To All My Writing Portfolio Readers:
It is my great honor to present you with my writing portfolio, in which you will find six items of my selected papers done in the Academic Writing Class this semester in Fudan University, Shanghai, China. As a sophomore here, I have tried my best to adapt to my first experience in this American style class, which requires more interactions and independent thinking compared with traditional Chinese classes. Because of cultural differences, my strengths in Chinese writing seem difficult to meet the needs of English ones. Therefore, my weaknesses in vocabulary and in proper use of the language become my biggest obstacles in English writing. Besides, English academic writing requires profound analysis and careful consideration, which is a great challenge to me. Thanks to my teacher, Mr. Ron’s valuable instructions and classmates’ constant help, I finally make it in doing all these achievements in this portfolio and as the course moves on, it gradually occurs to me that my written English is improving not only in the language I use, but also in the critical thinking and analytical abilities I pick up.
In Essay Draft One to Three, I undergo a change from a good reader to a totally writer. By reading the stories of great writers at first, I not only try to find the main ideas of the stories, but also focus especially on the patterns of their writing and the ways they convey their ideas. In this process, I learned what great stories have in common, how the ideas are expressed and why the authors choose the particular details or plots just as in the stories. All these elements lay solid foundations for my further writing by myself.
As I find something serious and worth reflecting on in the story of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” written by Bruno Lessing, I choose this story to analyze and focus on the true meaning and essence of Americanization in order to present a successful way of living in the modern society. The process of conceiving a thesis and supporting it convincingly is quite demanding. It not only requires much closer understanding of the stories but also challenges our skills of expressing ideas. You can compare the first two drafts with the last one to find my progress in citing quotations and interpreting my own ideas.
In Reading Log, I find some extraordinary ideas in Chinua Achebe’s “Dead Men’s Path” and demonstrate my own points on cultural conflicts as well as on the process of civilization. What I have to mention is that, rather than writing reading log itself, I learned much more in giving and receiving comments on it among us students. During this process, I found the value of cooperation and sharing, realized the importance of forming creative ideas, and appreciated the beauty of respecting any opinion different from mine.
Furthermore, I present my ability in writing on a specific topic under a 45-minute time pressure in “Final Timed-Writing”. It is not until several practices that I realize the importance of proofreading, the skills of writing fast and the proper attitude in face of pressure and time limit. Fortunately, I master these abilities step by step and now I am much confident in English writing and feel at ease in expressing my own opinions whether under time pressure or not.
Lastly, in terms of my progress and achievements in this class, I cannot make it without mentioning the importance of my teacher and classmates. So please allow me to say thank you to Mr. Ron, who always offers ready help and important instructions to me. Moreover, the six items in this portfolio are also a reflection of Mr. Ron’s ingenious way of imbuing us with the principles and skills in academic writing, which is very helpful to my improvement in analytical abilities and in formal writing. In addition, thank you to my classmates who have given me useful suggestions and constant support and helped me a lot in my becoming a good listener as well as a good cooperator.
Moreover, thank you for your taking precious time to read my papers. Although they may not be perfect, they can be well witnesses of my struggling, persisting, improving and maturing as a writer and critical thinker. Hope you appreciate them and learn from the ideas they provide for living a better life in this ever-changing world.
Sincerely,
Chenny
2007年5月19日星期六
Essay Draft Three
Chenny Qian
June 12, 2007
Draft Three
Retaining Tradition Makes Perfect
At the turn into the twentieth century, it was hard for Jewish immigrants to survive and establish a reputation in America. In order to escape religious persecution, they fled their familiar ghettos of Russia to the totally strange ghettos of New York only to receive unfriendly disgust and indifferent glances. As a result, many of these Russian Jews decided to be Americanized by wearing and behaving in the American way. Some of them even abandoned their own religion and custom. However, others may not. While struggling to earn a living and win local people’s respect, these people still clung to their deep-rooted beliefs and values (45).
The hero of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing is such an example. As a newly landed Russian Jew, Shadrach Cohen experienced strong cultural shock and intense disagreement on being Americanized with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb. With great effort, Shadrach Cohen adapted to the American culture and succeeded in his business while sticking to his long-held beliefs and customs, which contrasted greatly with that of his two sons who thoroughly changed to look like Americans but made comparatively less progress. Isn’t it better to retain traditional beliefs and values when living in America as an immigrant? The characters in this story have given us a positive answer.
At the beginning of Shadrach Cohen’s American life, his appearance of a perfect Jewish immigrant contrasts greatly with the totally American style of his two sons. Their differences remind me of the recent debate on American cultural identity. While the two sons can be well representatives of the melting pot metaphor which indicates that the highest qualities of intellect and physical strength fused into a new race of man in America, Shadrach Cohen is the symbol of the salad bowl in which every race can be easily recognizable and is distinctive of its traditional way of living although they mix together in the same country.
From the view point of melting pot believers, the two sons believe that Americanization means to look like Americans and to do as Americans do. This can be shown from each of them wearing “flaring necktie with a diamond in it” (46) and their “consternation” at Shadrach Cohen’s praying after meal. The word “consternation” here can mean a kind of distance between two generations as well as between the two cultures. It presents two images who have lost their symbols of descent, melted their personalities into the so-called fashion and immerged their culture in the ocean of assimilation. On the other hand, however, although at sons’ frequent request of being Americanized, Shadrach Cohen insists not to change. That he sticks to keeping his beard and wearing as a traditional Jew reveals his character of a strict observer of disciplines and a loyal patriot of the country he comes from. Thus, his retaining traditional beliefs and values enable him to be a unique and confident individual in the American society where he can take advantage of the Jewish brilliant sense of business and absorb the liberty and flexibility of America at the same time. As a matter of fact, Shadrach Cohen’s clinging to his values and customs finally works wonder. He becomes much more successful than his two sons.
