Monday, March 24, 2008

Week #3 - Discussion Question - The Oath

In Chapter 25 Matt is forced to take an oath to pledge his loyalty to the Union. He almost cannot do it but does anyway because he fears what would happen to him if he doesn't say it. (pages 226 to 230)

Have you ever had to say something that you knew wasn't how you truly felt but you had to do it because it would result in fewer problems for yourself or others?

Please answer this question by posting a comment to this blog entry by clicking on the "comments" link below this post. Please remember to use either your first name only or no name. Any comments with full names will not be posted. Thanks.

72 comments:

Anonymous said...

During lunch, my friends and I are always willing to have a discussion about some of the issues in our world today, such as; global warming, our presidential election, and the ecomomy. . . etc. Everyone usually has various opinions about these topics, and we all end up arguing. I usually state my opinions, but when the conversation gets too intense, I either agree, or shut my mouth and don't say a word.

Tater Bear

Anonymous said...

Yes I have had to do that a couple of times. It was last year when my bff and someone got in a fight and I had to tell her what I thought even though it wasnt the way I felt about the situation so that I would not get in a fight with them as well.

-Breezy Bear

Anonymous said...

When I was little, my friend and I were playing in the creek behind my house. My friend and I were pushing each other, and my toe smashed into a rock. I sat down and looked at my toe. My nail came off, and my toe was bent back and twisted to the side. I didn't want to get my friend in trouble so I said that I slipped.

Shoe Lace

Anonymous said...

I have been faced with many situations in which it has been more beneficial to say something that I do not fully agree with in order to avoid a problem. For example when talking with my parents i sometimes just agree and not say anything more even though I have an opinion about the topic.Sometimes it is smarter to avoid a conflict that could result in punishment.
Hally O'Riley

Anonymous said...

Sometimes during lunch my friends and I start talking about politics and we always end up yelling and arguing.Then I either try to change the subject or just shut my mouth even when I dont want to.

Sally Green

Anonymous said...

My freinds had gotton into a fight and I had to tell someone a lie so my freinds wernt mad at eachother anymore.


Trilinsky30

Anonymous said...

I have had to do that several times. Mostly, it was if a friend did something, and told me to cover for them. Being maybe six years old, I did it without question. Now, I would not do that. I'm oldr now, and hopefully smarter!

G2lnknprkgrl

Anonymous said...

Heck yea i have, its not really something that i had to say but something i had to do. When i go over to my grandma's she demands a kiss and im really not for that. Thats about it.

Mister Awsomeness

Anonymous said...

I have told on thing and felt another way before. Sometimes you find that's the only way to get out of a situation with less people getting mad at you. But I've learned you shouldn't let anyone else affect your own beliefs and opinions. In times of hardship sometimes people take the easy way, not the right way.

Chilly Willy

Anonymous said...

no i have not had to do that



IM Awesome

Anonymous said...

I get into this situation every now and then at school. I'm not going to name specific incidents or people, but whenever this happens the person reprimanding me always says something like, "Do you think you put yourself in a position that would...?" and I just have to agree even though I have different feelings. I just want to get out of the trouble any way possible.

Toussaint L'Ouverture

Anonymous said...

One time i fought with my brother over something pretty dumb. My mom, who always takes my brother's side, told me to say sorry. I was forced to do something I hated. It was horrible.

- Vinny Yak

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you just have to agree with your coaches in order to avoid getting yelled at or running more.


Le Bron

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you have to tell people what they want to hear to avoid making them mad and then getting in a big fight.

Tinkerbell

Anonymous said...

I've done this numerous times. I've gotten a few lies tangled and had to do one complex lie, usually involving opinions I don't really have. If someone asks you to do something you don't really want to, you say yes anyway. What are you supposed to say?

-G2cd

Anonymous said...

I've said things that were not true and that i really did want to tell the truth about or not say anything about it at all. Like sometimes when I get in arguements with my friends they ask me if I am mad at them and I say no, when really I am mad but I just don't want the fights to get worse.

