The power of will.

      "The Crossing" & "The Power of One" had some similarities that I will talk about. To me the greatest similaritie was "will" the will that both Manny Bustos and PK the two main characters. They had to stand for what they believed in and continue on even after all the obstacles they faced. They both faced poverty as abandoned children. Manny was a poor kid from Juarez, Mexico who wanted to cross the border into the US while PK had to help the poor natives of South Africa to better themselves. Manny had to face the city of Juarez a dangerous place filled with men who would sell him and the fear of starving to death. Pk had to face the goverment of South Africa it was an afrikaner goverment that was racist towards the natives and english they would beat them and treat them with no respect. Also  Manny and PK met people that helped them continue on the Sergeant & Guideon.
    
    They had their differences aswell, even though they were both abandoned as children Manny was taken in by a church & PK was sent to a boarding school. Manny's goal in life was to cross the border to America so he could live the American dream. PK wanted to help the natives and reduce all the racism, he taught them how to read and write so they could better themselves even though the goverment wanted to keep them ignant. The stories took place in completely different countries, "The Crossing" took place in Mexico/USA (because it was at the border). "The Power of One" took place in south america. PK is english, but they never say what ethnicity Manny is.
   
    I connected to manny's storie because his storie is so similar of those that have been told to me by friends and even family that had to cross the border they also did it to escape similar hardships. Also because I have been to mexico and I have seen the way the impoverished live there. They are strong people to be able to livce on in such harsh conditions. Pk's storie ot to me. He was brave to stand up for who were not related to him in either blood or ethnicity. He lost his love and was almost broken, but he picked himself up. He continued on his journey to educate the natives and that way help stop the oppression.

A quote I liked was "A waterfall begins with only one drop of water"-Pk.
I liked this quote because it represented what they were trying to do. by teaching one person he can teach another, and then the person taught can teach more. In time it will become an unstopable waterfall, were from one hundreds come after. To me the theme/main idea's of the storie were If you trully want change you should take the initiative to do it yourself instead of waiting on others. Also that equallity is necessary for people to live happy not in fear.