This Blog is a resource tool for the students taking the "FACING HISTORY AND OURSELVES" elective at Westborough High School, Westborough, Massachusetts.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
PERIOD 6 - THE BEAR THAT WASN'T
Yesterday, we read The Bear That Wasn't by Frank Tashlin. Please share with the class your thoughts about the story and be sure to post at least one comment on another classmate's reflective post.
52 comments:
David Morency
said...
This book's dialogue really intrigued me, and I know that if it didn't have pictures my mind would've went crazy. The fact that everyone said he was a silly man in a fur coat started to make me think he was actually a man. It also plays on stereotypes saying that all bears are either in the zoo or the circus. Overall it really makes you wonder who you are and i like how he found out for himself at the end.
I think “The Bear That Wasn’t,” was a story about society. Society pressures people to give up their independence and blend in with everybody else, an example of this is “Living the American Dream.” Society will test every individual and see if they will cave to the pressure, or remain independent. In this story, the bear gave in to the pressure, but later realized his mistake and gained his independence back. He became happier once he has his independence back. I think the moral of the story is to be yourself no matter what everybody else says.
My thoughts on The Bear That Wasn’t story were that it really showed how others try to influence you to believing something that is not necessarily true. Many different people from the vice presidents to other bears were telling the bear that he wasn’t a bear. Eventually the bear conformed to how society viewed him and that is something that no one should let happen. No matter what other people say it is important to stick with your convictions, just because someone disagrees with your view does not mean that they are correct, neither does it make you correct. If it is truly how you feel though then it is important to not let your view be corrupted and manipulated by others. It is through strength and determination that allow us to push past hurdles and by giving in to others it is a way of saying that you give up and by that you are forfeiting your free will. We are the ones who determine our own fate and we must be strong enough to stick up for what we believe in.
The book that we read in class yesterday, The Bear That Wasn’t, I thought was a very amusing way to get across a larger point. At first glance the book just seems to be a children’s story with some pictures and cool fonts. Though once you take a second look at it you begin to seem the larger point about one’s identity and how a person identifies themselves. The bear started out calling himself a bear and going about usual bear activities, such as hibernation. Though once the Foreman, the Third Vice President, and so on started to call him just a man wearing a fur coat who needed a good shave even at the protest of the bear, the bear slowly began to believe it himself until at the very end he was convinced that he was just a man and not a bear. It really shows society’s influence on a person’s identity and could also represent a person’s desire to fit into the society and become what it finds socially acceptable. It shows how easily a person’s identity, which is something that you feel, is original and personal toward yourself, can be changed over time by society and without even realizing it. By the end of the book the bear was honestly convinced that he was a man that he had never in his life been a bear even though before he was in the factory it had been his identity.
"The Bear That Wasn't" perfectly depicts what today's society is like. People like to gather together as a group to gang up and single out certain people for being different. And being that person sinlged out, like the bear, it is sometimes difficult to fight back against so much more power. Sometimes these people lose theirselves and their true identities by believing what people say about them. After being miserable during the winter, the bear realized what everyone was saying wasn't true and rediscovered his identity. Everyone goes through simlar situations like this and I think that the book shows how important it is to stay true to yourself and never listen or care about what others say about you.
"The Bear That Wasn't" is a book that I have read twice: yesterday in Facing History and two years ago in Mr. Gallagher's US 1 class. This year, I picked up on the heirarchy aspect that had gone over my head as a lowly sophomore-the idea that as the bear went up the chain of command (from foreman, to GM, to 3rd VP, etc) each figurehead was more and more convincing that Bear truely wasn't a bear. In addition, after the bear passes through the President of the factory, when they take him to see bears in the zoo, the conviction behind the lie that he is not a bear grows stronger and stronger because now, not only is he hearing the same story from other people who claim to be in charge of him, but also from his peers who have been convinced that living in a cage is the way of life for bears. The final push over the ledge came when he was convinced by the circus bears: bears who were forced to wear what their trainers clothed them in, act however their trainers demanded, and completely alienate themselves to fit in the mold given them by their trainers. This final push was all it took- the bear had been completely alienated and was ready to work in the factories to suit the image that his "superiors" saw fit because, in his self identity, he was no longer a bear at all but "a silly man who needed a shave and wore a fur coat."
I like how Mark McCauley said that the bear conformed to what society viewed him as, he didnt conform to society directly. I think that this is more accurate, and I agree with him.
I agree with the point brought up by Johnny Maguire, that society pressures us to the point where we are willing to give up our independance. I think that he is right in saying that no matter what everybody else says you have to be yourself
The Bear That Wasn’t was a great story that got me thinking about identity, and thinking about whether I have ever conformed to what society tells me I am. It made me wonder if I have ever given up my individualism just to fit society’s definition of acceptable. The Bear was so confident that he was a bear, but because so many people told him otherwise, he believed them and changed his identity. It made me think if I had ever too changed my identity, like the bear. If I had ever said I liked something or somebody but then changed my mind because of how everyone else sees those things. I also wonder if I have talked to someone and convinced them to change identity or opinions, just as the management of the company did to the bear. I feel as though that everybody, in a way, changes their opinions because of society or media, and I also feel that because everybody changes, that everybody also influences these changes.