G3candy

Anonymous said...

During lunch my friends and I always discussions about music, sports, and politics. Sometimes the discussion gets really heated and I have to leave my opinion out our say what one side wants to hear so they don't start yelling.

Tiger Woods 4

Anonymous said...

I have had to tell lies before because i did not whant mmy friend's feelings to get hurt.





WaterDragon

Anonymous said...

I Think that everyone has one time or another has lied just so they wont get another person mad. For example if you think your freinds new hair cut is hidouse and she ask if you like it. Of course your going to say yes! I mean you could say no but it might cause an up- roar like Sam when almost refused to take the oath.

G5 volleygal

Anonymous said...

When my grandma was in the hospital, she was very sick. I had to lie to tell her that she looked healty even though she looked deadly. My grandma ended up alive, but at the time, i thought she looked near death.

G5 gigatight

Anonymous said...

I've been in this situation before. One time, my friends and I were down at the creek, and we were playing airsoft. Then some lady came and tried to kick us out because her kids wanted to play outside. I wanted to just say no and keep playing, but it wouldn't have been worth it, so I left.

racefan64

Anonymous said...

I have! When my brother does something he know he shouldn't do, like go into my bedroom without my permission, or something similar, I usually tell my parents less that what he usually did so I can carry out my day without having to stop and wait for an apology, etc.
~ AuroraPhoenix ~

Anonymous said...

I have had to say something that I didn't mean to stick up for a friend. They had asked me to keep it between us so when someone asked me about it i had to say something else that i knew wasn't true to stick up for my friend.


Milhouse

Anonymous said...

I have said something different than what I truly feel before. In some situations I feel it is better to, not necessarilly lie, but not tell the whole truth so that there are fewer problems for you and others.

AK

Anonymous said...

I havent had to say soumthing that i knew wasn't true to result in fewer problems unless i don't remember it.

cup o'soup

Anonymous said...

There have been a few times when I have had to say something that I knew wasn't true but I said it anyways. One time I was playing basketball with some kids that were in an arguement and I had to take niether side so they wouldn't get mad if I went against them.

Jayhawk

Anonymous said...

Yes, I have had to agree with my friends over something I knew wasn't true. Most of my friends have huge opinions and want them to be heard. This causes a lot of arguements about who is right or wrong. Sometimes I eventually have to just give in and agree, otherwise the arguement would go on forever.
~gumbie almighty

Anonymous said...

I have a lot of times when I feel that I can't say what I really want to, and that is usually around my dad. I have a lot to say to him but I'm too scared to say it.

G6Paperclip

Anonymous said...

Yes, sometimes when my friends get in arguments and they are telling me their side of the story, i already know what really happened and i want to say what really happened, but i do not want to start anymore drama then there already is.


Mohammad Smith

Anonymous said...

Yes, sometimes when my friends get in arguments and they are telling me their side of the story, i already know what really happened and i want to say what really happened, but i do not want to start anymore drama then there already is.


Mohammad Smith

Anonymous said...

Yes, sometimes when my friends get in arguments and they are telling me their side of the story, i already know what really happened and i want to say what really happened, but i do not want to start anymore drama then there already is.


Mohammad Smith

Anonymous said...

Yes, i have had to do that several times. A couple weeks ago my friend and i got in a fight. People started asking me questions about her, and i didn't want to be mean but i wanted to tell the truth. When people started asking me questions about her, i just told them i was mad at her, so i wouldn't lose their friendship also.


Bratdoll

Anonymous said...

Yes, I have had to tell lies before so I would not get in trouble for doing what i really did.

LaDainian Tomlinson

Anonymous said...

Okay I actually truly only have one question. That question is: Why did you decide to write a teen book about Jesse James? Just wondering!
-G1shadowz

Anonymous said...

Okay I actually truly only have one question. That question is: Why did you decide to write a teen book about Jesse James? Just wondering!
-G1shadowz

Anonymous said...