In the mercantile realm, Shadrach Cohen shows extraordinary talent and finesse. That he has “the true money-maker spirit” suggests the inherent sense of business he possesses, thus makes it possible to “[grasp] the most intricate phases of trade” swiftly and turn failures aright by “instinct” (50). It can be inferred from the word “instinct” that Shadrach Cohen masters these excellent skills by birth. It is his Jewish brilliant sense of business that guides him to the ultimate goal of selling and shows him a way to establish himself as a respectable tradesman. Conversely, as Abel and Gottlieb abandoned their traditional beliefs and customs, their sense of business also melted into the vapor of melting pot in the process of Americanization. That is why Abel and Gottlieb come to realize that “in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father” (49). The word “children” serves as a pun here, demonstrating their inferior ability in running a business, and at the same time, indicating the renewal of their love and respect to their father. This can also be proved by the fact that the sons look upon their father “with increasing respect” (50). The word “increasing” can mean hope here, a hope for the reconstruction of love between two generations and a hope for the revival prosperity of the family. Thanks to Shadrach Cohen’s making full use of the talent in the nature of his descent, as well as the hard working spirit in the blood of his body, he becomes a good businessman worth respecting and, the most important, a model of strict but amiable father merit sons’ love and trust.
Shadrach Cohen does not succeed in business and in winning back his sons’ respect only. He also makes it in teaching them the value of discipline, the beauty of filial reverence and the severe joy of the earnest life (50). It is clear that what Shadrach Cohen taught them is also what he used to benefit from. Knowing the value of discipline provides him with strong moral fiber which serves as a foundation in the society. Experiencing the severe joy of the earnest life enables him to be a diligent businessman and responsible father. Retaining traditional religion gives him moral support and spiritual consolation in times of difficulty. All these elements concerning the traditional values and beliefs makes up a successful Shadrach Cohen, whose insistence and faithfulness finally influenced his sons to go back to their religion and custom. The author describes this change within the reaction of Gottlieb who responds to his father’s prayer after meal that “Blessed be He!” (51). The simple three words may mean little to him before, but at this moment, it means a lot to this family. It suggests the revival of the family’s spirit, the return of sons’ filial reverence and the reestablishment of the father’s influence.
Moreover, besides Shadrach Cohen’s success in the realm of business and generation gap, he also wins American girl’s admiration. When Gottlieb’s girl-friend comes to their home, she is moved by Shadrach Cohen’s “eye of shrewdness” (51) and impulsively runs toward him to ask his blessing, although she is surprised at the first sight of his wearing and looking as a traditional Russian Jew. It can be proved from the American girl’s attitude that Shadrach Cohen’s moral integrity as well as his way of getting along with people overweighs his appearance. In addition, his being who he is makes him a unique and confident man the virtues of whom play an important role in his being successful.
Shadrach Cohen’s story provides us with lots of food for thought. What role to play when living in America as an immigrant? He has answered the question clearly. Be yourself, retaining traditional beliefs and values while adapting to the new environment confidently and smartly. Shadrach Cohen’s insisting on being who he is not only presents the local people with a loyal and honest individual worth trusting but also shows a kind of respect towards both American and hometown custom. His so-called Americanization tells us that being Americanized does not mean to yield to American culture, or to melt your own belief into vapor just like the two sons, but means to respect both cultures, to adapt to the liberty and democracy, to become broader-minded and more flexible (50). Sometime we will be foreigners in America and if we want to be successful, or at least, to be respectable, we should remember to retain our own traditional beliefs and values and earn our life by our wisdom, diligence and multicultural background. And it will work wonder!
Work Cited
Lessing, Bruno. “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen.” 1903. Rpt. in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction. Ruth Spack. New York: St. Martin’s, 1994. 45-51.
June 12, 2007
Draft Three
Retaining Tradition Makes Perfect
At the turn into the twentieth century, it was hard for Jewish immigrants to survive and establish a reputation in America. In order to escape religious persecution, they fled their familiar ghettos of Russia to the totally strange ghettos of New York only to receive unfriendly disgust and indifferent glances. As a result, many of these Russian Jews decided to be Americanized by wearing and behaving in the American way. Some of them even abandoned their own religion and custom. However, others may not. While struggling to earn a living and win local people’s respect, these people still clung to their deep-rooted beliefs and values (45).
The hero of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing is such an example. As a newly landed Russian Jew, Shadrach Cohen experienced strong cultural shock and intense disagreement on being Americanized with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb. With great effort, Shadrach Cohen adapted to the American culture and succeeded in his business while sticking to his long-held beliefs and customs, which contrasted greatly with that of his two sons who thoroughly changed to look like Americans but made comparatively less progress. Isn’t it better to retain traditional beliefs and values when living in America as an immigrant? The characters in this story have given us a positive answer.
At the beginning of Shadrach Cohen’s American life, his appearance of a perfect Jewish immigrant contrasts greatly with the totally American style of his two sons. Their differences remind me of the recent debate on American cultural identity. While the two sons can be well representatives of the melting pot metaphor which indicates that the highest qualities of intellect and physical strength fused into a new race of man in America, Shadrach Cohen is the symbol of the salad bowl in which every race can be easily recognizable and is distinctive of its traditional way of living although they mix together in the same country.
From the view point of melting pot believers, the two sons believe that Americanization means to look like Americans and to do as Americans do. This can be shown from each of them wearing “flaring necktie with a diamond in it” (46) and their “consternation” at Shadrach Cohen’s praying after meal. The word “consternation” here can mean a kind of distance between two generations as well as between the two cultures. It presents two images who have lost their symbols of descent, melted their personalities into the so-called fashion and immerged their culture in the ocean of assimilation. On the other hand, however, although at sons’ frequent request of being Americanized, Shadrach Cohen insists not to change. That he sticks to keeping his beard and wearing as a traditional Jew reveals his character of a strict observer of disciplines and a loyal patriot of the country he comes from. Thus, his retaining traditional beliefs and values enable him to be a unique and confident individual in the American society where he can take advantage of the Jewish brilliant sense of business and absorb the liberty and flexibility of America at the same time. As a matter of fact, Shadrach Cohen’s clinging to his values and customs finally works wonder. He becomes much more successful than his two sons.