I thought this story was a great representation of how people can be influenced into thinking something by other people. This manipulation can be even stronger when these people have a lot of power and authority. This was shown in the story when the bear climbed up the ranks in the company from foreman all the way to president. Each time he reached a new person in the hierarchy, his mind was being changed more and more until he believed he was a silly man in need of a shave, wearing a fur coat. He eventually gave into their pressure and accepted what they were trying to force him to believe.
I found this story very refreshing. It short and to the point and was easy to understand. I feel like this story directly relates to everyone just because, at some time or another, everyone can lose sight of who they are. Knowing who you are is one of the most important things in life. As we read with The Bear Who Wasn’t, in the end it didn’t matter who everyone else said he was. All that mattered was that he was a bear and he knew it.
I think that the book "The Bear That Wasn't" shows how people’s identities are shaped in today’s culture. People that were superior to the bear kept on telling him that he wasn’t a bear, but that he was actually a guy who needed to shave and a fur coat. After being told so many times he finally just gave in and accepted what they were saying. This story also shows how stereotypes play a role in society. No one believed that he was a real bear because he wasn’t in a zoo cage and he also wasn’t in a circus which is where everyone thought that bears always were, so everyone thought he was lying.
I agree with Kensie's point that people tend to lose themselves while trying to fit into the mold they are given, and they end up having to rediscover themselves to be honestly happy.
I agree with Johhny M. I think "Living the American Dream " is a perfect example of you can lose yourself when your expected by people to be something your not. I also agree with Kensie M in saying sometimes these people lose theirselves and their true identities by believing what people say about them.
The Bear That Wasn’t was an inspiring book, because it really shows how some people in the world are arrogant and sometimes do not believe what others say. It also shows how some people really believe in who they are that they do not get down on themselves even though people say things about them that are not true. So it shows that some people can believe in who they are and keep their identity even though others might try to change it. I also, think that this short story was a good way to start the unit off with because the Germans were kind of changing the identities of all the people they held in the concentration camps. Like after the holocaust and the war had ended people that were still luckily alive, forgot who they were because they were given numbers for identities and they were forced to wear a certain uniform. So this book is a way to show that you should never give up your identity because it is the most important thing any person has for themselves. So all I have to say is don’t lose your identity, because without it you are a lost soul trying to find its way back to itself.
In “The Bear That Wasn’t”, the bear was constantly having his identity challenged by the rest of the society that he was in. This can easily relate to the society in which we live today because people are always trying to assimilate into the new culture, in an attempt to fit in. I like how the author’s message was to try and have people maintain their own independence to avoid being driven into the “hole” that everyone else in society falls into to try to fit in and to be your own unique self.
I personally thought that the story was intended to be a social commentary on the stress placed on conformity in today’s society. The people in the position of power refused to accept any sort of differences in their employees. They sought to crush the individualist spirit of the bear, by consistently wearing away at his will to be himself. They told him unrelentingly that he was just another man, no different than any other factory worker. They wanted to change the bear to match their own vision of what their inferiors should be, by extinguishing his hopes of being anything else. This stress placed on conformity leads only to ignorance, to punishing those who stand out, and rewarding those who submit to the social norm.
After reading The Bear That Wasn’t, I believe the work was a commentary on the mentality of individuals who stand apart from a group, and the influence of that group on those individuals. Those who stand apart from a group are subject to criticism and harassment, as well as the pressure of conforming for the sake of feeling accepted. It is because people want to feel accepted that they compromise their morals and integrity, even going as far as changing their identity. Such is the case in The Bear That Wasn’t. The bear had been told he was wrong repeatedly, and after a while it began to ring true within him. The mob’s influence over him had convinced him that he was not a bear, but in fact a lazy man. His identity had been changed due to his differences and the bear accepted it as fact as to cease the criticism.
I thought this story was rather fascinating. Throughout the story I thought it was strange at first, that the factory workers thought he was just a man who needed to shave. Overtime, it became harder for him to maintain his identity because everyone kept telling him that he wasn’t a bear, which led him to believe that he actually was a bear. I feel that as the authority increased, the bear had more of a reason to believe that he wasn’t a bear. I feel like it was difficult for the bear to go against the large group because they had more power. Overall, I think that you shouldn’t listen to others if you know they are wrong.
I like Eric's comment on how stereotypes played into this story-how because the bear wasn't "acting like a bear", he must not be a bear. I bring up the opposite of an old saying my mom used to tell me: "Just because it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it just might be a squirrel (or something)"
I agree with Mike Damiano that as higher powers try to convince the bear who he was, the more he started to second guess himself. The worst, like the bear experienced, is hearing from others that are just like you try and tell you who you are. I also agree that this is the final push in a lot of cases- authority can try and tell you one thing, but when your own peers tell you it too, it's harder to stay true to yourself.
