Basic Passage: “Leaving behind their young son, whom they never saw again, Bradford and his wife embarked aboard the Mayflower for the voyage to the northern part of the Virginia Territory, near the mouth of the Hudson River, where the Separatists had obtained a land grant from the English government.”
Correlation: Leaving their only son behind was appalling. The journey ahead would not be an easy one and perhaps leaving him behind meant that it was for his own well being. Were they possibly trying to set the bar by showing that sometimes to do great things sacrifices must be made? But turning their backs on their only son? As we read that passage in class I couldn’t help but think, “Wow! Seriously? WTF?” I also tried to relate to their train of thought. If I was in their time and had a treacherous journey ahead of me, would I want to put my child through the same tortures that I would have to endure? Or would I want to leave him on the mainland in loving, capable hands so that one day he could live a better life than I could have provided under the circumstances? As difficult as it is, I hate to say it but maybe their decision, as terrible as it may seem, was not such a bad one. If I were the child who had been left behind in those times, I wonder what I would have thought of my parents after I had grown to become an adult. Different strokes for different folks. Different times and different circumstances. To each their own but live with purpose. I believe William and Dorothy Bradford had purpose and for that, their son may have been left behind but he was not forgotten. Afterall, we did read about him, did we not?
Basic Passage: A young man by the name of William Bradford who depicts his struggle of not being allowed religious freedom, fights for their choose of worship for many Pilgrim settlers. This is where a young man is determined to have religious freedom for all men and women of its kind or creed. Correlate: William Bradford was born in Northern England family that was prosperous farmers. He like many of today’s youth was raised by another one of his family. At the early age of 12 or 13 he was inspired by the Bible and preaching’s of Richard Clyfton. In the present-day it is very rare to find any, if none, youth who is inspired by the words of the Bible. Most youth would be caught of with our childish and immature ways. Throughout his times he sought the common interest of the Pilgrims and find a place where the can practice their religion without issues with the church and state. That disagreement later lead to the voyage on the Mayflower to the New World which he sought for the right to practice their own religion freely. While reading about Bradford this kind of scenario that is been played out in modern day. We now have a President of the United States that was too raised by another relative than his mother, who also is seeking the common interest for minorities. The road that Barack Obama to the White House also symbolize to me the voyage that Bradford also endured for the pilgrims to have the right to religious freedom. President Obama journey was to sure minorities and many others that they can know that they can do anything possible. Bradford’s poem shows both of their determination for change. From my years young in days of youth, God did make known to me this truth, And call’d me from my native place For to enjoy the means of grace. In wilderness he did me guide, And in strange lands for me provide, In fears and wants, through weal and woe, A Pilgrim passed I to and fro.
Verse 14 Chapter 5 of Matthew states "you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." This verse has been repeated in many speeches over history in our country. It was first made famous by John Winthrop in 1630 by telling the puritans that all eyes were upon them and their new world. This same verse has also been used in a John F. Kennedy, Reagan, and even Palin and McCain speeches. This verse applies to today’s American society just as it did to the puritans, with a slight variation. To the puritans they believed that if they failed in doing God’s work that the whole world would be looking down on them and “we shall be made a story and a by-word throughout the world.” “In a sense, in today’s America, we are still looked at and focused on with just about everything that we do. Just with President Obama’s election and inauguration, it was not just America that was watching the process of America electing our first African American president, it was the whole world. We as a nation believe that we are the biggest and best at everything, as did the puritans in believing that their way of worshiping and praising God was the correct way of doing things. Even today we believe that we show the rest of the world how things are supposed to be done and any other way is not the correct way as the puritans believed about the Catholic Church. The puritans were watched by the world just as we are today (not as closely because of the forms of media today) because we do our things our way, and I think other nations either admire that or hate that, but either way that makes our nation a focal point to others.
Harrison Bullock A.Green America B.In class, we have talked about many different topics in the past few weeks. Some topics that interested me were the Market Capitalism and the Acculturation topics. C. Webster’s Dictionary defines Capitalism as “an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decisions and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market”. While talking to my economics class, a small business owner informed us that his company used to make brooms for the Delchamps and Wal-Mart until China started making them cheaper because of lower wages to workers. He then told us that they went from making homemade brooms to buying from china and selling them for a higher price. To me, this illustrates that “money shapes Americans and America” Having gathered this concept, I also wanted to quote Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli said, “The ends justify the means.” The saying means that people will do whatever it takes to accomplish their goal(s). Some Americans follow this way of life to get ahead in this capitalistic country. This is partially due to the need for achievement, a need from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. Now I will tie acculturation and capitalism together in this last point. Have you heard or seen the new casino in Atmore, Alabama? Well, this area of Alabama is state land granted to Native Americans to live on privately. It is ironic that the Native Americans built a casino, which draws non-Native Americans, on the land. This is just one example of how one culture in America has changed to become “American”, by using their means to earn a profit. Native Americans are just like any other ethnic group that has come to America in the pursuit of living a more prosperous life, having a family, home, and money.
Basic Passage: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” from Matthew 5:14
Correlation: A city on a hill that can’t be hid gives off a superior attitude. Since this was also quoted in the book cover of The Wordy Shipmates, it portrays the idea that the pilgrims came to America with this superior attitude. The pilgrims came to America and set up a government and viewed themselves as an example for others. They cared what others thought about them and wanted other nations to follow them. The superior attitude can work for the good of the Pilgrims by leading a successful example of a government. This could also be a downfall for the Pilgrims because while everyone is watching you, they are also judging. Any mistake could affect a nation’s judgment in a negative way, which would be bad for the Pilgrims. Words were also important to them, hence the title “wordy” shipmates. Pilgrims constructed the Mayflower Compact to set laws for those who also came over on the Mayflower. Our country has used written contracts throughout history. The Declaration of Independence declared the thirteen colonies in America free from England, while setting new laws for the colonies. These are both documents written by the founding fathers of our country. We still use the idea of written documents or contracts today when you sign any type of lease, buy a house, or get a cell phone contract to list a few. Although the Pilgrims probably did not realize it at the time, they introduced the example or idea of using a contract to set laws or guidelines for a society that we still use today.
Basic Passage:We say we are Americans. America is an entire continent. So are Mexicans, and other countries in the continent considered American?
Correlation:These countries really don't consider themselves as Americans either. Which now that we have had this discussion in class makes me wonder why they don't. I guess the stereo-type American would be white are black who speaks English.
As American's we are proud to say we live in America. America is a free country, and people all over the world want to live in America. Mexico , Guatemala, Brazil, and other countries are all in the continent. I never really thought about any of these countries being considered American's, but they live in the American continent just like we do. Before we had this discussion in class I would have never thought of these countries being considered Americans.
Now when I think of America I will have to think I little more broadly. There are so many people who live in the United State's of America who consider themselves as Americans.
Basic Passage: In class we talked about how the election of Barack Obama has reinforced the “Salad Bowl” idea. Obama stated "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers."
Correlation: To me this is kind of ironic; I have grown up a Christian and understandably so. I have been taught the importance of accepting and loving thy neighbors. Through what we have established in the study of the Puritan’s and William Bradford, they are obviously a devout Christian group of people. The purpose of Puritan’s leaving England was to escape the persecution from the Catholic Church because of reading the Christian Bible. William Bradford was one of the leading causes of the Puritan Movement to the United States, which ultimately was the foundation for the establishment of Baptist, Presbyterian, and other Protestant Congregationalist Churches. After the settlement of Plymouth was established the separatist Puritans chose to closely tie their legal and social environments to their religious beliefs. Many would say this is the mindset of a bigot, and stuck in the past, yet it is hard to argue with the establishment of the original colonization. I have always been confused at why being a Christian turns you into an anti-cultural person. In 1796 George Washington said, “Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus. " This seems odd to me knowing that our present day president has stated that we are NOT a Christian nation. The United States of America should not melt others culture into our own, all races and religions are welcome, as our founders were fleeing from persecution of their own country or whatever their reasoning, but we are “One Nation Under God.”
Passage: "When he was twelve or thirteen, however, he became absorbed in reading the Bible and was deeply moved by the preaching of Richard Clyfton..."
Correlation: After reading the piece about William Bradford, I was stunned to discover his obsession with religion at such an odd age. According to the book, Bradford became committed to religion at the ripe age of thirteen. That is a fact that I find hard to believe. Although society has taken a drastic transformation since the 1600s, it is very strange for an adolescent to have such a love for religion. The book writes that "when he was 12 or 13,however, he became absorbed in reading the bible and was deeply moved by the preaching of Richard Clyfton." I can relate to this passage because I remember the invigorating speeches given to me by priests and pastors that went all over the world to talk. But none of them ever influenced me on a level like Clyfton must have for Bradford. At 13, I didn't want to read the bible; I knew I should, but I was too concerned with other things that were big for a thirteen year old in my generation. I don't believe the human mind of a thirteen year old can even understand the dedication of a life devoted to religion. Bradford stayed committed to religion all through his teenage years and early twenties. These ages are considered to be the most distracting ages in a persons life. The experiences and mind development that goes on during these ages is something that can easily distract anyone from the righteous path. At the age of 26, Bradford took the next step in his religious path by moving away from his home to live with the Separatist congregation that was founded by Clyfton. William Bradford was a man who knew it was his divine purpose to follow God on his quest through life.
“While Bradford and others were exploring the coastline, Dorothy Bradford either fell or jumped overboard and drowned in Provincetown Harbor.”
Correlate –
Dorothy Bradford could have simply fallen off the ship. I believe that she committed suicide because before she left her homeland of England to the “New World,” Dorothy and her husband had a son who they chose to leave behind. She was depressed, could not handle have to leave her son behind with possible family or friends and not watching him grow up, or maybe the trip was to long for her. Dorothy could have been sick because the ship was dirty and full of filth, maybe she was to scared of the many shipwrecks that were happening around that time period. There are many people who commit suicide each year and many of their reasons are related. Numerous people are stressed, scared, or sick and are not sure of how to deal with their situation. They believe that death is their way out and that they will not have to suffer any of the bad. There are some of those suicidal people who may have had a recent death in their family and do not want to go one because of it. In the United States there are almost 7,000 female suicides every year. Many of the reasons are very similar to Dorothy Bradford’s. I believe that she was troubled with many problems and believed herself that there was only one way out: suicide. Whether she jumped or fell will always be a mystery.
