Basic Passage: Leaving a child behind for parents can be very hearbreaking and disruptive. It can make the parent feel as if they are not responsible for their children, which can arise behavioral problems for the parents psychologically and most often physical to.
Correlation: When we talked about William Bradford the third week in class about what he did, I thought to myself what a brave man. Although whenever him and his wife left behind their child i was very confused about this. This probably was a smart move by the parents for leaving their child behind because the trip that they were about to take was going to be a tough one. Now, whenever they said that Bradford's wife jumped off the ship and drowned maybe she felt as if she was guilty for leaving behind their child so she killed herself. If I would have been Bradford i would brought my children along with me to face whatever i had to face just so i would not have to feel sorry for myself. Even though the children had to stay behind, this was still a major problem for them. They had to be able to work at an early age, and be very skillful. For the parents that stayed behind this made them feel very heartbroken and terrible for having to put the children through this. Of course, while living around the Indians was very tough for them becasue they had to watch their backs, they also had to be very taskful to survive. Either by repairing things or making weapons that could be use for safety purposes. However, a side effect from the children working so much would make them age faster which was not normal at all.
Correlation: Did the Pilgrims have the American Dream and not even know it?
The American Dream can be surmised by the words of the Founding Fathers, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” -1776. Bradford writes, “if they were in a place wher they might have libertie and live comfortably.” -1620 If you do the math, this was two or three hundred years after the Protestant movement began, but still, the idea can be applied. In order to live their life free of religious/political persecution the Pilgrims felt they must make a new start in America. But at this time, there was no “America” (as we know it, short for USA) to call this an American Dream. The point is that these are not new ideas or new dreams but human nature to ponder future existence. To think about what the American Dream means today, we are born with “inalienable rights” and since we automatically take these for granted, our definition has changed somewhat to be some measurement of prosperity and success. Maybe to most, this is met with some financial goal that provides material desires or security for future generations. The same could be said for the Nation as a whole. Heard many times before, “we must leave our country better than the way we found it.” This falls in the same category. Bradford and the Pilgrims must have been trying to do the same, as they saw it... trying to find a place better suited for their future dreams.
These wants, hopes and dreams could be a common goal for anyone in the world at any point in history. But what make these specifically American dreams is the opportunity for those dreams to be realized without regard to class or race. It is opportunity that makes America unique.
Basic Passage: “For many of their children, that were of best dispositions and gracious inclinations, having lernde to bear the yoake in their youth, and willing to bear parte of their parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their hevie labours, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decreped in their early youth; the vigor of nature being consumed in the very budd as it were.”
Correlation: The Puritan parents had put so much of a burden on their children that they weren’t able to be children at all. Chores and work can be a good thing for a child, in moderation. Lamentations 3:27 says, “It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.” Children learn responsibility from doing chores and helping their parents, but too much on a child could be damaging. For a parent to allow their burdens to be placed on their child takes away from that child’s childhood years. Instead of being carefree and using their imagination, the child sits and worries and soon feels guilty that they aren’t able to help their parents solve their problems. In the passage it states “ . . . their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decreped in their early youth . . . ” This part of the passage paints an awful image in my mind. It almost seems like a type of child abuse may have been going on. These children seemed to be viewed as mini adults. They were so “drained” both mentally and physically that they couldn’t enjoy their childhood. This type of treatment of children may have been the norm at the time, but would never be tolerated in today’s time.
Basic Passage: Everything is a construct, history isn’t given, it’s constructed.
Correlation: You hear old stories all the time from your grandparents about how life was in the old days. But have you ever sat down and thought about how your views of present history would have been if you lived sixty or seventy years ago? History is sort of like a bicycle. There are several parts that are loose before the actual thing is constructed. Once all the pieces are put together, you have one item. There are several highlighted events that has made America and our world what it is. We wouldn’t have what we call history if certain people such as Christopher Columbus wouldn’t have been so eager to explore the world on his quest to America. We also wouldn’t have history if Martin Luther King didn’t stand up for what he believed in, or if William Potts wouldn’t have been so creative when he invented the traffic light. All of these things and individuals played a significant role in constructing history. I feel like I’m apart of history with Barack Obama becoming the first African American president of the United States. This moment in time is going to go with all the history we’ve created so far in America. Just like our grandparents have stories to tell about the times they lived in, we will have stories to tell the next generation of kids. History plays a big role in how we live ours lives today. I think we need to learn and understand our history so we won’t make any future mistakes on things like we did in the past. Understanding our culture is the key to prosper our future. Kids across America are also learning how history is constructed in history class. The kids probably play the most important role in understanding American history because they are “The New America.”
Basic Passage: The children of the Puritan families had to endure much of the same burdens and hardship as their parents. Enormous amount of responsibility they were faced with.
Correlate: From reading the passage by Bradford you can start to visualize little children barely old enough to know what’s going on being held to the same standard as their parents. They would have to do heavy labor in fields right beside their older ancestors. Its hard to imagine what they could’ve felt being that most of American children are often “spoon feed” and don’t have to take on the real world until they are in their later teens or early 20’s. Can you imagine being forced to work hard labor as such, and not be able to live out your youth life? They would never get to experience the many joys that we do today. The intense labor lead to their bodies becoming “decreped in their early youth”. This paints a picture in my head of little children in their early years of development being forced to work as hard as their parents and their bodies’ deteriorating day by day. This makes you appreciate your religion and family more, because we aren’t forced to do heavy labor, but allowed to go to school where we can learn and better ourselves. We can not forget that a lot of this still goes on in third world counties, where children work in sweat shops making goods that can be sent and sold in the United States. The thought of children having to work in such harsh environments seem so far fetched, but it’s still happening over the world. It just makes me wonder with the economy in such a downturn, would it ever get that bad for children in the U.S. that they would have to be held at a higher standard, and have to start providing for their families at a early age.
Christina McCarty February 11, 2009 Working Class Children
Basic Passage: Thirdly; as necessitie was a taskmaster over them, so they were forced to be such, not only to their servants, but in a sorte, to their dearest children; the which as it did not a little wound the tender harts of many a loving father & mother, so it produced likewise sundrie sad & sorrowful effects.
Correlate: Children throughout history have been forced to grow up long before they reach maturity for a variety of reasons. For the Puritans, it appeared hard labor was a familial obligation growing up. As the men worked with their sons in the fields or hunting, women taught their daughters how to keep a household working correctly. Since the dawn of time, working people have had to pass on the same motivations to their children, oftentimes at very young ages. Once society had placed a person in a ranking, that is where they stayed, sometimes for several generations. Even today in third world countries, many children as young as five are still being forced to work hard labor to contribute to familial income. While it is heartbreaking and burdensome, our American society today is not even immune to it.
With the slowly diminishing economy and job layoffs, many younger teenagers are being forced into work to help support their families. Recently, a lower-class friend of mine’s mother lost her job. With just her and her son, she went in search of another job. In the meantime, her son began paying the bills. When a boy barely out of his teenage years is counted upon for his family’s stability, the challenge can be overwhelming. With one slip up, all could be lost. Unfortunately for this small family, work just cannot be attained. My friend continues to pay the bills, and all they can do is hope something comes along in the near future.
