Journal #10
Madison Robinson
“We are each other’s business” written by Eboo Patel shows the importance of standing up for those around you, especially when they are your friends. He talks about the variety his friend group in high school and how they talked very rarely about their religious beliefs. He also talks about a time where he felt guilty about not standing up for his Jewish friend, and how that has shaped his beliefs now. The overall message of the essay is to remind people to act on your beliefs and stand up for what is right. One piece of the writing that I enjoyed was “It is a vivid depiction of a group living in peace with its diversity yet not exploring it” (Patel 179). This reminded me of how there is so much diversity within the world, and myself as a human being has yet to experience most of it. I think it is important to see and value how other cultures interact and live their lives, and this essay reminded me of that. One piece that I struggled to agree with is “I realize now that to believe in pluralism means I need the courage to act on it” (Patel 179). As in introvert, I struggle to speak up and act on my beliefs, yet I still possess them, so I find it difficult to agree with this. I think people can still have beliefs without necessarily having to act on them.
We are Each Other’s Business by Eboo Patel, was a great story. How I interpreted this story was, how people need to stick together even when we have differences. Sometimes you need to stand up for your friends, even when you are uncomfortable. Also if you do stand up for your friend, you might be the only one doing that.
A line that I liked in the essay would be “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence”. I really liked this statement, because it is something I believe we need to do more in society. Being able to stand next to someone with different views as you is good, but you have to have conversations too. Communicating is important to be able to help people that stand next to you, even if you don’t have the same values or follow the same ways of life.
In this piece of writing, nothing seemed to confuse me. I also didn’t disagree with anything that was stated. This piece of writing has a very good meaning, a meaning that should be shared with everyone. Also the meaning of standing up for someone that you care about, even if the hurt that is facing them is not facing you is very important.
Pluralism is an idea often discussed but never seen. It is this idea of coming together and coexisting alongside other people who may be different than you, but there is peace nonetheless. It also involves protecting the peace of coexisting, and having the courage to stand up for others who are suffering.
I liked the part of this essay where Eboo Patel describes the idea of needing to back up pluralism ideals with action. We cannot simply stand in silence together, we must actively work to create and protect the peace that comes from coexisting. He also mentions the fact that there are some forces in the world that would seek to disrupt this kind of harmony, and how we must not let them as we are all stronger together. He also quotes one of Gwendolyn Brooks poems, quoting a section where she says that we are each others business. I love that poem so much, and the quote he picked was perfect.
I disliked when he didn’t stand up his friend. I have always been the kind of person to stand up to people who were being mean, and to me the idea of not saying anything while my friend was experiencing hate crimes is baffling. I simply do not understand how you can yourself someones friend and then not stand up for them when they need it the most. Community is about harmony, and the harmony becomes disrupted when the trust to come together in the first place is broken.
The main idea of this piece is that the author states how, while we all may hold different beliefs and are diverse in our own ways, it is still essential that we support one another. The author calls us to not only stand next to one another in peace, but also, most importantly, not to stay silent when we see another person being hurt for what they believe in, even if it’s a different belief than ours. Instead of staying silent, we should take action, because he states that “beliefs are imprinted through actions.”
In this piece, I really liked it when the author stated, “action is what separates a belief from an opinion.” To me, this means that if we truly believe in something, then our actions should reflect it. I think that this message is important because it shows that our beliefs, and with that our actions, are only as powerful as we allow them to be.
In this piece, I didn’t really understand when the author said, “America is humanity’s best opportunity to make God’s wish that we come to know one another a reality.” I think I get the point he is trying to make about how diverse America is as a country and that we all could learn a lot from one another; however, I am not sure I fully understand why America is “humanity’s best opportunity” to do so.
The main idea in Patel’s piece is the importance of speaking up rather than just staying silent. Patel talks how even though we as humans may have differing beliefs in things, such as religion, we can still come together and stand up for others and support them. Patel tells us about a time when they stayed silent even though their friend was hurting and Patel goes on to encourage others not to be the “silent friend at the lunch table”.