I think that the author was suggesting that individuals will try to conform to society in order to feel acceptance. The Bear was going around to various places such as the zoo and the factory and he didn't know where he belonged and neither did any of the people that kept telling him he wasn't a bear, and just a man who needed to shave. It seems like he was trying to fit in with everyone else around him. I think the story also shows that a lot of times, individuals who have less power will easily agree to do things and not say anything/stand up to people who have more power and authority because they have a fear of being judged, but in the end it's really important to stay true to yourself instead of feeling like you need to please other peoples’ opinions.
I agree with what Mark said about the short story because I believed that the story was about others trying to influence the bear that he was not a bear. Also, I believe it is important to stick with what you believe in because you should go by your own opinions and not about what others think.
I agree with the point David Gross brought up, because at one point or another, people are going to lose sight in who they really are. It may take a while, but they eventually do regain themselves, much like the the bear who wasn't.
I like what David Gross said about how all that mattered was that the bear knew that he was a bear. That's what should matter most to people but it seems like people have forgotten that and are trying to please and fit in with others.
After reading “The Bear that Wasn’t” it made me think about people and their desire to fit into society. This relates to the bear because he at first was confident that he in fact was a bear, but after hearing it from different people repeatedly that he wasn’t, he started to believe that. Showing the underlying desire the bear had to conform into what the society believed that he was, a silly man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat. The people who were telling him also impacted him changing his mind; due to the fact that these were important people (presidents and vice presidents) which made him believe them that much more. These people were able to convince him, as well as others around them that he wasn’t a bear because of the power that they held. I believe that rather than conforming to what everyone wanted him to be, he should have believed in himself because at the end of the book he was much happier with sleeping in a cave and staying true to his identity rather than pretending like he was someone that everyone wanted him to be.
I agree with Mark McCauley in that today's society seems to view the loudest person as the most intelligent. No matter how much anyone disagrees, the right thing to do is to stand by your personal beliefs and convictions.
Even though “The Bear That Wasn’t” is a children’s book, it still had a greater meaning behind it. The story showed how society plays a big role on a person’s individuality. People tend to follow in everyone else’s footsteps instead of doing what they want. The bear knew who he was yet he started believing everyone around him when they were all telling him he was just a man. Overall I think that this story was just saying how you have to be yourself and not follow what society wants everyone to be.
Oftentimes I think it is easy for us as human beings who are striving to be accepted in society to listen to the opinions of others; we may doubt ourselves, and lose confidence in the person we are created to be just because of a comment someone may say about us. In the story of The Bear that Wasn’t, the main character, a bear by nature, begins to question his own identity due to the opinions of others. Even though the idea of a bear entering a factory and being mistaken as a man who “needed a shave” seems somewhat lofty and unrealistic, it is a fact that the opinions of others who may seem more intelligent or “higher up” by social standards can influence our very own thinking. However, this lesson is a two-way street. It is true that we shouldn’t let the opinions of others change or influence the person we are meant to be, but in return, we should not be so quick to label people. It is easy to get one glance at a person and immediately have them pegged for something they’re not: I think sometimes we subconsciously judge others without giving it a second thought. The Bear that Wasn’t taught me that I should not let what others perceive me to be influence the person who I really am, and I think that is one of the most valuable lessons to learn as an individual.
I thought Johnny's comment was interesting, concerning the "test" of sorts that is placed on indiviuals in a society. Being different is in fact, more difficult that not in almost any and every aspect. Some people cave to this challenge and take the easier way out, while sacrificing their individuality.
The thing that intrested me most when reading this story was how the bear convinced himself he was a man. This goes to show how even when someone like the bear, who was sure of his true identity,can be warped into thinking of themselves as someting they're not just because of society's influences. Its important that we take away this story's lesson which is to stick to your identity and independence. I also enjoyed how the bear came to the realization of who he was at the end.
Kensie, i agree with you about how the bear loses himself along the way but ends up finding his identity at the end. I think that that is a very good point. I also agree with that he should have ignored everyone throughout the process and stayed true to himself.
The Bear That Wasn’t is a story that anyone can benefit from. It is written youthfully and with many pictures (which I enjoyed) its message although, has no limits. The bear is frequently asked the same question of who am I? The bear was very persistent in that he is a bear and that’s what I liked about the story. You can be anyone you want to be as long as you believe it yourself and you don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. In society people will always have their judgments about you and the important lesson to take out of this story is that you can’t let it affect you and bring you down like it did to the bear at one point in the story. I’m glad the bear could regain his self-esteem by the end of the story and realize he can be anything he wants.
I agree with David because I also think that the factory workers or, inferiors, wanted to change the bear to match their own vision by eliminating his hop of being something else.
The Bear That Wasn’t illustrates the feeling of peer pressure into conforming to the majority belief, which I think most often times results in giving into other people’s ideas because of a fear to stand by your own. I think it’s really important though to know how to pick and choose your battles. If you believe in something so strongly, if you feel a conviction, then it’s a loss not only to yourself, but to the diversity of ideas and opinions if you let someone else take that away from you. Like, if you give up a right to your opinion, you’re not letting yourself be the person you want to be, you’re giving control to someone else to label you in a generic and unoriginal way. Which I believe makes life unfulfilling.