While children and minors working in the job field today is not as common as it was for the Puritans, it still exists today. Less frequently in America, it shines most predominantly in third world countries, the Middle East, and Asia where the standard of living is low and meager wage jobs are in high abundance.
Today’s discussion about the puritans “helping” the Indians v.s. the U.S. trying to help countries overseas really got my mind going. Who decided that the Indians needed or wanted help? Who were the puritans to decide what was best for the Indians? Who are we, the United States, to decide what other countries want or don’t want? What makes us so high and mighty that we can just go and intrude on other countries and their battles? Did they ask us for help? If so, then our presence is justified. If not, then what makes it ok for us to grab our guns, get in our battleships, and sail over to “save the day”? Who made us boss?
I understand that sometimes people need help and they may not ask for it but how can we justify our “helping hands” if no one asked us to be there? If we were not asked to help then perhaps the title “invaders” is appropriate. It’s always deeper than just helping others, isn’t it? There’s always some underlying cause for us to be intruding into the affairs of others. Does that make it right? Who is to say that by getting involved we won’t make matters worse? Everything in politics is manipulated so when it’s time for discussion, it seems as though our actions are appropriate even when they aren’t. The puritans manipulated their presence by claiming their ruthless invasion was nothing more than helping the Indians become civilized. They used that excuse to take over and form their own colonies. The U.S. uses their foreign neighbor’s problems as a front to sail over and better the interests of our government (oil, trade, etc.) just as the puritans had done many years ago. No matter how educated we become, history will repeat itself and greed is usually the chauffer.
Basic Passage: Iraqi Insurgent Continues Fight Against U.S. Troops from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382
Correlation: I think the United States entered Iraq with good intentions. Unfortunately, on September 11, 2001, our country was attacked. We suffered countless losses and saw Iraq as a threat. Our country went into Iraq to help bring change so they will hopefully be less violent. Aziz says in this report, "I have killed many Americans, not just one or two. When I kill them, I feel happy, like victory is coming." If joy results from killing soldiers, then this cannot be a normal human emotion. That happiness Aziz is feeling causes Americans sadness, especially anyone who lost a friend or family member to a roadside bomb or other attack. If someone came to America trying to change our ways for the better, I’m sure we would feel threatened too. This report also stated Aziz said the insurgency is no longer supported by the population. Possibly, the Iraqi people want to accept this change if it will make them a stronger and better country and only a minority doesn’t want change.
Aziz also says, "We will keep fighting until the last American has left. Only then will we drop our weapons.” People with this mindset are the reason American soldiers are still over in Iraq today. Aziz is also raising his children to hate Americans and how is that any different than when our country was divided by racism? This changed after too many years, but Americans recognized the wrong they were doing and change began. Raising children to hate a person for color or what country they’re from is racism. We may have been attacked, but our country never wanted to harm people for any reason, we’re just trying to make this world a better place in any way we can.
Passage: "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us."
Correlation: When the pilgrims came to America, they made it their essential goal to establish their religion in the new land they had been provided. On a mission from God, the passengers of the Mayflower had to have felt blessed for such a safe journey and such a beautiful discovery. This motivation and determination is the sole reason why these pilgrims and their Puritan beliefs survived. John Winthrop said, "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes o all people are upon us." This is one of the most important lines ever spoken from one of Winthrop's sermons. It expressed his belief that people throughout the world would be watching to see if the new settlement could live up to its ideals of Christian brotherhood. These pilgrims were beginning a belief that was different from the rest of the world. They did not believe in religious hierarchy (such as a pope or a saint), they refused mass, they considered marriage a civil affair (instead of religious), and icons and religious symbols such as crosses, statues, stain-glass windows, fancy architecture, and other worldly manifestations of religion were rejected as a form of idolatry. In fact, their first church was the first floor of their town fort. They did not focus on the embellishment of religion; instead, they focused on the religion itself. They trusted and devoted their lives to their new religion to insure that it would be the foundation of beliefs and culture in the new world.
Harrison Bullock A. Blindfolded People B. “The place they had thoughts on was some of those vast and unpeopled countries of America, which are fruitful and fit for habitation, being devoid of all civil inhabitants, where there is only savages and brutish men….” C. When we first read over this passage, from Bradford’s: Of Pilmoth Plantation, I had a couple of different ways to relate that to then and now. First, when I read this, I was bewildered on how they could use the term “unpeopled”. Then, after thinking and trying to get into their mind set, I understood how they justified the mistreatment of the Indians. They believed they were sent by God and carrying out his wrath. Also, since the Indians are savages and uncivilized, they aren’t considered people, so the rules of treating them like other human beings doesn’t apply to them. The Puritans were simply carrying out God’s plan by establishing a new land in His name and inhabiting that land and spreading His word. The second thought I had on this is that we, as humans, are still blind to our wrong doings. For example, people who blow up abortion clinics with the intent of preventing the loss of lives in turn cause other human beings to die. These individuals feel they are right and usually believe there are no other ways to solve the issue of abortion. This issue isn’t just in our nation, it exists globally. Have you thought about terrorists who justify the wrongs they do? They feel they are carrying out the wrath of Allah and killing Americans or taking other innocent lives is their way of protecting their holy land, which initiates a holy war. All of these justifications are preconceived notions-a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
Basic Passage: Iraqi Insurgent Continues Fight Against U.S. Troops from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382
Correlation: In class today we talked about whether or not we have the fundamental right to be in Iraq. We as a country have been known to try and help everyone regardless of if they want it or not. We listened to Abu Aziz an Iraqi insurgent who hates Americans and believes that we wish to invade and destroy them. He later says, "I have killed many Americans, not just one or two. When I kill them, I feel happy, like victory is coming." This to me is the most blatant slap in the face to the news that everything is fine in Iraq and they will be okay when we decide to pull the troops out. After September 11th our country was mad, and devastated by an act of terrorism unlike any that we had ever suffered, if was on our turf. Each country has its own fundamental right to fight for itself, and the United States was just in doing so. Whether or not people believe that we have the right to be where we are, we eliminated one of the worst dictators of present day, and are giving the other Muslim’s who wanted the corruption and murder gone a chance at redemption. As for in Vowell’s book she and Ron Paul both talk about Jefferson being a peace oriented man yet Jefferson said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Which that does not implicate anything other than that from time to time an evil dictator, “tyrants,” must be destroyed in order to restore liberty and freedom for a country. To invade means to conquer and take over, liberate to set free of oppression, and to this we HAVE liberated an extremely corrupted country.
Basic Passage: “For many of their children, that was of best dispositions and gracious inclinations, having learned to bear the yoke in their youth and willing to bear part of their parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their heavy labors, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decrepit in their youth”.
