Anticipating Our Next Book

     The first statement I want to respond to is statement #2, If you are in a position of power, you are happy. I strongly disagree with this statement. I do think power can give a person control and sometimes even wealth. Power, however, does not necessarily mean happiness. Take Papa from the book Purple Hibiscus for example. He is powerful and wealthy, but does he really experience joy or happiness? In this same book Father Amadi seems very happy and he is not a man of power or wealth. People with power may be happy, but it may be easier to find happiness with money and control, but just because someone is powerful does not mean they are happy
     The second statement I want to respond to is statement #4, Who we are--our essential character and temperament--is fixed and unchangeable. This is another statement I disagree with. Although I do think we are born with some of our essential character and temperament, I do not think it is fixed and unchangeable. I think we learn right from wrong from our parents and figure out what we believe as we mature and as we grow. I think a persons environment has a great deal to do with how their character and temperament develop. I also think their is goodness in everyone but both our character and our experiences decide weather the good in us comes out or not. Papa in Purple Hibiscus is an example, also he was abused when he lived in the monastery and he abuses his family. If he had not been abused would he still be an abuser? I do not think a persons character and temperament is unchangeable.