I thought it was interesting in class when we started the discussion of appropriation and you mentioned that the “Native American” actor from the crying Indian commercial was actually of Italian descent. What does this say about our culture? Do we want to live in a country where foreigners must feel the need to “melt” in with the rest of the ingredients in the cooking pot? Even when a certain culture or belief is appropriated, why is it that the culture must first be destroyed? Take for example Martin Luther King Jr. He had several followers, but it was not until his death that people truly began to realize the severity of the ills of racism and segregation. So is the case with Jesus. During his life he was often ridiculed and viewed as a traitor and a radical. After his death, however, many began to recognize his beliefs and as more and more people began to follow his teachings, Christianity was started and has now grown into one of the world’s largest religions.
Chuck Klosterman expresses somewhat similar ideas in his book Killing Yourself to Live, “Unless you're Shannon Hoon (of Blind Melon), dying is the only thing that guarantees a rock star will have a legacy that stretches beyond temporary relevance.” Klosterman went on a 6,557-mile, cross-country journey trying to discover “why the greatest career move any musician can make is to stop breathing…and what this means for the rest of us”. So many musical artists had little significance to the world until they died, at which time the world then mourned for their death and celebrated the songs they had composed during their time on earth.
Basically what I want to express is that we should all make a conscious effort to understand and appreciate the ideals of different cultures, beliefs, or ways of life… before they no longer exist in today’s society.
Basic Passage: “As he departed the first island, Columbus thus took several captives to provide information and evidence of his discoveries, an act that anticipated the carnage and devastation that Europeans following his lead would bring to the indigenous peoples of what soon came to be called ‘America’.”
Correlate: What exactly brings about a change in social normality? How is it possible for one person or maybe a group of people to dictate what is or is not right? Columbus’ domination over the Arawaks came about immediately, with little or no warning. In a split second, their lives and futures were changed forever simply because their “simple, timid, unlettered … naked lifestyle” was not the social norm back in Europe. Some changes may occur over hundreds or thousands of years, from one extreme to another. For example, the close relationship between religion and politics centuries ago completely dissolved over the course of history. That change, of course, was brought about by the various branches of religion sprouting from the one Catholic Church so long ago. Who can decide what is right when everyone has different moral ideas about what is right?
The reason change happens so easily in society is due to the snowball effect. One change begins that prompts more changes to occur, until the snowball is so immense that it appears nothing like what it used to be. While sudden tragic accidents like a car crash may seem like a change immediately brought on with no seeming cause, everything is connected in life (or at least that is what I believe). It may seem like one simple accident can cause change to come about, but in reality, there are dozens of unseen forces acting together to make a specific change come about. In addition, the reaction of humanity can either reverse the change, or force it to continue.
Basic Passage: In class the idea of the American Melting Pot Myth was discussed.
Correlation: Americans like the melting pot concept. The fantasy has been popular since the mid-19th century when waves of newcomers arrived seeking opportunity. Would diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, religious and language identities divide the country? The melting pot idea reassured us that soon we would all be alike. The idea is that immigrants will coalesce, losing their “bad” characteristics to create a new, “good” American culture. They will create an American super-culture. For immigrants to “melt,” they must dilute their own cultures and assume new ones. All cultures don’t “melt” away and everyone becomes homogenized, but different ingredients are added and the stew in the pot changes with each new component to create an identity that is more than just the sum of its parts. Immigrants in a strange, new land cling to the security of their origins and are reluctant to exchange their old culture for a foreign one. They avoid mingling with others who are different, often because of prejudice, misunderstandings and communication barriers. The United States may be seen as the land of the free, but it is also seen as the land of the irrational, the judgmental, and the racist.
History teaches us that immigrants combine cultures rather than rejecting one and replacing it with another. Sure, there is some assimilation. Still, the fusion of cultures is far different from melting, a state where specific individual characteristics are lost and everything blends with everything else. Why would cultural groups want to melt and jump into the Melting Pot? Why not resist the Americanization that society tries to sell as irresistible? Why sacrifice cultural heritage? As immigrant populations expand, why not strive to transform American society, rather than being transformed by it?
Basic Passage: The car for sometime now has been something we all can depend on to get us from A to B. Either to work or to school or some other kind of something that is of great importance. Just think if we did not have cars we would all be walking around or riding bikes throughout the entire world, which could be very difficult for americans.
Correlation: Really the car dates back all the way to the puritans. In that they did not use cars because engines were not invented yet, but that they used wagons to get around in and wagons had wheels. So the car is a kind of dependent thing that we all can rely on just like the puritans relied on the wagon to get them to places that they needed to go while it was pulled by horses. So basically the car is to our culture like the wagon was to the puritans culture. The car also is like the american dream to the American people because it is something that makes it possible to go out and make it on your own. In my opinion the car to me is like your own possession which you and know one else can come between. It is something that you will always have until it decides to break down on you, which could be a major disaster. Also i think the car is a huge factor of american culture to our society because it is something that has been around for so long now and we have become so used to it. So the car is something that will be around for centuries to come now and maybe our technology will evolve and the car will become something else.
Basic Passage: “The humble request” is so servile it boils down to this panicky appeal:
“Nothing uppity about us, Your Majesty, we’re just hobos in the wood!” To hammer home the image of themselves as unthreatening and pitiable, they remind the king and his bishops that “we shall be in our poor cottages in the wilderness.”
In private, however, Winthrop will soon tell his fellow colonists the very opposite. “We shall be as a city upon a hill.” He says.
Correlation: In Sarah Vowell’s book The Wordy Shipmates, She talks about John Winthrop “spending most of his time as magistrate tripping all over himself to make sure King Charles doesn’t get wind of any of the colony’s many treasonous infractions. Because unlike the Plymouth Separatists, the non-separating Bostonians left England pledging to remain as English as beheadings and clotted cream.” Governor John Winthrop was described as a gentleman farmer and lawyer. He was smart enough to know that even though he envisioned the colonies growing and being like “a city on a hill”, that he had to keep the King of England believing that they were simple people struggling to get by in the New World, while hiding the treasonous things that he knew were going on. Without Winthrop covering for the Puritans treasonous acts with King Charles and making it sound like they were struggling more than they actually were, the U.S. may never have had a chance, and Winthrop’s vision of “a city on a hill” may never have come to pass. If King Charles had known what was going on in the colonies, he may very well have put a stop to people coming to the New World before they had a chance to grow and eventually have our revolution that made our great nation what it is today. According to Francis J. Bremer’s article “Would John Adams have called John Winthrop a “Founding Father”, he writes that John Adams did in fact think of John Winthrop as a founding father, and that John Adams even used the name John Winthrop as a pseudonym in some of his writings.
Passage: Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Correlation: John Winthrop, a Puritan minister, used the words “city upon a hill” in a message or speech to the Puritans as they prepared to set sail to the New World. Winthrop and the Puritans had a vision of a just and Godly new place to live. They wanted their new city to be an example to others of how things should be done and how people should live. This quote from the Bible has been used in speeches by many of our nation’s leaders including Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and our newly elected president Barack Obama. Our nation’s leaders have the same vision as Winthrop did many years ago. America is a great nation and we’re to show other nations how things are to be done and how life should be lived. They want America to be looked up to and admired by other nations. This vision causes a “we cannot fail attitude.” What America says and believes can sometimes be better than what it does. Although I believe we live in a great nation with rights and freedoms that many in other countries do not have, I do not feel that it is right to assume it’s the best way for everyone to live. It shouldn’t be forced on other nations just because we see it as the right way. With America slowly falling financially apart, I can’t help but wonder what would John Winthrop think of America today? Would he really think that America today is “the city on the hill” that he had once hoped for years and years ago?
Basic Passage: “One who embarks on a quest for something conceived of as sacred.” “The people who traveled to and colonized America.”
Correlate: The word Pilgrim usually arouses the idea of the brave, noble heroic people that traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and founded our country. These people were hard workers and devout Christians who came to this land and fought the countless trials and hazards to colonize America. They befriended the Indians that were very happy to meet them and partook in events such as Thanksgiving with them. Or at least that’s how we like to talk about them. We tend to leave out or ignore how they massacred Indians with a sense of false self righteousness in order to achieve their goals. America likes to leave out the horrible things that occurred in what I believe is an attempt to make its history sound like something noble and honorable. The idea that your country was based on the acts of mass genocide would not be a pleasant thought to anyone that is a patriot of America. Even as a kid I remember learning about the pilgrims as a peaceful people who came to America and befriended the Indians and formed a good relationship with them. After learning the truth later on in education, I couldn’t help but be unpleased with how events really occurred back then and how they are often overlooked. It is like Germany teaching its students that the Nazis and Jews got together at camps and got along great. The interesting part is that while all of these atrocious acts were happening in early America, the pilgrims were backing themselves up by saying they were doing to for God and their religion, while they were actually acting more un-Christian than the Indians themselves. Their idea of convert to Christianity or die almost sounds like a Muslim ideology. God gave people free will to choose and do as they please, and the pilgrims took very selective parts of the Bible to overlook this and make themselves feel better about the horrors they were creating. They came to the new world to escape religious persecution, and in turn put the Indians in the same position they used to be in.
Well so far this class seems to be more about the underlying history that shapes the stories in our textbook than the actual stories themselves (PERFECTLY FINE WITH ME), I enjoy reflecting on the historical aspect of these early settlers. The question was posed the very first day of class, “Why do we have Am Lit class?” I think that our history explains our culture. I was asked once by someone who has no college education and no interest in such, “why do you have to take a history class?” My answer was pretty simple... “so we don’t have to re-invent the wheel and to understand why we are the way we are as a nation.” Imagine your childhood had been erased from your memory. But not like amnesia. I mean you lose the memories and experiences that make you who you are- those moments that define you. But the person you are today is not altered. Without those memories, what would indicate how you became who you are? A historical perspective gives us a sense of how our culture was influenced much like our childhood defines who we are as individuals. Of course your childhood experiences are a literal definition of you, not filtered by historians and propaganda. I don’t think we’ve talked about Christopher Columbus much but we have discussed the idea that only certain stories “make” it into our text books. Those that do are somewhat biased to form our ideas of the history they want to present. There is definitely a grade school version of Columbus which is basically propaganda that depicts him as a hero for “discovering” the New World. Then the truth comes out in college that shows Columbus as, by today’s standards, a racist, money hungry, arrogant A-hole.