A part I liked in this piece is when Patel says “we live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” I think this quote is important because of how much truth that it holds. There are so many things in this world that divide us, such as religion or politics, but just because we may have differing opinions on topics does not mean we can not support one another or stand up for them when needed. I think Patel holds importance in the fact that it is important to speak out and take action rather than just standing next to each other in silence.
There really was not anything I did not understand or disagree with in this piece. I think what Patel had to say was important and well said.
This piece is about courage. It encourages the reader to connect with our country and with one another. It also has an undertone of religion, and how the author goes about life with a religious & thoughtful point of view. Patel describes a past experience, one including his friend who is Jewish, and how he wishes he had stood up for him during an incident where “thugs” had made unacceptable and anti-Semetic comments towards him. He explains how he regrets what he did, or rather what he didn’t do, to stand up for his friend.
I strongly resonate with the line, “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” I too have noticed that there are so many people and forces at play that try to, subconsciously or consciously, divide us. It can be a dangerous and unsettling thing to be divided. I’ve grown up in a time where we are somewhat divided as a people, and growing more so by the day. So, when the author mentions how we are divided and what we must do to overcome it, I heavily agree with that.
I would say that I somewhat disagree with the line, “I believe America is humanity’s best opportunity to make God’s wish that we come to know one another a reality.” I don’t particularly like putting America above other nations. While it is a very privileged thing to live in America, putting ourselves on a pedestal above other countries just doesn’t sit right with me. However, I agree with the message of humanity and being united.
The big idea of this reading in my option was to stick by your friends no matter your differences or how you feel about the situation they’re going through. You should always be there to support them in their struggles. I liked the line,” beliefs are imprinted through action.” I choose this line because I think that actions speak louder than words and being there for someone and showing you care shows a lot more about you as a person then just saying you’re sorry for something that has happened to them or is happening. Something that confused me was the idea that the author didn’t stand up for her friend or support them through an issue they were having, let alone stand up for them to the “thugs”. I understand the fear in saying something but the least the author could’ve done was comfort her friend.
The main idea of this piece is that, despite the differences in beliefs among our friends and family, it is important to show respect for others’ religious views. The idea here is about unity and mutual support. It requires a lot of bravery to confront those who oppose us or, in this case, those who feel it’s acceptable to disrespect others’ cultural beliefs.
In this piece, I really appreciated when the author said, “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” This line resonated deeply with me because it rings so true in today’s world. As a society, we need to do more to actively support the people we care about. Standing up for friends who hold different beliefs is a powerful reflection of your character and shows genuine strength and empathy.
In this piece, I really didn’t like how he just stood by and watched his friend suffer. I’ve always believed that as humans, we must simply have courage and be kind. I can’t understand how someone can simply stand aside and pretend that what’s happening isn’t real. Just because it’s not happening to you doesn’t give you the right to ignore it. Silence and inaction only allow the harm to continue. True strength lies in standing up for others, even when it’s uncomfortable or difficult.
What is it? What’s the big idea in this piece?
Patel talks about how no one should live in isolation, and he highlights how communities rely on mutual care, respect, and responsibility of our actions. He wants the reader to understand that it is much healthier for humans to be active presences in other people’s lives instead of standing in silence.
See if you can locate 1 idea/concept or line in the essay and circle it. Explain why you like what you circled.
I circled the third to last paragraph where Patel talks about how actions is what separates belief from an opinion. I think this idea is interesting because he also mentions that his friend needed more than just a silent friend to sit with at lunch and how his own actions could build a stronger connection in the community.
See if you can locate 1 idea that confuses you or you disagree with. Explain as best you can what confuses you or why you disagree with what you circled.
The idea of being responsible for the well-being of others can be confusing in this piece. Patel talks about how in a community there a collective responsibility for people to not only to be concerned with their own actions but to be concerned with the actions of other people around them. For some, this may be an invasion of personal boundaries or independence, especially to people who follow the notion that we are only responsible for ourselves.
