The Rabbit Proof Fence - Blog Post #2

Recently many Australians have joined in the call for the Australian government to officially say sorry to indigenous Australians, that is, formally express both sorrow and regret, for the past treatment of Aboriginal people.


Dear Australian Government,

As an Australian myself, I believe what you did was very cruel to the Aboriginals. Some of the things you have called them, and said about them is very out of line, and it shows how judgemental people in this world are. You shouldn't call them animals and think that what you are doing to them will help them, because I think they were perfectly happy the way they were before you interuppted their daily lifestyle. The reason they didn't understand that what you are doing for them is good, is because it actually never benefitted the colonization process. You took away their children for the better, when in fact, it made things worse. If you saw how some of the mothers and grandmothers reacted, they were in grief for days, weeks, possibly even months. I think that you should apologize to the ones that were affected the most, in person, and I think that you should now respect the Aboriginal people, that still are in existance with much respect. You should do this because, they are the original Australians, and have every right to their land and you should make sure that you preserve this culture because it is very important to Australia itself. I respect that you tried to 'help' them, but I think that you should have done something more peaceful.

Sincerely,
Riana :)

The Rabbit Proof Fence

Describe the character of Molly and discuss whether you think she is a hero or not. Give reasons to support your opinion....


In my opinion, Molly is definetely a heroine. Her characteristics are also very heroic, she puts her sister before herself, and she tries to protect her sister and cousin. I also think she is very brave, and smart, brave being how she is taken away from her mother and has to stick up for her sister. Smart being, how she knew when to run away from the 'camp' when the sand storm came. I would never think of doing that if I were in that position. As a heroine she 'saves' people, her sister and cousin, from the camp. Therefore, I think that Molly is definetely a heroine in the movie "The Rabbit Proof Fence."

I also think, that Molly, her sister, and cousin will make it home safely.

Colonization - Ethnocentricity

How did the ethnocentricity of the British and the First Australians cause conflict between the two groups?

The ethnocentricity of the British made the first impact on the relationship between the colonists and the First Australians, which later created huge conflict. Even when the British first came, they didn't accept the way the Aboriginals were acting, and how they dressed, the British, were very disturbed from how 'uncivilized' they were. While, vice-versa, the Aboriginals were accepting of the British, it is said that they learned how to co-exist with the land and its people. So they let the British live in their land, even though they weren't happy. The British, tried in many ways to change the Aboriginals to what they believed was the 'right' way to live, and the 'right' way to act. For example, they 'kidnapped' Bennelong, and taught him the British way of living. Yet, even though they took him to England, and they gave him clothing, and taught him their language. Unfortunately, when he returned home to Sydney Town, he went back to his old habits. He went back to his normal ways of acting, and his old manners. The British, in his obituary called him a savage numerous times, they said that because he was an Aboriginal, they couldn't change them, because they really only think of him and others as animals. The ethnocentricity of the First Australians, didn't make a huge impact on the conflict between the two races, but it did before war broke out. The British made a huge impact on Australia, and the relationship the First Australians and the British had, but in the end, they all lived harmoniously, in peace, with little conflict.

Act 4. Scene III

Act 4. Scene III - Duet Acting

Riana (Brutus) Jiwoo (Cassius)
Lines 50-117

CASSIUS
Is it come to this?

BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.

CASSIUS
You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say 'better'?

BRUTUS
If you did, I care not.

CASSIUS
When Caesar lived, he durst not thus have moved me.

BRUTUS
Peace, peace! you durst not so have tempted him.

CASSIUS
I durst not!

BRUTUS
No.

CASSIUS
What, durst not tempt him!

BRUTUS
For your life you durst not!

CASSIUS
Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for.

BRUTUS
You have done that you should be sorry for.
There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats,
For I am arm'd so strong in honesty
That they pass by me as the idle wind,
Which I respect not. I did send to you
For certain sums of gold, which you denied me:
For I can raise no money by vile means:
By heaven, I had rather coin my heart,
And drop my blood for drachmas, than to wring
From the hard hands of peasants their vile trash
By any indirection: I did send
To you for gold to pay my legions,
Which you denied me: was that done like Cassius?
Should I have answer'd Caius Cassius so?
When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous,
To lock such rascal counters from his friends,
Be ready, gods, with all your thunderbolts;
Dash him to pieces!

CASSIUS
I denied you not.

BRUTUS
You did.

CASSIUS
I did not: he was but a fool that brought
My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.

BRUTUS
I do not, till you practise them on me.

CASSIUS
You love me not.

BRUTUS
I do not like your faults.

CASSIUS
A friendly eye could never see such faults.