I agree with Johnny’s point about how people feel pressured to fit in with others so often times they try too hard to fit in and end up losing their identities and who they really are, which I think is a sad thing to see. I see it happen to a lot of people, even some of my friends and I think it’s really important to be able to think on your own, in a sense and not just doing what everyone else is doing because you feel pressured or you’re afraid of being judged.
Griffin,great point. I find if very relevant to the life of a teenager, in that if kids keep hearing the same thing over and over again about themselves they'll eventually start to believe it.
I think Tom Kotosky brings forth great insight into the way we may perceive ourselves through society’s opinions, and how it may be easy for us to conform to the wills and desires of society. It is true that we are all influenced by society, in one way or another, it is our job now to decide if we want to give in to those conforming ways, or stand confidently in the person we have become.
I thought the story The bear that wasn’t was very reflective of the American teenage society today. I say this because many people in the United States growing up have trouble finding their true Identity and they try to model themselves after people they see in movies or in TV shows because that’s what they see as the societal norm and all they want to do is fit in with the crowd. Young adults today have allowed outside influences of other people to basically tell them who they are and who they aren’t and give up any sense of self-identity. The part of the story that I liked most was when the bear sat in the snow and began to realize that he really is a bear. I like that because the bear had to go through an experience that confused him about his true-self and I think that relates back to people in society today because to find yourself and your true identity you might have to go through an experience that forces you to dig down deep and pull out who you really are.
I liked what Steven said about the bear finding it harder and harder to maintain his identity after more people of higher authority said he wasnt a bear. If one person claims you wrong it no big deal but if more and more people say your wrong you end up beliving it.
I agree with Connie when she said that people with less power will agree to do things and not stand up to people because they are afraid of being judged. Everyone today is so afraid to say and do what they want because they don’t want anyone to judge them, so they would rather keep to themselves and do what society would want instead of doing what makes them happy.
I agree with David Gross, I too enjoyed how simple, and easy this book was to read. It was definatley refreshing to read such a simple book but have it carry such a strong message.
I thought that “The Bear That Wasn’t Me” showed how a majority of people act in society today. People feel like they have to get approval from others, and especially those who have power over them. The bear felt like he needed an approval from the president, vice president, workers, etc. When they all told him that he wasn’t a bear, he started to believe them. Today people try to fit in with everyone else, and start to lose the sense of who they are. I believe that you are the happiest when you stay true to yourself, and not try to please others. As in the end, the bear was happiest when he came to his own conclusion that, "The truth is he was not a silly man...and he was not a silly bear, either".
“I personally thought that the story was intended to be a social commentary on the stress placed on conformity in today’s society.” I thought Tubman’s idea was really interesting, I hadn’t thought of the story in that way but I can see where he’s coming from and agree that that could be a possible message the author was trying to get across. I interpreted things in a more general way, and how it applies to social aspect of society, but I see how he saw it as a commentary on the business or political aspect.
In the story, “The Bear That Wasn’t,” the bear experienced various situations in which he was told what he was and what he was not. After constantly being told that he was not a bear, he began to believe it. He began to think that he really was a regular person “in need of a shave.” I think that this story represents how easy it can be for people with power and authority to corrupt the minds of other people and distort their views. The story also brings forth the topic of misuse of power. The Foremen, managers, vice president, and president had power over the bear, and they used their power to degrade his self-identity by placing him in a category. When the bear woke up in the factory in a confused state, he was at his weakest point, making it easy for the foreman, managers, etc. to influence and manipulate his beliefs. Power-seekers in today’s world seem to find the weakest parts in people to manipulate, and I think this story is an accurate representation of this. I think this story also represents the insignificance of fitting into a category. At the end of the story, the bear realized that he did not truly belong in any category – whether he was a bear or a silly man in need of a shave – because he knew that he was special and unique and that’s all that mattered to him.
I agree with what Connie Lai said about people’s desire to fit in with society even if it means hiding their true identities and personalities. I also agree that it is always important to stay true to yourself instead of sacrificing your beliefs simply for the satisfaction of being accepted.
I agree with Joy that when you give up a right to your own opinion, you are giving control to someone else to label you in a generic or unoriginal way. You are changing who you are so you can fit in with everyone else. I also agree that not letting yourself be the person you want to be makes life unfulfilling. You are the happiest when you create your own identity and stay true to what you believe.
I found the book The Bear That Wasn't to have an extremely significant moral message:to stay true to who you are regardless of what people or society says. Although in the book it showed the bear allowing the people to influence his thoughts and actions. This specific scenario made more of a statement than if he stood up to them because it shows how wrong it is to allow someone to push you to the point you give into pressure. Although this was a children's book i thought it was written well and more significantly got a message across that's important for everyone to know and utilize.
I found the book The Bear That Wasn't to have an extremely significant moral message:to stay true to who you are regardless of what people or society says. Although in the book it showed the bear allowing the people to influence his thoughts and actions. This specific scenario made more of a statement than if he stood up to them because it shows how wrong it is to allow someone to push you to the point you give into pressure. Although this was a children's book i thought it was written well and more significantly got a message across that's important for everyone to know and utilize.
