Moral Stories By Sam Stragand My Moral Story: Accepting Others
Throughout my childhood, my parents always taught me, by example, to treat everyone as equals because they were all members of the same humanity. As a result, I grew up in a very diverse environment where many different unique people helped raise me, so I naturally grew with a relatively opened mind to differences. However, much greater diversity awaited me as I entered St. Louis University High School. I met many different people who came from many different situations whether geographic or personal. I thought that SLUH would be a great place for diversity and respect, however I soon disappointingly observed the demeaning of others through slang. Homosexuality seemed to receive the most negative attention as many people regularly used “gay” as an insult. Even though I did not understand why people demeaned others, I eventually found myself using the same derogatory comments in the same idiotic fashion. This ignorant demeanor scared me because if I allowed myself to continue, I could fall into a horrible habit that would only lead others to do the same. Instead, I made a conscious attempt to stop using all derogatory comments. Since I am not perfect, I will always have to work at not hurting others through careless language in order to live the open and respectful life that my parents raised me to lead. The only reason I demeaned others was to gain popularity by covering my weaknesses only to refocus the examining on others who were different. However, this disrespect will never truly build lasting relationships because they are not truthful; they only hurt and tear relationships apart. As humans, we are all called to become a community of sharing individuals by helping others, not dismissing them as different and lowly. My Moral Story: Accepting Others
The story of The Lorax is about the destruction of nature for the advancement of industry, against much protest from the Lorax. In the beginning, a perfect colorful paradise thrives, complete with Truffula Trees, Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba-loots, and Humming-Fish. However, the Once-ler arrives only to begin cutting down Truffula Trees in order to make Thneeds, a pointless consumer product. Soon, the Lorax, speaking for the trees, confronts the Once-ler. The Lorax calls the Once-ler “crazy with greed” as he attempts to stop the Once-ler from destroying the environment anymore. However, Thneeds become popular, so the Once-ler creates a huge industry of family members creating the Thneeds and machines destroying the Truffula Trees. As the Lorax’s attempts become futile, the Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba-loots, and Humming-Fish leave because they can no longer live in the polluted environment. The industry eventually cuts down every Truffula Tree, leaving only empty factories, the Lorax, the Once-ler, and a desolate, depressing landscape. The Lorax soon leaves the place of almost no hope. This story occurs in the context of the now-changed Once-ler telling the story to a child. Too late, the Once-ler began to understand his greedy ways of destruction by listening to the Lorax. At the end of the story, the Once-ler gives the child the Last Truffula Seed, the last hope, so that the child may reestablish the once thriving ecosystem and welcome back the Lorax. After “worr[ying] about it with all of [his] heart”, the Once-ler sees the error of his ways in order to attempt to recreate the happiness that had so long been missed.