Correlation: This passage is saying the parents during this time period had their kids doing hard labor no matter how young they are. These parents had kids because if they couldn’t do certain things, they would have their kids do everything for them. Kids that young shouldn’t have to endure hard labor because their parents are enduring hard labor and that is something that they shouldn’t have to worry about especially at their age. It’s understandable that parents want their kids to learn responsibility, (there is nothing wrong with that) but having them learn it at such a young age is not right. Parents during this time period didn’t allow their kids to be kids when they should have been and not treated them like adults. Having kids endure hard labor at such a young age is like having them grow up to be rebellious and will probably scar them for life. They could have injured someone or themselves and whose fault will it be if that were to happen? It will be the parents fault. These parents are not letting their children’s bodies become fully developed to where they can handle the labor that they will be doing and could lead serious damage in the long run. The parents in this time period were depriving their children of their childhood and it’s wrong. If these parents really cared about their children, they would have done what was best for them and that is not having them work at such a young age and allow them to be children.
Basic Passage: The seal, which the Winthrop fleet brought with them from England, pictures an Indian in a loincloth holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. Words are coming out of his mouth. The Indian says, “Come over and help us.”
Correlation: Through the eyes of the puritans on their voyage over to New England, they believed they were coming over the “New World” to help save the Indians, among other things. Did the Indians really need their help or was this something that they wanted to believe? To think that they were doing good in the “New World” and making things right. We will never know. However, I must agree with Sarah Vowell when she explains that we, the United States, will always give our help to countries in need of it, even if they do not ask of it. If a country does not want our help, well to bad there going to get it anyway. If we just stood by and watched the other countries destroy themselves in war with then we might as well just let our puritan ancestors down. Going back to if the United States just sat around watching other countries fight, what is to say that one of those countries will not try to fire on us? Because we are sitting out, that would make us more vulnerable to war being brought onto us. This is why we do what our puritan ancestors wanted of us. To help others in need, if they need the help or not, we will be there. There will be no need for them to call for the United States to go to there aid.
Basic Passage: There would have been no al-Qaida here without the American invasion, Aziz says. There would have been no insurgency if the Americans had not come and killed so many, he adds.
Correlation: In class we discussed how the people in Iraq and their view about Americans, and how the United States should mind their own business and let other countries fight for themselves. We read an article that was posted on npr about how an Iraqi insurgent by the name of Aziz viewed us Americans. Aziz thinks that the American soldiers are invading their country and he wants them to back down. The American Soldiers were sent oversees to do a good deed and relieve the Iraqi people from their dictator , but some of the Iraqis like Aziz do not see it as a good deed but a way of trying to take over their country. This goes back to the puritans and the beliefs that they had in helping people. I think helping people is not a belief that is inherited but it is however human nature. For instance, if I see a person drop something I will help them pick it up. Helping is not what I have a belief in doing but I d think it is just a thing that people cannot astray from, and it goes back to the United states and how they are going t different countries trying to help them and trying to make their country like its own. The United States has tried to help the Iraqi people in every way possible but nothing will be able to change if they are not willing to let it change. Aziz states "We will keep fighting until the last American has left. Only then will we drop our weapons.” Which means no one will be able to change his mind and he is going to do what he has to do in order to protect his country until the American soldiers leave. What Aziz is not realizing is that if him and other Iraqi people let the U.S help them and let them carryout what they are suppose to carryout then they will be able to leave their country but as long as they are not cooperating and nothing has changed then the U.S troops will not be removed.
Basic Passage: “…willing to bear part of their parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their heavy labors, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decrepit in their youth”.
Correlation: Back in the day of William Bradford’s time, many of the children were brought up in hard times. The children had to help the parent’s in daily chores, keeping secrets, and possibly supporting the family financially. This caused the children to be forced to grow up and be a mature at a very young age. Therefore, the children were not able to live the lives of true children being carefree and naïve. The parents felt very badly and wished that they could not have devastated their children’s lives but there was no other alternative to changing the circumstances of these times. Today in our society, there are many situations where kids get deprived of their childhood and must grow up quickly. One situation is the trials and tribulations families are facing from today’s economic issues. Many people are losing houses, jobs, and family members during these hard times. It’s a sad situation because the children are put through grown-up issues and much stress and then they try to figure the problem for the parents. And even at times the children are being forced to go in the workplace and help support the family. In an ideal world we think of childhood as something easy going and fun but in the realistic sense of things, there are many children who don’t get to have a childhood and grow up way too fast. In many cases the children that do have to grow up quicker tend to age quicker. It is a very upsetting situation but very realistic and Bradford says it best that these children “became decrepit in their youth.”
Title: How would you like to be invaded? Laura Piper Passage: NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382 Iraqi insurgent continues to fight U.S troops
Correlation: Today in class we read the story of an Iraqi insurgent and his hate toward Americans. I’m not one to keep up with everything over there, but this story got my wheels turning. I thought, from what media was telling us, that what we our troops were doing was a good thing and we were there to help. But who are we to say they need help? Just as the puritan’s came to help the Indians, the Indians did not need help nor did they want it, they were content with the way they were living life, they were imposed on and the puritan’s forced their “helping hands” on them. Maybe for the most part, Iraq liked the way their country was being ran. Help should not be forced, it should be asked for. It may have been a different story if the people of Iraq asked for help instead of us forcing it upon them. If someone came to our country and forced help on us, we would fight and I’m sure it would not be taken lightly by some Americans. So with that being said, who can blame some of these people for wanting to kill the invaders of their land? We would do the same. I understand we have the best of intentions being over there and “helping out” but how many years have we been there now? Give them the basics of how to fix their country and let them do the rest. It’s kind of like giving advice to a friend, you can tell them how to go about a problem a million times, but until they actually take that advice and do something with it, you can’t really do anything else for them.
Basic Passage: Rooted belief was that children were by nature “corrupt(able)” and needed to be molded into well-behaving adults.
Correlation: Children were treated very differently back in the early days of America. All children were treated as miniature adults, and were to take place in the same activities as adults as soon as they came of age. Kids back in those times had an unfortunate outlook upon them from the adults of the time. They were seen as naturally evil, and corporal punishment and rigidity were strongly recommended to the parents to help mold them into God loving adults. The most they had to look forward to was usually the taking over of the fathers or family profession. Times have changed drastically since then, and children are, for the most part, raised very differently. Today children are seen as pure beings that do not yet know evil. In most cases children are seen to be corrupted by the world, not corruptors of it. Commercials and advertisements children are often used as icons to show purity and wholesomeness. Major corporal punishment is usually looked down on. Children and teenagers all are given a chance for good education in schools now, while in the 1600’s most of the kids learned to read and write if their parents could teach them. Futures are now much more open to children. Most are given a chance to pursue their own interests and beliefs in order to attend a college and career field. Being limited to one or two options for a career now is often unheard of. A child’s dad may be a plumber and the kid could end up being a lawyer if they desire. It is very interesting to see how the view and treatment of children have change throughout the earlier years of America to its current day.
B. “…to bear the yoake in their youth and willing to bear parte of their parents burden…so oppressed with their hevie labours, that though their minds were free and willing yet their bodies bowed under weight of the same.”