52 comments:
This book's dialogue really intrigued me, and I know that if it didn't have pictures my mind would've went crazy. The fact that everyone said he was a silly man in a fur coat started to make me think he was actually a man. It also plays on stereotypes saying that all bears are either in the zoo or the circus. Overall it really makes you wonder who you are and i like how he found out for himself at the end.
I think “The Bear That Wasn’t,” was a story about society. Society pressures people to give up their independence and blend in with everybody else, an example of this is “Living the American Dream.” Society will test every individual and see if they will cave to the pressure, or remain independent. In this story, the bear gave in to the pressure, but later realized his mistake and gained his independence back. He became happier once he has his independence back. I think the moral of the story is to be yourself no matter what everybody else says.
My thoughts on The Bear That Wasn’t story were that it really showed how others try to influence you to believing something that is not necessarily true. Many different people from the vice presidents to other bears were telling the bear that he wasn’t a bear. Eventually the bear conformed to how society viewed him and that is something that no one should let happen. No matter what other people say it is important to stick with your convictions, just because someone disagrees with your view does not mean that they are correct, neither does it make you correct. If it is truly how you feel though then it is important to not let your view be corrupted and manipulated by others. It is through strength and determination that allow us to push past hurdles and by giving in to others it is a way of saying that you give up and by that you are forfeiting your free will. We are the ones who determine our own fate and we must be strong enough to stick up for what we believe in.
The book that we read in class yesterday, The Bear That Wasn’t, I thought was a very amusing way to get across a larger point. At first glance the book just seems to be a children’s story with some pictures and cool fonts. Though once you take a second look at it you begin to seem the larger point about one’s identity and how a person identifies themselves. The bear started out calling himself a bear and going about usual bear activities, such as hibernation. Though once the Foreman, the Third Vice President, and so on started to call him just a man wearing a fur coat who needed a good shave even at the protest of the bear, the bear slowly began to believe it himself until at the very end he was convinced that he was just a man and not a bear. It really shows society’s influence on a person’s identity and could also represent a person’s desire to fit into the society and become what it finds socially acceptable. It shows how easily a person’s identity, which is something that you feel, is original and personal toward yourself, can be changed over time by society and without even realizing it. By the end of the book the bear was honestly convinced that he was a man that he had never in his life been a bear even though before he was in the factory it had been his identity.
"The Bear That Wasn't" perfectly depicts what today's society is like. People like to gather together as a group to gang up and single out certain people for being different. And being that person sinlged out, like the bear, it is sometimes difficult to fight back against so much more power. Sometimes these people lose theirselves and their true identities by believing what people say about them. After being miserable during the winter, the bear realized what everyone was saying wasn't true and rediscovered his identity. Everyone goes through simlar situations like this and I think that the book shows how important it is to stay true to yourself and never listen or care about what others say about you.
"The Bear That Wasn't" is a book that I have read twice: yesterday in Facing History and two years ago in Mr. Gallagher's US 1 class. This year, I picked up on the heirarchy aspect that had gone over my head as a lowly sophomore-the idea that as the bear went up the chain of command (from foreman, to GM, to 3rd VP, etc) each figurehead was more and more convincing that Bear truely wasn't a bear. In addition, after the bear passes through the President of the factory, when they take him to see bears in the zoo, the conviction behind the lie that he is not a bear grows stronger and stronger because now, not only is he hearing the same story from other people who claim to be in charge of him, but also from his peers who have been convinced that living in a cage is the way of life for bears. The final push over the ledge came when he was convinced by the circus bears: bears who were forced to wear what their trainers clothed them in, act however their trainers demanded, and completely alienate themselves to fit in the mold given them by their trainers. This final push was all it took- the bear had been completely alienated and was ready to work in the factories to suit the image that his "superiors" saw fit because, in his self identity, he was no longer a bear at all but "a silly man who needed a shave and wore a fur coat."
I like how Mark McCauley said that the bear conformed to what society viewed him as, he didnt conform to society directly. I think that this is more accurate, and I agree with him.
I agree with the point brought up by Johnny Maguire, that society pressures us to the point where we are willing to give up our independance. I think that he is right in saying that no matter what everybody else says you have to be yourself
The Bear That Wasn’t was a great story that got me thinking about identity, and thinking about whether I have ever conformed to what society tells me I am. It made me wonder if I have ever given up my individualism just to fit society’s definition of acceptable. The Bear was so confident that he was a bear, but because so many people told him otherwise, he believed them and changed his identity. It made me think if I had ever too changed my identity, like the bear. If I had ever said I liked something or somebody but then changed my mind because of how everyone else sees those things. I also wonder if I have talked to someone and convinced them to change identity or opinions, just as the management of the company did to the bear. I feel as though that everybody, in a way, changes their opinions because of society or media, and I also feel that because everybody changes, that everybody also influences these changes.
I thought this story was a great representation of how people can be influenced into thinking something by other people. This manipulation can be even stronger when these people have a lot of power and authority. This was shown in the story when the bear climbed up the ranks in the company from foreman all the way to president. Each time he reached a new person in the hierarchy, his mind was being changed more and more until he believed he was a silly man in need of a shave, wearing a fur coat. He eventually gave into their pressure and accepted what they were trying to force him to believe.
