living through war

Through out reading this book i question why didn't they just take their family and move away from all there problems in the beginning? I have all questions without answers, things i wish i could witness to have a better understanding of. The biggest thing that stays on my mind is how do you live through a war? Many people have lived through a war, but how do you go on with life with a on going war on your soil. Marji had to fear if her home could be destroyed everyday she woke up. Having to go to sleep not knowing what you could possibly wake back up to. There were times where Marji would be out in streets and hear that they were about to be bombed and have to run to basement of hotel. Not being sure of your safety would be the worst thing anyone could ever have to face day to day.  If there was a on going war in the united states i would not be able to sleep at night. I would no longer go to school because would consider things dysfunctional so why try and go on as if things are normal. Marji repeated a quote throughout the book "To die a Martyr is to inject blood into the veins of society". on page 146. I do not have a clear understanding of what this phrase means and why was it a so important. How do you think you would feel having to live through a war fearing your life over and over?

Middle

In the middle of the Complete Persepolis the book took a slight turn in my opinion. I was all in understanding of her running around  clueless of what was going on out in the world. Now things has changed for the worst. I cannot imagine going through the things Marji and her family has went through. They are being forced to wear a veil to school, not having a choice but being forced. Hiding the identity of who you really may be. Turning the way you dress into who you will be judged as a person. I can connect to that to todays society because many people are still judged today. For example today you can be judged and looked down on it dress too short, if not covered up enough in the eyes of others. The way you dress has been a way to Judge a book by its cover before you really know who a person really is. The different types of name calling you can be called based off of how you dress is a slut, hordes, hoodlum, gangster.  All things that does not sit well with me because i find it distasteful to judge someone. In the Complete Persepolis Marji mom was insulted by "fundamentalist Bastards". An example in the book is " Women like you should be pushed up against a wall and fucked and then thrown in garbage, and if didn't want that should wear veil." I found this horrible that a women could not come out in her own skin without being insulted, told to hide her identity.The book relates to today because it shows stereotypes that people still go through today. That if you have a veil on you are a fundamentalist, and if not your slut or whore. Pages 74 and 75 shows how women were arrested for not having veil on. No one should be dehumanized for what they are wearing because that is not who they are but only what they have on. How do you think we can change the stereotypes on men and women today?

Beginning connection to Marji

In the  beginning of The Complete Persepolis Ci was able to make a major life connection to Marji. She was the youngest in her home, being left out on the truths behind what goes on. Not able to understand why grown people do what they do or act the way they act. Not able to understand why certain family members has been gone for as long as they have been gone. I can relate to feeling left out because in my home I'm used to my parents doing things that i do not understand. As Marji was feeling left out when her parents would go to the demonstrations without her. Also i can relate to not knowing much so having to put everything you hear in everyday world together and figure out what you truly believe on your own. "I realized then that i didn't know anything. I read all the books i could." Having to find her own way to figure everything and understand everything that her parents have yet to explained to her. When you know there is a revolution going on ,but to young too understand why. Own begin to be faced with the opinions of different family members, and the teachers in school teaching you one thing, but parents telling you another. How do you separate whats true and whats not?

How do you determine what to believe? Also when you are young you are very gullible, quick to go off of the first thing you hear and be the first thing you see. Marji early on found herself wanting to be a prophet because that is what was looked up upon  I see people everyday wanting to be what someone is not able to paint a picture for them selves who they want to be. I feel you should not always follow but paint your own picture and find your own way. Mari seems like she began to have an idea of this when she says in chapter 19 "I will always be true to myself." How do you not let everyones opinions cloud your own judgement or is it even possible?