War

While attempting to do about 50 million other things last evening I thought about what I could possibly write in a blog...nothing....so went to bed and woke up realizing something strange, even today there is the type of isolation that is spoken of within the book. 

Within class we have discussed and compared it the Garden of Eden, but why not something darker? I look at current Wars or "conflicts" that are taking place around the world. We are one of the lucky countries to not have a war on our own soil. Not having to worry about much of what others are worrying about. Yet, those that are experiencing that must have some type of isolated feeling. A feeling of uncertainty and concern. Some decide to isolate themselves from the problem, yet are unable. So people stand together having a commonality among themselves. I see much of that within book the novel and within certain societies today that are plagued with war. Many that are plagued with war wish to be isolated and have no choice letting people into their country no matter how uninvited they are. 

Isolation can be caused by many things, but the one that is the most horrifying is war. The feeling of isolation is two-fold, wanting to stay under the radar, but also feeling that there is no one else that is living the way that you are. This is a large reason for isolation of an entire city and just seems to coincide with what was going on during the writing of the book as well. A perfect reason for isolation. 

Identity

I have actually been talking about identity in some of my other classes and how important it is to each person. It seems that in this novel many of the characters hold very close to the same name and therefore almost the same identity, or at least shared. Thinking about the background of Colombia during this time period (and still it seems today) there is so much that has transpired that makes it horrible beyond any comprehension. Perhaps the names being so similar in the story symbolize a connection that can only be felt by the people that endure. While sharing things in life it makes them stronger as a person and a group. They are able to ban together in their time of need and be able to lean on others that know exactly what they are going through. As a group as well it makes them stronger than just as one person. I forgot who made the comment in something that I know I have read, but it likes the fingers on a hand. Each finger is it's own, yet they are all connecting on the hand making them work as work and stronger than they are by themselves.

This idea makes so much more sense in my head....

Being One

After leaving class I thought a great deal about the comment made about incest and the concept of being one. This struck me as strange for two reasons. One - I had not given it much thought. Two - this is only in the physical sense. 

Although I cannot claim to have any brothers and sisters for I am an only child, that doesn't mean that there are not moments in my life when I have been completely one with someone, but not in the physical sense more instead in the mental capacity. Is it truly necessary to view "being one" with someone only in the physical aspect of life? Can it not be mentally as well? 

I will not claim to have perfect relationships (as a broken engagement and a called off wedding do tell) but there have been times with my close friends, those I have known for many years, where there is no talking involved yet even being miles away you know when something has happened even though no words are spoken. It is a feeling...when it's something horrible it is a gut wrenching feeling, when it is something good a strange exhilaration when, even though you have no idea why, it brings a smile to your face. Example, my good friend is currently over in Iraq and I'm really not able to talk to him much except via e-mail and I get the occasional call. However, this past week I had gotten a gut-wrenching feeling that literally made me sick that something had happened. I knew that he wasn't dead, but something had happened. I e-mailed the moment this happened and received no response (not too unusual until it went on for 3 days...very unusual). Finally got a call and the feeling subsided, but this is in no way being one with someone in the physical sense because he's literally half a world away. Yet, I knew that something had happened and everything wasn't OK. 

In my opinion (obviously could be way off) the physical sense of "being-one" is important, but I think that on the deeper level it is more important to be one with someone in an emotional/mental capacity. This level is much more personal than physical and although physical is great, I don't think that they stand on the same level. I think that the twins may have jumped into something that (yes I'm sorry still slightly weirded out by the idea) was only being one on a much lower level instead of working to elevate it to the level it once was.