For this blog assignment, I will be discussion Question #1 regarding why King chose to emphasize the type of narrative using his voice when telling the Charm and Genesis creation stories.

The implied differences by King about the two creation stories can be seen as a way for readers to understand the subtle differences between cultures. In my opinion, Kings use of emphasis to dictate the two creation stories can be because of the various forms of communication and cultural understandings within Native American and European cultures. King and Chamberlin warn the readers not to limit themselves to a linear form of thinking. In my own interpretation, I see that as advice to the audience to broaden their thinking. This broadened point of view expands the readers awareness and states that you can get to the same conclusion through various means. You don’t need to point out and only stick to one road, or one creation story, because there are many roads and many creation stories that result in he same outcome.

The use of dichotomies that King uses to explain the two creation stories can tell the reader something about their own form of thinking and beliefs. Individuals from one culture will have a stronger connection to one creation story than the other, naturally. Also, individuals who hold a certain belief will also have more of a liking for one creation story than another. It can be assumed that the creation story, or any story in fact, that someone feels a connection to can be due to their current held beliefs and cultural influences. To bring out my point, due to my own spiritual beliefs which do not follow the ‘traditional’ European beliefs (since I am from Ukraine), I feel that I have a stronger connection to Charms story of creation rather than the Genesis story. In fact, both the stories are perfectly viable for me, because as I stated earlier, I try not to follow a linear form of thinking, but rather broaden my view to see the whole picture. Both the stories lead to the same outcome, simply the cultural understandings and beliefs within those stories are what makes them unique.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism

http://www.ukraine.com/religion/

Throughout my life, my beliefs as to what I understood to be my home have changed many times. As I grew up, expanded my knowledge, had fun with my creativity, and learned from my experiences, what I used to distinguish between what is my home and what is not transformed.

I was born in Ukraine. At the age of 6, my parents decided to leave everything and bring us to Canada at the hopes of a better life with more opportunities. We left my grandparents, cousins, friends, career, and house to come to Vancouver and start new. As I grew up, the values and stories that connected me to what I could call a home were centered around where my parents were. My stage of dependence at that age made me create re-assurance and safety around my parents.

As a child, I did not feel as much as a connection to my ‘first’ home in Ukraine as I do now, being much older. In my opinion, growing up is very influential to what you would say is your home. Instead of having just a home, you have many homes. To this day, my home has changed from being where my parents are, to a more expanded view that encompasses the area where all my loved ones, my friends, and my family are. Home is no longer just a single place, rather it is made up of many places that I feel that I have a connection to. The values that I place in an area that I would call my home are warmth, love, friendship, and support. I believe you can find those things in many places.

To broaden the definition of home, I feel that I have a home in places that I’ve never even been too. These are the places that I have an interest for or even some form of connected emotion. For instance, I feel some sort of pulling curiosity towards Japan, Pompeii, Newfoundland, and Ireland. Never been there, but I can still tell myself that if I were to venture out to those places I would find something good there. Comfort, excitement. That is my definition of home and the values that follow it.