In the mercantile realm, Shadrach Cohen shows extraordinary talent and finesse. That he has “the true money-maker spirit” suggests the inherent sense of business he possesses, thus makes it possible to “[grasp] the most intricate phases of trade” swiftly and turn failures aright by “instinct” (50). It can be inferred from the word “instinct” that Shadrach Cohen masters these excellent skills by birth. It is his Jewish brilliant sense of business that guides him to the ultimate goal of selling and shows him a way to establish himself as a respectable tradesman. Conversely, as Abel and Gottlieb abandoned their traditional beliefs and customs, their sense of business also melted into the vapor of melting pot in the process of Americanization. That is why Abel and Gottlieb come to realize that “in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father” (49). The word “children” serves as a pun here, demonstrating their inferior ability in running a business, and at the same time, indicating the renewal of their love and respect to their father. This can also be proved by the fact that the sons look upon their father “with increasing respect” (50). The word “increasing” can mean hope here, a hope for the reconstruction of love between two generations and a hope for the revival prosperity of the family. Thanks to Shadrach Cohen’s making full use of the talent in the nature of his descent, as well as the hard working spirit in the blood of his body, he becomes a good businessman worth respecting and, the most important, a model of strict but amiable father merit sons’ love and trust.
Shadrach Cohen does not succeed in business and in winning back his sons’ respect only. He also makes it in teaching them the value of discipline, the beauty of filial reverence and the severe joy of the earnest life (50). It is clear that what Shadrach Cohen taught them is also what he used to benefit from. Knowing the value of discipline provides him with strong moral fiber which serves as a foundation in the society. Experiencing the severe joy of the earnest life enables him to be a diligent businessman and responsible father. Retaining traditional religion gives him moral support and spiritual consolation in times of difficulty. All these elements concerning the traditional values and beliefs makes up a successful Shadrach Cohen, whose insistence and faithfulness finally influenced his sons to go back to their religion and custom. The author describes this change within the reaction of Gottlieb who responds to his father’s prayer after meal that “Blessed be He!” (51). The simple three words may mean little to him before, but at this moment, it means a lot to this family. It suggests the revival of the family’s spirit, the return of sons’ filial reverence and the reestablishment of the father’s influence.
Moreover, besides Shadrach Cohen’s success in the realm of business and generation gap, he also wins American girl’s admiration. When Gottlieb’s girl-friend comes to their home, she is moved by Shadrach Cohen’s “eye of shrewdness” (51) and impulsively runs toward him to ask his blessing, although she is surprised at the first sight of his wearing and looking as a traditional Russian Jew. It can be proved from the American girl’s attitude that Shadrach Cohen’s moral integrity as well as his way of getting along with people overweighs his appearance. In addition, his being who he is makes him a unique and confident man the virtues of whom play an important role in his being successful.
Shadrach Cohen’s story provides us with lots of food for thought. What role to play when living in America as an immigrant? He has answered the question clearly. Be yourself, retaining traditional beliefs and values while adapting to the new environment confidently and smartly. Shadrach Cohen’s insisting on being who he is not only presents the local people with a loyal and honest individual worth trusting but also shows a kind of respect towards both American and hometown custom. His so-called Americanization tells us that being Americanized does not mean to yield to American culture, or to melt your own belief into vapor just like the two sons, but means to respect both cultures, to adapt to the liberty and democracy, to become broader-minded and more flexible (50). Sometime we will be foreigners in America and if we want to be successful, or at least, to be respectable, we should remember to retain our own traditional beliefs and values and earn our life by our wisdom, diligence and multicultural background. And it will work wonder!
Work Cited
Lessing, Bruno. “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen.” 1903. Rpt. in The International Story: An Anthology with Guidelines for Reading and Writing about Fiction. Ruth Spack. New York: St. Martin’s, 1994. 45-51.
Essay Draft Two
Chenny Qian
May 16, 2007
Draft Two
At the turn into the twentieth century, it was hard for Jewish immigrants to survive and establish a reputation in America. In order to escape religious persecution, they fled their familiar ghettos of Russia to the totally strange ghettos of New York only to receive unfriendly disgust and indifferent glances. As a result, many of these Russian Jews decided to be Americanized by wearing and behaving in the American way. Some of them even abandoned their own religion and custom. However, others may not. While struggling to earn a living and win local people’s respect, these people still cling to their deep-rooted beliefs and values.
The hero of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing is such an example. As a newly landed Russian Jew, Shadrach Cohen experienced strong cultural shock and intense disagreement on being Americanized with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb. With great effort, Shadrach Cohen adapted to the American culture and succeeded in his business while sticking to his long-held beliefs and customs, which contrasted greatly with that of his two sons who thoroughly changed to look like Americans but made comparatively less progress. Isn’t it better to retain traditional beliefs and values when living in America as an immigrant? The characters in this story have given us a positive answer.
At the beginning of Shadrach Cohen’s American life, his appearance of a perfect Jewish immigrant contrasted greatly with the totally American style of his two sons. Their differences remind me of the recent debate on American cultural identity. While the two sons can be well representatives of the Melting Pot metaphor which indicates that the highest qualities of intellect and physical strength fused into a new race of man in America, Shadrach Cohen is the symbol of the Salad Bowl in which every race can be easily recognizable and is distinctive of its traditional way of living although they mix together in the same country.
From the view point of Melting Pot believers, the two sons believe that Americanization means to look like Americans, so they wear flaring suits and trimmed their beard just as Americans do. They were ashamed of their father’s looking like a newly landed Russian Jew and asked him to change, but Shadrach Cohen insisted on keeping his beard and wearing baglike garment which is a symbol of traditional Jews. Furthermore, Abel and Gottlieb no longer pay attention to the grace after meals because it is not the American way and suggested their father not to do so, which provoked their father who said that “It is wrong to omit the prayer after meals. It is part of your religion. I do not know anything about this America or its customs.”(P: 47) As a matter of fact, the two sons lost their symbol of the descent, melted their personalities into the so-called fashion and thought they were Americanized. On the other hand, however, “after a few months, their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life” and “The more they urged him to abandon his ways the more eager he seemed to become to cling to them.” (P: 47) Shadrach Cohen’s love to his country and his faith to the religion present us with an image of a piece of lettuces in a Salad Bowl rather than a drop of molten steel in a Melting Pot. Such a piece of lettuces’ loyalty and distinctiveness enable him to be a unique individual in the American society where he can take advantage of the Jewish brilliant sense of business and absorb the liberty and flexibility of America at the same time. As a result, Shadrach Cohen’s clinging to his values and customs finally worked wonder. He became much more successful than his two sons.
