Saturday, February 15, 2014

What changes you

I know we haven't finished the film yet, but you clearly understand now that Ernesto "Che" Guevara returned from his motorcycle trip with a new attitude towards the poor.  It is important to remember that Che sacrificed a life of privilege in order to wage his revolution.  

So, what changes a person?  Have you ever had something happen to you that dramatically changed your outlook on life?  If so, what was it?  If you are not comfortable talking about yourself, then theorize about what changed Che in the film.

21 comments:

  1. I think that as is shown in the film, what changes a person is the seeing the way iof life that other people have. The fact that other people are much much less afortunate that yourself. That changes the way a person acts with money or even acts in general.
    I went to Costa Rica two summers ago and I saw villages and counties that wer so so poor; However, kids, adults everyone was smiling the whole time, they were happy with so little. It made me realize so much, it opened my eyes. I believe that seeing with your eyes what is actually going in the world, in some really poor parts of the world, makes you realize that money is not everything some people need to be happy or just to live.

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  2. I think what changes a person is his/her experience. Really, what you see can really influence your vision because you experience those events by yourself and you can understand other people better. "Che" Guevara traveled to different places, and he saw what different people were experiencing, and he could "melt" into them and see and feel what they feel. For example, I was bullied terribly before, and I knew that feeling, and now I look at those people who are bullying others and people who are being bullied, I have a different feeling. Although people say that bullying is not right, but there are only a small amount of them understand better and actually do something. Yes, we knew that there are poor people living in poor condition, and there are places that are not being developed, but do we really know their feeling about poor and what to do? "Che" Guevara knew that feeling and what he was trying to do is to response these feelings, that's why he led revolution but other people didn't.

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  3. I think that in the film what changes in Che are his emotions and his outlook on the poor people. Like many people when they see people in poverty, their first instinct is to help and Che saw a life changing opportunity and took it. In our class we haven't finished the film yet but so far Che has traveled to so many different towns and one scene that really stood out to me was the scene when Che and his friend saw all of the mining workers trying to get a job. Later on in the film when Che's friend asks for the american money, Che says that he gave it away to the husband and wife that were at the mining company. This shows that Che is really changing and has a heart and want to help all of the poor people unlike his friend who just want to scam them. Also in the film there is a scene where Che finds a tumor on a mans neck and says that he cant treat him but Che's friend insists that they stay there and "take care of him". Overall what changed Che in the film was seeing all of the poverty in the other towns and how people aren't as fortunate as him since he himself on the motorcycle is living like a poor person.

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  4. Though I missed the first half of the movie, I believe what changed Che in the film was his ability to see the world and feel compassion towards those who were less fortunate. One scene in the film that grabbed my attention was when Che sat around the campfire with a man and women who were looking for work. Later, we find out that Che gave the man and women all the money he had on him. As he continues to travel, Che gets a better understanding of how tough and unfair life is to the poor. Slowly, as he begins to realize what the poor have to live through, and something changes in Che for the better.

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  5. Well there are many things that can change a person. Experiencing a tragic event or even seeing one happen. I remember when I was 8 years old and i was walking down town and I saw a nasty car crash that ended with a person dead. This changed me as a person because you have to make the best of every minute of your life because you never know when its going to be your last. Death is a scary thing because its going to happen but you just do not know when. Now I know people have experienced a lot worse but this is one of many that can change a person and there aspect on life.

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  6. I think what changes a person is being exposed to the real world and nit just being sheltered by your good neighborhood and people around you. Ernesto thought his way of life was the way it is for everyone, but once he saw the real world and what people have to go through everyday just to make ends meet, he saw that they needed help. I find it funny when you have people from nice towns go down into some of the bad parts of New Haven and see how nervous they get. Since people are so accustomed to having a nice house and food on the table everyday, they find it strange when they see homeless people wandering around the street or people with beat up clothes just sitting on their front porch. I think being cultured and experiencing the different sides of life is a healthy way for people to make a difference in the world.

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  7. Like in the film, I think when someone is taken from their comfort zone and put into different and difficult situations like being away from home, traveling to distant lands, being exposed to different types of people, that can change the person. During Ernesto's journey, he surely went through all this. He realized that not everybody was well off and he got a taste of what it was to struggle. Ernesto learned a lot about the real world, and what really mattered in life.

