Discussion Reflection

The main question that still is on my mind after our discussion is the main reason or motives for King Leopold's violent, manipulative invasion on the Congo.

The discussion was helpful because it allowed for everyone to talk, get their perspectives heard and questions answered. I felt like everybody had the chance to participate in our discussion.
Our discussion could be improved if we all came prepared and understood the questions more fully. We were confused at times during the discussion.

KLG Interesting Quotes

A quote that I found to be interesting in King Leopold's Ghost was on the first page because it really set the tone for the remainder of the chapter. The quote is "after giving birth, Betsy Parry departed from Denbigh in disgrace, leaving her baby behind in the home of his two uncles and his maternal grandfather, a man who believed a boy needed a "sound whipping", if he misbehaved. When John was five, his grandfather died and the uncles immediately got rid of their unwanted nephew by paying a local family half a crown a week to take him." This quote is interesting because it is giving vital information about the characters rough childhood and unwanting families. This quote gives the reader something to think about as they read because John, now Stanley, has a lot of hardships to work through to get to success. Adopted, abandoned kid growing up to be a hero.

Two questions that I had was why everybody did not want to take care of Stanley? Also, as Stanley grows up to be a journalist, why was he making up false stories and false information in his journals? - page 25

Imperialism Thoughts

I learned about the reasons why certain countries had to drive to take over a lot of land from other countries. They wanted their resources, land, territories for their growing population, be powerful, and get greedy. Mainly all for economic reasons. The question I would have would be how the countries exercising imperial power are constantly wanting more and more land and taking over other countries. Why aren't they stopping and allowing for other countries to build to make allies with?