C. We talked briefly in class about how hard it was to be a child during the Puritan age. In the passage out of Winthrop’s Plimoth Plantation, children could no longer enjoy the free and willing lifestyle of just being a child. These children were taught the understandings of having to try to survive in an adult world and deal with adult issues at such young ages. Professor Alfred said that the strain on these kids caused them to age much faster than an ordinary child would. I think what this passage is saying can be related to Anne Frank and her story during the Holocaust. Anne is forced to keep secrets and do anything to keep her and her family safe. In her diary Anne writes “…What’s the point of the war? Why, oh, why can’t people live together peacefully? Why all the destruction?” You can tell she is faced with questions that she can not quite understand. I feel as if the children of the Puritans lost out on their childhood so much by having to be so adult-like at such young ages. Would children today ask questions of why exactly the war on terror is going on or be faced with having to keep secrets just for the sake of their family’s safety? Probably not. Today, kids, here in the United States, are not faced with such things and tragedies as Anne Frank and children of the Puritans. Yes there are probably kids who are faced with these difficult questions and thoughts every day. Professor Alfred talked about a young girl who was on the cover of a magazine that was gorgeous with bright green eyes. The magazine had done a story on this girl as a child and went back to do research to see if such hard ships, and stress could age a child so quickly. They were shocked how different and older this girl had gotten. So just think if our kids were faced with these difficult decisions, what would they do?
The American Exceptionalism Myth/The Just War Myth
Basic Passage: “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us,” John Winthrop stated.
Correlation: Since John Winthrop proposed was a city on a hill, Americans have believed that America’s cause is the cause of all mankind. We Americans believe that we have always fought for a just peace that favors liberty. This belief is apart of the idea of American Exceptionalism: the idea that the United States is a moral exemplar. The Just War Myth holds that war is a national project organized around the rational decisions of legitimate authority, fought in pursuit of a just cause, and executed by morally upright soldiers. This myth assumes that there is a unity of purpose and moral spirit that creates a just war. In the United States, this myth is connected to a way of understanding America as a moral power, a city on a hill. This ideal reminds us of our responsibility and it gives us a charge to live up to. But it becomes mythic when it causes us to believe that we are in fact a moral power. In reality there is no war that lives up to this ideal. Nations are not perfectly just and motives are often less than pure. Soldiers occasionally misbehave and leaders make mistakes.
We want to identify with community and feel part of the group, and this leads us to believe that the state is justified in its decisions. But the reality of political life is much more complicated than naive patriotism allows. States are not perfect and political decisions can be wrong. No soldier, president, or nation is infallible. It’s often difficult to see this because political life is infused with patriotism that shows up in the rituals, ceremonies, and symbols by which we reaffirm our collective identity. Our faith in our nation makes it easy to believe that the nation is above reproach, that is it only interested in justice, and that the wars it fights are good ones.
Basic Passage: Children who lived in a time where people conformed to the society or had to hide their personal beliefs from everyone.
Correlation: The men and women who rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church in England had it very hard. But the children had it harder. The children of these families were put under a lot of stress whether it be working long hard days like they were adults, having the stress of always trying to hide from the community and government, or being exposed to so many deaths. Think back when you were a kid you were able to go and play anywhere you wanted with no worries. These children had to grow up years before they were supposed to. The kids couldn’t be kids. Their parents were very strict and very hard on them just so they could survive in the communities. Being hard on the children was due to the parents stress also. The spirits of these kids were broken and their bodies grew old very rapidly. An example of this is presidents with the stress and hard work they are put through. They look a lot older than when they come out of office than when they were elected. Through all this the children had to choose to either follow right along in their parents footsteps or rebel. Following in their parent’s footsteps would be the easy way out. To stay low and keep their religious beliefs even though they are different from Catholicism. The other option is to rebel against their parents and conform to the same religion as everyone else. This makes since because it happens in today’s society. If parents are very controlling and they don’t let their kids live their own lives they will rebel.
Stacy Moralis Title: Child Labour Basic Passage: The other day in class, we read in chapter 4 about how children had to do so much work. They had no time to be carefree. They grew old very fast. They had more responsibilities than some of us do now. Correlation: “We are the world’s children. We are the victims of exploitation and abuse. We are the children of war. We are denied good quality education and health care. We are victims of political, economic, cultural, religious, and environmental discrimination. We are children whose voices are not being heard: it is time we are taken into account. We want a world fit for children, because a world fit for us is a world fit for everyone.” Statement for the Children’s Forum to the United Nations, May 2002. “Child labor came under the international spotlight in the 1990s (unicef.org). I don’t understand why children are still being given so much labor at such a young age. These children may have wished to one day be our new President or be a successful doctor or a teacher. They will never get the chance to fulfill these wishes. These days, with no education background, no one can get a decent job. It is not fair to the children. I’m sure they want to have some moments in their lives to just be carefree and not have to anything for a couple of hours. That type of thing will never happen for them. If the children are not working fast enough, there will be consequences. They will get whipped or held “captive.” Before the children are even 10 years old, they are working long hours. Recently there have been actions taken to try to end child labor. We just have to keep taking small steps towards the end of child labor.
B. “What Cotton is telling these about-to-be-Americans is that they are God’s new chosen people. This they like to hear.” The Wordy Shipmates
C. America was described by Bradford as “a place where they could establish a church and worship God” but if this is true why at the first chance they got the settlers murdered and stole from the Indians. Why didn’t the new Americans find this to be contradicting to the teachings of God? Did they really think brutally murdering and stealing land was part of gods plan for them? Some insights for their actions are reflected in the old testament in the bible. Where the Jews took control over Jerusalem from the Israelites. They believed that this story in the Bible was enough justification for them to move into these new lands no matter who it affected and take what was not theirs. This excuse only raises more questions. How did they come to the conclusion that this story was meant for them follow? Did God personally come tell the pilgrims that this story pertains to their situation?
As shown on the cover of Vowell’s, The Wordy Shipmates, the Bible was a figure that the pilgrims supposedly lived their life around. This also seems to be contradicting because the bible clearly states “Thou shall not kill” and “Thou shall not steal”. How could the pilgrims omit something as big as one of the ten commandments? The commandments are also clear and concise so it would be hard for someone to get another meaning or come up with a justification to get around disobeying one of the sacred commandments.
Its hard to ignore the contradictions in the pilgrims actions compared to their beliefs. It makes you wonder if they really thought they were doing God’s work during these times or if they were just trying to find excuses for their on greed to advance with their own selfish motives.
Basic Passage – Today in class we talked about the Iraqi insurgent and why he thinks he should carry on his fights. He also said “Americans are here to harm us”, but is it really the case?
Correlation: On March 19th 2003 when President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq many nations were quite angry about the decision. Even though the American majority voted for the war many in the Muslim world (including US closest allies, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) saw that as an act of invasion. Relations between the Muslim world and the United States started to plunge after September eleventh 2001.But was that really the ultimate justification of the war? Did we actually go to Iraq to liberate its people from the brutal tyrant Saddam Hussein or to secure American interest in that region? As I heard the interesting interview of the Iraqi insurgent and his perspective over American, it was obvious that his hate is quite deep. In his mind America is possibly the great devil who is only there to kill innocent women and children and suck dry the resource of his country. I don’t blame him and why would I? If someone killed eleven members of my family, I would probably have the same feeling. But instead of blaming the Americans he should be blaming the tyrant who tortured and massacred his own citizens. America did not invade Iraq on self interest but rather on mutual interest. The freedom that everyone here in United States takes for granted should not be restricted within the borders. Iraqi people are paying the price for freedom which they will cherish later. Freedom is usually written in blood and it’s not free.