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  8. I think that there are a lot of things that change a person. One thing that can change a person is experiences that they have or stories they hear. I think this because people who go through a lot know what its like to be in a lot of positions so that shapes their personality and makes them what type of person they are. Also, I think that when I'm told stories it makes me change. When I hear stories of mass shootings it makes me thankful for what I have and it makes me be more careful of my surroundings and to not bully people because most of the time the people who come back and shoot everyone were ones that were bullied or picked on when they were young. One experience I've had that changed my life was when my sister got in a really bad car accident. I was really young and didnt really understand what was going on but we saw it all happen and it opened my eyes a lot. It made me realize that at any time the people around you could be gone in the blink of an eye and theres nothing you could do to control it. This made me realize that you should live every day like its your last and to let the people around you know how much you care about them because one day they aren't going to be there anymore.

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  9. Changing a person as a whole only takes place when situation is very extreme or big. Usually, a person believes in what he believes unless something big or extreme changes his thoughts. It is usually not words that changes who you are, but the actions you see that changes who you are. Words can be fabricated and deceived, however, what you actually see in the real world with your own eyes can change you and make you realize a new perspective which will change you and effect you as a whole. For example, a young boy is usually innocent. However, they get more mature and finds out about the society as they go through hardship and see how the world is not innocent.

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  10. for che seeing how these indigenous people were being robbed and mistreated caused him to become very sympathetic. after traveling the country and seeing how widespread the abuse was che became highly motivated to help these people but change south america. seeing the poor suffer and separated lead him to want to organize a community were everyone is cared for and has a decent opportunity.

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  11. I think a great deal of things can change a person, but some of the things that tend to change people the most are seeing other people in their lives and how they live. You never know how good you have something until you see someone who doesn't have the same things you have. Its not unsual to see poeple taking advantage of what they have while its right infront of them, but its also no unsual to see people with almost nothing taking advantage of everything they have, that someone with alot wouldnt take a second look at. While this is a VERY long story ill just briefly go over how on my mission trip last year we spent one day helping homeless people sell a newspaper that was written strictly by the homeless people of Philadelphia. We had to help these people to sell the newspapers by standing on the streets. The most shocking thing was that the rich, business men would walk right by us, and wouldnt even give me (a 15 year old girl) a second look, but while the rich and upperclass walked by us, people who cleary had almsot nothing themselves woudl stop and ask us about hte newspaper, and give us a dollar for the paper. It was amazing how the rich upper-class people could be so rude and unemotional, while people with nothing were giving everything to help others. This and a few other events that day made me change my views compeltley on what i have, and how lucky i am to have however much or little i have.

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  12. What changes a person is seeing things. It's easy to hear about things and shrug it off because you haven't witnessed it with your own eyes. But seeing to believe things is what establishes your beliefs because you know for a fact it happened. But it's not just seeing, it's also feeling. When you feel a hardship, joy, or any big emotion, you know the way your body feels and you can remember and savor that moment. Emotions are what dictate change and feeling emotions are why someone may act a certain way. I was really sick last year before I came to this school and that's what changed me. I had a rare bone disease and almost died. The amount of pain I was in, and then to recover from that gave me a different outlook on a lot of things. But feeling that pain is what triggered me to change.

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  13. If I never have been to Haiti, I will not be able to say this. When people are living in extreme poverty, lives do not worth anything. I always thought that the Chinese government is selfish and trying to exploit people any way possible. I totally changed my mind after I saw what is happening in Haiti. Airport with broken windows; streets filled with sewage; constant kidnapping; and so much more. So far, this is the poorest environment I have ever seen or been in. The poverty in the movie really does not strike me as much as Haiti does. Before I went to Haiti, I always feel indignant for people struggle with poverty. However, I would say I am the opposite of Che. He becomes aware of the poverty in South America, but I become numb to poverty somehow. When poverty is in its worst form, all people need is food and shelter. They are not trying to live their lives; they are trying to survive.

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  14. I think that the part of the film that really changed him was he sat with the group of people who were just trying to get a job. One of them asked him, "so what are you doing out on the road?" and he responded "just taking an adventure". The guy looked at him completely astonished and started to explain that the reason he and his wife were out in the cold was because they were exiled for being communist I believe. They were forced into this life yet, they still had a place for them the night they needed shelter and warmth. Before that Che had been living the life, helping trick people into helping them with their adventure. He had a girlfriend, and was traveling just to see the world and to explore. I think at that moment, he realized that even though he was somewhat poor he didn't have it all that bad. Then the next day he saw as the men picked out the people he wanted to work for him for the day and how he treated them like absolute trash. I believe, it was these moments that changed him: the moments when he became aware of some of the terrible conditions people were living in that he demanded a change. The thing that really affected the person I am today is when w were coming back from getting tacos and there was a homeless guy asking for money and I was about five so I was really really scared of him. But I remember my dad gave me a dollar and he himself had another dollar. He gave it to the man and told me to do the same, then he tried kissing my hand and I was even more frightened. But my dad told me to not disrespect him by looking at him in a weird way. He showed me to be humble, to appreciate what I had and to most importantly always treat others with respect.