Basic Passage: “As he departed the first island, Columbus thus took several captives to provide information and evidence of his discoveries, an act that anticipated the carnage and devastation that Europeans following his lead would bring to the indigenous peoples of what soon came to be called “America.”
Correlation: It has been estimated that 50 million Native Americans inhabited the Americas before Columbus and his “crew” devastated the population and found our so called “New World.” Sure, it may have seemed to be new territory to the Europeans at the time, but that does not take away from the fact that this land was inhabited by many native families and friends. While I do love and respect my country, it really bothers me how the process of colonization by the Europeans occurred. I mean, bloodshed had to occur, the Natives did not just mysteriously disappear. In the powerfully haunting lyrics of “Don’t Drink The Water” by Dave Matthews, he assumes the role of the European who is enlightened of the realization that the Native Americans were brutally killed by the settlers in order to selfishly get what they want. The lyrics read: “I live with my justice. I live with my greedy need . I live with no mercy. I live with my frenzied feeding . I live with my hatred. I live with my jealousy . I live with the notion; That I don't need anyone but me Don't drink the water, Don't drink the water , There's blood in the water.” Matthews states at the end of the song of the “blood in the water.” I have heard this song for years now, and just recently did I really understand the meaning behind that statement. That blood was from the Native Americans when the settlers….murdered them. The bloodshed caused at the beginning of the forming of our nation still lingers on today, and just now are many people starting to realize the hate that this country was based on but hidden behind a mask of religion.
Passage: John Winthrop’s “a city upon a hill”- a shining example, a “city that cannot be hid.”
Correlation: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”-Matthew 5:13, 5:14 These were the words of inspiration that John Winthrop gave to his followers. The New World was a place of freedom, theirs for the taking. The city that they built was meant to be an example for the whole world as a new, great beginning. “THE” example for the mother country to see what the right way to live and worship is. This attitude of go forth and provide an example for the entire world to see is still practiced by our country today. A great example is the War on Terror. We were attacked and thousands of innocent people were killed and we decided to provide an example for the rest of the world on how to react. America will not tolerate being attacked. We are the “city upon a hill”, a “city that cannot be hid”. Our actions are watched by everyone in the world. We decide to go into two countries with innocent people and fight the war against terrorism. Many people have died fighting this war, but we set the example for everyone else: do not tolerate being attacked, retaliate. Winthrop was justifying taking the “new” found land and settling there with this quote and America still uses this quote to justify doing whatever we feel that we need to do. This just shows that America hasn’t dramatically changed.
Basic Passage: "The God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
Correlation: On January 20,2009 Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, the first African-American to ever hold office of U.S. Commander in Chief.I thought the inauguration in itself was very moving for many Americans. It gives a new feeling of hope to Americans, and nations worldwide. America is known as the Promise, with hard work and dedication we maybe we can be what we once were. America has been known for its racism on all levels. From the government to the small businesses of rural America. Though racism is inevitable, as our generations become better educated, more intelligent with an open mind, hopefully racism will be another problem we humans will solve. Americans finally feel the possibility of a compassionate white house for people instead if big business.
"We are a nation of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindu's, and non-believers. This is so historic and trans formative on so many levels, for all of us.We must live up to our promise.And no one else is so well-suited.Maybe now there will be a halt on stereotypical depictions of people by the color of their skin or religion. American has to make a change. I'm optimistic that president Obama's transition to power will attempt to address the bureaucratic maze that has governed this country for so many years.
The Truth of Going to College “It amuses me to tell people that I went to college for 26 years.” This particular line relates to me because I have been in school for almost eight years (4 and a half years at USA) and will finally be finished in May. There were times when I wanted to give up and quit, but I did not because I was determined to finish no matter how tired I was of coming to school every day. I sometimes hear people say that you can finish college in four years, which is simply not true. I also hear people say that when you go to college, it is time to party, which is not true as well. I decided I wanted go to college to learn so I can have a better future for myself and become independent. I also knew that going to college was about having choices and opportunities. We all have choices in deciding what it is that we want to do with our lives whether it is being a teacher, a doctor, or a lawyer. These are opportunities I do not take for granted because who has to say that another opportunity like this will come along. I understand people saying that college is hard and they won’t be able to handle the pressure. Well, life is hard and going to college will help better prepare you once you step out into the real world. I sometimes think that I stayed in school for so long was because I was afraid of stepping out into real world and realizing that I will soon be on my own and away from home. Well, that was then and this is now. I now know that I am ready. Once I graduate, I hope to find a job within my major and maybe apply for graduate school.
"Besides, what could they see buy a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men."
William Bradford does an excellent job of describing the initial emotions of how the pilgrims felt stepping on to the new land in America. There were many people, animals and ideas that caused much stress and turmoil on these people. Setting out to an unknown world showed that the people who came on the Mayflower, posess alot of bravery and fearless characteristics. Although this could be a horrifying thought, the leaders and people pressed on and continued to be optimistic. When it come to the idea of American society today, we are in a much similar situation. For people from other countries, moving to "the land of the free" isn't so free anymore. The economic crisis that we have gotten into today is very scary and unknown. The new leaders of our countries today have been put to the ultimate test of trying to take on this overwhelming problem. This is a lot like what Bradford describes. There are many people who are money hungry and act like wild animals to get whatever they want or need. Therefore, even though our economic situation is very scary and unknown, the leaders of our country must take what they have, not be scared of the bad things and be optimistic for our future.
Passage- “The Wordy Shipmates is New York Times bestselling author Sarah Voweel’s exploration of the Puritans and their journey to America to become the people of John Winthrop’s “city upon a hill”-a shining example, a “city that cannot be hid.”
Correlate- The quote “a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” originated from the Gospel of Matthew. Winthrop used this bible passage to describe how the Puritans were to be a people of a “city upon a hill” and a “city that cannot be hidden” much like the Christians in the Bible. They were to lead by example because the world was watching. The Puritans believed they were like the Israelites in that they were persecuted and came to this new “Promised” land (America), where they could live in harmony with God as an example for the world. This idea of superiority has drastically shaped the history of America as it has passed from one generation to the next. We have felt the need to be a defender of peace and democracy. For one, we went to Vietnam to stop the spread of Communism; and we sacrificed tens of thousands of lives for the sake of another country. A more recent example is the Iraq War, in which we defended the right for democracy. This can also be seen in terms of marketing; Nike’s slogan, for example, “just do it”, shows America’s attitude based on those words from the Puritans. Another marketing example in today’s society is from Ford: “Built Ford Tough.” To expand further on this aspect of being tough, many of the early Westerners led a rugged lifestyle that only succeeded because of strong leadership. Finally, President Obama has urged us to continue leading by example in his recent inauguration speech. He said, “Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”
Correlation: The tale of the Puritans rising above the rest is represented then and now by John Winthrop’s idea of “a city upon a hill.” Sarah Vowell, author of The Wordy Shipmates, explores the aspects of the Puritans and what such ideals mean to us today that were merely new to them. The Puritans were a group of religious people out to purify the Catholic Church. After traveling to several countries and not quite fitting in, they decided to board the Mayflower on a trip that would change lives all over the world for forever. As the Puritans landed upon what is now the United States they looked at it as a fresh, new start for them and for everyone. With their Bibles and minds open they go to work on shaping this new place. They believed that with strength and help from God they could build a place they could refer to as “God’s kingdom on Earth.” As the Puritans organized and tried to establish our country, others watched in ah of what they were doing and accomplishing. The Puritans grew to see themselves superior over all others and found others to be jealous of what they were accomplishing. Till this day we still have that strive for superiority, to rise above the rest, and to the best at everything we do. The Puritans have taught us to rise above all the rest and succeed against all odds, either it be survival in a new land or surviving life in general. The Puritans traveled here with nothing but hope and faith and ended up creating something magnificent. Everyone watched them then to see if they would succeed in their efforts and everyone still watches us today on everything we do.
In class this past week we talked about numerous of interesting topics to write about. The one topic or discussion that stood out to me was the handout we received titled “German Minorities Still Fight To Be Seen, Heard.”(NPR.ORG) “I was born here, so why do people tell me I am disadvantaged just because my grandparents were migrants?” Maybe I am not a pure German, so call me a new German.” Sinan Senyurt.
Correlation This insert goes well with what’s happening today in our society. With Barack Obama being elected as the first minority as president of the United States. African Americans just like German minorities have been through a lot of racist and tough times in their country. with his father being from Africa and his mother and grandmother from Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Obama came from a mixed background. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii as a minority just as Sinan Senyurt was born into Germany. Everyone on earth no matter what color has one thing in common. We are all human beings with minds, bodies, and souls. Obama, just like Sinan couldn’t help how he was placed in society or what ethnic group he was in. Obama overcame all of his trials and tribulations of being a black man in America. He attended Harvard Law school and practiced as a civil rights attorney in Chicago. He also gave back to his ethnic group by fighting for their rights. I feel like our country has come a long way in how we treat minorities. Obama has made a way for all minorities in the world. There is now a sense that anyone can be anything they want to be with no limitations. Maybe now African Americans in the U.S. can be classified as just Americans.
Basic Passage: “Vowell is an American original…She is somehow simultaneously patriot and rebel, cynic and dreamer, and an aching secularist in search of a higher ground. Her book-part memoir, part mediation, and part road trip-will attract readers who are still unafraid of having many of their assumptions challenged.”-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Correlation: I do not think the word “original” has the meaning used here. The user may have meant it that way, but I see it differently. Original has become as much an American tradition as revolution. At the moment we read about the Pilgrims setting foot onto the Mayflower we were given our definition of what revolutionary and rebellious means. These words are used so commonly that we somehow managed to overlook a common feature American rebels share…their triumph. Vowell is rebellious and Madonna-like not because she challenges conventional wisdom but because she succeeded in it. In this way, she is very much like the Pilgrims her book depicts as symbols immortalized as figurines. No, maybe her book will not be contemporary literature, but someday it will. Moreover, she, along with many others, will be recognized in the future the same way we recognize names like Nikki Giovanni or Langston Hughes because she will be what people read of us. There is an evident revolution for every age depicted in our nation’s history. What will be remembered for our generation is how we shouted, “I am separate from my history” while at the same time protesting how much we deserve to be a part of it.
