Thanksgiving

I am thankful, for my parents, who despite their efforts make me very angry at times. They mean well, ecspecially with all this college stuff, but it's so stressful sometimes and I take my anger out at them. I feel pretty bad for doing this, but I am thankful for everything that they do for me, from taking me to see colleges far, far away, to just taking care of me. So now, I can only try to show some appreciation for everything that they have done for me. I am also thankful that I got into the college that was my first choice, this is great for not just me, but also for my parents who will no longer have to deal with my anger and frustration and will see the kindness they deserve.

Drive to Succeed

Drive to Succeed

Do you think that people who drive themselves out of poverty and into the world to work and try to provide for themselves and their family end up becoming more successful then people who inherit their money and place in the world? In my oppinion people like Frank McCourt who come out of poverty and are able to dream and achieve that dream are more driven to leave poverty because they have that to run from, they work and work because they dont want to return to where they once were. People who have never experienced poverty tend to take things for granted and sometimes chose that they like were they are and there isnt a point to work to better themselves or their familys. Poor people who manage to escape poverty seem to build momentum in their drive. Even Jeanette Walls's family is now doing well in the world because they do not want to go back to the way they once lived. Frank escapes with a dream of America and as we don't know what happens next in Angela's Ashes he seems now to be very, very successful due to his poor chldhood.

Memoir

I think that McCourt relied mostly on his childish views of how things were. He never onced said how awful his father was for spending needed money on alcohol, even though he has every right to. He has repeated his mothers words but never really formed an opinion of him himself since after all it was the father who told him storys of cuchalain by the fire and that is really how a child views a father or any family member with a problem, they seem to overlook their downfalls and never really put their suffering together with that person. He seems to show the guilt and confusion that chldren around Franks age really do experience and if you were to look back you would say, that was irrational and stupid, but Frank shows genuine guilt for his actions.

"Clohessy, do you know what you are an omadhaun. Do you know what an omadhaun is?
I don't sir.
It's the Irish. Clohessy, your native tongue, Clohessy. An omadhaun is a fool."(p.155)

All of Franks life, him and other boys his age are being put down and told they are fools useless.
Alcoholism is usually brought about by a feeling of uselessness and a lifetime of being put down by and authorative figure.
This seems to me like the older Irish generation fuels the younger Irish into becoming alcoholics like themselves and this vicous cycle is really the downfall of the Irish community.

Leaving Ireland

If Frank had stayed in Ireland do you think that things would have been okay, if he had became a mailman and provided for his family or would he have fallen into the alcoholism that took his father? In my opinion I think that Frank would have became sick of Limerkick and started drinking like Malachy, this is were you know he has been smart and taken steps to ensure a future that did not involve poverty. Even people like Aunt Aggie know this because they show resentment at the Frank because he has taken himself from a terrible and hopeless life in Limerick. I want to know if Frank knows about his family now and how they are and if he kept in touch with them as a young man finding his way in America.