The main idea of Patel’s We Are Each Other’s Business is that you may not be able to control others actions but you can make it your business to control your own. Throughout his essay, he tells a story from high school about how one of his jewish friends was facing antisemitism and how he did nothing about it. Patel recalls this as the single most humiliating experience of his life. However, he did learn from this experience that it is important to take action and do something when someone you care about or just a complete stranger is experiencing a form of hate or hardship. It is a civic duty for someone to take action when they see something wrong. One message in this piece that I really liked was, “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” (Patel, 179) This statement holds true in so many forms. In order for there to be unity, there must be communication. How will anyone truly understand each other enough to rise above differences and take action if there is no communication. This thought is emphasized by a story from Patel’s high school where he sat at a very diverse lunch table but they never talked about their differences. This then led to him not taking action when his friend was experiencing hate. One idea that I didn’t quite understand was when Patel stated that, “…and I avoided the eyes of my friend because I couldn’t stand to face him.” (Patel, 179). I just don’t understand what caused him to avoid his friend. He knew what was happening and didn’t know how to confront the situation which is one thing. I just don’t understand what caused him to distance himself from his friend like that.
The big idea in We are each other’s business is about being connected with everyone around you, having humanity and the responsibility we have towards each other. It shows that our actions affect others and that we should care for each other’s well-being as if it was our own. It hits the concept that we are all a part of a huge community, regardless if we know it or not. A line that I really like was when she was saying that two people were standing facing the same way shoulder to shoulder. I really liked that line because it shows that even if you’re apart or near each other you can still be together in a sense. And be comfortable in each other’s space.Another line that I liked was when she was saying the group of people that she sat with at lunch. All the different religions and races. It shows that many different people can be friends and get along. A line that confused me or that I disagreed with was when she said that she didn’t confront her jewish friends and looked away. If someone is doing something or says something to your friend that you don’t like you should say something because it’s not right to just look away. Same things with if your friend says something about someone or something that you don’t like you should say something. You don’t just ignore it, that is just wrong and not fair.
“We are each other’s business” Eboo Patel starts with a quote from the Quran about how god made humans diverse so we could all get to know each other and each culture. She then talks about a beautiful painting I had to google which shows people of multiple religions together praying. I love her friend group from high school and how accepting they were of each other and did not question their religions or way of living, just simply respected it and went along. She then talks about a time in which she wished she stood up for a friend after they were harassed for being jewish. It is more than wishing she could have helped, she realizes that if she truly believes in the rights for freedom of religion she needs to stand up for that, even if it is not her own religion. I have experienced this as well throughout my life. I have had friends and people I babysit for have very different beliefs than me. I was uncomfortable when I was asked to babysit during a break-fast church service at someone’s house. I had never fasted and have never experienced a different church service than the one I went to as a child. While I was there I learned it was for shaboth, so I was the only one in the house who could turn on and off lights, as the children could not reach them. I was the only one with a phone that was turned on and I was being fed dinner with the children who were not fasting. It was odd but the black and white cookies were amazing. I watched the children as they prayed and danced with the children as they sang their hymns. The children were too young to be able to fast and sit through prayer so I sat with them on the couch as they watched. They had plenty of other options for what to do. They wanted to dance and sing with their family and “read” the books with them (none of the children could read English or Hebrew; they were all under 5). As someone who has never been religious and does not know what she believes this was amazing to watch. I learned so much and saw how religion connects people on a deep level.
This week was the fastest week it felt like, because I think I have settled in more. I’m going home this weekend, and I haven’t been back in two weeks which is the 4th longest time I have been away from my house, and the longest I have been away from my parents and sister. It is strange because it does not feel like I have been away from them for that long, but I’m getting through my homework ok, and frisbee is very fun. I’m happy there is so much to do outside the dorm room like clubs and the dining hall. That has been a good experience in itself. I like the food, and they always have a good type of dessert. The ice cream is pretty good too.