Basic Passage:“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” - Matthew 5:14
Correlation: This passage in the New Testament has been used in all types of speeches, sermons and public addresses. It is used to form a symbol in the audience’s mind of a prosperous city. A symbol used as motivation during a time of new beginning. When John Winthrop spoke these words, he without a doubt had no idea of the historical significance that it would hold. He spoke of a nation where honoring God comes before anything else and by that example they would be the symbolic “city”. However, just as he had no idea of the longevity of his analogy, he could have never known the magnitude in which this new world would one day grow. Today, America is considered the most powerful nation in the world. It is watched by the entire world like Winthrop dreamed, but has traveled far from his vision. The dream of the Puritans and their desire to build a Godly nation has overtime changed its course. Some would argue that the evolution of the nation was imminent. However, the foundation of this nation may not have ever been as solid as Winthrop once intended. Later on in Matthew, Chapter 7:24-27, Jesus himself is speaking to a crowd about building a house on a strong foundation. He said … “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined." As America wages war in the Middle East and faces an unstable financial future, its future is unclear. These days America is the “city” visible to the entire world, but the strength of its foundation is uncertain. Hopefully we are built on one of rock and not of sand.
Basic Passage: What is “The American Dream?” Does one even exist?
Correlate: Is there even an American Dream these days? Do we have time to dream anymore? It seems like everyone, everywhere, is constantly busy with something. Whether it is writing a report for class, spending six months trying to find a job, or taking care of children, we always seem to be busy with something. The American Dream is more like the biggest challenge. So, how challenging do you want to make your dream? Each individual has their own vision of The American Dream. Some people may think that it is taking a long vacation to a small beach resort and do nothing all day but soak up the sun and some margaritas. Or, to some people, it could be finally graduating from college after ten years and becoming a medical doctor. Others may dream about getting a good job, owning a large home, being married with children, and having new sports cars. Each and every individual in this world has a different dream. Is the American dream wealth, family, or the pursuit of a better life through any means? People can accumulate wealth from multiple means, where one man works hard for a dollar, and another man is being given one for nothing. There can be a rich man that worked hard for his money talking to another rich man who killed for his, and another who won the lottery and another from inheritance! But what is rich? Is it just money? I say no! It is the balance you create for your life with family, friends, religion, and work. Then add the money. The American dream is more of a misconception of unguided truth. No one dreams the same. America only assists you in providing for that dream through many different opportunities.
B. “Bradford devoted himself to the interests and the welfare of the pilgrims, as he called members of the devout group of separatists. But their pilgrimage was not simply spiritual; it also an arduous physical journey in a quest of a place where they could establish a church and worship God.”
C. Over the years, history has been molded and defined for our modern day views and morals. It has been placed in textbooks and taught to children around the nation with only one viewpoint. Most of the time this perspective is from White America. This of course leaves out many of the subcultures that also call America home including French, African American and Native American. Another contradiction with the history manuscript, is the fact that many of the barbaric sieges and bloody over takings have been left out or not mentioned. A great example of this, is the Thanksgiving holiday. Growing up we were made to believe that the interactions between the pilgrims and the Native Americans were docile and friendly. When in fact, we took a lot of their land and killed countless innocent families in our quest to expand “God’s Country”. History is still being tainted today, for many books only cover a single aspect of past events leaving its readers with an uncertainty about anything other than the authors views and interpretations. Also many spots in history books go to the highest bidders. For example many publishing corporations use only authors and companies that can pay the highest dollar amount. So, is it not safe to say that a lot of the history we are taught has been influence not by actual events but by modern motives.
Basic Passage – Based on the class discussion of the idea of America the great “melting pot” and the “salad bowl” of the world and that President Obama quoted “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers." He is surely not trying to reinforce the idea, but instead he is sticking with the core idea.
Correlate: What made America such a great nation? Is it the ideology and religion that was brought over to the Promised Land by early Europeans? Or is it ideology that was stated by our founding father that “All men are created equal”. By that they meant no matter who we are and what our religion is, we are all equal and united. And yes, Christianity has its role to play for the early settlers who based their beliefs to build this nation, but that doesn’t mean we are a Christian nation just because the founding fathers were all Christians. This great nation was built on the principle of “Freedom to choose” and that’s why America have people all kind of people from all walks of life who shaped the history of this nation. As a Muslim, I know many Muslim nations are doest not allow the freedom to preach and practice different religion or intolerant towards people with different beliefs. At least, I as a son of Muslim immigrants can now proudly say, I live in America and I have the right to choose. President Obama knows that America was built by immigrants, who came to the land of opportunity not to be oppressed by religious enforcement. Puritans came here because of the same reason and to say America is a Christian nation is like doing the same thing that the English did to the Puritans.
Title: Native American names in our culture stolen by the pilgrims.
Basic Passage: The Pilgrims came into America and destroyed the Indians. The Pilgrims then ended up using all the names of the different tribes for streets and other things.
Correlate: When the pilgrims came in they were told to wipe out everything in their way. It was in the bible that the pilgrims were supposed to do that. After destroying the culture of the main land people, such as the Indians, the pilgrims started naming roads and other landmarks after the Indians. It has now carried into today’s culture with street names and the biggest is major league and college sports. Some examples are the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Florida State Seminoles, and the Utah Utes. My grandfather was a Native American and he hated that teams were named after Indian names. He said it was disrespectful and degrading to the Native Americans. Just to show how Indians do not like that their names or even symbols that their ancestors stand for, two of the collegiate teams had to change their mascots. Florida State and the Washington Redskins are just two examples. Florida State had to change their tomahawk and the Washington Redskins had to change their Indian head. In today’s culture people are not educated enough to understand the culture of the Native Americans. The generations are taught about the cartoon version of the pilgrims and Indians with no blood or fighting. So America doesn’t understand why using Native American names are such a big deal. Giving respect to the Native Americans are very important to them.
Title: Pilgrimage to a New World Basic Passage: William Bradford writes about his struggles with the governments of England and Holland. He explains why he joined his fellow Christians on the voyage taking them across the Atlantic. He was interested in living free of religious persecution, and he thought that others might later join him in the New World. His companions justify their actions by comparing themselves to the Isrealites, who left from slaveey in Egypt into Cannan, the land God had promised them. Correlation: Bradford witnessed bloody and cruel torments of Christians in England, where he said Satan was in control. His group of refugees left for Holland where they remained for eleven or twelve years. Holland is known for running a very libersl government, but they are not welcoming of outsiders. The government will punish to the full extent of the law here, which along with the hard labor kept Bradford in search of a new place. His voyage was comparable to the Isralites because they had to leave a familar place with only the clothes on their backs. Traveling by sea at the time was dangerous as ships often were sunk by storms. With just as much difficulty with Pharoh keeping the Isrealites from leaving, Bradford had to consider how dangerous his trip would be and the uncivilized people and wild animals he would see. When Predident Obama expressed in his inaugural adreess that he would keep alive the positive policies of former presidents, this was something that Bradford faced. He also looked back in history and saw the way that the Isrealites were protected. He used this in the way he treated Native Americans as though they were heathens and had faith that what lied ahead in the New World was better than the oppression he felt.
Correlation:Heros today must be one who leads others to lead themselves. The rapid pace of change demands fast and flexible responses throughout the organization for example “Obama“ is actually a leader for most Americans. Most heroic leaders provides an opportunity for followers to express and develop their own leadership skills and in the process become highly motivated. Think of it being a work place if By bringing out the leader in every employee, it would enables leaders to avoid these pitfalls and develop an enthusiastic, innovative and energized workforce.
Being a leader or a hero is not a privilege I believe any and everyone can be a leader. You don’t have to be an actor, cartoon character or a celebrity. I can be a leader to others just by being who I am which is my self. A leader truly becomes successful by turning followers into extraordinary self-leaders. Apply yourself and stay content u can become a hero or a leader. Especially in today’s society I believe if there were more realistic heroes or leaders that could acknowledge our kids the society today would be more into their life decisions than the streets. Have you ever thought of yourself being a hero?
Basic passage:Real heroes are unknown anyway and only one in a million real, genuine hero gets to stay alive and is known. Firstly they die so soon as their casualty rate is so high and out of them all that escape death or prosecution only a rare one gets sung about and gets noticed. What we get to see and celebrate most of the time is celebrities, icons, and non-entities as heroes. The acceptance of these ‘fakes as real heroes is at its every peak and truly reflect sentimentality of our corrupt time and era.
In class this past week we talked about numerous of interesting topics to write about. The one topic or discussion that stood out to me was the handout we received titled “German Minorities Still Fight To Be Seen, Heard.”(NPR.ORG) “I was born here, so why do people tell me I am disadvantaged just because my grandparents were migrants?” Maybe I am not a pure German, so call me a new German.” Sinan Senyurt.
Correlation This insert goes well with what’s happening today in our society. With Barack Obama being elected as the first minority as president of the United States. African Americans just like German minorities have been through a lot of racist and tough times in their country. with his father being from Africa and his mother and grandmother from Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Obama came from a mixed background. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii as a minority just as Sinan Senyurt was born into Germany. Everyone on earth no matter what color has one thing in common. We are all human beings with minds, bodies, and souls. Obama, just like Sinan couldn’t help how he was placed in society or what ethnic group he was in. Obama overcame all of his trials and tribulations of being a black man in America. He attended Harvard Law school and practiced as a civil rights attorney in Chicago. He also gave back to his ethnic group by fighting for their rights. I feel like our country has come a long way in how we treat minorities. Obama has made a way for all minorities in the world. There is now a sense that anyone can be anything they want to be with no limitations. Maybe now African Americans in the U.S. can be classified as just Americans.
37 comments:
Susan Howard
Title: Left behind, but not forgotten.
Basic Passage: “Leaving behind their young son, whom they never saw again, Bradford and his wife embarked aboard the Mayflower for the voyage to the northern part of the Virginia Territory, near the mouth of the Hudson River, where the Separatists had obtained a land grant from the English government.”