In your book, Guerrilla Season, did you base anyone off of a person you knew?
-G1Zimmy

Anonymous said...

heck no! I always let people know how i feel and where i stand on a topic. Becuase it makes no sense to have a opinion on a subject if you just lie about it to make other people happy. I say that if the person isn't happy with your opinion then they don't deserve to hear it
G1Normajean

Anonymous said...

Yes, acually it was today. My friends were fighting and I had to tell them that they did not say things about each other. When in truth they did.
~HEY Arnold

Anonymous said...

Sometimes, it's just easier to to say what you know what people want you to say. I know that I have said things before that I didn't mean because I knew that in the long run, it'd be less complicated.
-g2hahahehehohoHa

Anonymous said...

I have said something i didn't mean because i thought it would not make my friends mad, but it sis anyway because they knew i didn't mean it. I know that people just try to do whatever will make people happy.

G2vbgrl4eva!

Anonymous said...

A lot of times I have to go along with what my friends say. Sometimes when I say what I feel people get angry. I don't think it's right though. Everyone should have the right to make their own decisions and say what is on their mind.

G2codedance

Anonymous said...

Yes I have said something that I knew wasnt how i really felt, because at that time i wasnt completely content with my self and i tried avoiding all problems if possible. But I did go back after awhile and told them how i really felt about the situation and it turns out they lied also agreed with me.

-G2CaptainCrunch

Anonymous said...

There's been a lot of times when I just go along with what my friends say because I don't want to start a pointless fight. Also when some of my friends start discussions pertaining to religion, politics, etc, which could easily start a huge debate, i just go along with it or ignore it.

G2McLovin

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that happens a lot actually. Like a lot of times I do that with my friends because I don't want to make them mad at me or anyone else. I also sometimes do that just so i don't say something I'll regret.

g2cupcake

Anonymous said...

g2mclovin

Yes one time i got a magazine taken away from me cause the teacher said it wasnt something you could have in school. so i just agreed with them even though i didnt think its was that bad.

Anonymous said...

I have never had to take an oath and I can't remember anything that I had to say or do besides "cross my heart and hope to die" but other than that I have not had to do anything like that

G3PikachuMaster

Anonymous said...

Yes, I have been in situations like this. If certain people in my group of friends are arguing, or if there is a breakup among my friends, I listen to both sides because I dont want to lose a friend just because of something THEY are going through. So if one of my friends needs to talk, no matter what I will nod my head or say "mmhmm" just so that they know I am there for them and that they can talk to me even if I dont necesarily agree with their view on the situation because I am always willing to help out a friend.

g3falloutboy

Anonymous said...

There has been times i have had to say things i didn't truly feel but i did it because it would result in few problems. One time i did this when my parents told me to do something and i agreed i would do it because it would result in fewer problems

G3basketball

Anonymous said...

No i never had to do that. I speak what's on my mind no matter what

G3dance

Anonymous said...

Yes i have said something that was truly not true because it would have hurt one of my friends' feelings and i didn't want to do that. Some of what i said about it was true but them some of it wasn't how i truly felt.

G3neon

Anonymous said...

Yes someone was sitting at our table and we did not want him to sit there so someone else could sit there but he did not move so we all startedtrying to get him to move even though we could have gotten over it. Everyone was doing it but me but I started saying things so i could still stay at the table.

g3iceman4life

Anonymous said...

Yes.
a few days ago i was with my cousin and she decided to get inot trouble. She was already grounded so she was not supposed to be around me to begin with. when her mom found out about whaat she did she asked me and said if i knew anything about it. i knew that if i were to tell her mom that my cousin did do it she would tell my mom that i was around her when i wasnt supposed to and that she would get in trouble too. So i took all the blame for it even though i shouldnt have and i just did it so i wouldnt get in trouble for being with her and she wouldnt get in trouble for the same thing. Instead i got in a little bit more trouble and my cousin didnt get into any. But that way things would the problems would be resolved and better.

G3InfantSavage

Anonymous said...

Yes, in the past i have had to lie to create less problems so that my family wouldn't be arguing.
Juno Bleeker

Anonymous said...

