Both Vanessa Mattison and Avi Abramson have very strong morals and values and seem to be extremely committed to what they believe in. The value to stands out the greatest with Avi Abramson is religion and with Vanessa Mattison it is the value of family and standing up for yourself and your family.
             These two values, religion and family, have several similarities and yet have several differences as well. The similarities start with their personal choices. It is Avi's choice to be so deeply involved in the synagogue and to carry out his Judaism beliefs to the extent that he does. However, if it weren't for his parental influence, his choices may have been different. Because his parents both taught Hebrew and his parents sent him to a Jewish School, his religious belief is strengthened. Vanessa speaks of her family influencing her decisions as well, it is very important for her to become the first in her family to go to college and she takes her education very seriously. In Vanessa's case, it is because of what her parents didn't do that helps mold her motivation for education.
             Another similarity is the fact that because of their values, they seem to be in the minority in certain situations, but they continue to stick with their beliefs and both Avi and Vanessa stand up for what they believe in. In Avi's case, when all of his friends are going out on a Friday night, but his religious beliefs require him to stay at home he doesn't hesitate, his heart is with his religion and he follows his heart. In Vanessa's case, she and her family believed strongly enough against the Gulf War to protest the war and join peace vigils. Even though people would drive by and "give them the finger", as Vanessa indicated, they stood their ground and are speaking up for what they believe in. For so many of us it would be easier to go out on a Friday night to avoid questions and ridicule from peers o...