Correlation: Leaving their only son behind was appalling. The journey ahead would not be an easy one and perhaps leaving him behind meant that it was for his own well being. Were they possibly trying to set the bar by showing that sometimes to do great things sacrifices must be made? But turning their backs on their only son? As we read that passage in class I couldn’t help but think, “Wow! Seriously? WTF?” I also tried to relate to their train of thought. If I was in their time and had a treacherous journey ahead of me, would I want to put my child through the same tortures that I would have to endure? Or would I want to leave him on the mainland in loving, capable hands so that one day he could live a better life than I could have provided under the circumstances? As difficult as it is, I hate to say it but maybe their decision, as terrible as it may seem, was not such a bad one. If I were the child who had been left behind in those times, I wonder what I would have thought of my parents after I had grown to become an adult. Different strokes for different folks. Different times and different circumstances. To each their own but live with purpose. I believe William and Dorothy Bradford had purpose and for that, their son may have been left behind but he was not forgotten. Afterall, we did read about him, did we not?
Title: A True Pilgrim
Basic Passage: A young man by the name of William Bradford who depicts his struggle of not being allowed religious freedom, fights for their choose of worship for many Pilgrim settlers. This is where a young man is determined to have religious freedom for all men and women of its kind or creed.
Correlate: William Bradford was born in Northern England family that was prosperous farmers. He like many of today’s youth was raised by another one of his family. At the early age of 12 or 13 he was inspired by the Bible and preaching’s of Richard Clyfton. In the present-day it is very rare to find any, if none, youth who is inspired by the words of the Bible. Most youth would be caught of with our childish and immature ways. Throughout his times he sought the common interest of the Pilgrims and find a place where the can practice their religion without issues with the church and state. That disagreement later lead to the voyage on the Mayflower to the New World which he sought for the right to practice their own religion freely. While reading about Bradford this kind of scenario that is been played out in modern day. We now have a President of the United States that was too raised by another relative than his mother, who also is seeking the common interest for minorities. The road that Barack Obama to the White House also symbolize to me the voyage that Bradford also endured for the pilgrims to have the right to religious freedom. President Obama journey was to sure minorities and many others that they can know that they can do anything possible. Bradford’s poem shows both of their determination for change.
From my years young in days of youth,
God did make known to me this truth,
And call’d me from my native place
For to enjoy the means of grace.
In wilderness he did me guide,
And in strange lands for me provide,
In fears and wants, through weal and woe,
A Pilgrim passed I to and fro.
Title- Watched By The World
Verse 14 Chapter 5 of Matthew states "you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
This verse has been repeated in many speeches over history in our country. It was first made famous by John Winthrop in 1630 by telling the puritans that all eyes were upon them and their new world. This same verse has also been used in a John F. Kennedy, Reagan, and even Palin and McCain speeches. This verse applies to today’s American society just as it did to the puritans, with a slight variation. To the puritans they believed that if they failed in doing God’s work that the whole world would be looking down on them and “we shall be made a story and a by-word throughout the world.” “In a sense, in today’s America, we are still looked at and focused on with just about everything that we do. Just with President Obama’s election and inauguration, it was not just America that was watching the process of America electing our first African American president, it was the whole world. We as a nation believe that we are the biggest and best at everything, as did the puritans in believing that their way of worshiping and praising God was the correct way of doing things. Even today we believe that we show the rest of the world how things are supposed to be done and any other way is not the correct way as the puritans believed about the Catholic Church. The puritans were watched by the world just as we are today (not as closely because of the forms of media today) because we do our things our way, and I think other nations either admire that or hate that, but either way that makes our nation a focal point to others.
Harrison Bullock
A.Green America
B.In class, we have talked about many different topics in the past few weeks. Some topics that interested me were the Market Capitalism and the Acculturation topics.
C. Webster’s Dictionary defines Capitalism as “an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decisions and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market”. While talking to my economics class, a small business owner informed us that his company used to make brooms for the Delchamps and Wal-Mart until China started making them cheaper because of lower wages to workers. He then told us that they went from making homemade brooms to buying from china and selling them for a higher price. To me, this illustrates that “money shapes Americans and America”
Having gathered this concept, I also wanted to quote Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli said, “The ends justify the means.” The saying means that people will do whatever it takes to accomplish their goal(s). Some Americans follow this way of life to get ahead in this capitalistic country. This is partially due to the need for achievement, a need from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.
Now I will tie acculturation and capitalism together in this last point. Have you heard or seen the new casino in Atmore, Alabama? Well, this area of Alabama is state land granted to Native Americans to live on privately. It is ironic that the Native Americans built a casino, which draws non-Native Americans, on the land. This is just one example of how one culture in America has changed to become “American”, by using their means to earn a profit. Native Americans are just like any other ethnic group that has come to America in the pursuit of living a more prosperous life, having a family, home, and money.
Alicia Vance
Title: “Wordy Contracts”
Basic Passage: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” from Matthew 5:14
Correlation: A city on a hill that can’t be hid gives off a superior attitude. Since this was also quoted in the book cover of The Wordy Shipmates, it portrays the idea that the pilgrims came to America with this superior attitude. The pilgrims came to America and set up a government and viewed themselves as an example for others. They cared what others thought about them and wanted other nations to follow them. The superior attitude can work for the good of the Pilgrims by leading a successful example of a government. This could also be a downfall for the Pilgrims because while everyone is watching you, they are also judging. Any mistake could affect a nation’s judgment in a negative way, which would be bad for the Pilgrims. Words were also important to them, hence the title “wordy” shipmates. Pilgrims constructed the Mayflower Compact to set laws for those who also came over on the Mayflower. Our country has used written contracts throughout history. The Declaration of Independence declared the thirteen colonies in America free from England, while setting new laws for the colonies. These are both documents written by the founding fathers of our country. We still use the idea of written documents or contracts today when you sign any type of lease, buy a house, or get a cell phone contract to list a few. Although the Pilgrims probably did not realize it at the time, they introduced the example or idea of using a contract to set laws or guidelines for a society that we still use today.
Title:We are Americans
Basic Passage:We say we are Americans. America is an entire continent. So are Mexicans, and other countries in the continent considered American?
Correlation:These countries really don't consider themselves as Americans either. Which now that we have had this discussion in class makes me wonder why they don't. I guess the stereo-type American would be white are black who speaks English.
As American's we are proud to say we live in America. America is a free country, and people all over the world want to live in America. Mexico , Guatemala, Brazil, and other countries are all in the continent. I never really thought about any of these countries being considered American's, but they live in the American continent just like we do. Before we had this discussion in class I would have never thought of these countries being considered Americans.
Now when I think of America I will have to think I little more broadly. There are so many people who live in the United State's of America who consider themselves as Americans.
Title: America: A Christian Nation No More
Basic Passage: In class we talked about how the election of Barack Obama has reinforced the “Salad Bowl” idea. Obama stated "We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers."
Correlation: To me this is kind of ironic; I have grown up a Christian and understandably so. I have been taught the importance of accepting and loving thy neighbors. Through what we have established in the study of the Puritan’s and William Bradford, they are obviously a devout Christian group of people. The purpose of Puritan’s leaving England was to escape the persecution from the Catholic Church because of reading the Christian Bible. William Bradford was one of the leading causes of the Puritan Movement to the United States, which ultimately was the foundation for the establishment of Baptist, Presbyterian, and other Protestant Congregationalist Churches. After the settlement of Plymouth was established the separatist Puritans chose to closely tie their legal and social environments to their religious beliefs. Many would say this is the mindset of a bigot, and stuck in the past, yet it is hard to argue with the establishment of the original colonization. I have always been confused at why being a Christian turns you into an anti-cultural person. In 1796 George Washington said, “Bless O Lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus. " This seems odd to me knowing that our present day president has stated that we are NOT a Christian nation. The United States of America should not melt others culture into our own, all races and religions are welcome, as our founders were fleeing from persecution of their own country or whatever their reasoning, but we are “One Nation Under God.”
Eric Dobbs
Title: An Odd Route
Passage: "When he was twelve or thirteen, however, he became absorbed in reading the Bible and was deeply moved by the preaching of Richard Clyfton..."
Correlation: After reading the piece about William Bradford, I was stunned to discover his obsession with religion at such an odd age. According to the book, Bradford became committed to religion at the ripe age of thirteen. That is a fact that I find hard to believe. Although society has taken a drastic transformation since the 1600s, it is very strange for an adolescent to have such a love for religion. The book writes that "when he was 12 or 13,however, he became absorbed in reading the bible and was deeply moved by the preaching of Richard Clyfton." I can relate to this passage because I remember the invigorating speeches given to me by priests and pastors that went all over the world to talk. But none of them ever influenced me on a level like Clyfton must have for Bradford. At 13, I didn't want to read the bible; I knew I should, but I was too concerned with other things that were big for a thirteen year old in my generation. I don't believe the human mind of a thirteen year old can even understand the dedication of a life devoted to religion. Bradford stayed committed to religion all through his teenage years and early twenties. These ages are considered to be the most distracting ages in a persons life. The experiences and mind development that goes on during these ages is something that can easily distract anyone from the righteous path. At the age of 26, Bradford took the next step in his religious path by moving away from his home to live with the Separatist congregation that was founded by Clyfton. William Bradford was a man who knew it was his divine purpose to follow God on his quest through life.
One Way Out?
Basic Passage –
“While Bradford and others were exploring the coastline, Dorothy Bradford either fell or jumped overboard and drowned in Provincetown Harbor.”
Correlate –
Dorothy Bradford could have simply fallen off the ship. I believe that she committed suicide because before she left her homeland of England to the “New World,” Dorothy and her husband had a son who they chose to leave behind. She was depressed, could not handle have to leave her son behind with possible family or friends and not watching him grow up, or maybe the trip was to long for her. Dorothy could have been sick because the ship was dirty and full of filth, maybe she was to scared of the many shipwrecks that were happening around that time period. There are many people who commit suicide each year and many of their reasons are related. Numerous people are stressed, scared, or sick and are not sure of how to deal with their situation. They believe that death is their way out and that they will not have to suffer any of the bad. There are some of those suicidal people who may have had a recent death in their family and do not want to go one because of it. In the United States there are almost 7,000 female suicides every year. Many of the reasons are very similar to Dorothy Bradford’s. I believe that she was troubled with many problems and believed herself that there was only one way out: suicide. Whether she jumped or fell will always be a mystery.