Basic passage: In class Discussion on the apparent suicide of Dorothy Bradford.
On December 7, 1620, before the colony was established, Bradford’s wife died. Dorothy Bradford died while the Mayflower was at anchor in Provincetown Harbor, which is also known as Plymouth Rock. However there are no accounts, only a later mention of drowning by Cotton Mather in Magnalia Christi Americana. Most believe that she was stricken with sadness for leaving their own son back in the Netherlands before embarking on “The New World.” The Pilgrims left England because they believed the English and Catholic church did not follow the correct scriptures of the Bible. William Bradford does not go into great detail about his wife’s death. Which is very interesting, If your wife suddenly dies you would probably be very saddened. Not only is death of a wife tragic, but a wife committing suicide is even worse. I cant even fathom the feeling. But William Bradford not writing much about his wife brings some concern to me. It is widely known that the Pilgrims were so called “Christians,” but suicide is a sin according to the Bible. This is why I believe Bradford doesn’t mention his first wife Dorothy that often in his writings. If you are a real Christian you would not commit suicide because of the fear of living eternity in fire an brimstone. In the Holy Bible one of the ten commandments states “Thou shall not kill.” Also it says that your body is a holy temple in Gods eyes and you should take care of it. If Dorothy Bradford was a true Christian would she commit suicide? Knowing what the “consequences” where. I would not call my self a true “Christian,” at the same time if I was committed to something with so much heart to leave my country because of persecution on my own beliefs, I would not commit suicide if it was a rule against my religion.
Passage (1): Iraqi Insurgent Continues Fight against U.S. Troops from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382 Passage (2): “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us
Correlation: The United States of America is looked upon by many as being the most powerful and influential nation in the world. With this type of reputation comes responsibility and criticism. John Winthrop’s quote “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us" still rings true today. The actions and decisions the United States carries out is looked at through a microscope by its own citizens and the rest of the world, and rightly so. With Decisions come consequences, and in those consequences lies the measuring stick of right and wrong; are the consequences of too high a cost or no. It is imperative that our leaders foresee any and all consequence to an action taken and plan accordingly. A great failure to this rule would be our actions in Iraq. I believed the United States and its leaders, in regards to their decision to invade Iraq, did so with good intentions. I also believed they made the right decision under a particular set of circumstance in a post 911 world at that time. If our leaders had known then, what we know now, I believe their course of action would have been different. However, because our leaders failed to foresee the sectarian violence (that some describe as a civil war) that would ensue between Sunnis and Shiites Iraq became a place of constant chaos and what seemed to be never ended violence. Terrorist attacks couple with the sectarian violence made death tolls skyrocket which in return made the U.S. look more like invaders who were imposing their own will instead of great nation lending a help hand. This type of depiction helps religious radicals and terrorist like Aziz fight America. Hate for America is an ideology taught by extremist due to a radical belief. It is important now more than ever that the U.S. and leaders do not forget that age old quote “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”
Title: Possible similarities between Puritan living and modern America
Correlate: There has been a lot of talk in class about how the Puritans and their beliefs in working the children at a young age. However, there are some possible similarities to the way they treated their children and the way we treat ours today. First, the obvious reason the Puritans wanted the children to work was for them to help around the house and be profitable workers. With the help the Puritans received in labor from their children had to have been beneficial in that way. Today, we have child labor laws that forbid parents exploiting their children through labor. However, there are plenty of ways to financially profit from just being a parent. Throughout the past few weeks America media has been infatuated with a mother of 6 named Nadya Suleman who recently had octuplets. She is now requesting that the government reimburses her for her hospital bills. She seems to be completely “playing the system” and defiantly has some possible deceptive motives. Her Social Security check is going to be outrageous now, considering she has 14 kids and is only 33 years old. Second of all, the Puritans wanted the children to grow up tough and become good Christian adults. These days, children of ALL ages in certain churches are expected to memorize and understand Biblical passages and the deep meanings in which they are intended. Parents in Puritan times, as well as parents now desperately hope that an early foundation in the church will be a simple choice. These two similarities allow modern America to realize that America has evolved away from brutal child labor practices. However some of modern day parent’s goals for their children don’t seem that different than the Puritans.
I had never really heard much about the Anti-Christ before this class. Naturally, I wanted to research it more. Webster’s dictionary simply defines “Anti-Christ” as “one who denies or opposes Christ; a great antagonist expected to fill the world with wickedness”. The Puritans saw the Pope as the Anti-Christ. But theories of a Catholic leader being the Anti-Christ date back to the eleventh century, when both heretics and saints were said to have called the bishop of Rome the Anti-Christ. Practitioners of many religions, including Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Methodists all make references in their confessions of faith to the Papacy being the Anti-Christ.
Not only do I believe there is no Anti-Christ, I also strongly believe that the Anti-Christ conspiracy is just a plot to stir up riots and create disorder among both the religious and non-religious. Those supporting the theory are constantly changing their ideas of who the Anti-Christ may be. First they believed it was a Catholic leader, but after the reformation of the church, conspirators announced that Czar Peter the Great was the Anti-Christ, because he separated the church from the state and required clergymen to pay taxes and shave. Today, supporters of the Anti-Christ conspiracy list everyone from Britney Spears and Madonna to Prince William and Robert Oppenheimer. You can buy books and DVDs describing various conspiracies, and a few websites have instructions on how to be saved from the Anti-Christ. Another quoted at the top of the page, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5)”. I think Jesus meant it to be a warning to us all, to not be fooled by wolves who don sheep’s clothing. But some people have taken that idea, twisted it all around, and come up with a superstition that has lasted hundreds of years.
During class today a fellow student mentioned the story of an American Soldier who killed an Iraqi child.
Correlation:
Whenever the student told the story about the American Soldier slitting the throat of an Iraqi child, the whole room seemed to get quiet. No one knew really how to respond. It’s not every day that we hear morbid stories like that about our own troops. Here is something an Ex- American soldier had to say,“We lost 135 guys, we can kill people now. We were ordered, when fired upon, hunker down, with radio, waiting for orders to return fire. In April, they told us, ‘in a crowded area, if one person shoots at you, kill everybody.” Not to disrespect the noble troops, their choices, and the work they do to maintain our freedom. But, war tends to create a blurred perception of what life really is all about. Even if troops do not want to have to murder an individual, they know a head of time that the weapons they carry are used for that very thing. The basis of our country was founded on war I have recently realized. Does this mean that we formed this nation on a “blurred” perception of what life ist? Not even to be used in a religious aspect the Bible had a great truth:
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” DEUTERONOMY 30:19
Life is meant to be an enjoyable experience. I hear many people throw around the phrase, “enjoy your life experience.” It cannot be done, if you are dead.Hopefully our nation will realize that the same injustices we are trying to help “resolve” in other countries, our own are doing the exact same. The lives of innocent Iraqi citizens are just as precious the U.S. of A.
