Greg’s Comments (group member since Dec 16, 2013)

Greg’s comments from the On Tyrants & Tributes : Real World Lessons From The Hunger Games group.

Having trouble thinking of any novels, but there are plenty of movies like Escape from NewYork, Robocop, Mad Max, ... however while the governments in these are weak and play a minimal role you can still find political statements and examples of mans need to be free and independent.

Keeping them separated is a divide and conqueror strategy. Individually they can be controlled it they teamed up it could be trouble.
The Hunger Games themselves help divide the districts as it forces them, or at least two tributes, to compete against each other.
The idea of district 12 being based on the Appalachians helps explain this too. I always envisioned the poor districts as being similar to early 1900's mining or lumber towns where a single company controlled all the industry and a child had little hope of leaving and were destined to follow in their parents footsteps.
If one reads the books they find that the citizens are taught to fear the woods where Katniss and Gale hunt, to believe that the fences protect them rather than isolate them.

Off Topic
Will wrote: I have never thought about George Washington's father and how he raised him. "
I can't recall reading about Washington's or many of the founders fathers. We know the Adams was a family of wealth and privilege. Others could be of interest as Jefferson and Washington acquired most of their wealth through their wives leaving one to think that their parents may not have been rich white men.
If anyone knows where one could learn more about the generation prior can you pass it along.

Having more time to thing and reflect on this, The Hunger Games resembles post civil war reconstructionist south than anything I can think of. Here were states (districts) who had been defeated in a civil war (rebellion) and the army stayed, the political leaders were all puppets, and local industry and citizens were suppressed.
US history focuses on the immigrants moving westward but there were also those fleeing the south. Many of our romanticized western outlaws, had southern roots.
While the conditions were no where near as bad as those presented by Susan Collins it's the closest situation I can think of to Panem.

Sex was not necessary for the story. Without adding a scene for the sole purpose of sex how would it fit into the story? It wasn't needed and would have made the story less appropriate for younger audience it appeals to.

Kelli wrote: "I graduated a few years ago with degrees in French and Spanish. I work for a translation company doing computer-related things. I love it because I get to use my languages and my computer skills to..."

Have you read many other books in multiple languages? If so how true are the translations? Do you feel it's best to try to read in the authors native language, even if you are not fluent, or is it safe to stay with what you best understand?

Brandon wrote: "Jacob wrote: "We look to the people who have the most power instead of trusting ourselves. I think we have to start trusting ourselves instead of always turning to the government."

I agree. That m..."

Thank you for pulling that out. I missed it.

My view of libertarianism is that we are optimists. We are the people who say individuals, the marketplace, or society can problems rather than saying that not trusting the citizens and looking to elite bureaucrats and politicians to mandate a solution to us.
Most people who look to government don't think that they need to be told what to do but they have been trained to see a lesser disadvantaged class who needs government to protect them.
This is why liberals see laws as more relative; they are not made for them - they are made for others.

Jordan wrote: "Luke (before he met the old dude) was just a whiny, self centered, lazy kid who seems to have had absolutely no experience with personal hardship from the Empire."

Beat me to it.
At the beginning Luke wanted to join be a stormtrooper/pilot/part of the empire (don't remember exact term but he was a disagreeable Uncle away from joining the Dark Side). Even when he's rescuing Princess Leia it is not to fight Vader and the empire.
It would be an interesting discussion onto itself to find out when Luke goes from wanting to be save a beautiful princess, become a jedi, rescue his friends, seek revenge on Darth Vader, to becoming a freedom fighter?
Katniss from the beginning knows the current government is unjust to her district, and as the story progresses finds out more about how corrupt and manipulative those in power are.
Luke, having grown up on an isolated, sparsely populated and uneventful planet, seeks adventure. Katniss, having grown up in an oppress mining town where police brutality is normal and people are actors constantly playing the role of law abiding citizens, seeks to peace and solitude.

Katrina wrote: "Peeta is braver than Gale"

Braver is an interesting term.
Aristotle defined bravery as the golden mean between being timid and being reckless. Being willing to oppose President Snow and the capital is brave, being willing to kill innocent people to do so is reckless. Gale crosses the line when he is willing to act regardless of the potential outcome of his actions.

I was born a rebel. Yes that is a cliche but I grew up challenging and fighting my parents, teachers, and other authority figures who I disagreed with. I had ADHD in a pre-ADHD world so when it came to being told to wait or sit still I started looking for a way to break out.
Objecting to a government which trys to regulate every aspect of your life was just the next step.
Going to city council meetings, TEA party rallies, ranting online, and supporting outsider candidates is where I put my energy.
Peacefully objection to unjust policies is as far go right now. I would not see myself supporting a full revolution unless the current government was beyond hope and the forces looking to take over would be better.

