somewhat controlled life than one that is unmerciful, unreliable, and savage. Atleast the animals in the zoo don't have to worry about survival. They can enjoy their lives. I remember in class you said that sometimes people forget Pi is a fictional character because they're so into the book. It's so true! You can feel his desperation, his savageness, its all so real. It's a wonder he didn't kill himself long before he discovered Richard Parker was even still on the lifeboat. And the cannibal guy who tried to eat him.... that was probably the freakiest part. I complain at school how hungry I am, but none of us really know what hunger is. I can't imagine being hungry enough to kill someone, someone who's trying to survive just like me. I don't really understand why Richard Parker chooses not to harm Pi. Without Richard Parker, Pi would be long dead. Is it destiny? A god given miracle? Luck? Animal Instinct? I don't know, but I think it's pretty cool. Im curious to find out if Pi ever explains his interpretation of why.

Current Event 2 - New charges relating to 2010 oil spill

This article is about a former BP engineer who is being charged with destroying evidence that ties him to charges relating to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill back in 2010. He deleted text messages off his phone that clearly said that the oil flow rate was too high. The company also lied about how much oil was really spilling into the gulf each day. The way I see it, deleting the messages wasn't going to make a difference. If anything, it made him look more guilty. I don't know much about off-shore drilling, but it seems pretty dangerous. I think its completely irresponsible for an oil company to drill knowing that its not safe. They cost themselves more money repairing the gulf and cleaning up, than they would have if they would've sold the oil. These companies need to be better regulated and supervised. This incident was feels like it occurred so long ago, I can't believe employees are just now being charged. It's really disappointing to think that these people ruined the gulf and its environment, and there are people at fault who are just now being charged.


Source:
Matt, Smith. "First Criminal Charges filed in BP oil spill."CNN. N.p., 2012. Web. 26 Apr 2012. <http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/24/us/gulf-oil-spill/index.html?hpt=ju_t4>.