I found this story very refreshing. It short and to the point and was easy to understand. I feel like this story directly relates to everyone just because, at some time or another, everyone can lose sight of who they are. Knowing who you are is one of the most important things in life. As we read with The Bear Who Wasn’t, in the end it didn’t matter who everyone else said he was. All that mattered was that he was a bear and he knew it.
I think that the book "The Bear That Wasn't" shows how people’s identities are shaped in today’s culture. People that were superior to the bear kept on telling him that he wasn’t a bear, but that he was actually a guy who needed to shave and a fur coat. After being told so many times he finally just gave in and accepted what they were saying. This story also shows how stereotypes play a role in society. No one believed that he was a real bear because he wasn’t in a zoo cage and he also wasn’t in a circus which is where everyone thought that bears always were, so everyone thought he was lying.
I agree with Kensie's point that people tend to lose themselves while trying to fit into the mold they are given, and they end up having to rediscover themselves to be honestly happy.
I agree with Johhny M. I think "Living the American Dream " is a perfect example of you can lose yourself when your expected by people to be something your not. I also agree with Kensie M in saying sometimes these people lose theirselves and their true identities by believing what people say about them.
The Bear That Wasn’t was an inspiring book, because it really shows how some people in the world are arrogant and sometimes do not believe what others say. It also shows how some people really believe in who they are that they do not get down on themselves even though people say things about them that are not true. So it shows that some people can believe in who they are and keep their identity even though others might try to change it. I also, think that this short story was a good way to start the unit off with because the Germans were kind of changing the identities of all the people they held in the concentration camps. Like after the holocaust and the war had ended people that were still luckily alive, forgot who they were because they were given numbers for identities and they were forced to wear a certain uniform. So this book is a way to show that you should never give up your identity because it is the most important thing any person has for themselves. So all I have to say is don’t lose your identity, because without it you are a lost soul trying to find its way back to itself.
In “The Bear That Wasn’t”, the bear was constantly having his identity challenged by the rest of the society that he was in. This can easily relate to the society in which we live today because people are always trying to assimilate into the new culture, in an attempt to fit in. I like how the author’s message was to try and have people maintain their own independence to avoid being driven into the “hole” that everyone else in society falls into to try to fit in and to be your own unique self.
I personally thought that the story was intended to be a social commentary on the stress placed on conformity in today’s society. The people in the position of power refused to accept any sort of differences in their employees. They sought to crush the individualist spirit of the bear, by consistently wearing away at his will to be himself. They told him unrelentingly that he was just another man, no different than any other factory worker. They wanted to change the bear to match their own vision of what their inferiors should be, by extinguishing his hopes of being anything else. This stress placed on conformity leads only to ignorance, to punishing those who stand out, and rewarding those who submit to the social norm.
After reading The Bear That Wasn’t, I believe the work was a commentary on the mentality of individuals who stand apart from a group, and the influence of that group on those individuals. Those who stand apart from a group are subject to criticism and harassment, as well as the pressure of conforming for the sake of feeling accepted. It is because people want to feel accepted that they compromise their morals and integrity, even going as far as changing their identity. Such is the case in The Bear That Wasn’t. The bear had been told he was wrong repeatedly, and after a while it began to ring true within him. The mob’s influence over him had convinced him that he was not a bear, but in fact a lazy man. His identity had been changed due to his differences and the bear accepted it as fact as to cease the criticism.
I thought this story was rather fascinating. Throughout the story I thought it was strange at first, that the factory workers thought he was just a man who needed to shave. Overtime, it became harder for him to maintain his identity because everyone kept telling him that he wasn’t a bear, which led him to believe that he actually was a bear. I feel that as the authority increased, the bear had more of a reason to believe that he wasn’t a bear. I feel like it was difficult for the bear to go against the large group because they had more power. Overall, I think that you shouldn’t listen to others if you know they are wrong.
I like Eric's comment on how stereotypes played into this story-how because the bear wasn't "acting like a bear", he must not be a bear. I bring up the opposite of an old saying my mom used to tell me: "Just because it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it just might be a squirrel (or something)"
I agree with Mike Damiano that as higher powers try to convince the bear who he was, the more he started to second guess himself. The worst, like the bear experienced, is hearing from others that are just like you try and tell you who you are. I also agree that this is the final push in a lot of cases- authority can try and tell you one thing, but when your own peers tell you it too, it's harder to stay true to yourself.
I think that the author was suggesting that individuals will try to conform to society in order to feel acceptance. The Bear was going around to various places such as the zoo and the factory and he didn't know where he belonged and neither did any of the people that kept telling him he wasn't a bear, and just a man who needed to shave. It seems like he was trying to fit in with everyone else around him. I think the story also shows that a lot of times, individuals who have less power will easily agree to do things and not say anything/stand up to people who have more power and authority because they have a fear of being judged, but in the end it's really important to stay true to yourself instead of feeling like you need to please other peoples’ opinions.
