The Outsiders cuts society into two warring factions. In fact, in America, many competing groups (each new wave of immigrants, for example) have squared off against each other wherever jobs and money were scarce. However, America is also a battle ground for competing values and beliefs. What are two groups in real life whose values or beliefs set them in opposition, and why does this particular conflict seem especially unnecessary, or why does it seem especially crucial in shaping America into a great and beautiful country?
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I think conflicts between two groups turn our country into a better place because after people fight, they learn not to. That way people learn not to fight and America will be a better place.
Two groups in America that fight competing values and beliefs are black people and white people. Some can get along with each other like Ponyboy and Cherry Valance. While some cannot get along at all like dally and bob. In the outsiders these groups are known as greasers and Socs. This conflict is unnecessary because as I said, some can get along. Also if some do not fight America could be shaped better if they just saw what they had in common like Ponyboy and Cherry both have problems with the way they see themselves
I wonder whether competing values and beliefs make for a more dynamic democracy, one that constantly grows and changes as the discussion of ideas continues. As for what Jeremy wrote, I wonder what the characteristics are in the people who can get along, in those black and white folk who make the conflict between different beliefs and values unnecessary. In fact, I wonder what Jeremy might list as the values of blacks as contrasted with those of whites
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Two groups of people whose differences cause them not to get along are children and adults. Most children want just to be free, but the adults want the children to stay inside. This conflict seems funny to me because adults were all once children too, so why should they try to keep the children from playing all day? This conflict, no matter how funny it seems, is crucial to the formation of a better America. Where would we be in 50 years if all the parents did for their children was cooking their meals? Discipline is necessary for the creation of new doctors, architects, electricians, teacher, and, most importantly, teachers.
Adding on to Jeremy's post, I would like to say that I agree with him. I think the conflict between blacks and whites, or in my case, darker-skinned people, is absolutely unneccesary. As he said, most can get along. Adding on to Mr. Wehlings post, the values of both darker-skinned people and whites differ a little bit. Darker-skinned people have different values because they know what it feels like to be shunned. Most whites don't really know what it's like, so they don't treat darker-skinned people differently.
Two groups of people in America that don't get along are Atheists and Christians. They both have different spiritual beliefs which conflict with their social interactions; it causes a big difference among them. This is somewhat similar to the problems among the Greasers and the Socs, though their problems aren't based on spiritual attributes; it's still a conflict that they don't think that they can overcome. These differences shouldn’t come between groups of people just because they have different things that they believe in. I know that some people are extremely opinionated and aren’t as open-minded as others, but they shouldn’t reject or shun others just because they don’t agree with the same things as them.
I promise to do better.
What do you mean you will do better? There are a lot of things in the outsiders to talk about that have to do with this prompt like what I said. There are a lot of things to talk about for example how the two groups are like real life.
A problem in America is the constant warring of gangs in large cites and urban areas. Many troubled teens are in gangs as they may have family problems or can’t find a place in the world. They try to seek comfort by finding others like them and in the same position. Many people may die in fights that may be over something senseless or rivalry. It seems pointless to waste lives over something like this. If there was no fighting there would be less violence in cites and other areas may become better places.
I think Aditya is right. Conflicts help our country. Once sombody makes a mistake they can learn from them. If people learn from their mistakes then they will make less mistakes.
I will do better.
I will do better.
Anyone ever seen The Freedom Writers? Because this is a very direct example of an answer to the prompt. In the movie (which is a true story by the way), there are many different ethnic groups (such as blacks and asians) divided into different gangs. These gangs are constantly fighting each other and are protecting themselves at the same time. The movie goes on to describe a group of kids from the different groups coming together with the help of a teacher and all becoming friends. This shows how useless this conflict is, because if everyone tries they can get along together.
I agree with Frank in saying that gangs are different groups that are having unnecessary wars in America. Different gangs, such as Bloods, Crips, Esses, and Vato’s all are having dangerous wars mostly on the west coast. These groups having different allegiances and commitments create these wars. The use of guns and other weapons to kill people who are essentially the same besides the colors they like to wear is stupid and is a large problem in many parts of America. It seems unnecessary because so many teens and young adults are losing lives that actually could amount to something. There have been some metings of former and current members of gangs to truce but these are only for small parts of each gang. Similar to the bond between Pony and Randy and Pony and Cherry. The conflict is mindless and if there were some way to eliminate it, it would create more unity and safety for America.
One relationship that often has problems is the one between a student and a teacher. This can be a tough relationship because if a boy or girl gets a bad grade on something then they seem to get mad at the teacher and can blame it on them. If a student has a bad relationship with teacher then class can be bad and they won’t get anything out of it. A student needs to have a strong relationship with a teacher otherwise they won’t try and they will just mess around, it is also true that often teacher judge too quickly, they are too quick to blame. If a teacher and student don’t have a strong relationship then neither will get anything out of the class.
I agree with Frank, but when I read his blog it seemed like he thinks that their problems are stupid. He said "It seems pointless to waste lives over something like this." Their problems are important. If that is causing gang fights and lots of deaths then it must be very important to someone with a problem that causes them to be in a gang. I think if there was no fighting, then the world would be boring. Sometimes fight or conflicts help us learn from our mistakes.