After taking over his sons’ business, he “became broader-minded, more tolerant, and, above all, more flexible in his tenets.”(P: 50). These elements along with the faculty of adaptability and sense of business led to Shadrach Cohen’s thriving business and “even the sons saw vistas of prosperity beyond their wildest dreams” (P: 50). For Abel and Gottlieb, “Slowly it dawned upon them that in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father.” (P：49) And as they “began to perceive that all these business men whom, in former days, they had looked upon with feelings akin to reverence, seemed to show to their father an amount of deference and respect which they had never evinced toward the sons, their admiration for their father increased.” (P: 50) By making full use of the talent in the nature of his descent, as well as the hard working spirit in the blood of his body, Shadrach Cohen established himself as a good businessman worth respecting and, the most important, a model of strict but amiable father merit sons’ love and trust.
Shadrach Cohen succeeded. Not only in business and in winning back his sons’ respect, but also in teaching them. “And he taught them. And with the lesson they learned many things; learned the value of discipline, learned the beauty of filial reverence, learned the severe joy of the earnest life.” (P: 50) It is clear that what Shadrach Cohen taught them is also what he used to benefit from. Knowing the value of discipline provides him with strong moral fiber which serves as a foundation in the society. Experiencing the severe joy of the earnest life enables to him to be a diligent businessman and responsible father. Retaining traditional religion gives him moral support and spiritual consolation in times of difficulty. Just as in the story, “When life is light and free from care, religion is quick to fly; but when the sky grows dark and life becomes earnest, and we feel its burden growing heavy upon our shoulders, then we welcome the consolation that religion brings, and we cling to it.”(P: 50) Shadrach Cohen’s insistence and faithfulness finally influenced his sons to retain their culture and religion. When we see the last sentence of the story that Gottlieb responded to his father’s prayer that “Blessed be He!”, we can feel strongly the father’s power of model and charm of integrity.
Moreover, Shadrach Cohen’s success spread across the realm of business and generation gap, it also wins American girl’s admiration. When Gottlieb’s girl-friend came to their home and was moved by “a pair of grey eyes bent keenly upon her ---eyes of shrewdness, but soft and tender as a woman’s---the eyes of a strong man with a kind heart.” (P: 51) although he wore as a traditional Jewish, and impulsively ran toward Shadrach Cohen to ask his blessing, we have good reason to believe that Shadrach Cohen’s moral integrity as well as his way of getting along with people overweight his appearance, and his being who he is made him a unique and confident man the virtue of whom played an important role in his being successful.
Even after his success, Shadrach Cohen did not change. Just as the author says, “And yet it was the same Shadrach Cohen” (P: 50) He still wears “a long, straggling beard, and ringlets of hair falling over the ears, and clad in the long gabardine of the Russian Ghettos”. In addition, he still insisted upon a strict observance of every tenet of his religion, upon which point he was stern and unyielding. Isn’t he a good example of being a piece of lettuces successfully in a Salad Bowl?
Shadrach Cohen’s story provides us with lots of food for thought. What role to play when living in America as an immigrant? He has answered the question clearly. Be yourself, retaining traditional beliefs and values while adapting to the new environment confidently and smartly. Shadrach Cohen’s so-called Americanization tells us that being Americanized does not mean to yield to American culture, or to melt your own belief into vapor just like the two sons, but mean to compromise a little, to adapt to the liberty and democracy, to become broader-minded and more flexible in your tenets. And it will work wonder!
Some people may argue that “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” strategy, or the Melting Pot strategy, may be more effective because it is more friendly and directly, but look at Abel and Gottlieb. Their achievements seem to be in shadow compared with that of their father’s. As is mentioned in the story, Americans are more liberal and democratic. So they prefer uniqueness and independent personalities. What matters is the inner virtue of a person rather than his appearance. Sometimes distance can produce beauty. Shadrach Cohen’s insisting on being who he is also shows a kind of respect towards both American and traditional culture. To respect, not to yield; to compromise, not to give up is a lesson Shadrach Cohen teaches us. Sometime we will be foreigners in America and if we want to be successful, or at least, to be respectable, we should remember to retain our own traditional beliefs and values and earn our life by our wisdom, diligence and multicultural background.
May 16, 2007
Draft Two
At the turn into the twentieth century, it was hard for Jewish immigrants to survive and establish a reputation in America. In order to escape religious persecution, they fled their familiar ghettos of Russia to the totally strange ghettos of New York only to receive unfriendly disgust and indifferent glances. As a result, many of these Russian Jews decided to be Americanized by wearing and behaving in the American way. Some of them even abandoned their own religion and custom. However, others may not. While struggling to earn a living and win local people’s respect, these people still cling to their deep-rooted beliefs and values.
The hero of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing is such an example. As a newly landed Russian Jew, Shadrach Cohen experienced strong cultural shock and intense disagreement on being Americanized with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb. With great effort, Shadrach Cohen adapted to the American culture and succeeded in his business while sticking to his long-held beliefs and customs, which contrasted greatly with that of his two sons who thoroughly changed to look like Americans but made comparatively less progress. Isn’t it better to retain traditional beliefs and values when living in America as an immigrant? The characters in this story have given us a positive answer.
At the beginning of Shadrach Cohen’s American life, his appearance of a perfect Jewish immigrant contrasted greatly with the totally American style of his two sons. Their differences remind me of the recent debate on American cultural identity. While the two sons can be well representatives of the Melting Pot metaphor which indicates that the highest qualities of intellect and physical strength fused into a new race of man in America, Shadrach Cohen is the symbol of the Salad Bowl in which every race can be easily recognizable and is distinctive of its traditional way of living although they mix together in the same country.
From the view point of Melting Pot believers, the two sons believe that Americanization means to look like Americans, so they wear flaring suits and trimmed their beard just as Americans do. They were ashamed of their father’s looking like a newly landed Russian Jew and asked him to change, but Shadrach Cohen insisted on keeping his beard and wearing baglike garment which is a symbol of traditional Jews. Furthermore, Abel and Gottlieb no longer pay attention to the grace after meals because it is not the American way and suggested their father not to do so, which provoked their father who said that “It is wrong to omit the prayer after meals. It is part of your religion. I do not know anything about this America or its customs.”(P: 47) As a matter of fact, the two sons lost their symbol of the descent, melted their personalities into the so-called fashion and thought they were Americanized. On the other hand, however, “after a few months, their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life” and “The more they urged him to abandon his ways the more eager he seemed to become to cling to them.” (P: 47) Shadrach Cohen’s love to his country and his faith to the religion present us with an image of a piece of lettuces in a Salad Bowl rather than a drop of molten steel in a Melting Pot. Such a piece of lettuces’ loyalty and distinctiveness enable him to be a unique individual in the American society where he can take advantage of the Jewish brilliant sense of business and absorb the liberty and flexibility of America at the same time. As a result, Shadrach Cohen’s clinging to his values and customs finally worked wonder. He became much more successful than his two sons.