13 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 10”
Journal #10
Madison Robinson
“We are each other’s business” written by Eboo Patel shows the importance of standing up for those around you, especially when they are your friends. He talks about the variety his friend group in high school and how they talked very rarely about their religious beliefs. He also talks about a time where he felt guilty about not standing up for his Jewish friend, and how that has shaped his beliefs now. The overall message of the essay is to remind people to act on your beliefs and stand up for what is right. One piece of the writing that I enjoyed was “It is a vivid depiction of a group living in peace with its diversity yet not exploring it” (Patel 179). This reminded me of how there is so much diversity within the world, and myself as a human being has yet to experience most of it. I think it is important to see and value how other cultures interact and live their lives, and this essay reminded me of that. One piece that I struggled to agree with is “I realize now that to believe in pluralism means I need the courage to act on it” (Patel 179). As in introvert, I struggle to speak up and act on my beliefs, yet I still possess them, so I find it difficult to agree with this. I think people can still have beliefs without necessarily having to act on them.
Journal #10
We are Each Other’s Business by Eboo Patel, was a great story. How I interpreted this story was, how people need to stick together even when we have differences. Sometimes you need to stand up for your friends, even when you are uncomfortable. Also if you do stand up for your friend, you might be the only one doing that.
A line that I liked in the essay would be “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence”. I really liked this statement, because it is something I believe we need to do more in society. Being able to stand next to someone with different views as you is good, but you have to have conversations too. Communicating is important to be able to help people that stand next to you, even if you don’t have the same values or follow the same ways of life.
In this piece of writing, nothing seemed to confuse me. I also didn’t disagree with anything that was stated. This piece of writing has a very good meaning, a meaning that should be shared with everyone. Also the meaning of standing up for someone that you care about, even if the hurt that is facing them is not facing you is very important.
Pluralism is an idea often discussed but never seen. It is this idea of coming together and coexisting alongside other people who may be different than you, but there is peace nonetheless. It also involves protecting the peace of coexisting, and having the courage to stand up for others who are suffering.
I liked the part of this essay where Eboo Patel describes the idea of needing to back up pluralism ideals with action. We cannot simply stand in silence together, we must actively work to create and protect the peace that comes from coexisting. He also mentions the fact that there are some forces in the world that would seek to disrupt this kind of harmony, and how we must not let them as we are all stronger together. He also quotes one of Gwendolyn Brooks poems, quoting a section where she says that we are each others business. I love that poem so much, and the quote he picked was perfect.
I disliked when he didn’t stand up his friend. I have always been the kind of person to stand up to people who were being mean, and to me the idea of not saying anything while my friend was experiencing hate crimes is baffling. I simply do not understand how you can yourself someones friend and then not stand up for them when they need it the most. Community is about harmony, and the harmony becomes disrupted when the trust to come together in the first place is broken.
The main idea of this piece is that the author states how, while we all may hold different beliefs and are diverse in our own ways, it is still essential that we support one another. The author calls us to not only stand next to one another in peace, but also, most importantly, not to stay silent when we see another person being hurt for what they believe in, even if it’s a different belief than ours. Instead of staying silent, we should take action, because he states that “beliefs are imprinted through actions.”
In this piece, I really liked it when the author stated, “action is what separates a belief from an opinion.” To me, this means that if we truly believe in something, then our actions should reflect it. I think that this message is important because it shows that our beliefs, and with that our actions, are only as powerful as we allow them to be.
In this piece, I didn’t really understand when the author said, “America is humanity’s best opportunity to make God’s wish that we come to know one another a reality.” I think I get the point he is trying to make about how diverse America is as a country and that we all could learn a lot from one another; however, I am not sure I fully understand why America is “humanity’s best opportunity” to do so.
The main idea in Patel’s piece is the importance of speaking up rather than just staying silent. Patel talks how even though we as humans may have differing beliefs in things, such as religion, we can still come together and stand up for others and support them. Patel tells us about a time when they stayed silent even though their friend was hurting and Patel goes on to encourage others not to be the “silent friend at the lunch table”.