BRUTUS
A flatterer's would not, though they do appear
As huge as high Olympus.

CASSIUS
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius,
For Cassius is aweary of the world;
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother;
Cheque'd like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a note-book, learn'd, and conn'd by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes! There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth;
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better
Than ever thou lovedst Cassius.

BRUTUS
Sheathe your dagger:
Be angry when you will, it shall have scope;
Do what you will, dishonour shall be humour.
O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb
That carries anger as the flint bears fire;
Who, much enforced, shows a hasty spark,
And straight is cold again.

CASSIUS
Hath Cassius lived
To be but mirth and laughter to his Brutus,
When grief, and blood ill-temper'd, vexeth him?

BRUTUS
When I spoke that, I was ill-temper'd too.

CASSIUS
Do you confess so much? Give me your hand.

BRUTUS
And my heart too.

------------------------------------------------------

CONTEXT:

Brutus and Cassius are out camping near Sardis, they are in Brutus's tent, alone. They are fighting because Brutus is asking for money, but he never got word and is blaming Cassius. Cassius then denies everything and they get into an argument, Cassius later tells Brutus to kill him but he refuses.

SIGNIFICANCE:

The reason we picked this passage it is a clear characterization of Brutus, when he says that he is full of honor. It also characterizes Cassius. It also builds tension between the two main characters and it displays how everyone is going against each other after Caesar's fall.

Profile L

After doing some test to check what learning profile we are individually I got profile L.

As an individual when I must concentrate and work efficiently, I must be in a peaceful and quiet environment. Where there is no disturbances or annoying sounds. I also learn best through movement, such as 'hands on' activities, or even class outside for a change! When I am able to connect things to myself, focus on the whole picture, context and emotional relevance to myself, I also learn better!

I need to sit where I can process internally, quietly and move without disturbing others. I need to work in a class where we are able to interact and move, instead of sitting down the whole class. I need to move while processing internally with minimal external sensory stimulus. I also need quiet time alone, especially when integrating new ideas and under stress.

Some Brain Gym exercises such as Lazy 8's will help me when I am under stress. Such things calm me down and they are good to do when trying to concentrate. Drawing and writing with the non-dominant hand help me as well.

Some things that people don't understand about me are that I prefer not to follow step-by-step instructions. I also tend to start by imagining the end results, and then intuitively doing what seems right. I may have difficulties communicating, seeing, listening and remembering when I am under stress. As a learner, I will see the whole picture but I won't know where to start to chunk it down into the linear pieces of language to express it. I am under great disadvantage under stress and therefore I will shut down.

Brunelleschi had courage

I believe that Brunelleschi had a lot of courage to create the Florentine Dome...

He had the courage of looking like an idiot in front of his whole nation, but it was a positive outcome. Brunelleschi was a genius that only few recognized, most people thought he was nuts. Except the few like Cosimo De Medici, to be have the courage to stand out from one in a million was huge.

Brunelleschi himself was "apparently" worried the whole building would topple over and fall (the dome part of course.) He did have faith in himself, which brought out his courage. His courage to create a masterpiece. The whole idea was for an egg to free stand on marble, this was the basic idea of the architecture in the dome.

Brunelleschi's actions in the steps to creating the dome, really effected the outcome. For one, he didn't use any scaffolding to create the dome. It was built brick by brick, in a way that if one fell every other brick would fall too. If a person was to jump on the bricks and make commotion the whole building would of fallen and destroyed. His decisions, were to be thorough if the outcome was to be positive. Cosimo believed Brunelleschi was one of the few that could succeed, and if he did, Florence would be seen in the world as a remarkable place.

Of course he did succeed and Florence was forever was remembered for the Dome.

:)

Where Do New Ideas Come From?

New ideas come from a million different places. For me, imagination would be the place where all my ideas are "born". Imagination is where you can think of anything in the world, where it doesn't matter what other people think because they will never know, unless you tell them ofcourse.
But to other people I know, their ideas come from random situations and places. Sometimes, when you are outside playing you come up with the perfect lyrics, or the perfect idea for a party. I think when you are at your happiest, all the good ideas come to you. Most things, dont even come planned. Have you ever heard the story about the kid that left his orange juice outside overnight, and when he came outside in the morning. He had flavoured ice, thus creating the popsicle. Most of the very important things that we are thankful for being invented weren't planned. Ideas come from other people too, maybe some of Da Vinci's paintings weren't all his ideas. Maybe some of his sculptures where his friends ideas. A lot of my ideas come from other people too. Ideas come out of random, but we should be thankful we have people who invent things for us, without them there wouldn't be computers. :)