Tuesday, September 6, 2011

"The Other Wes Moore'

Your summer reading assignment explored he lives of two young men. Talk about the role of family—and especially the presence or absence of fathers—in in your life and compare that to the book. Please respond by noon, Monday, Oct. 3.

9 comments:

  1. The role of family in my household is a priority and a blessing. I have lived with my legal guardians, which are my grandparents, for most of my life. Although the generation gap poses many disagreements, at the end of the day we all have each other's backs. Due to school and work, I am hardly ever home but when I am I always find time to chat and catch up. Not only that, I try to help out too. I do laundry, dishes, and cut the grass which is about six acres.

    Like the book, I have had the absence of a father. Unlike the book, I have also had the absense of a mother. In "The Other Wes Moore," one of the Wes' took the destructive route, whereas the other Wes was full of successful stories. I am going to end up like the successful Wes and steer clear of any trouble. But I won't be fighting for the U.S. and I certainly won't be a business leader. However, I have dreams and aspirations of my own which I plan to work towards during my time at Madonna University.

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  2. Unlike Wes, my family as been blessed to stay together for the past 20 years. I cannot relate to the abscence of a parent, I don't think I'm strong enough as a person to survive without them. Anyone who is currently doing so is stronger than I'll ever be. I have had my parents there to guide me the the best and worst of times. Always willing to listen and always (unfortunately) willing to complain. However, with their support I will be able to push toward me goals in the future.

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  3. Every family making up this society comes from a different background, whether the difference is the culture, moral value, or the role of each member. I come from a household with five older siblings; therefore, I am aware of the annoyances, disruptions and fights that steadily surface throughout growing up. However, without my brothers and sisters, I wouldn’t be able to comprehend the bond between siblings. Having brothers and sisters have greatly impacted the person I am today.

    In the novel, The Other Wes Moore, the author describes his adolescence as a period of time being caught up between two worlds, of which was his life at home, verses the life he was being exposed to on the streets. His life at home was comfortable and safe, but as he experienced the lifestyle on the other side of the spectrum, he found himself in trouble. Parallel to this, one of my siblings began to fall to the same fate. Without the presence of a parental figure in that time of his life as Wes’s mother did for him, he may have been slave to a fate more in line with the other Wes Moore. Many individuals of our society lack the presence of a parent. For those with an insufficiency to understand what it is like to have a father, I leak sympathy. I’ve been through a whole circus of predicaments, as have many families; however, I never once experienced lack of attendance from my father unlike Wes Moore. I’ve never known the power of unconditional love until I realized how little I dealt with my parents divorce personally, concerning myself with how my Dad was dealing. It was living through the divorce that I learned the true commitment of being a single parental figure. Although the divorce of my parents resides in the back of my mind as a blur, I will always distinctively remember that my Father never compromised anything over his children. The role my father has played in my life has led me to appreciate how much is done for me as I grow, along with the ability to distinguish what is right, worth standing up for, and what is important to let go of.

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  4. The role of family in one's life plays a major part in the shaping of one's beliefs and character.Through my family's expectations and their support, I have become who I am today. Their influence, teaching, and lifestyle have not only set a standard, but have given me an example of what I should strive to be. My father's influence and encouragement has played a special role in both my choices and in the development of my character. Fortunatley, my father, unlike those in the book, has always been around to support and encourage me. Through his example I have learned much about myself, about him, and about life. One specific thing he has taught me is that hard and diligent work will take you further in life than brains or money ever will.

    "The Other Wes Moore" tells the story of two young boys and their struggles in life. Although both boys appear to have many similarities, they actually live in two different family environments. The successful Wes has a caring and supportive mother and relatives, while the other Wes has a mother and family who really don't support or incourage him. Shipping the successful Wes off to military school, meant that he had to reach new expectations and also gave him some father figures to look up to. On the other hand, the trouble making Wes had only a push over mother, a drunk and absent father, and a drug dealing brother to look for to support and for an example on how to live. It does not suprise me that their lives turned out so different due to the difference in their family support.

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  5. At orientation, it was stated that most of us could relate to either Wes Moore. I can fathom what it is like to have no father. My father passed away when I was very young so I know where the author Wes comes from. After a few years, my mom and I had to move out of Redford because of the area and like in chapter 2, Wes and his mom struggle on making the decisions to move. I have experienced what the journey is like to have no one but yourself. The winding road only stands as your mother to make all the decisions that will make or break you. Apparently for the other Wes, it broke him.

    In a way it has brought me much closer to my mom because when you look at life through people's eyes like myself and author Wes, the lens is quite different to others.

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  6. With reading this story and learning about these two different people I can relate too becasue I didnt have a father for most of my childhood or even a father figure. My parents were divorced when I was at a very young age to where I dont remember anything from that part in my life. But luckily once I reached sixth grade i've gained some sort of a father figure in my life when my mother married. So I was blessed when I have someone to be as a role model in my life someone to step up and help me into becomming the person I am today instead of being unfortunate and having to grow up with a rough childhood and having to help support my family more than I am doing now.

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  7. Wes and I,in the sense of having no father, do not relate. My father was always there for me and still is. Having a good family structure is very important to me in the future as well. I am not sure where I would be without my father being in my life. He has shown me many things in life that are important. My father is my idol and without him, I would lose my best friend. Wes definitely did have a tough time without his father and it just shows how you need both a mother and a father to have structure in your family. People do get by without a father, but it is a struggle, which is why I am so fortunate to still have mine in my life.

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  8. Both Wes Moores were unable to grow up with their father, though the author did have his father for a few years. In contrast I've always had my father, so there is a great difference there. Neither of the Wes Moores had much discipline, and I think it may be due to the fact that they didn't have their fathers. Most people I know view mom as the nice one, and dad as the sort of punisher; but that doesn't mean either are liked more. My father is one of my best friends, and I'm not sure I'd be the same person without him. When a family has the absence of a father I think it becomes less structured and discipline. The father is normally the leader in the household, the one the family leans on. Each family member contributes to the idea of being a family, and when losing a family member you lose some of that structure too. I'm so glad I still have both my parents, because I know I would have done some major things wrong without either one; especially my dad.

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  9. The role of a father in my life has been crucial. Even though he is constantly traveling and is rarely home, I cannot picture my life without him. My dad has always been the discipliner while my mom was the one to 'discuss your problems' with. The absence of a father has to have played a significant role the Wes' lives. Not necessarily the lack of a father but being raised by a single mother. Their mothers were always working or away from the house leaving little room for discipline or guidance. While the Wes' may have had a better life with their fathers present, I do not believe that a lack of a father should be the blame for their behavior and poor choices.

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