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  16. A successful life isn't and shouldn't be measured by the material items you have but by the things you've experienced and the places you've gone. Most importantly though, it's the impact you leave behind. Last summer I did a pre college program for three weeks at Amherst College and it was, by far, unequivocally, hands down, the most amazing, life altering, view changing experience I have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my entire life for reasons galore. I experienced the best and darkest moments for myself; the darkest being the most important. The reason I say that is because I believe to truly be able to experience the world you have to venture into yourself, explore the blackest parts and darkest corners. If you don't understand yourself and your place in the world how can you understand the tree you're looking at, the mountain, or the person? To this day I'm still looking in those dark sad places of myself but to make sure that one day it helps me to be a better person and comprehend the balance of life when things get better. It's important to see people AND the stories that make up their lives; the love, loss, and everything in between. I can't say that this is similar to Che but, like his adventures and mine, I intend to use it to make myself and those around me better so the footprint I leave behind when I die will be big and hard to miss.
    After all, a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

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  17. Indeed, special experiences change a person's life. A person's personality and behavior are both based on experience. I think the traveling around and seeing the part of the world that you would never see can give us the richest experience. That's what happened to Che. He had to beg around for food and sacrifice the old good life he lived in and saw how people could live without money. That is why he was changed with that motorcycle trip. For me, I think my biggest change happen after I start my education here in the states but I cannot tell what the exact thing that changed me. Or there isn't one, is the whole new combination of culture, new friend zone that give me the changes.

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  18. After I read the reading, I felt that what changes a person in their life is experience. Last summer I did a pre college program for three weeks at Amherst College and it was, by far, unequivocally, hands down, the most amazing, life altering, view changing experience I have ever had the pleasure of knowing in my entire life for reasons galore. I experienced the best and darkest moments for myself; the darkest being the most important. The reason I say that is because I believe to truly be able to experience the world you have to venture into yourself, explore the blackest parts and darkest corners. When I hear stories of mass shootings it makes me thankful for what I have and it makes me be more careful of my surroundings and to not bully people because most of the time the people who come back and shoot everyone were ones that were bullied or picked on when they were young. One experience I've had that changed my life was when my sister got in a really bad car accident.

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  19. It was obvious throughout Che Guevara's road trip that he had never observed such poverty before. His constant looks of astonishment upon meeting poverty-stricken people gave this away, and it showed that the people from the bustling city that was his hometown were much better off then those in more rural communities.
    As the movie progressed, Che began to be embarrassed of their silly road trip. There was one scene where they were struggling to push their bike up a hill as a much smaller man passed them, lugging even more supplies with ease. At another point they met up with other travelers for some dinner, and Che and his friend were forced to swallow the embarrassment and admit that they were traveling for fun as others were desperately looking for work.
    It was clear that these vast class differences made an impression on Che when he threw rocks at the miner for turning down willing workers. Also he later told his friend that he had given away the money that he had previously been saving to spend on his girlfriend. This showed that his priorities were changing.

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  20. I think what changes a person in life is can be one dramatic event that one has never experienced before, or is out of their comfort zone. Not only does the experience change one but also the behavior and attitutde towards the event. I also definitely agree with Jake, seeing events first-hand is much more realistic and life changing rather than hearing things in the newspaper, or by word of mouth. In this film I think the first time Che Guevara was changed by his experience on the road trip was when he met the couple that was also traveling because they were communist, while Che and Ernesto were just traveling for fun. When the woman said "bless you" I think that is the exact moment when Che realized the extremeties of the area around him.

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  21. Che's goal was to travel across South America. During his trip, he encountered communists and many of the indigenous people, such as the Incas. He met a communist couple and saw how they were travelling, not because they wanted to like himself and his friend, but because they had to. They were penniless and looking for work. Guevara and Granado go to the mines with the couple and they see firsthand how terrible the workers were treated. Guevara even yells at the mine employer, telling him that the people obviously needed water. Feeling compassion and sadness towards the mine couple, he gives his girlfriend's 15 dollars to them. In another scene, Guevara is riding on a luxurious ship. when he sees poor peasants on a small rickety boat hitched behind. In the last scene we watched, he encounters the Incas. The Incas are the original people who worked on the lands and called it their home, but now their land was being taken away and there was nothing they could do about it. Guevara and Granado talk to many of the indigenous people and listen to their stories. Guevara was changed by these experiences. Before, he was sheltered from his home and didn't truly realize what was going on in the world around him. Seeing the devastation and hopelessness of the people he met opened his eyes.

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