In the beginning chapters of the novel, Refugee, Alan Gratz introduces his characters, Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, as well as their current situations in their homelands at specific time periods. Gratz specifically writes about Mahmoud blending in as a cloak of invisibility to help him survive his situation. He writes about Josef and those who wear the yellow Star of David armbands as being invisible and how the Cubans were unseen, forgotten and starving. How could it be positive and how could it be negative to be invisible in these situations?
Throughout the novel, Gratz writes about interactions between the Hitler Youth and Josef, Mr. Nasser and the Bishara family, and the Fernandez family, the Castillo family, and the tourists at the Bahamas. Why did Gratz include these interactions?
Dear Mrs. Quick,
ReplyDeleteThank you for working with us. Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to your responses.
Blog #1
Invisibility could be positive because it could keep one safe. But, invisibility could also be negative because if something horrific would happen to a person, he/she may go unnoticed, and no one would know that he/she needed help. Basically, it depends on the situation.
To begin, in the novel, Refugee, Alan Gratz explicitly stated on page twelve, “Being invisible was how he survived.” Similarly, Gratz explicitly stated on page seventeen, “Mahmoud stayed in the classroom all day, never answered another question in class, not even when the teacher called on him directly. If the bullies didn’t notice you, they didn’t hit you.” All of this textual evidence backs up our positive claim by explaining how being invisible in Mahmoud’s situation was how he survived. Survival is important, especially in Mahmoud’s situation, because one can live another day and know what it is like to be alive. Common sense tells us that every life is valuable. There are times when being invisible is a necessity.
Not only can it be positive to be invisible, but it can also be negative. On page eighteen, Alan Gratz explicitly stated that in Josef’s situation, “No porters rushed to help them with their bags. No station agents stopped to ask if they needed help finding their train.” Also stated on page eighteen,”The people chose not to see them.” This evidence backs up our negative claim by proving that being invisible, in Josef’s situation, when assistance is needed could cause unnecessary confusion and possibly harm. One can infer that by being ignored by the porters and station agents, Josef and his family would not have assistance if help was needed. Logic tells us that everyone needs help from time to time. If people are made to feel invisible, it is as if they are being told that there will be no help for them in situations of need.
In the end, the question of positive invisibility and negative invisibility is truly a difficult one. In life we are taught to not make people feel invisible. So, in reading and talking about invisibility being a positive and a negative, it made us think that different situations call for being invisible. There are pros and cons of choosing or not choosing to be invisible depending on the circumstance.
What is your opinion in invisibility? Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to your response.
Thank you very much for your response to the question of invisibility. It sounds like you have all read well in choosing the text to prove your points. I agree that there are positives and negatives to invisibility depending on the situation. I also agree that in Mahmoud's situation invisibility was a way for him to survive as you stated and that if he were to be seen or interrupt something like the fight that we read about earlier then he may be severely beaten or killed. For him, it was a matter of life and death. The opposite side to that is the fact that invisibility makes it easier for people to ignore you even when, as you stated, you need help. I think there are many times today when people in our society are invisible. Many homeless individuals in big cities seem invisible as people go about their day and they could definitely use help especially in the winter months. Children can feel invisible in their own homes if their parents are struggling. The invisibility could also protect them if they are in an abusive situation. Do you think invisibility applies to middle schoolers? Have you ever felt a time when you would like to be invisible? Mahmoud, as you stated, did in the classroom. There are some days when, I think, we all might feel like we would want to be invisible. Maybe when we are not feeling well or if we are having a bad day at home or school. Sometimes, though, it is important for others to not feel invisible when the invisibility makes us feel alone when we need help. You stated above, "In life we are taught to not make people feel invisible." Have you ever been in a situation when you could tell someone was invisible? If so, I would be interested to hear how it turned out. I am looking forward to your response and doing this blog with you! Roselene Quick
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ReplyDeleteResponse for Blog #1
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Quick,
Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I thank you for your response.
Here are the answers to our questions:
1. Mackenzie, Xander, Kylee, and I do think that invisibility applies to middle schoolers, because sometimes students feel they do not want to stand out because of the way they think, they way they look, or how they are being treated by other people.
2. After discussing this question, “Have you ever felt a time when you would like to be invisible?” our group agreed that we have not had a day when we want to be invisible, but there are days where we just don’t want to talk to other people.