After taking over his sons’ business, he “became broader-minded, more tolerant, and, above all, more flexible in his tenets.”(P: 50). These elements along with the faculty of adaptability and sense of business led to Shadrach Cohen’s thriving business and “even the sons saw vistas of prosperity beyond their wildest dreams” (P: 50). For Abel and Gottlieb, “Slowly it dawned upon them that in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father.” (P：49) And as they “began to perceive that all these business men whom, in former days, they had looked upon with feelings akin to reverence, seemed to show to their father an amount of deference and respect which they had never evinced toward the sons, their admiration for their father increased.” (P: 50) By making full use of the talent in the nature of his descent, as well as the hard working spirit in the blood of his body, Shadrach Cohen established himself as a good businessman worth respecting and, the most important, a model of strict but amiable father merit sons’ love and trust.
Shadrach Cohen succeeded. Not only in business and in winning back his sons’ respect, but also in teaching them. “And he taught them. And with the lesson they learned many things; learned the value of discipline, learned the beauty of filial reverence, learned the severe joy of the earnest life.” (P: 50) It is clear that what Shadrach Cohen taught them is also what he used to benefit from. Knowing the value of discipline provides him with strong moral fiber which serves as a foundation in the society. Experiencing the severe joy of the earnest life enables to him to be a diligent businessman and responsible father. Retaining traditional religion gives him moral support and spiritual consolation in times of difficulty. Just as in the story, “When life is light and free from care, religion is quick to fly; but when the sky grows dark and life becomes earnest, and we feel its burden growing heavy upon our shoulders, then we welcome the consolation that religion brings, and we cling to it.”(P: 50) Shadrach Cohen’s insistence and faithfulness finally influenced his sons to retain their culture and religion. When we see the last sentence of the story that Gottlieb responded to his father’s prayer that “Blessed be He!”, we can feel strongly the father’s power of model and charm of integrity.
Moreover, Shadrach Cohen’s success spread across the realm of business and generation gap, it also wins American girl’s admiration. When Gottlieb’s girl-friend came to their home and was moved by “a pair of grey eyes bent keenly upon her ---eyes of shrewdness, but soft and tender as a woman’s---the eyes of a strong man with a kind heart.” (P: 51) although he wore as a traditional Jewish, and impulsively ran toward Shadrach Cohen to ask his blessing, we have good reason to believe that Shadrach Cohen’s moral integrity as well as his way of getting along with people overweight his appearance, and his being who he is made him a unique and confident man the virtue of whom played an important role in his being successful.
Even after his success, Shadrach Cohen did not change. Just as the author says, “And yet it was the same Shadrach Cohen” (P: 50) He still wears “a long, straggling beard, and ringlets of hair falling over the ears, and clad in the long gabardine of the Russian Ghettos”. In addition, he still insisted upon a strict observance of every tenet of his religion, upon which point he was stern and unyielding. Isn’t he a good example of being a piece of lettuces successfully in a Salad Bowl?
Shadrach Cohen’s story provides us with lots of food for thought. What role to play when living in America as an immigrant? He has answered the question clearly. Be yourself, retaining traditional beliefs and values while adapting to the new environment confidently and smartly. Shadrach Cohen’s so-called Americanization tells us that being Americanized does not mean to yield to American culture, or to melt your own belief into vapor just like the two sons, but mean to compromise a little, to adapt to the liberty and democracy, to become broader-minded and more flexible in your tenets. And it will work wonder!
Some people may argue that “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” strategy, or the Melting Pot strategy, may be more effective because it is more friendly and directly, but look at Abel and Gottlieb. Their achievements seem to be in shadow compared with that of their father’s. As is mentioned in the story, Americans are more liberal and democratic. So they prefer uniqueness and independent personalities. What matters is the inner virtue of a person rather than his appearance. Sometimes distance can produce beauty. Shadrach Cohen’s insisting on being who he is also shows a kind of respect towards both American and traditional culture. To respect, not to yield; to compromise, not to give up is a lesson Shadrach Cohen teaches us. Sometime we will be foreigners in America and if we want to be successful, or at least, to be respectable, we should remember to retain our own traditional beliefs and values and earn our life by our wisdom, diligence and multicultural background.
Essay Draft One
Chenny Qian
May 6, 2007
Draft One
At the turn into the twentieth century, it was hard for Jewish immigrants to survive and establish a reputation in America. In order to escape religious persecution, they fled their familiar ghettos of Russia to the totally strange ghettos of New York only to receive unfriendly disgust and indifferent glances. As a result, many of these Russian Jews decided to be Americanized by wearing and behaving in the American way, some of them even abandoned their own religion and custom. However, others may not. While struggling to earn a living and win local people’s respect, these people still cling to their deep-rooted beliefs and values.
The hero of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing is such an example. As a newly landed Russian Jew, Shadrach Cohen experienced strong cultural shock and intense disagreements on being Americanized with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb. With great effort, Shadrach Cohen adapted to the American culture and succeeded in his business while sticking to his long-held beliefs and customs, which contrasted greatly with that of his two sons who thoroughly changed to look like Americans but made comparatively less progress. Isn’t it better to retain traditional beliefs and values when living in America as an immigrant? The characters in this story have given us a positive answer.
At the beginning of Shadrach Cohen’s American life, his appearance of a perfect Jewish immigrant contrasted greatly with that of his two sons, who wore flaring clothes just like Americans. Their differences remind me of the recent debate on American cultural identity. While the two sons can be well representatives of the Melting Pot metaphor which indicates that the highest qualities of intellect and physical strength fused into a new race of man in America, Shadrach Cohen is the symbol of the Salad Bowl in which every race can be easily recognizable and is distinctive of its traditional way of living although they mix together in the same country.
