Life of Pi essay

     The main character, Pi, in Life of Pi seems to show madness when he tells the Japanese men his survival story involving life on a raft with animals, and later changing the animals to humans in a second story when the Japanese men do not believe him. However, while many would see the two stories as delusional or mad, the way Pi originally recalls his time on the raft goes along with the theme that it is up to you to choose what you believe. Pi also reflects this theme through his choice in practicing three different religions- Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Again, many people would see that the practicing of three different religions as contradicting and view Pi as delusional.
     My favorite line of Life of Pi is when Pi has been confronted by the three men guiding him through his faith. While the three men are arguing and criticizing the other for their chosen belief, Pi calmly states "Bapu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true.' I just want to love God." (87). Even with the three men pressuring him to choose one single religion, Pi chooses to stay with all three becuase they all are centered around loving God, which is all he simply wants to do.
     The strongest case of madness and choosing what one wants to believe is through the second and final sections of the book. Pi is a young boy on his way to a new unknown country when the Tsimtsum sinks. With the way Pi tells the story through the chaos of the sinking boat, we are left to believe his family has perished, and he is the lone survivor left with a raft and a few dangerous zoo animals. Through his time spent on the raft, Pi accounts for his day with the animals, and how he is surviving. It is not until Pi is eventually rescued, admitted into a hospital, and interviewed by two Japanese men that Pi's time on the raft is questioned. But like his answer to when his faith was questioned, Pi told the men the story was true, but he would go on to tell them another story with people instead of animals. Even with the new gruesome tale, we are still left to choose which story is real. Do I choose the human story becuase Pi was delusional and in a state of shock, so he replaced humans with animals as a coping method, or do I choose to believe the tale about the animals because Pi grew up in a zoo and the animals were also on the boat to go to a new country? There is no right or wrong answer. The reader is left to choose which story to believe, which reflects on the theme.
     Pi's two stories and practicing of three faiths seems crazy to the average person. However, it is what Pi chooses to believe. Pi sees both stories as actual accounts of what happened during his time of the raft, and practices three religions because they lead him to love God. Pi also uses the variety of stories and religions to back up his idea of how do we know what is right, if we cannot prove it wrong? While reading through Life of Pi is at times difficult, the book is very thought provoking and an interesting read.

Current event week 4

Schools today are relying more on standardized tests for federal funding and determining whether or not a teacher is "good" or "bad". The focus on how a student has grasped a subject is slowly fading away as schools put more effort in making sure students know how to do well on a test, rather than fully learn the material. With schools using tests to determine how well a teacher teaches a subject and if that teacher should remain at the school or not, the pressure is on with each standardized test. I believe that using standardized test for these things are ridiculous. Some students have "test anxiety" or are just terrible test takers. A student may be brilliant, but struggles when it comes to important and intimidating tests. A student could have a great teacher, but just might not pick up on the subject and not do well on a test; thus, the bad score should not completely reflect back on the teacher. Also, schools should not be so worried with federal funding, but should be worried about their students. Schools are here to educate, not make money.

Kastenbaum, Steve. "The High Stakes of Stadardized Tests". Web. CNN 15 May 2012

Life of Pi- the final chapters

Whoa.. We have a new story. This time we have people instead of animals.. This book definitely took a turn for the more exciting in this last section of the book. I personally think Pi initially tells the story with the animals because it is his way of coping; after all, he did grow up in a zoo and expressed and early fondness for animals in the beginning of the book. When the Japanese men come back to ask him what really happened, I was very surprised to read Pi's "new story". It was very graphic, but also seemed much more believable to me. Even though this is a fiction book, it is portrayed as non fiction book. I think that's why it's easier to believe Pi's second story over his first story. Because it feels like a non fiction book in parts, so logically the story with people is easier to believe over the animals. However, I'm still on the fence because as I said before, Pi grew up around animals so it may be true. I hate when books leave off with a mystery- a "you decide" ending. It's very frustrating, yet kind of fun because you get to pick. I was very skeptical going into this book because of the comments of previous students who have read "Life of Pi", but I actually did not mind this book.

Current event week 3

We've all seen the annoying "Click it or ticket" commercials on TV; and while the cheesy rhyme seems to be another cliched PSA, the Deparment of public safety is showing the number of car related fatalities dropping 30% this year in Mississippi. Still being considered a new and not very experienced driver, my parents still remind me to buckle my seatbelt before even turning the car on. My parents aren't just fearing a hefty fine from a ticket, but also for my life if I were to be in an accident. And if my parent's voices in my head when I get in a car aren't there nagging me, I hear the infamous line "click it or ticket!" So, while many consider these commercials to be tacky and not effective, statistics have shown the decrease in vehicular accident fatalities, and I myself show how the campaign helps the people of Mississippi remember to take the safety precaution, or pay the consequence. Barnes, David. "Seat belt enforcement paying off" Hattiesburg American. Web 13 May 2012

"Life of Pi" part 3

Week one of survival, and it seems Pi is doing pretty well. I couldn't help but picture the guy from the Discovery Channel building the mast and setting salt water out to evaporate the salt to have fresh water. Again, amazed at how Pi is managing to take the necessary measures to keep himself alive. The most notable was when he cried killing his first fish to eat because he had been a vegetarian all his life. I don't see how this kid has the guts to survive and tame Richard Parker. I found it quite humerous that Pi marked his territory like the tiger to show superiority to Richard Parker. It's also very inspiring to see Pi to continue his practice of his three faiths. I know faith would probably not be my top thought when stranded on a boat, but Pi manges to maintain all three.

Current Event #2

Govenor Phil Bryant signed a new bill today that will allow for schools to start on or after the third Monday of August. Not only is this bill and thrill for public school students, but it will also help extend summer tourism season. However, this new law will not take affect until the 2014-2015 school year.

YAY! Finally a longer summer break! Oh... Wait... Class of 2013... No extended break for the current junior class. While we wont get to reap the benefits of the new law, it is a necessary change for the next up and comming school years. Students will now get to enjoy a longer break, and wont have to attend schools during the majority of the hottest month of the year. The extended break is not only nice for the students, but also better for atheletics. With August holding the highest temperatures in South Mississippi, outdoor sports such as football, track, and soccer can be exceptionally difficult and even dangerous. School not starting the first week of August any more will push back the first school sport games of the season, which will decrease the risk of exhaustion. Mississippi's Gulf Coast will also benefit from a longer season of tourist coming to enjoy the beaches, seafood, and other sites to see. Tourism brings in a lot of money for the gulf coast, and this new bill will only help it bring in more.

Pham-Bui, Trig. "New Mississippi Law Pushes Back School Start Date". WDAM, 01 May 2012. Web 01 May 2012

"Life of Pi" part 2

I can understand Pi wanting Richard Parker to survive becuase of his love for animals... but I wouldn't want a full grown bengal tiger on my life boat.. Although if I had to pick between sitting on a boat with a tiger or floating in shark infested water, I would choose the boat! And I now know who Richard Parker is! Very odd name for a tiger.. but of course you can't forget the orangutan named Orange Juice. While this part of the book is much more entertaining with the sinking of the boat and various animals floating about, I could have lived without the images of animals killing each other.. I know it's the circle of life and all, but still. Through reading this section, I can't help but applaud Pi. I would have been like him in the beginning, and gladly accepted being put out of my misery of losing my family by a tiger. Instead this young boy finds the strength in him to survive, and to even tame Richard Parker. I was hesitant with the first section of this book, but now I am very interested to see how the strong bond forms between Pi and this beast his father previously warned him about.