Friday, November 2, 2012
free and poor vs. take care of and enslaved
Before Esteban comes to Tres Marias, the people there are poor and unhealthy, but they are free. Once Esteban essentially takes over the estate, the property's condition improves and the people are visibly more healthy than before, but their freedom has been revoked by Esteban. Is it better to be free but impoverished or taken care of and almost enslaved?
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I think it is better to be free but impoverished because then you always have the possibility of improving your lot through your own strength, but if you are enslaved you don't get to choose what you change. Everything you do is decided by someone else. Even if you are healthier and more educated, you may not be allowed to improve your life to fit your desires. It's better to be free to make the changes you want than to be forced to do work that doesn't accomplish what you want in your life.
ReplyDeleteI believe that being free but impoverished is better than being enslaved because it gives people the opportunity the improve their situation just like Esteban did. Being enslaved, will never give them that opportunity and they will never be able to get out of it until the person that enslaved them says they can-- which would probably be never. The person being enslaved has no say in what they do and will always have to answer to a higher power. In being free, they have a chance to accomplish their own goals instead of someone else's. It opens up more doors and opportunities to making self guided decisions. It doesn't matter whether they think they've fail or not because failure is never final. What matters is that they had the opportunity to decide for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Rebecca and Tiffany have said. I'm a very independent person, so freedom is very important me. However, I know a few people that have chosen the other option. I can see how a certain type of person would enjoy being taken care and enslaved. They might think that as long as they are being taken care of that they don't need their freedom. I think the majority of people that choose this route in life end up regretting it, which is one of the reasons why I believe that being free and impoverished is better than being taken care of and enslaved. There's just a special inner happiness that is obtained when a person is free. Most people might not admit it or realize it, but everyone wants to have the ability to write their own story (#makeithappen).
ReplyDeleteI believe that being is very very important, but your life and wellbeing is the only thing higher than your freedom. It easy to say freedom when you are writing about it, but when it comes down to living in their shoes, you want to live a comfortable and healthy life. Would you rather be a "free" person whose lives under a bridge or a servant who lives a decent life with a house, food, and with the comfort of other people and possibly a loved one(s)? If you live in poverty, rarely do you find your way out of it. However if you live enslaved but healthy and somewhat prosperous life, you have a chance of buying your freedom or organizing a revolt. For example, the American colonies would have never survived with the support of England. The colonies were ruled by England but supported by England. The colonies eventually became strong enough and got rid of England. While I am not saying that is easy or even saying revolt, I am trying to say that living a decent comfortable life with the chance of freedom is better than a free life with no chance of becoming somewhat prosperous or comfort.
ReplyDeleteI agee with lauren, tiffany, and Rebecca. I think that freedolm would give someone the opportunity to find a better life for themselves. Even if they are very impoverished, they still have the opportunity to search for a decent job. I think the lack of free speech is worth going through a lot of hardship. I woiuld not accept enslavement under esteban unless it was my last resort
ReplyDeleteI agee with lauren, tiffany, and Rebecca. I think that freedolm would give someone the opportunity to find a better life for themselves. Even if they are very impoverished, they still have the opportunity to search for a decent job. I think the lack of free speech is worth going through a lot of hardship. I woiuld not accept enslavement under esteban unless it was my last resort
ReplyDeleteThis is a difficult top to side with. While, yes, of course all of the workers at Tres Marias are free, their physical and economic state is horrid. When the workers lose their freedom though, they become healthier people and start living in better conditions. These two situations are inversely proportion of each other, meaning that the workers of Tres Marias can't be free and economically well off at the same time. In my personal opinion, in accordance with Jamie, I think that being healthy and economically well off with a chance, be it slim or not, of freedom is better than being free and in an impoverished state.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Jamie. How "free" can you really be if you are so starved that you barely have energy to do anything? As a parent, I would much rather be enslaved and be able to raise a healthy child than have to watch the child suffer from lack of nourishment and diseases that could often result in death. While Esteban was able to better his conditions, he also had resources very different from those of the people found living off of Tres Marias.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Angele. It is better to be taken care of and almost enslaved than free and impoverished. Before Esteban comes to Tres Marias, the people were dirty, they didn’t have enough food, and they were barely getting by and surviving. Once Esteban came to the hacienda and cleaned it up, the natives were living at a much higher standard than before. This is better because their life is most likely longer if they are taken care of because they don’t have to risk not having food or not being able to help their loved one when they are sick.
ReplyDeleteFreedom despite how bad the living conditions you have to go through is always going to be better than enslavement. While your enslaved you have no control of your life and you don't get to decide any action your going to take in your life. Atleast if your free you have opportunities to do what you want and you have possibilities to become succesful on your own.
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