In many ways the American Revolution is the exception.
Mocking Jay may be closer to recent revolts in Syria and Egypt where those looking to overthrow the government may be worse than the current dictator.
Having a revolution end with a constitutional republic that lasts for around 200 years is beating the odds. Something like the French Revolution where you replace King Louis XVI; who had ended surfdom, tolerated non-Catholic religions, and backed US rebel forces; with Emperor Napoleon is more the norm.

Go to the first main plot point when she volunteers to go to be a tribute to protect her sister, wasn't that heroic?
How many hero's plan to be hero's? Did Sgt. York of Audry Murphy plan to become heroes when they went off to war? Did Lech Welesa or Nelson Mandela plan to become heroes when they went to jail? Think of the way the Greek Gods would wreak havoc in the lives of the Greek Heroes?
Heroes are not the people who can safely control their environment they are those who overcome the adversity put upon them.
Heroes are those who put the well being of others ahead of themselves, and that is something Katniss does multiple times.

Danielgraf wrote: "After reading the articles I also see a new meaning in the Hunger Games. That its not just some entertainment but a life influenced situation. That it gives a amazing example of liberty and securit..."

I admit that at first I blew off the Hunger Games as yet another piece of Twilight, tween, pop culture trash.

I am less concerned about whether Katniss is a modern day Spartacus and more so with whether Suzanne Collins is a modern day Ayn Rand? Or George Orwell? Can she deliver more stories which have greater depth and cultural meaning, can she deliver similarly compelling and commercially successful stories which further teach her ideas on liberty and tyranny?

Isaac Newton once wrote: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."
With most great people you will find that they benefited from having a great mentor or two through there life. Katniss needed a mentor like her father to explain how she obtained her skills. It follows to reason that if he would teach her to engage in an outlawed activity like hunting that he would teach her the mindset of an outlaw.
While her father was a hero, and likely the most honorable person in the books, I don't know how he could have not existed. Even if left out of the books, as he was in the movies, would it not have been assumed by readers that her father, or some other adult, had been there to teach her hunting and survival skills?

Propaganda is no different than any other type of advertising, there has to be some truth to it. Florida can call itself "The Sunshine State" because it is the warmest and furthest south of the continental states. If Maine, instead, was using that phrase to promote tourism it wouldn't work.

Propaganda stops working when the either the becomes larger than what the truth can hide or the people have been exposed long enough that they see through the vial of truth.

Jonnelle wrote: "Andre wrote: "Andrea, I think that deserves a VERY BIG spoiler alert!! Just in case some people haven't read the books."

The way this is going to go, every thread should just say "spoilers" :P"

Wouldn't those who joined a group this group expect that it would go beyond the first movie?

I am returning to college, after earning a degree in broadcasting, for education.
Reaching the next generation is vital. For too long people have stood by and let statists control the education system. We need more people like Suzanne Collins who can find ways to get the message of liberty to young people.

Introduction Questions > What theme or issue in The Hunger Games trilogy is most relevant today?

The peoples feeling of defeat. The idea that they lack the ability to fight the government. We start with the 74th annual Hunger Games. It is still accepted that the rebellious territories need to be kept in check for their grandparents crimes.

Some of the territories embrace the games and train for them others view it as a death sentence but none refuse to participate.

If reminds me of those who complain about our current government but refuse to do anything to actually change it. Some of the move vocal critics turn around and refuse to run for office, work for worthwhile candidates, or even vote. They complain about how the system is broken and no one cares while they themselves don't care enough to do anything. All the you can't fight city hall, two sides of the same coin, lesser of two evils, third parties can't win, their all bought and paid for, no good person could win, excuses add up inaction and acceptance of the status quo.

Are those who refuse to fight today going to be anymore courageous when things get worse? Is it that hard to imagine a system where our society would accept having our children dragged away for some semblance of peace and security?

Spoiler alert.
Favorite scene was in the second movie when Haymitch is introducing past Hunger Game victors. I liked that, unlike how up until then the movies had given the impression that the games were usually won by the most ruthless and savage of participants, it was possible to win by outsmarting or outlasting the opposition. That the survivalist could beat the warrior. Till then the idea given in the movies was not knowing how to survival skills could cost you the game it would ultimately be won by the best warrior.