3, After talking about the topic of invisibility, Mackenzie, Xander, Kylee, and I realize that there are students who try to be invisible, and most of us try to help. When we see a student sitting by himself/herself at lunch, we try to sit with him/her or play a game with him/her at recess. We want all students to feel welcome.
Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to blog 2.
Dear Mrs. Quick,
ReplyDeleteBlog 2
Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to your responses for blog two.
Alan Gratz included these interactions because he wanted to show that there were people who wanted help and gave hope to the families. In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz, he explicitly stated on pages thirty-four through thirty-five, “He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was listening, ‘What were you thinking?’ The boy whispered. Josef couldn’t speak. The boy thrust the armband at Josef’s chest. ‘Put that on. And don’t ever do that again,’ the Hitler Youth told Josef. ‘Do you understand?’ ‘I-Yes,’ Josef stammered. ‘Thank you. Thankyouthankyouthankyou’”. Also, Gratz explicitly stated on page 127, “Mahmoud had learned not to get excited about these texts, but even so, he still felt a little flutter of hope in his chest. ‘You take a boat to Greece? Tonight?’ Mr. Nasseer asked. ‘I will take you to it,’ Mr. Nasseer said, ‘and if it is not there, you can come back and stay with me.’” Even further, Gratz stated on page 177, “Before they could get the engine restarted, one of the tourists tossed down a bottle of water to Señora Castillo. Soon the rest of the tourists were hurrying back and forth to the café, buying bottles of water and bags of chips and tossing them into everyone’s hands on the boat. ‘Aspirin? Does anyone have aspirin? For my mother?’ Isabel begged. Up on the dock, an old white woman understood. She quickly dug around in her big purse and tossed a plastic bottle full of pills to Isabel. ‘Thank you! Thank you!’ Isabel cried. These pieces of textual evidence back up our claim by explaining how these people were willing to help when Isabel, Mahmoud, and Josef were in need. It is easy to see that these are kind and selfless individuals.
So, in reading and talking about these interactions, many believe that the Hitler Youth, Mr. Nasseer, and the tourists at the Bahamas felt empathy for Isabel, Mahmoud, and Josef.
Why do you think these interactions were in the novel? Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to your response.
Thanks so much for your blog 2! I have really been enjoying the book. Your citations to explain the interactions between the main characters and others is excellent. I also believe that the author included these interactions to show that some people had empathy for Isabel, Mahmoud, and Josef. Since the Holocaust there have been many stories about those that were willing to help. Even some Germans were willing to help the Jews. Some died helping them and others were able, like the Hitler Youth, to do it without getting caught. I can't even imagine being in the shoes of those that lived during that time. Good German citizens could be frightened into doing things they didn't feel were right but what choice did they have? They either had to go along with what was happening or die themselves. It is very hard to stand up for what you believe in when no one else is, now and back then. Isabel, her family, and the Castillos stood up for what they believed in even when others didn't. They almost got killed in the process but they stood up and wouldn't be invisible. The tourists in the Bahamas did what they could at the moment by giving water, chips, aspirin, etc. That gave them hope that they could survive this trip and people in other places really do care. If they could only get to the United States they could have a different life with others who cared. Research in psychology says that people are more willing to help others and feel empathy if they have been in a similar situation and have been helped. Mr. Nasser is a great example of this. He could empathize with Mahmoud and his family because he was a Palestinian refugee and had survived. Seeing Mr. Nasser also may have given Mahmoud and his family hope. Hope is extremely important for those that have lost so much. Hope for a better future. Hope for help when his family had seen so many prey on those that are refugees. Hope that there are good people out there. Do you know people in your own community that provide hope to others? Those that empathize with others and give of their time, talent, and treasure? I look forward to your answers. Mrs Quick
DeleteResponse for Blog #2
ReplyDeleteXander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I thank you for your response.
Here is the answer to your question:
Mackenzie, Kylee, Xander, and I believe that there are people in our community who provide hope to others. For example, there are teachers who provide hope that you can be or do whatever you want to in the future and coaches who will provide their time and effort for us by teaching us how to play a sport.
Blog 3
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Quick,
Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to your responses for blog three.