From the view point of Melting Pot believers, the two sons believe that Americanization means to look like Americans, so they wear flaring suits and trimmed their beard just as Americans do. They were ashamed of their father’s looking like a newly landed Russian Jew and asked him to change, but Shadrach Cohen insisted on keeping his beard and wearing baglike garment which is a symbol of traditional Jews. Furthermore, Abel and Gottlieb no longer pay attention to the grace after meals because it is not the American way and suggested their father not to do so, which provoked their father who said that “It is wrong to omit the prayer after meals. It is part of your religion. I do not know anything about this America or its customs.”(P: 47) As a matter of fact, the two sons lost their symbol of the descent, melted their personalities into the so-called fashion and thought they were Americanized. On the other hand, however, “after a few months, their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life” and “The more they urged him to abandon his ways the more eager he seemed to become to cling to them.” (P: 47) Shadrach Cohen’s love to his country and his faith to the religion present us with an image of a piece of lettuces in a Salad Bowl rather than a drop of molten steel in a Melting Pot. His clinging to his values and customs finally worked wonder. He became much more successful than his two sons.
After taking over his sons’ business, he “became broader-minded, more tolerant, and, above all, more flexible in his tenets.”(P: 50). These elements along with the faculty of adaptability and sense of business led to Shadrach Cohen’s thriving business and “even the sons saw vistas of prosperity beyond their wildest dreams” (P: 50). For Abel and Gottlieb, “Slowly it dawned upon them that in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father.” (P：49) And as they “began to perceive that all these business men whom, in former days, they had looked upon with feelings akin to reverence, seemed to show to their father an amount of deference and respect which they had never evinced toward the sons, their admiration for their father increased.” (P: 50) By reading this, I cannot help admiring Shadrach Cohen, by whose effort, he established himself as a good businessman worth respecting and, the most important, a model of strict but amiable father merit sons’ love and trust.
Shadrach Cohen succeeded. Not only in business, but also in teaching his two sons and winning back their respect. “And he taught them. And with the lesson they learned many things; learned the value of discipline, learned the beauty of filial reverence, learned the severe joy of the earnest life.” (P: 50) It was Shadrach Cohen’s power of model and great love of father that influenced his sons to retain their culture and religion. When we see the last sentence of the story that Gottlieb responded to his father’s prayer that “Blessed be He!”, we can feel strongly the father’s strength and ability.
Moreover, Shadrach Cohen’s success spread across the realm of business and generation gap, it also wins American girl’s admiration. When Gottlieb’s girl-friend came to their home and was moved by “a pair of grey eyes bent keenly upon her ---eyes of shrewdness, but soft and tender as a woman’s---the eyes of a strong man with a kind heart.” (P: 51) and impulsively ran toward Shadrach Cohen to ask his blessing, we have good reason to believe that Shadrach Cohen’s being who he is overweight his change, and his retaining traditional beliefs and values made him a unique and confident man the virtue of whom played an important role in his being successful.
Just as the author says, “And yet it was the same Shadrach Cohen” (P: 50) He still wears “a long, straggling beard, and ringlets of hair falling over the ears, and clad in the long gabardine of the Russian Ghettos”. In addition, he still insisted upon a strict observance of every tenet of his religion, upon which point he was stern and unyielding. Isn’t he a good example of being a piece of lettuces in a Salad Bowl?
Shadrach Cohen’s story impresses me a lot and taught me a lot. What role to play when living in America as an immigrant? I think he has answered the question clearly. Be yourself, retaining traditional beliefs and values while adapting to the new environment confidently and smartly. Shadrach Cohen’s so-called Americanization tells us that being Americanized does not mean to yield to American culture, or to melt your own belief into vapor just like the two sons, but mean to compromise a little, to adapt to the liberty and democracy, to become broader-minded and more flexible in your tenets. And it will work wonder!
Some people may argue that “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” strategy, or the Melting Pot strategy, may be more effective because it is more friendly and directly, but look at Abel and Gottlieb. Their achievements seem to be in shadow compared with that of their father’s. As is mentioned in the story, Americans are more liberal and democratic, I believe they prefer uniqueness and independent personalities. Sometimes distance can produce beauty. Shadrach Cohen’s insisting on being who he is also shows a kind of respect towards both American and traditional culture. To respect, not to yield; to compromise, not to give up is a lesson Shadrach Cohen teaches us. Sometimes we will be foreigners in America and if we want to be successful, or at least, to be respectable, we should remember to retain our own traditional beliefs and values and earn our life by our wisdom and multicultural background.
May 6, 2007
Draft One
At the turn into the twentieth century, it was hard for Jewish immigrants to survive and establish a reputation in America. In order to escape religious persecution, they fled their familiar ghettos of Russia to the totally strange ghettos of New York only to receive unfriendly disgust and indifferent glances. As a result, many of these Russian Jews decided to be Americanized by wearing and behaving in the American way, some of them even abandoned their own religion and custom. However, others may not. While struggling to earn a living and win local people’s respect, these people still cling to their deep-rooted beliefs and values.
The hero of “The Americanization of Shadrach Cohen” by Bruno Lessing is such an example. As a newly landed Russian Jew, Shadrach Cohen experienced strong cultural shock and intense disagreements on being Americanized with his two sons, Abel and Gottlieb. With great effort, Shadrach Cohen adapted to the American culture and succeeded in his business while sticking to his long-held beliefs and customs, which contrasted greatly with that of his two sons who thoroughly changed to look like Americans but made comparatively less progress. Isn’t it better to retain traditional beliefs and values when living in America as an immigrant? The characters in this story have given us a positive answer.
At the beginning of Shadrach Cohen’s American life, his appearance of a perfect Jewish immigrant contrasted greatly with that of his two sons, who wore flaring clothes just like Americans. Their differences remind me of the recent debate on American cultural identity. While the two sons can be well representatives of the Melting Pot metaphor which indicates that the highest qualities of intellect and physical strength fused into a new race of man in America, Shadrach Cohen is the symbol of the Salad Bowl in which every race can be easily recognizable and is distinctive of its traditional way of living although they mix together in the same country.
