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Ceremony Free Write

In Ceremony I really didn’t enjoy the extremely vivid detail of how he was so sick. I realize that the author was trying to get to relate to his sickness and the hecticness of it all but it was not a pretty sight. I guess I’m just not so into thinking of someone waning and sick being thrown into bouts of vomiting for practically no reason whatsoever. Also he aunt didn’t seem to be any help at all. It’s almost as if she blamed him for Rocky not coming back in the first place. Like he’s the reason her real boy didn’t come back so it’s right for him to have this affliction as punishment for not protecting him. Rocky was the one that wanted to go in the first place anyways. If anything he should be blamed for Tayo’s PTSD. His flashbacks create such a vivid and crazy feeling throughout the book. It makes you feel kind of crazy yourself. It pulls you in because you feel connected with Tayo and the pain and brokenness he feels. I imagine feeling that way all the time and it just makes me shudder. If I had that kind of anguish going through my head all the time I’m not sure what I would do. Not only did his thoughts haunt him during the day but also throughout the night. I know that when I don’t feel well sleep is what I use to recuperate and feel safe. If my dreams turned on me too I’m not sure I would be able to handle it. He also had no one to talk to about it. Even with this own people he was somewhat of an outcast. Harley talked to him but I feel like if anything else he made things worse. In the hospital and a few of the other places he was regaining health he said he was invisible. I think that he was talking in third person like his ghost telling others that he couldn’t be seen. I guess it makes sense that he would want to fade into his surrounds and just kind of sink out of existence. It would be a painless way to go after years of pain and guilt. Just to fade away and no one even realize it. To have someone just walk right through you, because after the war he doesn’t matter anymore. During the war he was a soldier fighting for America and defending our great nation. But now that there’s no longer a threat he’s just another Indian. Just another unimportant figure that isn’t allowed in common society. But then he can’t just go back to his home either. His mother was an outcast, and he was a half-breed. He was seen as a mark of his mothers disgrace on the town. He wasn’t welcome in white culture, but then he wasn’t entirely welcome in Indian culture either. He was in a sort of emotional and cultural limbo where no one really wanted him and all he needed to get better was time and the comfort of others. Nothing was his fault. His mother screwed him over, his father (whoever he may be) screwed him over, the army screwed him over, his cousin screwed him over, the doctors at the hospital, the japanese, his aunt, white people, the list goes on and on of people that are part of the reason he is having these problems. All he really needs is the feeling that he belongs somewhere. Like he has a place where he is accepted and loved for who he is, not only if he fits in the mold of social convention that someone thinks he should fit in. I know that I’m happiest when I’m with my friends because they accept me for who I am, random bouts of energy and the attention span of and ADHD squirrel. I can just be me and that is what makes me happy. What’s painful is when someone gives off the impression that I’m not good enough. I’m not good enough to be in their group of friends, I’m not good enough to get the solo in chorus. Sure there are people better than me and I’m entirely ok with that. I’d never want to be the absolute best at everything that would be ridiculous. But when I feel alienated because someone is “better than me” it hurts. But then I can’t think of anyone who wants to be pushed out. Overall I feel really bad for Tayo. He was just hurting and needed someone who was really there for him.

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What is Equality?

 

  • Being treated the same
  • Involving others
  • Having the same elements in a set
  • Justice scales
  • Not feeling inferior
  • Not looking down your nose at others
  • Abolishing slavery
  • Women’s rights
  • Equal pay in jobs
  • Not stereotyping
  • Guys can iron and girls can fix cars
  • Being different doesn’t make you an outcast
  • Branching out
  • Making new friends
  • Girl scouts aren’t actually better than boy scouts
  • Not making fun of others
  • Involving everyone
  • Being all inclusive
  • Not worrying what others think
  • Trying new things without being afraid of what people will think
  • Not caring how many tattoos or piercings people have
  • Getting a tattoo for the message not just to fit in
  • Being yourself without worry
  • Not caring if someone is gay or straight
  • Not being exclusive of “weird people”
  • Who am I to say what’s weird
  • There is no real normal because everyone is different
  • Trying your best no matter what the situation
  • Living life without too much worry
  • Trusting others
  • Not snap-judging people
  • Liking what you like
  • Not hating someone because of one thing they did
  • Listening to other points of view with an open mind
  • Don’t miss a good opportunity
  • Being open with others
  • Not gossiping behind peoples backs
  • Treat others with respect
  • The golden rule
  • Going outside your comfort zone to help others
  • Being yourself
  • Not calling people names