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What was Michelle Obama’s family life like growing up? What influences did Michelle’s parents have on her education? Michelle Obama’s first stage of Becoming starts with her family life in Chicago. She grew up in a one-bedroom apartment with her parents and older brother and she credits her mother, Marian, for teaching her to value education. Keep reading to learn more about Michelle Obama’s family and childhood.
Why is geography important in literature? What do different geographies symbolize? When an author writes a book, one of the first decisions she needs to make is where it will take place. Geography is a conscious choice and is often used as a plot device. Sometimes, however, the geographical location of a story can tell a reader more about the author than the story. Continue reading to learn more about geography symbols in literature.
What was Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign like? How did Obama win against all odds? When Barack Obama ran for president, he was an unknown senator from Illinois. Michelle was also worried that America wasn’t ready for a Black president. However, Obama’s 2008 run gained strength due to its massive grassroots campaign. Continue on to learn about Obama’s 2008 campaign.
How can Radical Acceptance help us to improve our mindful relationships with other people? Why is community so important in Buddhism? Although we hear many stories of people who isolate themselves to go on spiritual journeys, humans are social creatures, and our spiritual journey can’t happen in isolation. The Buddha called sangha—community—a treasure of the spiritual path. That’s because communities have strength that individuals lack. Keep reading to learn why mindful relationships and community are important for Radical Acceptance.
Why can’t humans regenerate body parts? How does Darwinian medicine help us understand the body better? Some animals, like lizards and starfish, can regrow body parts. However, humans do not have this ability because the negative costs outweigh the positive ones. Continue on to learn the dangers of human body regeneration.
Where did the Obama family go after they moved out of the White House? Are they happy to be out or do they miss it? Moving out of the White House was difficult for the Obama family, especially since Malia and Sasha basically grew up there. But it was bittersweet because moving out of the White House also meant regaining their freedom. Continue on to learn how the Obamas dealt with moving out of the White House.
What do encoded and explicit sex symbolize in literature? Why is it important to look beyond sex when reading literature? In literature, sex and sexuality are used symbolically in two different ways: encoded sex and explicit sex. Encoded sex means the author uses symbolic imagery to imply sex in a scene, but the reader never sees the sexual act take place. Explicit sex is when the author uses a sex scene to symbolize a larger theme in the story. Continue reading for more information on what sex symbolizes in literature.
In what ways were Michelle and Barack Obama’s upbringings different? Why did Barack move around a lot as a child? Michelle Obama’s childhood was stable and focused around family and education. On the contrary, Barack had a mixed heritage, lived in Hawaii and Indonesia, and had loose ties with his family. Continue reading to learn more about Barack Obama’s heritage and how it differed from Michelle’s.
Why does irony change everything when it comes to literature? What are the different kinds of irony? If there is a disconnect between your expectation of a story and the reality of how it plays out, it is most likely ironic. The three most common types of irony in literature are verbal irony, ironic mode, and dramatic irony. Continue on to learn more about irony from How to Read Literature Like a Professor.
Does accepting yourself mean accepting your destructive behaviors as part of who you are? What does Radical Acceptance say about facing your failures? There are many misconceptions about Radical Acceptance. Radical Acceptance is about freeing yourself from judgment, so many take that as permission to continue harmful behaviors. However, Radical Acceptance teaches you that it’s impossible to change yourself without first knowing yourself. Continue reading to learn why Radical Acceptance is not an excuse to continue destructive behaviors.