A part I liked in this piece is when Patel says “we live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” I think this quote is important because of how much truth that it holds. There are so many things in this world that divide us, such as religion or politics, but just because we may have differing opinions on topics does not mean we can not support one another or stand up for them when needed. I think Patel holds importance in the fact that it is important to speak out and take action rather than just standing next to each other in silence.
There really was not anything I did not understand or disagree with in this piece. I think what Patel had to say was important and well said.
This piece is about courage. It encourages the reader to connect with our country and with one another. It also has an undertone of religion, and how the author goes about life with a religious & thoughtful point of view. Patel describes a past experience, one including his friend who is Jewish, and how he wishes he had stood up for him during an incident where “thugs” had made unacceptable and anti-Semetic comments towards him. He explains how he regrets what he did, or rather what he didn’t do, to stand up for his friend.
I strongly resonate with the line, “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” I too have noticed that there are so many people and forces at play that try to, subconsciously or consciously, divide us. It can be a dangerous and unsettling thing to be divided. I’ve grown up in a time where we are somewhat divided as a people, and growing more so by the day. So, when the author mentions how we are divided and what we must do to overcome it, I heavily agree with that.
I would say that I somewhat disagree with the line, “I believe America is humanity’s best opportunity to make God’s wish that we come to know one another a reality.” I don’t particularly like putting America above other nations. While it is a very privileged thing to live in America, putting ourselves on a pedestal above other countries just doesn’t sit right with me. However, I agree with the message of humanity and being united.
The big idea of this reading in my option was to stick by your friends no matter your differences or how you feel about the situation they’re going through. You should always be there to support them in their struggles. I liked the line,” beliefs are imprinted through action.” I choose this line because I think that actions speak louder than words and being there for someone and showing you care shows a lot more about you as a person then just saying you’re sorry for something that has happened to them or is happening. Something that confused me was the idea that the author didn’t stand up for her friend or support them through an issue they were having, let alone stand up for them to the “thugs”. I understand the fear in saying something but the least the author could’ve done was comfort her friend.
The main idea of this piece is that, despite the differences in beliefs among our friends and family, it is important to show respect for others’ religious views. The idea here is about unity and mutual support. It requires a lot of bravery to confront those who oppose us or, in this case, those who feel it’s acceptable to disrespect others’ cultural beliefs.
In this piece, I really appreciated when the author said, “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” This line resonated deeply with me because it rings so true in today’s world. As a society, we need to do more to actively support the people we care about. Standing up for friends who hold different beliefs is a powerful reflection of your character and shows genuine strength and empathy.
In this piece, I really didn’t like how he just stood by and watched his friend suffer. I’ve always believed that as humans, we must simply have courage and be kind. I can’t understand how someone can simply stand aside and pretend that what’s happening isn’t real. Just because it’s not happening to you doesn’t give you the right to ignore it. Silence and inaction only allow the harm to continue. True strength lies in standing up for others, even when it’s uncomfortable or difficult.
What is it? What’s the big idea in this piece?
Patel talks about how no one should live in isolation, and he highlights how communities rely on mutual care, respect, and responsibility of our actions. He wants the reader to understand that it is much healthier for humans to be active presences in other people’s lives instead of standing in silence.
See if you can locate 1 idea/concept or line in the essay and circle it. Explain why you like what you circled.
I circled the third to last paragraph where Patel talks about how actions is what separates belief from an opinion. I think this idea is interesting because he also mentions that his friend needed more than just a silent friend to sit with at lunch and how his own actions could build a stronger connection in the community.
See if you can locate 1 idea that confuses you or you disagree with. Explain as best you can what confuses you or why you disagree with what you circled.
The idea of being responsible for the well-being of others can be confusing in this piece. Patel talks about how in a community there a collective responsibility for people to not only to be concerned with their own actions but to be concerned with the actions of other people around them. For some, this may be an invasion of personal boundaries or independence, especially to people who follow the notion that we are only responsible for ourselves.