BASIC PASSAGE: Treason was given an enduring symbol in 1780 when gen. Benedict Arnold disillusioned wit the revolution cause, unsuccessfully schemed to surrender the army garrison at west point to the British, fleeing to the British after his plot was discovered. Arnolds name remains synonymous with the betrayal in American history. Efforts to punish disloyalty to the new nation predated it independence. On 24 June, 1776 the continental congress adopted a motion by its committee on spies recommending that individual colonies punish those “who shall levy war against any of the said colonies. The emphasis was on protecting the new nation not the rights or intent of the accused. Punishments most often involved confiscation of property and exile. The revolutionaries justified such severity by the presumption that as the Virginia treason statue suggested all countries have a right to the personal services of their inhabitants. The excesses of the revolution prompted the framers of the constitution to restrict the definition of treason to levying war against the U.S. and providing aid and comfort to its enemies. They limited punishments to the person charged and abjured the attainder of the traitor’s relatives.
CORRELATION: Treason is often caused by people whom are not honest or responsible. In today’s society people are traitors because the don’t want to be fault for things that can affect them. Traitors are known to be murdered or out at risk in someway Traitors are considered not to be trusted at anytime. Where as patriots in my opinion will stick with there nation to keep everything together and not betray. The founding fathers had to become traitors to their king to create the United States. A bibliography is NATHANIEL WEYL. TREASON: THE STORY OF DISLOYALTY AND BETRAYAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 1950.
In The Wordy Shipmates the author states that ine out of ten natives from Chile to Newfoundland died of contagions between 1492 and 1650. While this may not have been much different from how children of puritans died, it was a surprising change that began when the Europeans came. Mainly smallpox killed natives, and the problem did not fix itself until we made penicillin.
People may notice how health care workers do not seem to get sick as often as others because they have to build up an immunity to the diseases they encounter every day. The problem with the Indians is that they had never seen smallpox so their bodies were excellent targets for the unfamiliar disease. Bubonic plague affected Europe this way, killing a third of its population only a few hundred years earlier. The plague was stopped by quarantine and figuring out how it was spread, which was through rodents and unsanitary living. Indians lived more primitively than the settlers, making it easier for the spread of disease. Burying corn in the ground, for example, may not have been sanitary even if they were wrapped up in baskets. Smallpox is less lethal than the plague, which can cause disease when a person touches a very small amount of the disease. The Indians may have been predisposed to some diseases because of a genetic factor. For example, black people will get sickle-celled anemia but whites will not. Vowell writes how Cherokee priests destroyed sacred objects because they had lost confidence in their gods because of smallpox. Indians were unfavorably disposed in part to the colonists because they knew they could not fight the diseases that came from Europe. The fear that a foreign or unknown virus may come from space is the basis of movies like Andromeda Strain and Species. Chemists are making new compound every day, and they deal with lethal chemicals. This is why people are afraid to experiment with these kinds of diseases. There is a chance of stopping an outbreak, but people may unintentionally infect themselves.
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Orin Eleuterius
Title: Leaving a Child Behind and the Hardships
Basic Passage: Leaving a child behind for parents can be very hearbreaking and disruptive. It can make the parent feel as if they are not responsible for their children, which can arise behavioral problems for the parents psychologically and most often physical to.
Correlation: When we talked about William Bradford the third week in class about what he did, I thought to myself what a brave man. Although whenever him and his wife left behind their child i was very confused about this. This probably was a smart move by the parents for leaving their child behind because the trip that they were about to take was going to be a tough one. Now, whenever they said that Bradford's wife jumped off the ship and drowned maybe she felt as if she was guilty for leaving behind their child so she killed herself. If I would have been Bradford i would brought my children along with me to face whatever i had to face just so i would not have to feel sorry for myself. Even though the children had to stay behind, this was still a major problem for them. They had to be able to work at an early age, and be very skillful. For the parents that stayed behind this made them feel very heartbroken and terrible for having to put the children through this. Of course, while living around the Indians was very tough for them becasue they had to watch their backs, they also had to be very taskful to survive. Either by repairing things or making weapons that could be use for safety purposes. However, a side effect from the children working so much would make them age faster which was not normal at all.
Title: Puritans Dreaming American
Basic Passage: “Causes Of Their Remoovall”
Correlation:
Did the Pilgrims have the American Dream and not even know it?
The American Dream can be surmised by the words of the Founding Fathers, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” -1776. Bradford writes, “if they were in a place wher they might have libertie and live comfortably.” -1620 If you do the math, this was two or three hundred years after the Protestant movement began, but still, the idea can be applied. In order to live their life free of religious/political persecution the Pilgrims felt they must make a new start in America. But at this time, there was no “America” (as we know it, short for USA) to call this an American Dream. The point is that these are not new ideas or new dreams but human nature to ponder future existence. To think about what the American Dream means today, we are born with “inalienable rights” and since we automatically take these for granted, our definition has changed somewhat to be some measurement of prosperity and success. Maybe to most, this is met with some financial goal that provides material desires or security for future generations. The same could be said for the Nation as a whole. Heard many times before, “we must leave our country better than the way we found it.” This falls in the same category. Bradford and the Pilgrims must have been trying to do the same, as they saw it... trying to find a place better suited for their future dreams.
These wants, hopes and dreams could be a common goal for anyone in the world at any point in history. But what make these specifically American dreams is the opportunity for those dreams to be realized without regard to class or race. It is opportunity that makes America unique.
Jennifer Gray
Title:
Abuse or Their Way of Living?
Basic Passage:
“For many of their children, that were of best dispositions and gracious inclinations, having lernde to bear the yoake in their youth, and willing to bear parte of their parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their hevie labours, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decreped in their early youth; the vigor of nature being consumed in the very budd as it were.”
Correlation:
The Puritan parents had put so much of a burden on their children that they weren’t able to be children at all. Chores and work can be a good thing for a child, in moderation. Lamentations 3:27 says, “It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.” Children learn responsibility from doing chores and helping their parents, but too much on a child could be damaging. For a parent to allow their burdens to be placed on their child takes away from that child’s childhood years. Instead of being carefree and using their imagination, the child sits and worries and soon feels guilty that they aren’t able to help their parents solve their problems. In the passage it states “ . . . their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decreped in their early youth . . . ” This part of the passage paints an awful image in my mind. It almost seems like a type of child abuse may have been going on. These children seemed to be viewed as mini adults. They were so “drained” both mentally and physically that they couldn’t enjoy their childhood. This type of treatment of children may have been the norm at the time, but would never be tolerated in today’s time.
Shaun Kyles
“The American Myth”
Basic Passage: Everything is a construct, history isn’t given, it’s constructed.
Correlation: You hear old stories all the time from your grandparents about how life was in the old days. But have you ever sat down and thought about how your views of present history would have been if you lived sixty or seventy years ago? History is sort of like a bicycle. There are several parts that are loose before the actual thing is constructed. Once all the pieces are put together, you have one item. There are several highlighted events that has made America and our world what it is. We wouldn’t have what we call history if certain people such as Christopher Columbus wouldn’t have been so eager to explore the world on his quest to America. We also wouldn’t have history if Martin Luther King didn’t stand up for what he believed in, or if William Potts wouldn’t have been so creative when he invented the traffic light. All of these things and individuals played a significant role in constructing history. I feel like I’m apart of history with Barack Obama becoming the first African American president of the United States. This moment in time is going to go with all the history we’ve created so far in America. Just like our grandparents have stories to tell about the times they lived in, we will have stories to tell the next generation of kids. History plays a big role in how we live ours lives today. I think we need to learn and understand our history so we won’t make any future mistakes on things like we did in the past. Understanding our culture is the key to prosper our future. Kids across America are also learning how history is constructed in history class. The kids probably play the most important role in understanding American history because they are “The New America.”