From the view point of Melting Pot believers, the two sons believe that Americanization means to look like Americans, so they wear flaring suits and trimmed their beard just as Americans do. They were ashamed of their father’s looking like a newly landed Russian Jew and asked him to change, but Shadrach Cohen insisted on keeping his beard and wearing baglike garment which is a symbol of traditional Jews. Furthermore, Abel and Gottlieb no longer pay attention to the grace after meals because it is not the American way and suggested their father not to do so, which provoked their father who said that “It is wrong to omit the prayer after meals. It is part of your religion. I do not know anything about this America or its customs.”(P: 47) As a matter of fact, the two sons lost their symbol of the descent, melted their personalities into the so-called fashion and thought they were Americanized. On the other hand, however, “after a few months, their father was clinging to the habits and customs of his old life” and “The more they urged him to abandon his ways the more eager he seemed to become to cling to them.” (P: 47) Shadrach Cohen’s love to his country and his faith to the religion present us with an image of a piece of lettuces in a Salad Bowl rather than a drop of molten steel in a Melting Pot. His clinging to his values and customs finally worked wonder. He became much more successful than his two sons.
After taking over his sons’ business, he “became broader-minded, more tolerant, and, above all, more flexible in his tenets.”(P: 50). These elements along with the faculty of adaptability and sense of business led to Shadrach Cohen’s thriving business and “even the sons saw vistas of prosperity beyond their wildest dreams” (P: 50). For Abel and Gottlieb, “Slowly it dawned upon them that in the mercantile realm they were as children compared with their father.” (P：49) And as they “began to perceive that all these business men whom, in former days, they had looked upon with feelings akin to reverence, seemed to show to their father an amount of deference and respect which they had never evinced toward the sons, their admiration for their father increased.” (P: 50) By reading this, I cannot help admiring Shadrach Cohen, by whose effort, he established himself as a good businessman worth respecting and, the most important, a model of strict but amiable father merit sons’ love and trust.
Shadrach Cohen succeeded. Not only in business, but also in teaching his two sons and winning back their respect. “And he taught them. And with the lesson they learned many things; learned the value of discipline, learned the beauty of filial reverence, learned the severe joy of the earnest life.” (P: 50) It was Shadrach Cohen’s power of model and great love of father that influenced his sons to retain their culture and religion. When we see the last sentence of the story that Gottlieb responded to his father’s prayer that “Blessed be He!”, we can feel strongly the father’s strength and ability.
Moreover, Shadrach Cohen’s success spread across the realm of business and generation gap, it also wins American girl’s admiration. When Gottlieb’s girl-friend came to their home and was moved by “a pair of grey eyes bent keenly upon her ---eyes of shrewdness, but soft and tender as a woman’s---the eyes of a strong man with a kind heart.” (P: 51) and impulsively ran toward Shadrach Cohen to ask his blessing, we have good reason to believe that Shadrach Cohen’s being who he is overweight his change, and his retaining traditional beliefs and values made him a unique and confident man the virtue of whom played an important role in his being successful.
Just as the author says, “And yet it was the same Shadrach Cohen” (P: 50) He still wears “a long, straggling beard, and ringlets of hair falling over the ears, and clad in the long gabardine of the Russian Ghettos”. In addition, he still insisted upon a strict observance of every tenet of his religion, upon which point he was stern and unyielding. Isn’t he a good example of being a piece of lettuces in a Salad Bowl?
Shadrach Cohen’s story impresses me a lot and taught me a lot. What role to play when living in America as an immigrant? I think he has answered the question clearly. Be yourself, retaining traditional beliefs and values while adapting to the new environment confidently and smartly. Shadrach Cohen’s so-called Americanization tells us that being Americanized does not mean to yield to American culture, or to melt your own belief into vapor just like the two sons, but mean to compromise a little, to adapt to the liberty and democracy, to become broader-minded and more flexible in your tenets. And it will work wonder!
Some people may argue that “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” strategy, or the Melting Pot strategy, may be more effective because it is more friendly and directly, but look at Abel and Gottlieb. Their achievements seem to be in shadow compared with that of their father’s. As is mentioned in the story, Americans are more liberal and democratic, I believe they prefer uniqueness and independent personalities. Sometimes distance can produce beauty. Shadrach Cohen’s insisting on being who he is also shows a kind of respect towards both American and traditional culture. To respect, not to yield; to compromise, not to give up is a lesson Shadrach Cohen teaches us. Sometimes we will be foreigners in America and if we want to be successful, or at least, to be respectable, we should remember to retain our own traditional beliefs and values and earn our life by our wisdom and multicultural background.
Final Timed-Writing
0531053
Chenny Qian
June 21, 2007
Final Timed-Writing
Directions: From The Necklace, what might have been the quality of Mme. Loisel’s life if she had not lost the necklace? Is her life better or worse now?
What would have happened if Mme. Loisel had not lost the necklace? In my opinion, I do concede that maybe she could enjoy admiration from others because of her beauty and charm. However, I believe that her life would be worse in the long run.
To begin with, Mme. Loisel’s vanity and pride decide her misery life. Although she has good appearance and is always praised by others, there is always a voice in her inner world that she wants to be noticed, to be praised and to be admired. The fantasy of extravagant life haunted her life and she just cannot be herself in the reality of poor and low social status. Thus it makes it impossible for her to cherish the goodness of her husband, the beauty of the nature and the importance of working hard. As a result, she would sink into a sea of negative attitudes and her life would be a burden of misery to her after a few years.
Moreover, not until Mme. Loisel realizes the value of hard working can she lead a better life. As in the story, after her lost of the necklace, she became a diligent lady by whose great efforts, she finally made it in returning the debt and being her real self. However, think about the opposite circumstance that she did not lose the necklace. Instead of making effort to gain all that she wants, she might still be in her dream filled with shining jewels and expensive clothes and do nothing to help herself. Thus, her life would be in a great conflict between ideal and reality, which makes her sad, cry or even crazy. That kind of quality in life has something to do with her attitude towards life and what it brings might destroy the future of Mme. Loisel who could have enjoy a happy life by her own effort and content.
Lastly, the society at that time did not allow a woman like Mme. Loisel to enjoy that kind of extravagant life and as a result, her quality of life could not become better. Although after the exciting ball, Mme. Loisel gained others’ preference and maybe those admirations would bring her a lot, the society decides that it is no easy job to meet the needs of what she desires. In a time when people put great value on social status as well as the descent of birth, it is difficult for Mme. Loisel to be always in the highlight of admiration in the long run. Without realizing the reality, and always be addicted to fantasy would make her life a misery as a result. She is not allowed to enjoy long-term extravagance and as matter of fact she could not change her low social status. What her beauty could bring about is just a short period of preference that disappear quickly in the ocean of indifferent or even disgust because of her status.