The main idea of Patel’s We Are Each Other’s Business is that you may not be able to control others actions but you can make it your business to control your own. Throughout his essay, he tells a story from high school about how one of his jewish friends was facing antisemitism and how he did nothing about it. Patel recalls this as the single most humiliating experience of his life. However, he did learn from this experience that it is important to take action and do something when someone you care about or just a complete stranger is experiencing a form of hate or hardship. It is a civic duty for someone to take action when they see something wrong. One message in this piece that I really liked was, “We live in a world where the forces that seek to divide us are strong. To overcome them, we must do more than simply stand next to one another in silence.” (Patel, 179) This statement holds true in so many forms. In order for there to be unity, there must be communication. How will anyone truly understand each other enough to rise above differences and take action if there is no communication. This thought is emphasized by a story from Patel’s high school where he sat at a very diverse lunch table but they never talked about their differences. This then led to him not taking action when his friend was experiencing hate. One idea that I didn’t quite understand was when Patel stated that, “…and I avoided the eyes of my friend because I couldn’t stand to face him.” (Patel, 179). I just don’t understand what caused him to avoid his friend. He knew what was happening and didn’t know how to confront the situation which is one thing. I just don’t understand what caused him to distance himself from his friend like that.
The big idea in We are each other’s business is about being connected with everyone around you, having humanity and the responsibility we have towards each other. It shows that our actions affect others and that we should care for each other’s well-being as if it was our own. It hits the concept that we are all a part of a huge community, regardless if we know it or not. A line that I really like was when she was saying that two people were standing facing the same way shoulder to shoulder. I really liked that line because it shows that even if you’re apart or near each other you can still be together in a sense. And be comfortable in each other’s space.Another line that I liked was when she was saying the group of people that she sat with at lunch. All the different religions and races. It shows that many different people can be friends and get along. A line that confused me or that I disagreed with was when she said that she didn’t confront her jewish friends and looked away. If someone is doing something or says something to your friend that you don’t like you should say something because it’s not right to just look away. Same things with if your friend says something about someone or something that you don’t like you should say something. You don’t just ignore it, that is just wrong and not fair.
“We are each other’s business” Eboo Patel starts with a quote from the Quran about how god made humans diverse so we could all get to know each other and each culture. She then talks about a beautiful painting I had to google which shows people of multiple religions together praying. I love her friend group from high school and how accepting they were of each other and did not question their religions or way of living, just simply respected it and went along. She then talks about a time in which she wished she stood up for a friend after they were harassed for being jewish. It is more than wishing she could have helped, she realizes that if she truly believes in the rights for freedom of religion she needs to stand up for that, even if it is not her own religion. I have experienced this as well throughout my life. I have had friends and people I babysit for have very different beliefs than me. I was uncomfortable when I was asked to babysit during a break-fast church service at someone’s house. I had never fasted and have never experienced a different church service than the one I went to as a child. While I was there I learned it was for shaboth, so I was the only one in the house who could turn on and off lights, as the children could not reach them. I was the only one with a phone that was turned on and I was being fed dinner with the children who were not fasting. It was odd but the black and white cookies were amazing. I watched the children as they prayed and danced with the children as they sang their hymns. The children were too young to be able to fast and sit through prayer so I sat with them on the couch as they watched. They had plenty of other options for what to do. They wanted to dance and sing with their family and “read” the books with them (none of the children could read English or Hebrew; they were all under 5). As someone who has never been religious and does not know what she believes this was amazing to watch. I learned so much and saw how religion connects people on a deep level.
Journal #10:
This week was the fastest week it felt like, because I think I have settled in more. I’m going home this weekend, and I haven’t been back in two weeks which is the 4th longest time I have been away from my house, and the longest I have been away from my parents and sister. It is strange because it does not feel like I have been away from them for that long, but I’m getting through my homework ok, and frisbee is very fun. I’m happy there is so much to do outside the dorm room like clubs and the dining hall. That has been a good experience in itself. I like the food, and they always have a good type of dessert. The ice cream is pretty good too.