In the novel, Refugee, by Alan Gratz Mahmoud realizes, “They only see us when we do something they don’t want us to do.” Alan Gratz is trying to point out that some people stereotype and discriminate. Some people also do not understand what others have been through. Some make judgements without understanding others’ plights, and this is wrong. On page 214, Gratz explicitly stated, “They were supposed to be on holiday, seeing ancient ruins and beautiful Greek beaches, not stepping over filthy, praying refugees.” This textual evidence backs up our claim by proving that the tourist looked at Mahmoud in a disgusted way because they may not believe in the same religious beliefs as Mahmoud and were not in the same social class as Mahmoud. It is clear to us that sometimes people are uneducated and are not accepting of people who are not like them. They have also not ever been in the same situation as Mahmoud’s family so they would never understand until they walked a mile in their shoes. These people are stereotyping because they are looking at people who are dirty and disheveled and have very little money so they automatically assume that they are in a lower class and feel no sympathy for them. Gratz is pointing this out to his readers in order to look at ourselves in the mirror and start accepting people for who they are and not what they wear or what their religion is.
My apologies for being late! I think Gratz makes a good point and so do you that people can be easily ignored unless they do something that makes others see them. Mahmoud knelt down to pray and that drew attention to himself. As you stated many of the tourist didn't come to see that. They want to be in their own reality not the real one. Do you think so many people look away and are uncomfortable with differences because they don't understand and that makes them scared? Scared people can do irrational things. The German people were scared. The countries/citizens were scared of the refugees hence the fences and guns keeping them contained. There are a lot of incidents in the United States right now of no empathy and people being scared of differences. Do you see it in the news? Have a good week and I look forward to your answers! Roselene Quick
DeleteResponse for Blog #3
ReplyDeleteHere are our answers to your questions:
1. Yes, we do think that so many people look away and are uncomfortable with differences because they don’t understand and that makes them scared. Sometimes people are uncomfortable because of lack of education or they already had a preconceived notion about the person/group.
2. We are assuming that there are a lot of incidents in the United States right now of no empathy and people being scared of differences. And, honestly, we really do not watch the news to see this. We did discuss empathy in regards to our school and our lives. We try to welcome new students because that is what we would want to happen if we were in their shoes. This novel has led to discussions about what is happening in Greece with refugees along with being kind within our own country too.
Blog #4
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Quick,
Xander, Kylee, Mackenzie, and I look forward to your responses for blog four.
In the novel, Refugee, on page 277 Alan Gratz wrote, “ I see it now, Chabela. All of it. The past, the present, the future. All my life, I kept waiting for things to get better. For the bright promise of mañana. But a funny thing happened while I was waiting for the world to change, Chabela: It didn’t. Because I didn’t change it. I’m not going to make the same mistake twice. Take care of your mother and baby brother for me.” Lito was inferring that he wanted to right the wrong, by jumping into the ocean and saving his family after he had sent the passenger of the St. Louis back to Europe when he was a Cuban police officer. In the novel, Refugee, Gratz explicitly states on page 277, “He kissed Isabel on the cheek, surprising her, and then stood and jumped into the ocean.” Gratz also stated on page 278, “Couldn't do anything but watch the Coast Guard ship veered away from their little boat and steered toward her grandfather. Went to save him and send him to Guantanamo, back to Cuba.” This textual evidence backs up our claim by showing how Lito did the right thing, saving the lives of his family by making himself visible to the Coast Guard and helping his family stay invisible. We can infer that Lito wants Isabel and her family to become the change and not wait for the change to happen, to stand up for themselves and others. In the end, Gratz is trying to say that two wrongs do not make a right. If you really want change, then you have to make it happen and not just wait until your “hindsight is 20/20”.
Thanks for your blog four response. I think that you are spot on when you cite your evidence from Mr. Gratz book. I agree as you stated “Gratz is trying to say two wrongs do not make a right. If you really want change, then you have to make it happen...” One of my favorite quotes is by Gandhi, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I think Lito sees his sacrifice to go back to Cuba and veer the Coast Guard away from the little boat as the change maker for his family. He has probably seen so many things that were beyond his control that seizing this moment that was in his control is the only way he can think of to make this change for them. You quote “hindsight is 20/20.” I think Lito is telling his family not to wait until you have regrets. Seize the day when you can because that opportunity may never come again. Can you think of a time when you may have to be the change the world needs or even be the change your school/family needs?
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