What led to Marjane's grandmother yelling at her? Was the yelling justified? Why or why not?

Connor Phelps

Dr. Cobos

ELA

11/3/17

What led to Marjane's grandmother yelling at her? Was the yelling justified? Why or why not?

I think that it was completely justified. Marjane has just done one of the worst things I think that a human can do to another. On page 285-286 she is waiting for her boyfriend to show up to the place that they have chosen for a date. She sees the Police and realized that she is wearing makeup which is illegal. She makes the decision to tell the Police that a man that is sitting on the steps has said something that she found to be unkind. The Police then promptly arrested the man who is begging Marjane to tell them the truth.

I personally feel that this was a very stupid thing to do and not the right choice to make. The first reason I disagree with what she did is that I think one if the worst things you can do to another ( this is outside of physical violence, obviously) is let them take the fall for something you did. This statement is especially true under the circumstances that this lie took place. The consequences that the man will receive are unjust. The second reason that I disagree with what Marjane is that she could have just said that some man just stole her bag and ran off or something like that. Then while they are looking for him she just slips away.

While I do think that the grandmother yelling was justified I do not completely agree with the reason. I think that it is just generally a crappy thing to do to a person. I do not agree that it is selfish. You can see where the grandmother yells on page 291. I think that it is a perfectly understandable thing to do. Although I can never know for sure,  there is a good chance that that man if put in the same scenario would do the same thing. The survival instinct of a human is the single most powerful weapon for destroying someone's morals.