David Broadnax
Title: “Adults at an Early Age”
Basic Passage: The children of the Puritan families had to endure much of the same burdens and hardship as their parents. Enormous amount of responsibility they were faced with.
Correlate: From reading the passage by Bradford you can start to visualize little children barely old enough to know what’s going on being held to the same standard as their parents. They would have to do heavy labor in fields right beside their older ancestors. Its hard to imagine what they could’ve felt being that most of American children are often “spoon feed” and don’t have to take on the real world until they are in their later teens or early 20’s. Can you imagine being forced to work hard labor as such, and not be able to live out your youth life? They would never get to experience the many joys that we do today. The intense labor lead to their bodies becoming “decreped in their early youth”. This paints a picture in my head of little children in their early years of development being forced to work as hard as their parents and their bodies’ deteriorating day by day. This makes you appreciate your religion and family more, because we aren’t forced to do heavy labor, but allowed to go to school where we can learn and better ourselves. We can not forget that a lot of this still goes on in third world counties, where children work in sweat shops making goods that can be sent and sold in the United States.
The thought of children having to work in such harsh environments seem so far fetched, but it’s still happening over the world. It just makes me wonder with the economy in such a downturn, would it ever get that bad for children in the U.S. that they would have to be held at a higher standard, and have to start providing for their families at a early age.
Christina McCarty
February 11, 2009
Working Class Children
Basic Passage: Thirdly; as necessitie was a taskmaster over them, so they were forced to be such, not only to their servants, but in a sorte, to their dearest children; the which as it did not a little wound the tender harts of many a loving father & mother, so it produced likewise sundrie sad & sorrowful effects.
Correlate: Children throughout history have been forced to grow up long before they reach maturity for a variety of reasons. For the Puritans, it appeared hard labor was a familial obligation growing up. As the men worked with their sons in the fields or hunting, women taught their daughters how to keep a household working correctly. Since the dawn of time, working people have had to pass on the same motivations to their children, oftentimes at very young ages. Once society had placed a person in a ranking, that is where they stayed, sometimes for several generations. Even today in third world countries, many children as young as five are still being forced to work hard labor to contribute to familial income. While it is heartbreaking and burdensome, our American society today is not even immune to it.
With the slowly diminishing economy and job layoffs, many younger teenagers are being forced into work to help support their families. Recently, a lower-class friend of mine’s mother lost her job. With just her and her son, she went in search of another job. In the meantime, her son began paying the bills. When a boy barely out of his teenage years is counted upon for his family’s stability, the challenge can be overwhelming. With one slip up, all could be lost. Unfortunately for this small family, work just cannot be attained. My friend continues to pay the bills, and all they can do is hope something comes along in the near future.
While children and minors working in the job field today is not as common as it was for the Puritans, it still exists today. Less frequently in America, it shines most predominantly in third world countries, the Middle East, and Asia where the standard of living is low and meager wage jobs are in high abundance.
Susan Howard
Title: The Nosey Neighbors
Today’s discussion about the puritans “helping” the Indians v.s. the U.S. trying to help countries overseas really got my mind going. Who decided that the Indians needed or wanted help? Who were the puritans to decide what was best for the Indians? Who are we, the United States, to decide what other countries want or don’t want? What makes us so high and mighty that we can just go and intrude on other countries and their battles? Did they ask us for help? If so, then our presence is justified. If not, then what makes it ok for us to grab our guns, get in our battleships, and sail over to “save the day”? Who made us boss?
I understand that sometimes people need help and they may not ask for it but how can we justify our “helping hands” if no one asked us to be there? If we were not asked to help then perhaps the title “invaders” is appropriate. It’s always deeper than just helping others, isn’t it? There’s always some underlying cause for us to be intruding into the affairs of others. Does that make it right? Who is to say that by getting involved we won’t make matters worse? Everything in politics is manipulated so when it’s time for discussion, it seems as though our actions are appropriate even when they aren’t. The puritans manipulated their presence by claiming their ruthless invasion was nothing more than helping the Indians become civilized. They used that excuse to take over and form their own colonies. The U.S. uses their foreign neighbor’s problems as a front to sail over and better the interests of our government (oil, trade, etc.) just as the puritans had done many years ago. No matter how educated we become, history will repeat itself and greed is usually the chauffer.
Alicia Vance
Title: Why Our Troops Are in Iraq
Basic Passage: Iraqi Insurgent Continues Fight Against U.S. Troops from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382
Correlation: I think the United States entered Iraq with good intentions. Unfortunately, on September 11, 2001, our country was attacked. We suffered countless losses and saw Iraq as a threat. Our country went into Iraq to help bring change so they will hopefully be less violent. Aziz says in this report, "I have killed many Americans, not just one or two. When I kill them, I feel happy, like victory is coming." If joy results from killing soldiers, then this cannot be a normal human emotion. That happiness Aziz is feeling causes Americans sadness, especially anyone who lost a friend or family member to a roadside bomb or other attack. If someone came to America trying to change our ways for the better, I’m sure we would feel threatened too. This report also stated Aziz said the insurgency is no longer supported by the population. Possibly, the Iraqi people want to accept this change if it will make them a stronger and better country and only a minority doesn’t want change.
Aziz also says, "We will keep fighting until the last American has left. Only then will we drop our weapons.” People with this mindset are the reason American soldiers are still over in Iraq today. Aziz is also raising his children to hate Americans and how is that any different than when our country was divided by racism? This changed after too many years, but Americans recognized the wrong they were doing and change began. Raising children to hate a person for color or what country they’re from is racism. We may have been attacked, but our country never wanted to harm people for any reason, we’re just trying to make this world a better place in any way we can.
Eric Dobbs
Title: On the hill
Passage: "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us."
Correlation: When the pilgrims came to America, they made it their essential goal to establish their religion in the new land they had been provided. On a mission from God, the passengers of the Mayflower had to have felt blessed for such a safe journey and such a beautiful discovery. This motivation and determination is the sole reason why these pilgrims and their Puritan beliefs survived. John Winthrop said, "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes o all people are upon us." This is one of the most important lines ever spoken from one of Winthrop's sermons. It expressed his belief that people throughout the world would be watching to see if the new settlement could live up to its ideals of Christian brotherhood. These pilgrims were beginning a belief that was different from the rest of the world. They did not believe in religious hierarchy (such as a pope or a saint), they refused mass, they considered marriage a civil affair (instead of religious), and icons and religious symbols such as crosses, statues, stain-glass windows, fancy architecture, and other worldly manifestations of religion were rejected as a form of idolatry. In fact, their first church was the first floor of their town fort. They did not focus on the embellishment of religion; instead, they focused on the religion itself. They trusted and devoted their lives to their new religion to insure that it would be the foundation of beliefs and culture in the new world.
