CCBC-Net Archives
Cormier and the last say
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: rukhsanakhan <irrualli>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 22:52:07 -0700
Dear Karen,
Ironically, after I sent my last post I immediately regretted it. I thought I'd made my point and should have left well enough alone. Even if it meant letting others have the last say.
I think that's the point with Jerry as well. When he objected to selling the chocolates there came a point where he had, um, made his point. If he had stoppped there then he would have come out the winner.
I saw the Chocolate War as a power struggle. There was nothing intrinsically wrong with Leon asking the kids to sell chocolates. But when Jerry defied him, it became a power struggle. In the end, Jerry was left to fight the battle alone, and was defeated. He not only lost face but he lost considerably more. My whole point was that under the circumstances, it wasn't worth it.
Sometimes we all have to do things we don't agree with, we have to tolerate the know-it-all bore or stay quiet when someone's making a fool of themself. (I sincerely hope I'm not falling into this category. *g*)
Interesting that you bring up Oscar Shindler. I don't think the movie was true to life. From what I've read he wasn't so interested in saving Jews as he was interested in making money. He used those Jews in his factories. Yes he saved their lives but who really knows what his intentions were?
I believe absolutely in being true to your basic beliefs at crucial moments. Even in high school, but not over a chocolate sale. If someone was making me sell things that were against my beliefs--then yes, I'd take a stand. And I'd agree that Jerry should have. But there really are so many more worthy causes, and making an issue over chocolate seems to diminish the times when heroes really do need to take a stand.
What would have been wrong with Jerry walking away? Everyone would have known what a brute Leon was, perhaps even Leon himself. It would have shamed him even more. And yet the ending was true to both their characters. Neither one would have backed down.
But I think it's time for me to back down. Nuff said.
Rukhsana
Received on Wed 29 Aug 2001 12:52:07 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 22:52:07 -0700
Dear Karen,
Ironically, after I sent my last post I immediately regretted it. I thought I'd made my point and should have left well enough alone. Even if it meant letting others have the last say.
I think that's the point with Jerry as well. When he objected to selling the chocolates there came a point where he had, um, made his point. If he had stoppped there then he would have come out the winner.
I saw the Chocolate War as a power struggle. There was nothing intrinsically wrong with Leon asking the kids to sell chocolates. But when Jerry defied him, it became a power struggle. In the end, Jerry was left to fight the battle alone, and was defeated. He not only lost face but he lost considerably more. My whole point was that under the circumstances, it wasn't worth it.
Sometimes we all have to do things we don't agree with, we have to tolerate the know-it-all bore or stay quiet when someone's making a fool of themself. (I sincerely hope I'm not falling into this category. *g*)
Interesting that you bring up Oscar Shindler. I don't think the movie was true to life. From what I've read he wasn't so interested in saving Jews as he was interested in making money. He used those Jews in his factories. Yes he saved their lives but who really knows what his intentions were?
I believe absolutely in being true to your basic beliefs at crucial moments. Even in high school, but not over a chocolate sale. If someone was making me sell things that were against my beliefs--then yes, I'd take a stand. And I'd agree that Jerry should have. But there really are so many more worthy causes, and making an issue over chocolate seems to diminish the times when heroes really do need to take a stand.
What would have been wrong with Jerry walking away? Everyone would have known what a brute Leon was, perhaps even Leon himself. It would have shamed him even more. And yet the ending was true to both their characters. Neither one would have backed down.
But I think it's time for me to back down. Nuff said.
Rukhsana
Received on Wed 29 Aug 2001 12:52:07 AM CDT