Laura Ashley Butler
Appropriation of Culture Through Death
I thought it was interesting in class when we started the discussion of appropriation and you mentioned that the “Native American” actor from the crying Indian commercial was actually of Italian descent. What does this say about our culture? Do we want to live in a country where foreigners must feel the need to “melt” in with the rest of the ingredients in the cooking pot? Even when a certain culture or belief is appropriated, why is it that the culture must first be destroyed? Take for example Martin Luther King Jr. He had several followers, but it was not until his death that people truly began to realize the severity of the ills of racism and segregation. So is the case with Jesus. During his life he was often ridiculed and viewed as a traitor and a radical. After his death, however, many began to recognize his beliefs and as more and more people began to follow his teachings, Christianity was started and has now grown into one of the world’s largest religions.
Chuck Klosterman expresses somewhat similar ideas in his book Killing Yourself to Live, “Unless you're Shannon Hoon (of Blind Melon), dying is the only thing that guarantees a rock star will have a legacy that stretches beyond temporary relevance.” Klosterman went on a 6,557-mile, cross-country journey trying to discover “why the greatest career move any musician can make is to stop breathing…and what this means for the rest of us”. So many musical artists had little significance to the world until they died, at which time the world then mourned for their death and celebrated the songs they had composed during their time on earth.
Basically what I want to express is that we should all make a conscious effort to understand and appreciate the ideals of different cultures, beliefs, or ways of life… before they no longer exist in today’s society.
Christina McCarty
Changing a Canon
Basic Passage: “As he departed the first island, Columbus thus took several captives to provide information and evidence of his discoveries, an act that anticipated the carnage and devastation that Europeans following his lead would bring to the indigenous peoples of what soon came to be called ‘America’.”
Correlate: What exactly brings about a change in social normality? How is it possible for one person or maybe a group of people to dictate what is or is not right? Columbus’ domination over the Arawaks came about immediately, with little or no warning. In a split second, their lives and futures were changed forever simply because their “simple, timid, unlettered … naked lifestyle” was not the social norm back in Europe. Some changes may occur over hundreds or thousands of years, from one extreme to another. For example, the close relationship between religion and politics centuries ago completely dissolved over the course of history. That change, of course, was brought about by the various branches of religion sprouting from the one Catholic Church so long ago. Who can decide what is right when everyone has different moral ideas about what is right?
The reason change happens so easily in society is due to the snowball effect. One change begins that prompts more changes to occur, until the snowball is so immense that it appears nothing like what it used to be. While sudden tragic accidents like a car crash may seem like a change immediately brought on with no seeming cause, everything is connected in life (or at least that is what I believe). It may seem like one simple accident can cause change to come about, but in reality, there are dozens of unseen forces acting together to make a specific change come about. In addition, the reaction of humanity can either reverse the change, or force it to continue.
Title: Stewing in the Melting Pot
Basic Passage: In class the idea of the American Melting Pot Myth was discussed.
Correlation: Americans like the melting pot concept. The fantasy has been popular since the mid-19th century when waves of newcomers arrived seeking opportunity. Would diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, religious and language identities divide the country? The melting pot idea reassured us that soon we would all be alike. The idea is that immigrants will coalesce, losing their “bad” characteristics to create a new, “good” American culture. They will create an American super-culture. For immigrants to “melt,” they must dilute their own cultures and assume new ones. All cultures don’t “melt” away and everyone becomes homogenized, but different ingredients are added and the stew in the pot changes with each new component to create an identity that is more than just the sum of its parts. Immigrants in a strange, new land cling to the security of their origins and are reluctant to exchange their old culture for a foreign one. They avoid mingling with others who are different, often because of prejudice, misunderstandings and communication barriers. The United States may be seen as the land of the free, but it is also seen as the land of the irrational, the judgmental, and the racist.
History teaches us that immigrants combine cultures rather than rejecting one and replacing it with another. Sure, there is some assimilation. Still, the fusion of cultures is far different from melting, a state where specific individual characteristics are lost and everything blends with everything else. Why would cultural groups want to melt and jump into the Melting Pot? Why not resist the Americanization that society tries to sell as irresistible? Why sacrifice cultural heritage? As immigrant populations expand, why not strive to transform American society, rather than being transformed by it?
Title: The American Myth of the car
Basic Passage: The car for sometime now has been something we all can depend on to get us from A to B. Either to work or to school or some other kind of something that is of great importance. Just think if we did not have cars we would all be walking around or riding bikes throughout the entire world, which could be very difficult for americans.
Correlation: Really the car dates back all the way to the puritans. In that they did not use cars because engines were not invented yet, but that they used wagons to get around in and wagons had wheels. So the car is a kind of dependent thing that we all can rely on just like the puritans relied on the wagon to get them to places that they needed to go while it was pulled by horses. So basically the car is to our culture like the wagon was to the puritans culture. The car also is like the american dream to the American people because it is something that makes it possible to go out and make it on your own. In my opinion the car to me is like your own possession which you and know one else can come between. It is something that you will always have until it decides to break down on you, which could be a major disaster. Also i think the car is a huge factor of american culture to our society because it is something that has been around for so long now and we have become so used to it. So the car is something that will be around for centuries to come now and maybe our technology will evolve and the car will become something else.
John Winthrop A Visionary Hero
Basic Passage: “The humble request” is so servile it boils down to this panicky appeal:
“Nothing uppity about us, Your Majesty, we’re just hobos in the wood!” To hammer home the image of themselves as unthreatening and pitiable, they remind the king and his bishops that “we shall be in our poor cottages in the wilderness.”
In private, however, Winthrop will soon tell his fellow colonists the very opposite. “We shall be as a city upon a hill.” He says.
Correlation: In Sarah Vowell’s book The Wordy Shipmates, She talks about John Winthrop “spending most of his time as magistrate tripping all over himself to make sure King Charles doesn’t get wind of any of the colony’s many treasonous infractions. Because unlike the Plymouth Separatists, the non-separating Bostonians left England pledging to remain as English as beheadings and clotted cream.” Governor John Winthrop was described as a gentleman farmer and lawyer. He was smart enough to know that even though he envisioned the colonies growing and being like “a city on a hill”, that he had to keep the King of England believing that they were simple people struggling to get by in the New World, while hiding the treasonous things that he knew were going on. Without Winthrop covering for the Puritans treasonous acts with King Charles and making it sound like they were struggling more than they actually were, the U.S. may never have had a chance, and Winthrop’s vision of “a city on a hill” may never have come to pass. If King Charles had known what was going on in the colonies, he may very well have put a stop to people coming to the New World before they had a chance to grow and eventually have our revolution that made our great nation what it is today. According to Francis J. Bremer’s article “Would John Adams have called John Winthrop a “Founding Father”, he writes that John Adams did in fact think of John Winthrop as a founding father, and that John Adams even used the name John Winthrop as a pseudonym in some of his writings.
Jennifer Gray
Title: A City on a Hill
Passage: Matthew 5:14
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Correlation:
John Winthrop, a Puritan minister, used the words “city upon a hill” in a message or speech to the Puritans as they prepared to set sail to the New World. Winthrop and the Puritans had a vision of a just and Godly new place to live. They wanted their new city to be an example to others of how things should be done and how people should live.
This quote from the Bible has been used in speeches by many of our nation’s leaders including Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and our newly elected president Barack Obama. Our nation’s leaders have the same vision as Winthrop did many years ago. America is a great nation and we’re to show other nations how things are to be done and how life should be lived. They want America to be looked up to and admired by other nations. This vision causes a “we cannot fail attitude.”
What America says and believes can sometimes be better than what it does. Although I believe we live in a great nation with rights and freedoms that many in other countries do not have, I do not feel that it is right to assume it’s the best way for everyone to live. It shouldn’t be forced on other nations just because we see it as the right way.
With America slowly falling financially apart, I can’t help but wonder what would John Winthrop think of America today? Would he really think that America today is “the city on the hill” that he had once hoped for years and years ago?
Andrew Paschall
Title: The "Righteous" Pilgrims
Basic Passage: “One who embarks on a quest for something conceived of as sacred.” “The people who traveled to and colonized America.”
Correlate: The word Pilgrim usually arouses the idea of the brave, noble heroic people that traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and founded our country. These people were hard workers and devout Christians who came to this land and fought the countless trials and hazards to colonize America. They befriended the Indians that were very happy to meet them and partook in events such as Thanksgiving with them. Or at least that’s how we like to talk about them. We tend to leave out or ignore how they massacred Indians with a sense of false self righteousness in order to achieve their goals. America likes to leave out the horrible things that occurred in what I believe is an attempt to make its history sound like something noble and honorable. The idea that your country was based on the acts of mass genocide would not be a pleasant thought to anyone that is a patriot of America. Even as a kid I remember learning about the pilgrims as a peaceful people who came to America and befriended the Indians and formed a good relationship with them. After learning the truth later on in education, I couldn’t help but be unpleased with how events really occurred back then and how they are often overlooked. It is like Germany teaching its students that the Nazis and Jews got together at camps and got along great. The interesting part is that while all of these atrocious acts were happening in early America, the pilgrims were backing themselves up by saying they were doing to for God and their religion, while they were actually acting more un-Christian than the Indians themselves. Their idea of convert to Christianity or die almost sounds like a Muslim ideology. God gave people free will to choose and do as they please, and the pilgrims took very selective parts of the Bible to overlook this and make themselves feel better about the horrors they were creating. They came to the new world to escape religious persecution, and in turn put the Indians in the same position they used to be in.
History: What for?
Why American Lit?
Well so far this class seems to be more about the underlying history that shapes the stories in our textbook than the actual stories themselves (PERFECTLY FINE WITH ME), I enjoy reflecting on the historical aspect of these early settlers. The question was posed the very first day of class, “Why do we have Am Lit class?” I think that our history explains our culture. I was asked once by someone who has no college education and no interest in such, “why do you have to take a history class?” My answer was pretty simple... “so we don’t have to re-invent the wheel and to understand why we are the way we are as a nation.” Imagine your childhood had been erased from your memory. But not like amnesia. I mean you lose the memories and experiences that make you who you are- those moments that define you. But the person you are today is not altered. Without those memories, what would indicate how you became who you are? A historical perspective gives us a sense of how our culture was influenced much like our childhood defines who we are as individuals. Of course your childhood experiences are a literal definition of you, not filtered by historians and propaganda. I don’t think we’ve talked about Christopher Columbus much but we have discussed the idea that only certain stories “make” it into our text books. Those that do are somewhat biased to form our ideas of the history they want to present. There is definitely a grade school version of Columbus which is basically propaganda that depicts him as a hero for “discovering” the New World. Then the truth comes out in college that shows Columbus as, by today’s standards, a racist, money hungry, arrogant A-hole.