I agree with what Mark said about the short story because I believed that the story was about others trying to influence the bear that he was not a bear. Also, I believe it is important to stick with what you believe in because you should go by your own opinions and not about what others think.
I agree with the point David Gross brought up, because at one point or another, people are going to lose sight in who they really are. It may take a while, but they eventually do regain themselves, much like the the bear who wasn't.
I like what David Gross said about how all that mattered was that the bear knew that he was a bear. That's what should matter most to people but it seems like people have forgotten that and are trying to please and fit in with others.
After reading “The Bear that Wasn’t” it made me think about people and their desire to fit into society. This relates to the bear because he at first was confident that he in fact was a bear, but after hearing it from different people repeatedly that he wasn’t, he started to believe that. Showing the underlying desire the bear had to conform into what the society believed that he was, a silly man who needed to shave and wore a fur coat. The people who were telling him also impacted him changing his mind; due to the fact that these were important people (presidents and vice presidents) which made him believe them that much more. These people were able to convince him, as well as others around them that he wasn’t a bear because of the power that they held. I believe that rather than conforming to what everyone wanted him to be, he should have believed in himself because at the end of the book he was much happier with sleeping in a cave and staying true to his identity rather than pretending like he was someone that everyone wanted him to be.
I agree with Mark's point where he said that it is important to stay true to yourself in order to maintain your independence.
I agree with Mark McCauley in that today's society seems to view the loudest person as the most intelligent. No matter how much anyone disagrees, the right thing to do is to stand by your personal beliefs and convictions.
Even though “The Bear That Wasn’t” is a children’s book, it still had a greater meaning behind it. The story showed how society plays a big role on a person’s individuality. People tend to follow in everyone else’s footsteps instead of doing what they want. The bear knew who he was yet he started believing everyone around him when they were all telling him he was just a man. Overall I think that this story was just saying how you have to be yourself and not follow what society wants everyone to be.
Oftentimes I think it is easy for us as human beings who are striving to be accepted in society to listen to the opinions of others; we may doubt ourselves, and lose confidence in the person we are created to be just because of a comment someone may say about us. In the story of The Bear that Wasn’t, the main character, a bear by nature, begins to question his own identity due to the opinions of others. Even though the idea of a bear entering a factory and being mistaken as a man who “needed a shave” seems somewhat lofty and unrealistic, it is a fact that the opinions of others who may seem more intelligent or “higher up” by social standards can influence our very own thinking. However, this lesson is a two-way street. It is true that we shouldn’t let the opinions of others change or influence the person we are meant to be, but in return, we should not be so quick to label people. It is easy to get one glance at a person and immediately have them pegged for something they’re not: I think sometimes we subconsciously judge others without giving it a second thought. The Bear that Wasn’t taught me that I should not let what others perceive me to be influence the person who I really am, and I think that is one of the most valuable lessons to learn as an individual.
I thought Johnny's comment was interesting, concerning the "test" of sorts that is placed on indiviuals in a society. Being different is in fact, more difficult that not in almost any and every aspect. Some people cave to this challenge and take the easier way out, while sacrificing their individuality.
I totally agree with what Connie said. A lot of the time it all comes down to finding truth. Truth in what others say and truth in who you are.
The thing that intrested me most when reading this story was how the bear convinced himself he was a man. This goes to show how even when someone like the bear, who was sure of his true identity,can be warped into thinking of themselves as someting they're not just because of society's influences. Its important that we take away this story's lesson which is to stick to your identity and independence. I also enjoyed how the bear came to the realization of who he was at the end.
Kensie, i agree with you about how the bear loses himself along the way but ends up finding his identity at the end. I think that that is a very good point. I also agree with that he should have ignored everyone throughout the process and stayed true to himself.
The Bear That Wasn’t is a story that anyone can benefit from. It is written youthfully and with many pictures (which I enjoyed) its message although, has no limits. The bear is frequently asked the same question of who am I? The bear was very persistent in that he is a bear and that’s what I liked about the story. You can be anyone you want to be as long as you believe it yourself and you don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. In society people will always have their judgments about you and the important lesson to take out of this story is that you can’t let it affect you and bring you down like it did to the bear at one point in the story. I’m glad the bear could regain his self-esteem by the end of the story and realize he can be anything he wants.
I agree with David because I also think that the factory workers or, inferiors, wanted to change the bear to match their own vision by eliminating his hop of being something else.
The Bear That Wasn’t illustrates the feeling of peer pressure into conforming to the majority belief, which I think most often times results in giving into other people’s ideas because of a fear to stand by your own. I think it’s really important though to know how to pick and choose your battles. If you believe in something so strongly, if you feel a conviction, then it’s a loss not only to yourself, but to the diversity of ideas and opinions if you let someone else take that away from you. Like, if you give up a right to your opinion, you’re not letting yourself be the person you want to be, you’re giving control to someone else to label you in a generic and unoriginal way. Which I believe makes life unfulfilling.