Two groups whose values and beliefs set them in oppositions are republicans and democrats. This shapes America totally because this is how everything is done here. We vote by the Republican/Democrat way. Each group expresses how we want this country to run. It could be considered an unnecessary idea, or it cause be considered extremely necessary. This separation has shaped America in many ways. Maybe for the good and maybe for the bad.
Sam, I don't think what prompts gang members to attack each other is neccissarily important. It may only be important to a certain group or person, or it may just be they need to vent something on someone. Here's a quick example from The Freedom Writers (that movie has been useful in my posts ^_^"). A boy in a store is playing a game, and this boy then loses the game. He immediately starts threatening the store owner to give him his money back, and he most likely would have hurt the store owner as well had he not been shot through the window in a drive by shooting. Actually, couning the boy getting shot (seemingly meaninglessly), that's two examples.
I will do better.
I think that Nealey is right. Republicans and Democrats are always arguing over small issues to win votes when election time comes down. Another big problem is the war. Many people do not agree that it is right to send soldiers into Iraq and other countries to fight and others strongly support the war so terrorism isn’t a threat anymore.
In the book the soc's and the greasers have a conflict over social status the greasers represent the poor part and the soc's represent the snobbish rich kid that have problems just like the greasers but don't get me wrong not all the soc's are bad. This is just like gangs today figting each other & killing each other just beacause they live a couple blocks in the wrong direction. This to me is a stupid reason to have conflict but this to me is their neiborhoods fault for allowing it to go on.
I agree with Nealey when she says that two major groups are the Democrats and Republicans. The only difference is that their fights are usually not physical they are usually just arguments. Both in the book and in real life there is competition and some hatred.
Two groups that I believe are worth mentioning are the Christian people and the Jewish people. These two groups have completely different opinions and thoughts religiously. I believe that having different religions, helps express people's feelings more, and also I think that it makes our country a better place to live in. I made this comment based on the different holidays celebrated by Jewish and Christian people. For example, Hanukah and Christmas are two major holidays for these two religions. These holidays are celebrated annually, and the reason why i believe that these holidays make the country a better place is because families come together and unite during these holidays, which makes our country and nice and compassionate place to live in altogether.
I disagree with Mr. Wehling that “America [has] a divided society.” I think that we have a united society where the people disagree on many terms and have beliefs and ideas that “clash” with each other. Even in gangs in big cities that fight bloodily with each other some of the people in the gangs go to the same school, eat the same food and water and may even have the same views on something like politics. Even two people who are mortal enemies might be both democratic, or have the same view on terrorism, or the same belief that George Bush is an idiot. We are all somehow united through some belief, idea, nationality or religion, whether friend or foe.
I think it is completely wrong to judge people by what there life is like, how much money they have, what they look like, and who there friends are. In The Outsiders the Socs and Greaser basically fight because one has more money and a better life, and also because the Socs have more expensive clothes. If you decided to start fighting with a group of people because they had less money or more money than you, you would be a jerk. I think both the Socs and the Greasers are jerks, because they are fight because they live totally different lives. The Greasers might have a good personality and same with the Socs, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are really hurting people and in Johnny’s case killing them.
Zander, I didn't mean they were the most important to me, but they aren't stupid or pointless. If their problems are causing gangs, and fights then they must be important. If we had a problem like a member of a gang, it would be important to you, your friends, and your family. If these gang members have friends and family, and their problems are important to them I have made my point. If people in gangs have problems then they are important.
Well I don’t think so Sam. Lots of gang fights come up from territory. Many people who are in the gang and even others who aren’t can be hurt in these fights. This is almost senseless killing over something that may be small. Other fights might come up over rivalry. An example is that the Bloods and Crips hate each other and they are rival gangs, both might kill each other on the spot. If you do have problems, for an example, in school or at home which cause you to join a gang you should ask someone for help, not try to release anger or solve those problems by violence.
The Outsiders relates to two real life groups. These groups are the Sunnis and the Shiites. They are religious groups over in the middle-east that are always fighting. They fight for land, over religious acts, and any other thing that comes in between them. They are always in the world news because they are constantly battling and killing many, including some U.S. soldiers. The fights that break out among the Sunnis and the Shiites are just bigger versions of the rumbles in the book, but they have a bigger reason and people are killed. (This blog is a little late becuase my first set of blogs never came through for some odd reason)
The Outsiders also relates to all gangs today. In New York, Chicago, and lots of downtown cities, there are gang wars all the time. These gang wars are like the rumbles in the book, but are blown way out of proportion. These fights are so serious that people are killed, firepower is used, and the police often get involved. These fights are between gangs, not societies. The Socs and the greasers are small societies that fight, but the gangs are clubs that fight to prove their stature. The Outsiders has many relations to real life.
I agree with all of the above blogs. Meg’s blogs about the Jews and Christians made a lot of sense, as this book is older and fights between societies were more popular then, but today there is peace between societies in America, but not other countries. I agree with Mr. Wehling’s blog saying that America has a divided society. America is divided in gangs, in beliefs, and in some cases in race. I do not agree with Nick’s blog at all, because I agree with Mr. Wehling’s. All of the other blogs make sense and are true also, but these were the ones that stood out to me the most.
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