Title: There's Blood in the Water
Basic Passage: “As he departed the first island, Columbus thus took several captives to provide information and evidence of his discoveries, an act that anticipated the carnage and devastation that Europeans following his lead would bring to the indigenous peoples of what soon came to be called “America.”
Correlation:
It has been estimated that 50 million Native Americans inhabited the Americas before Columbus and his “crew” devastated the population and found our so called “New World.” Sure, it may have seemed to be new territory to the Europeans at the time, but that does not take away from the fact that this land was inhabited by many native families and friends. While I do love and respect my country, it really bothers me how the process of colonization by the Europeans occurred. I mean, bloodshed had to occur, the Natives did not just mysteriously disappear. In the powerfully haunting lyrics of “Don’t Drink The Water” by Dave Matthews, he assumes the role of the European who is enlightened of the realization that the Native Americans were brutally killed by the settlers in order to selfishly get what they want. The lyrics read:
“I live with my justice.
I live with my greedy need .
I live with no mercy.
I live with my frenzied feeding .
I live with my hatred.
I live with my jealousy .
I live with the notion;
That I don't need anyone but me
Don't drink the water,
Don't drink the water ,
There's blood in the water.”
Matthews states at the end of the song of the “blood in the water.” I have heard this song for years now, and just recently did I really understand the meaning behind that statement. That blood was from the Native Americans when the settlers….murdered them. The bloodshed caused at the beginning of the forming of our nation still lingers on today, and just now are many people starting to realize the hate that this country was based on but hidden behind a mask of religion.
Lauren White
Title: The Example City
Passage: John Winthrop’s “a city upon a hill”- a shining example, a “city that cannot be hid.”
Correlation: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”-Matthew 5:13, 5:14
These were the words of inspiration that John Winthrop gave to his followers. The New World was a place of freedom, theirs for the taking. The city that they built was meant to be an example for the whole world as a new, great beginning. “THE” example for the mother country to see what the right way to live and worship is. This attitude of go forth and provide an example for the entire world to see is still practiced by our country today. A great example is the War on Terror. We were attacked and thousands of innocent people were killed and we decided to provide an example for the rest of the world on how to react. America will not tolerate being attacked. We are the “city upon a hill”, a “city that cannot be hid”. Our actions are watched by everyone in the world. We decide to go into two countries with innocent people and fight the war against terrorism. Many people have died fighting this war, but we set the example for everyone else: do not tolerate being attacked, retaliate. Winthrop was justifying taking the “new” found land and settling there with this quote and America still uses this quote to justify doing whatever we feel that we need to do. This just shows that America hasn’t dramatically changed.
Title: Real Change In America?
Basic Passage: "The God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
Correlation: On January 20,2009 Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America, the first African-American to ever hold office of U.S. Commander in Chief.I thought the inauguration in itself was very moving for many Americans. It gives a new feeling of hope to Americans, and nations worldwide. America is known as the Promise, with hard work and dedication we maybe we can be what we once were. America has been known for its racism on all levels. From the government to the small businesses of rural America. Though racism is inevitable, as our generations become better educated, more intelligent with an open mind, hopefully racism will be another problem we humans will solve. Americans finally feel the possibility of a compassionate white house for people instead if big business.
"We are a nation of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindu's, and non-believers. This is so historic and trans formative on so many levels, for all of us.We must live up to our promise.And no one else is so well-suited.Maybe now there will be a halt on stereotypical depictions of people by the color of their skin or religion. American has to make a change. I'm optimistic that president Obama's transition to power will attempt to address the bureaucratic maze that has governed this country for so many years.
The Truth of Going to College
“It amuses me to tell people that I went to college for 26 years.”
This particular line relates to me because I have been in school for almost eight years (4 and a half years at USA) and will finally be finished in May. There were times when I wanted to give up and quit, but I did not because I was determined to finish no matter how tired I was of coming to school every day. I sometimes hear people say that you can finish college in four years, which is simply not true. I also hear people say that when you go to college, it is time to party, which is not true as well. I decided I wanted go to college to learn so I can have a better future for myself and become independent.
I also knew that going to college was about having choices and opportunities. We all have choices in deciding what it is that we want to do with our lives whether it is being a teacher, a doctor, or a lawyer. These are opportunities I do not take for granted because who has to say that another opportunity like this will come along. I understand people saying that college is hard and they won’t be able to handle the pressure. Well, life is hard and going to college will help better prepare you once you step out into the real world.
I sometimes think that I stayed in school for so long was because I was afraid of stepping out into real world and realizing that I will soon be on my own and away from home. Well, that was then and this is now. I now know that I am ready. Once I graduate, I hope to find a job within my major and maybe apply for graduate school.
Hannah Mims
A Hopeful Future
"Besides, what could they see buy a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men."
William Bradford does an excellent job of describing the initial emotions of how the pilgrims felt stepping on to the new land in America. There were many people, animals and ideas that caused much stress and turmoil on these people. Setting out to an unknown world showed that the people who came on the Mayflower, posess alot of bravery and fearless characteristics. Although this could be a horrifying thought, the leaders and people pressed on and continued to be optimistic. When it come to the idea of American society today, we are in a much similar situation. For people from other countries, moving to "the land of the free" isn't so free anymore. The economic crisis that we have gotten into today is very scary and unknown. The new leaders of our countries today have been put to the ultimate test of trying to take on this overwhelming problem. This is a lot like what Bradford describes. There are many people who are money hungry and act like wild animals to get whatever they want or need. Therefore, even though our economic situation is very scary and unknown, the leaders of our country must take what they have, not be scared of the bad things and be optimistic for our future.
America: Where Leaders are Born
Passage- “The Wordy Shipmates is New York Times bestselling author Sarah Voweel’s exploration of the Puritans and their journey to America to become the people of John Winthrop’s “city upon a hill”-a shining example, a “city that cannot be hid.”
Correlate- The quote “a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” originated from the Gospel of Matthew. Winthrop used this bible passage to describe how the Puritans were to be a people of a “city upon a hill” and a “city that cannot be hidden” much like the Christians in the Bible. They were to lead by example because the world was watching. The Puritans believed they were like the Israelites in that they were persecuted and came to this new “Promised” land (America), where they could live in harmony with God as an example for the world. This idea of superiority has drastically shaped the history of America as it has passed from one generation to the next. We have felt the need to be a defender of peace and democracy. For one, we went to Vietnam to stop the spread of Communism; and we sacrificed tens of thousands of lives for the sake of another country. A more recent example is the Iraq War, in which we defended the right for democracy. This can also be seen in terms of marketing; Nike’s slogan, for example, “just do it”, shows America’s attitude based on those words from the Puritans. Another marketing example in today’s society is from Ford: “Built Ford Tough.” To expand further on this aspect of being tough, many of the early Westerners led a rugged lifestyle that only succeeded because of strong leadership. Finally, President Obama has urged us to continue leading by example in his recent inauguration speech. He said, “Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”
Courtney Wesolowski
Title: More like a Mountain to Obtain
Basic Passage: “a city upon a hill” John Winthrop
Correlation: The tale of the Puritans rising above the rest is represented then and now by John Winthrop’s idea of “a city upon a hill.” Sarah Vowell, author of The Wordy Shipmates, explores the aspects of the Puritans and what such ideals mean to us today that were merely new to them. The Puritans were a group of religious people out to purify the Catholic Church. After traveling to several countries and not quite fitting in, they decided to board the Mayflower on a trip that would change lives all over the world for forever. As the Puritans landed upon what is now the United States they looked at it as a fresh, new start for them and for everyone. With their Bibles and minds open they go to work on shaping this new place. They believed that with strength and help from God they could build a place they could refer to as “God’s kingdom on Earth.” As the Puritans organized and tried to establish our country, others watched in ah of what they were doing and accomplishing. The Puritans grew to see themselves superior over all others and found others to be jealous of what they were accomplishing. Till this day we still have that strive for superiority, to rise above the rest, and to the best at everything we do. The Puritans have taught us to rise above all the rest and succeed against all odds, either it be survival in a new land or surviving life in general. The Puritans traveled here with nothing but hope and faith and ended up creating something magnificent. Everyone watched them then to see if they would succeed in their efforts and everyone still watches us today on everything we do.
Shaun k.
Time for Change
In class this past week we talked about numerous of interesting topics to write about. The one topic or discussion that stood out to me was the handout we received titled “German Minorities Still Fight To Be Seen, Heard.”(NPR.ORG) “I was born here, so why do people tell me I am disadvantaged just because my grandparents were migrants?” Maybe I am not a pure German, so call me a new German.” Sinan Senyurt.
Correlation
This insert goes well with what’s happening today in our society. With Barack Obama being elected as the first minority as president of the United States. African Americans just like German minorities have been through a lot of racist and tough times in their country. with his father being from Africa and his mother and grandmother from Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Obama came from a mixed background. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii as a minority just as Sinan Senyurt was born into Germany. Everyone on earth no matter what color has one thing in common. We are all human beings with minds, bodies, and souls. Obama, just like Sinan couldn’t help how he was placed in society or what ethnic group he was in. Obama overcame all of his trials and tribulations of being a black man in America. He attended Harvard Law school and practiced as a civil rights attorney in Chicago. He also gave back to his ethnic group by fighting for their rights. I feel like our country has come a long way in how we treat minorities. Obama has made a way for all minorities in the world. There is now a sense that anyone can be anything they want to be with no limitations. Maybe now African Americans in the U.S. can be classified as just Americans.
Brett Williams
Title: revolution means….
Basic Passage: “Vowell is an American original…She is somehow simultaneously patriot and rebel, cynic and dreamer, and an aching secularist in search of a higher ground. Her book-part memoir, part mediation, and part road trip-will attract readers who are still unafraid of having many of their assumptions challenged.”-The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Correlation: I do not think the word “original” has the meaning used here. The user may have meant it that way, but I see it differently. Original has become as much an American tradition as revolution. At the moment we read about the Pilgrims setting foot onto the Mayflower we were given our definition of what revolutionary and rebellious means. These words are used so commonly that we somehow managed to overlook a common feature American rebels share…their triumph. Vowell is rebellious and Madonna-like not because she challenges conventional wisdom but because she succeeded in it. In this way, she is very much like the Pilgrims her book depicts as symbols immortalized as figurines. No, maybe her book will not be contemporary literature, but someday it will. Moreover, she, along with many others, will be recognized in the future the same way we recognize names like Nikki Giovanni or Langston Hughes because she will be what people read of us. There is an evident revolution for every age depicted in our nation’s history. What will be remembered for our generation is how we shouted, “I am separate from my history” while at the same time protesting how much we deserve to be a part of it.