I agree with Johnny’s point about how people feel pressured to fit in with others so often times they try too hard to fit in and end up losing their identities and who they really are, which I think is a sad thing to see. I see it happen to a lot of people, even some of my friends and I think it’s really important to be able to think on your own, in a sense and not just doing what everyone else is doing because you feel pressured or you’re afraid of being judged.
Griffin,great point. I find if very relevant to the life of a teenager, in that if kids keep hearing the same thing over and over again about themselves they'll eventually start to believe it.
I think Tom Kotosky brings forth great insight into the way we may perceive ourselves through society’s opinions, and how it may be easy for us to conform to the wills and desires of society. It is true that we are all influenced by society, in one way or another, it is our job now to decide if we want to give in to those conforming ways, or stand confidently in the person we have become.
I thought the story The bear that wasn’t was very reflective of the American teenage society today. I say this because many people in the United States growing up have trouble finding their true Identity and they try to model themselves after people they see in movies or in TV shows because that’s what they see as the societal norm and all they want to do is fit in with the crowd. Young adults today have allowed outside influences of other people to basically tell them who they are and who they aren’t and give up any sense of self-identity. The part of the story that I liked most was when the bear sat in the snow and began to realize that he really is a bear. I like that because the bear had to go through an experience that confused him about his true-self and I think that relates back to people in society today because to find yourself and your true identity you might have to go through an experience that forces you to dig down deep and pull out who you really are.
I liked what Steven said about the bear finding it harder and harder to maintain his identity after more people of higher authority said he wasnt a bear. If one person claims you wrong it no big deal but if more and more people say your wrong you end up beliving it.
I agree with Connie when she said that people with less power will agree to do things and not stand up to people because they are afraid of being judged. Everyone today is so afraid to say and do what they want because they don’t want anyone to judge them, so they would rather keep to themselves and do what society would want instead of doing what makes them happy.
I agree with David Gross, I too enjoyed how simple, and easy this book was to read. It was definatley refreshing to read such a simple book but have it carry such a strong message.
I thought that “The Bear That Wasn’t Me” showed how a majority of people act in society today. People feel like they have to get approval from others, and especially those who have power over them. The bear felt like he needed an approval from the president, vice president, workers, etc. When they all told him that he wasn’t a bear, he started to believe them. Today people try to fit in with everyone else, and start to lose the sense of who they are. I believe that you are the happiest when you stay true to yourself, and not try to please others. As in the end, the bear was happiest when he came to his own conclusion that, "The truth is he was not a silly man...and he was not a silly bear, either".
“I personally thought that the story was intended to be a social commentary on the stress placed on conformity in today’s society.” I thought Tubman’s idea was really interesting, I hadn’t thought of the story in that way but I can see where he’s coming from and agree that that could be a possible message the author was trying to get across. I interpreted things in a more general way, and how it applies to social aspect of society, but I see how he saw it as a commentary on the business or political aspect.
i like how Johnny Maguire related people in soceity blending in back to "Living the American Dream"
In the story, “The Bear That Wasn’t,” the bear experienced various situations in which he was told what he was and what he was not. After constantly being told that he was not a bear, he began to believe it. He began to think that he really was a regular person “in need of a shave.” I think that this story represents how easy it can be for people with power and authority to corrupt the minds of other people and distort their views. The story also brings forth the topic of misuse of power. The Foremen, managers, vice president, and president had power over the bear, and they used their power to degrade his self-identity by placing him in a category. When the bear woke up in the factory in a confused state, he was at his weakest point, making it easy for the foreman, managers, etc. to influence and manipulate his beliefs. Power-seekers in today’s world seem to find the weakest parts in people to manipulate, and I think this story is an accurate representation of this. I think this story also represents the insignificance of fitting into a category. At the end of the story, the bear realized that he did not truly belong in any category – whether he was a bear or a silly man in need of a shave – because he knew that he was special and unique and that’s all that mattered to him.
I agree with what Connie Lai said about people’s desire to fit in with society even if it means hiding their true identities and personalities. I also agree that it is always important to stay true to yourself instead of sacrificing your beliefs simply for the satisfaction of being accepted.
I agree with Joy that when you give up a right to your own opinion, you are giving control to someone else to label you in a generic or unoriginal way. You are changing who you are so you can fit in with everyone else. I also agree that not letting yourself be the person you want to be makes life unfulfilling. You are the happiest when you create your own identity and stay true to what you believe.
I found the book The Bear That Wasn't to have an extremely significant moral message:to stay true to who you are regardless of what people or society says. Although in the book it showed the bear allowing the people to influence his thoughts and actions. This specific scenario made more of a statement than if he stood up to them because it shows how wrong it is to allow someone to push you to the point you give into pressure. Although this was a children's book i thought it was written well and more significantly got a message across that's important for everyone to know and utilize.
I found the book The Bear That Wasn't to have an extremely significant moral message:to stay true to who you are regardless of what people or society says. Although in the book it showed the bear allowing the people to influence his thoughts and actions. This specific scenario made more of a statement than if he stood up to them because it shows how wrong it is to allow someone to push you to the point you give into pressure. Although this was a children's book i thought it was written well and more significantly got a message across that's important for everyone to know and utilize.
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