To sum up, I do not think that Mme. Loisel could lead a better life if she had not lost the necklace. Furthermore, her vanity and social status would make her quality of life worse. Without realizing and adapting to the reality, a woman like her would no doubt live in sadness, conflicts, fantasy and misery.
Chenny Qian
June 21, 2007
Final Timed-Writing
Directions: From The Necklace, what might have been the quality of Mme. Loisel’s life if she had not lost the necklace? Is her life better or worse now?
What would have happened if Mme. Loisel had not lost the necklace? In my opinion, I do concede that maybe she could enjoy admiration from others because of her beauty and charm. However, I believe that her life would be worse in the long run.
To begin with, Mme. Loisel’s vanity and pride decide her misery life. Although she has good appearance and is always praised by others, there is always a voice in her inner world that she wants to be noticed, to be praised and to be admired. The fantasy of extravagant life haunted her life and she just cannot be herself in the reality of poor and low social status. Thus it makes it impossible for her to cherish the goodness of her husband, the beauty of the nature and the importance of working hard. As a result, she would sink into a sea of negative attitudes and her life would be a burden of misery to her after a few years.
Moreover, not until Mme. Loisel realizes the value of hard working can she lead a better life. As in the story, after her lost of the necklace, she became a diligent lady by whose great efforts, she finally made it in returning the debt and being her real self. However, think about the opposite circumstance that she did not lose the necklace. Instead of making effort to gain all that she wants, she might still be in her dream filled with shining jewels and expensive clothes and do nothing to help herself. Thus, her life would be in a great conflict between ideal and reality, which makes her sad, cry or even crazy. That kind of quality in life has something to do with her attitude towards life and what it brings might destroy the future of Mme. Loisel who could have enjoy a happy life by her own effort and content.
Lastly, the society at that time did not allow a woman like Mme. Loisel to enjoy that kind of extravagant life and as a result, her quality of life could not become better. Although after the exciting ball, Mme. Loisel gained others’ preference and maybe those admirations would bring her a lot, the society decides that it is no easy job to meet the needs of what she desires. In a time when people put great value on social status as well as the descent of birth, it is difficult for Mme. Loisel to be always in the highlight of admiration in the long run. Without realizing the reality, and always be addicted to fantasy would make her life a misery as a result. She is not allowed to enjoy long-term extravagance and as matter of fact she could not change her low social status. What her beauty could bring about is just a short period of preference that disappear quickly in the ocean of indifferent or even disgust because of her status.
To sum up, I do not think that Mme. Loisel could lead a better life if she had not lost the necklace. Furthermore, her vanity and social status would make her quality of life worse. Without realizing and adapting to the reality, a woman like her would no doubt live in sadness, conflicts, fantasy and misery.
Reading Log
Reading Log for "Dead Men's Path"
Who's the Winner?
The final triumph of the local people impressed me a lot. Their respect for ancestors and heritage enables them to conquer the yoke of western culture burdened on their mind and win to preserve their own beliefs and tradition. However, in fact, I can not conceal my considering their outdated beliefs as superstitious and nonsensical ones. Thinking of a path that is used for the dead to depart and the newborn to come is ridiculous and it only exists in fantasy.
Look at the innocent Mr.Obi, a poor puppet of the Mission authorities, who devoted all his life to promoting the teaching standard of the school and imbuing the local people with modern thoughts, was finally dismissed because of the conflict between the western and local culture. He did ignore the tribal beliefs and tradition, but what he did, if put in the background of this modern world, was constructive and useful to the local people.
In my view, it is a seemingly triumph that the local win, what they lose is far more priceless. They lose the opportunity of keeping pace with the outside world, lose the chance of learning modern science and knowledge, and also, they lose their skill of living in this ever-changing new world. After all, in the long run, they are the losers.
On the other hand, however, although the white lose this battle of cultural conflict, it can not be denied that they are the winners. Why? The last sentence of the story brings a lot of food for thought. The white Supervisor attributes the conflict to Mr.Obi's misguided zeal and considers it as a "tribal-war situation'"(54), which actually is a war between two races, between western and local cultures. This is where a skillful strategy lies. The western Mission authorities mitigate the conflict by dismissing the headmaster in order to gain trust of the local people. A headmaster is a lost, but trust is even more worthwhile. Maybe the Mission will assign another equally young and energetic, but cleverer and more skillful headmaster to continue eradicating local beliefs and undermining tribal affiliations. Then, next time facing such conflict, having both trust and strength in their hands, their triumph will come. Trying to achieve their ultimate goal by making concessions at first, they surely are skillful winners, aren't they?
Who's the Winner?
The final triumph of the local people impressed me a lot. Their respect for ancestors and heritage enables them to conquer the yoke of western culture burdened on their mind and win to preserve their own beliefs and tradition. However, in fact, I can not conceal my considering their outdated beliefs as superstitious and nonsensical ones. Thinking of a path that is used for the dead to depart and the newborn to come is ridiculous and it only exists in fantasy.
Look at the innocent Mr.Obi, a poor puppet of the Mission authorities, who devoted all his life to promoting the teaching standard of the school and imbuing the local people with modern thoughts, was finally dismissed because of the conflict between the western and local culture. He did ignore the tribal beliefs and tradition, but what he did, if put in the background of this modern world, was constructive and useful to the local people.
In my view, it is a seemingly triumph that the local win, what they lose is far more priceless. They lose the opportunity of keeping pace with the outside world, lose the chance of learning modern science and knowledge, and also, they lose their skill of living in this ever-changing new world. After all, in the long run, they are the losers.
On the other hand, however, although the white lose this battle of cultural conflict, it can not be denied that they are the winners. Why? The last sentence of the story brings a lot of food for thought. The white Supervisor attributes the conflict to Mr.Obi's misguided zeal and considers it as a "tribal-war situation'"(54), which actually is a war between two races, between western and local cultures. This is where a skillful strategy lies. The western Mission authorities mitigate the conflict by dismissing the headmaster in order to gain trust of the local people. A headmaster is a lost, but trust is even more worthwhile. Maybe the Mission will assign another equally young and energetic, but cleverer and more skillful headmaster to continue eradicating local beliefs and undermining tribal affiliations. Then, next time facing such conflict, having both trust and strength in their hands, their triumph will come. Trying to achieve their ultimate goal by making concessions at first, they surely are skillful winners, aren't they?
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