Title: The City "Once" on a Hill
Basic Passage:“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” - Matthew 5:14
Correlation: This passage in the New Testament has been used in all types of speeches, sermons and public addresses. It is used to form a symbol in the audience’s mind of a prosperous city. A symbol used as motivation during a time of new beginning.
When John Winthrop spoke these words, he without a doubt had no idea of the historical significance that it would hold. He spoke of a nation where honoring God comes before anything else and by that example they would be the symbolic “city”. However, just as he had no idea of the longevity of his analogy, he could have never known the magnitude in which this new world would one day grow.
Today, America is considered the most powerful nation in the world. It is watched by the entire world like Winthrop dreamed, but has traveled far from his vision. The dream of the Puritans and their desire to build a Godly nation has overtime changed its course. Some would argue that the evolution of the nation was imminent. However, the foundation of this nation may not have ever been as solid as Winthrop once intended.
Later on in Matthew, Chapter 7:24-27, Jesus himself is speaking to a crowd about building a house on a strong foundation. He said …
“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.
And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.
The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
As America wages war in the Middle East and faces an unstable financial future, its future is unclear. These days America is the “city” visible to the entire world, but the strength of its foundation is uncertain. Hopefully we are built on one of rock and not of sand.
Stacy Moralis
Title: The American Dream
Basic Passage: What is “The American Dream?” Does one even exist?
Correlate: Is there even an American Dream these days? Do we have time to dream anymore? It seems like everyone, everywhere, is constantly busy with something. Whether it is writing a report for class, spending six months trying to find a job, or taking care of children, we always seem to be busy with something.
The American Dream is more like the biggest challenge. So, how challenging do you want to make your dream? Each individual has their own vision of The American Dream. Some people may think that it is taking a long vacation to a small beach resort and do nothing all day but soak up the sun and some margaritas. Or, to some people, it could be finally graduating from college after ten years and becoming a medical doctor. Others may dream about getting a good job, owning a large home, being married with children, and having new sports cars. Each and every individual in this world has a different dream.
Is the American dream wealth, family, or the pursuit of a better life through any means? People can accumulate wealth from multiple means, where one man works hard for a dollar, and another man is being given one for nothing. There can be a rich man that worked hard for his money talking to another rich man who killed for his, and another who won the lottery and another from inheritance! But what is rich? Is it just money? I say no! It is the balance you create for your life with family, friends, religion, and work. Then add the money. The American dream is more of a misconception of unguided truth. No one dreams the same. America only assists you in providing for that dream through many different opportunities.
A. America’s Hidden History
Eric Richardson
B. “Bradford devoted himself to the interests and the welfare of the pilgrims, as he called members of the devout group of separatists. But their pilgrimage was not simply spiritual; it also an arduous physical journey in a quest of a place where they could establish a church and worship God.”
C. Over the years, history has been molded and defined for our modern day views and morals.
It has been placed in textbooks and taught to children around the nation with only one viewpoint.
Most of the time this perspective is from White America. This of course leaves out many of the subcultures that also call America home including French, African American and Native American. Another contradiction with the history manuscript, is the fact that many of the barbaric sieges and bloody over takings have been left out or not mentioned. A great example of this, is the Thanksgiving holiday. Growing up we were made to believe that the interactions between the pilgrims and the Native Americans were docile and friendly. When in fact, we took a lot of their land and killed countless innocent families in our quest to expand “God’s Country”.
History is still being tainted today, for many books only cover a single aspect of past events leaving its readers with an uncertainty about anything other than the authors views and interpretations. Also many spots in history books go to the highest bidders. For example many publishing corporations use only authors and companies that can pay the highest dollar amount.
So, is it not safe to say that a lot of the history we are taught has been influence not by actual events but by modern motives.
Title: Freedom to choose.
Basic Passage – Based on the class discussion of the idea of America the great “melting pot” and the “salad bowl” of the world and that President Obama quoted “We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and non-believers." He is surely not trying to reinforce the idea, but instead he is sticking with the core idea.
Correlate: What made America such a great nation? Is it the ideology and religion that was brought over to the Promised Land by early Europeans? Or is it ideology that was stated by our founding father that “All men are created equal”. By that they meant no matter who we are and what our religion is, we are all equal and united. And yes, Christianity has its role to play for the early settlers who based their beliefs to build this nation, but that doesn’t mean we are a Christian nation just because the founding fathers were all Christians. This great nation was built on the principle of “Freedom to choose” and that’s why America have people all kind of people from all walks of life who shaped the history of this nation. As a Muslim, I know many Muslim nations are doest not allow the freedom to preach and practice different religion or intolerant towards people with different beliefs. At least, I as a son of Muslim immigrants can now proudly say, I live in America and I have the right to choose. President Obama knows that America was built by immigrants, who came to the land of opportunity not to be oppressed by religious enforcement. Puritans came here because of the same reason and to say America is a Christian nation is like doing the same thing that the English did to the Puritans.
Title: Native American names in our culture stolen by the pilgrims.
Basic Passage: The Pilgrims came into America and destroyed the Indians. The Pilgrims then ended up using all the names of the different tribes for streets and other things.
Correlate: When the pilgrims came in they were told to wipe out everything in their way. It was in the bible that the pilgrims were supposed to do that. After destroying the culture of the main land people, such as the Indians, the pilgrims started naming roads and other landmarks after the Indians. It has now carried into today’s culture with street names and the biggest is major league and college sports. Some examples are the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Florida State Seminoles, and the Utah Utes. My grandfather was a Native American and he hated that teams were named after Indian names. He said it was disrespectful and degrading to the Native Americans. Just to show how Indians do not like that their names or even symbols that their ancestors stand for, two of the collegiate teams had to change their mascots. Florida State and the Washington Redskins are just two examples. Florida State had to change their tomahawk and the Washington Redskins had to change their Indian head. In today’s culture people are not educated enough to understand the culture of the Native Americans. The generations are taught about the cartoon version of the pilgrims and Indians with no blood or fighting. So America doesn’t understand why using Native American names are such a big deal. Giving respect to the Native Americans are very important to them.
Title: Pilgrimage to a New World
Basic Passage: William Bradford writes about his struggles with the governments of England and Holland. He explains why he joined his fellow Christians on the voyage taking them across the Atlantic. He was interested in living free of religious persecution, and he thought that others might later join him in the New World. His companions justify their actions by comparing themselves to the Isrealites, who left from slaveey in Egypt into Cannan, the land God had promised them.
Correlation: Bradford witnessed bloody and cruel torments of Christians in England, where he said Satan was in control. His group of refugees left for Holland where they remained for eleven or twelve years. Holland is known for running a very libersl government, but they are not welcoming of outsiders. The government will punish to the full extent of the law here, which along with the hard labor kept Bradford in search of a new place. His voyage was comparable to the Isralites because they had to leave a familar place with only the clothes on their backs. Traveling by sea at the time was dangerous as ships often were sunk by storms. With just as much difficulty with Pharoh keeping the Isrealites from leaving, Bradford had to consider how dangerous his trip would be and the uncivilized people and wild animals he would see. When Predident Obama expressed in his inaugural adreess that he would keep alive the positive policies of former presidents, this was something that Bradford faced. He also looked back in history and saw the way that the Isrealites were protected. He used this in the way he treated Native Americans as though they were heathens and had faith that what lied ahead in the New World was better than the oppression he felt.
MYLENA
“WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL”
VISONARY HERO
Correlation:Heros today must be one who leads others to lead themselves. The rapid pace of change demands fast and flexible responses throughout the organization for example “Obama“ is actually a leader for most Americans. Most heroic leaders provides an opportunity for followers to express and develop their own leadership skills and in the process become highly motivated. Think of it being a work place if By bringing out the leader in every employee, it would enables leaders to avoid these pitfalls and develop an enthusiastic, innovative and energized workforce.
Being a leader or a hero is not a privilege I believe any and everyone can be a leader. You don’t have to be an actor, cartoon character or a celebrity. I can be a leader to others just by being who I am which is my self. A leader truly becomes successful by turning followers into extraordinary self-leaders. Apply yourself and stay content u can become a hero or a leader. Especially in today’s society I believe if there were more realistic heroes or leaders that could acknowledge our kids the society today would be more into their life decisions than the streets. Have you ever thought of yourself being a hero?
Basic passage:Real heroes are unknown anyway and only one in a million real, genuine hero gets to stay alive and is known. Firstly they die so soon as their casualty rate is so high and out of them all that escape death or prosecution only a rare one gets sung about and gets noticed. What we get to see and celebrate most of the time is celebrities, icons, and non-entities as heroes. The acceptance of these ‘fakes as real heroes is at its every peak and truly reflect sentimentality of our corrupt time and era.
WRong Place
In class this past week we talked about numerous of interesting topics to write about. The one topic or discussion that stood out to me was the handout we received titled “German Minorities Still Fight To Be Seen, Heard.”(NPR.ORG) “I was born here, so why do people tell me I am disadvantaged just because my grandparents were migrants?” Maybe I am not a pure German, so call me a new German.” Sinan Senyurt.
Correlation
This insert goes well with what’s happening today in our society. With Barack Obama being elected as the first minority as president of the United States. African Americans just like German minorities have been through a lot of racist and tough times in their country. with his father being from Africa and his mother and grandmother from Honolulu, Hawaii, Barack Obama came from a mixed background. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii as a minority just as Sinan Senyurt was born into Germany. Everyone on earth no matter what color has one thing in common. We are all human beings with minds, bodies, and souls. Obama, just like Sinan couldn’t help how he was placed in society or what ethnic group he was in. Obama overcame all of his trials and tribulations of being a black man in America. He attended Harvard Law school and practiced as a civil rights attorney in Chicago. He also gave back to his ethnic group by fighting for their rights. I feel like our country has come a long way in how we treat minorities. Obama has made a way for all minorities in the world. There is now a sense that anyone can be anything they want to be with no limitations. Maybe now African Americans in the U.S. can be classified as just Americans.
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