tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338513037473123018.post1830065148388362269..comments2023-09-29T10:37:34.652-04:00Comments on City Mouse Country: Giving outbzzzzgrrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506314837586082113noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338513037473123018.post-66712623257879506172014-10-09T09:03:16.618-04:002014-10-09T09:03:16.618-04:00Oh, same here BZH. Thank you. And you're right...Oh, same here BZH. Thank you. And you're right. Friendship and related generosity should be reciprocal. Listen, if I ever need a branch, I'll rake up the leaves. Deal?Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10785722209135214824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338513037473123018.post-5361068234843424162014-10-08T16:23:07.309-04:002014-10-08T16:23:07.309-04:00I think "catechism of exploitation" is a...I think "catechism of exploitation" is a bit much. That said, I don't want my daughter to grow up believing that real friendship means you must be being willing to cut off all of your branches for someone else's benefit. In fact, I want her to believe that friendship means appreciating and understanding the importance of someone else's branches to his or her wholeness, and never asking for that kind of sacrifice.<br />That said, I love Joe, and would give him a branch or two if he needed it.bzhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09285525144449507330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338513037473123018.post-37595134601643453572014-10-08T09:26:22.852-04:002014-10-08T09:26:22.852-04:00Hi CMC,
I also read this as a youth. You could ma...Hi CMC,<br /><br />I also read this as a youth. You could make the case that's a symbol of God's unconditional love for humanity, or a parent's similar relationship with their child. I guess that's the way I look at it. I don't like it when kids' books get over-analyzed; I saw in that Wikipedia entry that a Harvard professor called it "a catechism of exploitation."<br />Yikes. I suppose it's easy to look back on these things as an adult and find plenty of deeper meanings, but I like to think of it as a good lesson for kids about giving, love and generosity. Call me simplistic. But that's my take.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10785722209135214824noreply@blogger.com