Hidden Religion
Stand up for what is right, even if you stand up alone.
In the Military, Army, Navy, and Air Force, every individual has the same purpose, to serve and protect their country. What makes them different is what the meaning behind every single soldier is. Mary McCarty, a soldier, is surrounded by men everyday. She is used to the sly stupid comments that are incorporated in the everyday conversations. One day that all changes when Mary overhears the Colonel talking and his conversation leads to discrimination against McCarty’s people. People that her acquaintances have no idea about. Mary is half Jew. In a bar with her fellow acquaintances, the talk of the evening consists of spiritual, moral and historical backgrounds dealing with Jews and Communists. Besides hating on communists and mentioning that there happens to be a Communist professor who is working at Harvard, one way or another, Jews get brought into the conversation. Mary regards this as a disrespectful conversation and leaves to find comfort in her own space. This then leads to questioning herself and her background. It is not something that she should be ashamed of, nor is it anyone else’s business. She takes a stand and approaches the Colonel in a civil way; by refusing to go to lunch with him until he decides to hear her out. She is determined to take his hurtful words into words of respect and understanding. While going back and forth in conversation, Mary makes sure to keep her religion hidden, playing smart with her spiritual and moral supportive examples. She out wits the Colonel with his own tongue, making him pay the check for lunch and admitting that he was wrong. Mary McCarty later reveals her last name, identifying her Jewish background to him. This created a mutual respect between the two. It also created a respect between the reader and Mary, for her description in words let us see her harsh perspective and the spiritual and moral background let us believe her credibility.
No comments:
Post a Comment