Harrison Begeron

Harrison Bergron... This story was a bit trippy, it reminded me a lot of Fahrenheit 451 with how the government has taken control of free thought. It kinda made me think about democrats too, how they like a lot of government involved and how may be that will take the turn for the worst... It is very possible you know. How crazy would it be to be limited by handicaps that the government felt you should wear? In fact all the handicaps did not make people equal but it made the more different. The prettier you are the uglier the mask you were forced to wear. What about deaf and blind people, I mean we should be equal to them too, shouldn't we? Just gauge out your eyes plug your ears and pull out your tongue and you'd still be a threat to a paranoid government...... So what is a person to do? I think the government in the story would be perfectly happy if people just started suicide clubs and then they wouldn't have to deal with anything anymore... Interesting... don't you think?

Ticktockman

So I really loved this story its probably the best one we've had to read so far.
This made me think about where we as a society will be in the future, we worry a lot about now.
I know I am constantly looking at my phone to see if another minute has pasted because I always think I have somewhere better to be. This story was pretty scary if you think about it, all the times you are just a minute late all adding to take years off your life.
I believe the author wrote this story as a warning, rather than worrying about being late why not sit back and make EVERY minute of your life count. What really shocked me was the mother that wished the sentence from the Ticktockman to be for her husband, or one of her children anyone but herself. I wonder if our world was that brash about time, how many years would you have shaved off your life? Would you change and start to be on time, or would you be like Ernie and be i silly and actually try to enjoy the time you have.
I personally would want to be like Ernie and enjoy the time I have even if it is limited.

So if you ever encounter the Ticktockman... just tell him to "Get Stuffed".

-Alex

The Saboteur

This story was kinda of slow in the being... "Aw a 'happy new couple'"and then all the sudden it took on a new sort of twist. The police man instigated Mr. Chiu 's negative reaction by throwing hot tea at the feet of himself and his bride's. You sympathize with the man, he was only trying to get home from a long honeymoon and exhausted by illness.
So you just gotta feel sorry for the poor guy. I did admire his persistence he constantly asked 'why' which if you think questioning the government in a communist society will most likely get you no where productive. He was a scholar and as far as he was concern these police were pigs looking for a good time, and exercising their authority in unnecessary ways. Now whenever Mr. Chiu saw the folder on his case he wondered how the could have that much paper work within an hour. It makes you wonder if what the officer said was true; were they in fact eyewitness statements, was the officer bluffing or foraged? Or do the police have so much control over that region that can manipulate society to provide false statements? ... It makes you wonder. I found it quite humorous though that Mr. Chiu was able to get his revenge, I wonder if some of the police who arrested him were among the three hundred people that died because of the 'mysterious' hepatitis outbreak.... Hmmm.

-Alex