Why the Comparisons?

In response to Allison's post there is one part where she says that she was not as mature as Marji because she did not have to deal with the same struggles. I find this interesting because dealing with tough situations does not automatically make you mature. Marji may exemplify a mature child for the situations she deals with, but when you are not surrounded by those situations it impossible to know how you are going to react. Take recent mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani, he was considered a horrible mayor that many occupants of New York City were not to fond of. After 9/11 occurred Mayor Giuliani responded to the attacks in one of the best manner possible. Giuliani not only got the approval of many citizens in New York City, but that of many Americans around the country. Maturity does not come from being in tough situations, but how you react to those inconvenient to you and those you are with. Also she said that when she was younger she had no idea what was happening in the government, and I'm sure kids in Iran during the revolution had no idea what was going on either. Furthermore, Marji seems to repeat a lot of what her parents said, just like Allison said she voted for George W. Bush because of her parents were voting for Bush. Children are not meant to make the decisions for the government that is why there is a voting age. The fact that Allison did not know what was going on in the government is not uncommon and to repeat what your parents say about the government is even more common. Marji may have lived in a country where death and destruction were not uncommon, but that does not make her more mature or smarter than any child who has not been in a situation like that. Life is not always handed to you in a hand basket that is why it is vital to know what is happening around you, and to react to those unexpected occurrences with the utmost maturity.