Middlesex-+Journal+Entry+1+and+2

My dad's side of the family comes from France and my moms side of the family comes from Germany. I do not feel very connected to that past. It does not influence my daily life, most likely because I do not know a lot about my heritage. I consider myself to be American because I have lived here all of my life. My great grandparents are as far as I have been able to meet in my family and even they grew up in America. I think I consider myself to be American because I have not heard the stories of when my family came to America. History: "The term comes from the [|Tongan] word tabu, meaning set apart or forbidden, and appears in many [|Polynesian cultures] . In those cultures, a //tabu// (or // [|tapu] // or // [|kapu] //) often has specific religious associations. American author Herman Melville, in his first novel "Typee" describes both the origin and use of the word in Polynesian culture. "- (Wikipedia)
 * Family Heritage / Immigrant Past-**
 * Taboo-** something that society strongly prohibits because it is against societies customs.

I think the purpose of a taboo is to set standards that are morally wrong. By creating something that is so prohibited, less people will be likely to do it. I think these were created to form social standards which people will live by. When a taboo is broken by somebody in society, people will look down on to that person. They will be seen as morally corrupted.

I agree with Faulkner when he says the past is not dead. I think that everyone's past shapes their everyday lives. Everyday is not a fresh start. Not every part of the past may effect you daily, but for the most part, the past forms people. Everything in my past has formed me. All of my experiences in my life have created who I am today and effects what decisions I make everyday. Even my family's past effects my life. I would not be where I am today if my family's past had not occurred. In some ways, the past eventually dies and stops having an effect on people. Some parts of the past may not have a huge effect on someone and will soon be forgotten. I do not think this ultimately shapes and forms the person but there are bigger aspects of the past that will be with people throughout their lives. For example, when I was eight years old my dad passed away. This made me truly appreciate the time with my family and realize how important time is. It brought my family even close together and I believe it has influenced who I am today. This is a part of my past that I live with everyday. It forms some of my beliefs today, reminds me of the importance of family, and even affects my decision making. This past will never be forgotten in my life. However, where I eat lunch today, whether it is Wine Merchant or Panera, will not effect me next year. Therefore, I do believe there is a fresh start everyday when it comes to making your own decisions and what you decide to do with your day, but there will always be significant interactions or situations from your past that will effect you everyday.


 * Dichotomies: Page 37**
 * Love vs. Reproduction
 * relationship-Sourmelina and Zizmo vs. Desdemona and Lefty pg 113 (view on pregnancy) pg 91 (idea on marriage)
 * Chance vs. Destiny
 * Crime vs. Nature at work
 * Desdemona and Lefty- crime or nature (acceptable because in love?) or crime (b/c incest)
 * Desdemona and Lefty- crime or nature (acceptable because in love?) or crime (b/c incest)

-Pg 42: The Megale Idea- This is the goal of reestablishing a Greek state as it was before the invasion of the Turks from Mongolia in the 12th century. -Mustafa Kemal: An Ottoman and Turkish Officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first president of Turkey. He is the founder of the Republic of Turkey. He was a military officer during World War I and led the Turkish War of Independence. (Wikipedia) -Eros: Greek God of sexual love and beauty, fertility deity. -Aeron chair: "Ergonomic chair"- has a wide variety of sizes and can be adjusted. (Like an office chair) -Teetotaler: One who completely abstains from drinking alcoholic beverages -E.O. Wilson: "An American biologist, researcher, theorist, naturalist, and author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants" - Packard: An American luxury type automobile built by the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan.
 * Definitions:**