Alot of times I have to tell my elders some things that I don't fully believe because if I don't they will tell me why don't you show some respect. This doesn't sound to serious but on a daily basis it is not worth it to stand up against them.

- Ozzy Bird

Anonymous said...

Sometimes when teachers or parents are giving you a lecture you think they are wrong and you have to nod your head and just keep saying yeah when really you want to disagree but then they'll be mad you.

G5 Freeze

Anonymous said...

yes i have hat to say something that i know wasn't how i felt but i had to do it because it would result in fewer problems with me and others. onece we had recite a pledge to something that i didn't want to pledge to because it wasn't how i felt it was a pledge for another country.

G6KCS

Anonymous said...

I think it was a good choice that Matt said the Oath without denying it or argueing. Sometimes you just have to go with stuff otherwise you could get in trouble or in a fight.
-Chubizum

Anonymous said...

in my life, i have always told someone how i have felt. never once have i not told one person how i haven't felt.

G8 Sirens

Anonymous said...

I don't believe I've actually ever had to SAY something I didn't believe. However more than once I've had to keep my silence and pretend I had no complaints with what some of my friends were sayings because I didn't want to cause any trouble.

G8Bball

Anonymous said...

There have been a few times in the past that I have had to state my opinion in a way that wasn’t entirely true. In middle school there are defiantly many times were shutting your mouth and not saying anything is the best choice..Unless you want to further the drama that is going on. At the lunch in my group of friends we ALWAYS end up talking about the war, global warming, politics, religion, or anything that can and is extremely controversial. Most of the time these conversations begin an argument and although I want to be able to state my opinion on the argument.. Sometimes it is best to not say anything and let them work it out.But if I do end up stating what I feel sometimes I state it in a way that doesn’t completely choose sides.

Channing Tatum

Anonymous said...

There have been many times when I have had to say or do someting that I know was wrong or against my morals. Many times when my friends say something I agree becuase I don't want to start any thing.

~Hippo Hugger

Anonymous said...

I never really have, that I remember.

-WCAjaken

Anonymous said...

yeah, i had to do that one time. actually, several times.

-WCA$amuel

Anonymous said...

I had to try and cover for my little brother so he didn't get in troubl, because my mom had already been mad that day anyway. What was the point of making it worse?
WCA-LilaMayes

Anonymous said...

Yes my dad said all cats are stupid and dogs are better cause dogs can help hunt and i agreed so i woudnt get in trouble.

WCA kittyman

Anonymous said...

There are lots of times I feel like that! Especially when my friend think something is cute and I don't want to hurt someone so I tell them that I think it is cute too!

~WCAchey~

Anonymous said...

Yea I have. It was terrible. I wanted to say somthing else, but I knew if I did it would resault in somthing bad.

wcazach

Anonymous said...

Yes, I have had to do that many times. Usually someone, especialy my friends, will talk about things and people and i try to stay out of it, but sometimes i have to agree to keep everyone from fighting to much.
WCAKay

Anonymous said...

One time I got into a fight with my brother and my mom took his side of the story. Then she told me I had to apoligize to him. I didn't do anything wrong but I apoligized to avoid any other conflict.

K I

Anonymous said...

Yes I have. Sometimes at certain sport or school events my friends will get into a fight, or one of my friends and her/his boyfriends/girlfriends get into a fight, thats when I try to just stay out of it. Sometimes I wont even state my opinion. It's just hard to take one side and not the other. Then, one gets jealous and then mad. So most of the time, when it comes to things like these, it's better to just not really say anything.

WCADelana

Anonymous said...

i got in the middle of a fight with my best friend and my other best friend so i took one side just to keep our friendship.

~*wcaJAYSONIZZLE*

Anonymous said...

Yes,I have to say different things to my cousins, for example, when my cousins ask me if I like certin things (which I know they like) and instead of saying what I think, which usually we dont like the same things, I say yes. (again even though its usually completely false)

Jack Bauer