Harrison Bullock
A. Blindfolded People
B. “The place they had thoughts on was some of those vast and unpeopled countries of America, which are fruitful and fit for habitation, being devoid of all civil inhabitants, where there is only savages and brutish men….”
C. When we first read over this passage, from Bradford’s: Of Pilmoth Plantation, I had a couple of different ways to relate that to then and now. First, when I read this, I was bewildered on how they could use the term “unpeopled”. Then, after thinking and trying to get into their mind set, I understood how they justified the mistreatment of the Indians. They believed they were sent by God and carrying out his wrath. Also, since the Indians are savages and uncivilized, they aren’t considered people, so the rules of treating them like other human beings doesn’t apply to them. The Puritans were simply carrying out God’s plan by establishing a new land in His name and inhabiting that land and spreading His word.
The second thought I had on this is that we, as humans, are still blind to our wrong doings. For example, people who blow up abortion clinics with the intent of preventing the loss of lives in turn cause other human beings to die. These individuals feel they are right and usually believe there are no other ways to solve the issue of abortion. This issue isn’t just in our nation, it exists globally. Have you thought about terrorists who justify the wrongs they do? They feel they are carrying out the wrath of Allah and killing Americans or taking other innocent lives is their way of protecting their holy land, which initiates a holy war. All of these justifications are preconceived notions-a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
Brian Strong
Title: Liberators of Invaders
Basic Passage: Iraqi Insurgent Continues Fight Against U.S. Troops from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382
Correlation: In class today we talked about whether or not we have the fundamental right to be in Iraq. We as a country have been known to try and help everyone regardless of if they want it or not. We listened to Abu Aziz an Iraqi insurgent who hates Americans and believes that we wish to invade and destroy them. He later says, "I have killed many Americans, not just one or two. When I kill them, I feel happy, like victory is coming." This to me is the most blatant slap in the face to the news that everything is fine in Iraq and they will be okay when we decide to pull the troops out. After September 11th our country was mad, and devastated by an act of terrorism unlike any that we had ever suffered, if was on our turf. Each country has its own fundamental right to fight for itself, and the United States was just in doing so. Whether or not people believe that we have the right to be where we are, we eliminated one of the worst dictators of present day, and are giving the other Muslim’s who wanted the corruption and murder gone a chance at redemption. As for in Vowell’s book she and Ron Paul both talk about Jefferson being a peace oriented man yet Jefferson said, “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Which that does not implicate anything other than that from time to time an evil dictator, “tyrants,” must be destroyed in order to restore liberty and freedom for a country. To invade means to conquer and take over, liberate to set free of oppression, and to this we HAVE liberated an extremely corrupted country.
Title: To Young to Work
Basic Passage: “For many of their children, that was of best dispositions and gracious inclinations, having learned to bear the yoke in their youth and willing to bear part of their parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their heavy labors, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decrepit in their youth”.
Correlation: This passage is saying the parents during this time period had their kids doing hard labor no matter how young they are. These parents had kids because if they couldn’t do certain things, they would have their kids do everything for them. Kids that young shouldn’t have to endure hard labor because their parents are enduring hard labor and that is something that they shouldn’t have to worry about especially at their age. It’s understandable that parents want their kids to learn responsibility, (there is nothing wrong with that) but having them learn it at such a young age is not right.
Parents during this time period didn’t allow their kids to be kids when they should have been and not treated them like adults. Having kids endure hard labor at such a young age is like having them grow up to be rebellious and will probably scar them for life. They could have injured someone or themselves and whose fault will it be if that were to happen? It will be the parents fault. These parents are not letting their children’s bodies become fully developed to where they can handle the labor that they will be doing and could lead serious damage in the long run. The parents in this time period were depriving their children of their childhood and it’s wrong. If these parents really cared about their children, they would have done what was best for them and that is not having them work at such a young age and allow them to be children.
Penelope Humenansky
We will help others when in need.
Basic Passage:
The seal, which the Winthrop fleet brought with them from England, pictures an Indian in a loincloth holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. Words are coming out of his mouth. The Indian says, “Come over and help us.”
Correlation:
Through the eyes of the puritans on their voyage over to New England, they believed they were coming over the “New World” to help save the Indians, among other things. Did the Indians really need their help or was this something that they wanted to believe? To think that they were doing good in the “New World” and making things right. We will never know. However, I must agree with Sarah Vowell when she explains that we, the United States, will always give our help to countries in need of it, even if they do not ask of it. If a country does not want our help, well to bad there going to get it anyway. If we just stood by and watched the other countries destroy themselves in war with then we might as well just let our puritan ancestors down. Going back to if the United States just sat around watching other countries fight, what is to say that one of those countries will not try to fire on us? Because we are sitting out, that would make us more vulnerable to war being brought onto us. This is why we do what our puritan ancestors wanted of us. To help others in need, if they need the help or not, we will be there. There will be no need for them to call for the United States to go to there aid.
Shareca Hawthorne
Title: “Mind your Business”
Basic Passage:
There would have been no al-Qaida here without the American invasion, Aziz says. There would have been no insurgency if the Americans had not come and killed so many, he adds.
Correlation:
In class we discussed how the people in Iraq and their view about Americans, and how the United States should mind their own business and let other countries fight for themselves. We read an article that was posted on npr about how an Iraqi insurgent by the name of Aziz viewed us Americans. Aziz thinks that the American soldiers are invading their country and he wants them to back down. The American Soldiers were sent oversees to do a good deed and relieve the Iraqi people from their dictator , but some of the Iraqis like Aziz do not see it as a good deed but a way of trying to take over their country. This goes back to the puritans and the beliefs that they had in helping people. I think helping people is not a belief that is inherited but it is however human nature. For instance, if I see a person drop something I will help them pick it up. Helping is not what I have a belief in doing but I d think it is just a thing that people cannot astray from, and it goes back to the United states and how they are going t different countries trying to help them and trying to make their country like its own. The United States has tried to help the Iraqi people in every way possible but nothing will be able to change if they are not willing to let it change. Aziz states "We will keep fighting until the last American has left. Only then will we drop our weapons.” Which means no one will be able to change his mind and he is going to do what he has to do in order to protect his country until the American soldiers leave. What Aziz is not realizing is that if him and other Iraqi people let the U.S help them and let them carryout what they are suppose to carryout then they will be able to leave their country but as long as they are not cooperating and nothing has changed then the U.S troops will not be removed.
Hannah Mims
Title: The Innocence of Childhood
Basic Passage: “…willing to bear part of their parents burden, were, often times, so oppressed with their heavy labors, that though their minds were free and willing, yet their bodies bowed under the weight of the same, and became decrepit in their youth”.
Correlation: Back in the day of William Bradford’s time, many of the children were brought up in hard times. The children had to help the parent’s in daily chores, keeping secrets, and possibly supporting the family financially. This caused the children to be forced to grow up and be a mature at a very young age. Therefore, the children were not able to live the lives of true children being carefree and naïve. The parents felt very badly and wished that they could not have devastated their children’s lives but there was no other alternative to changing the circumstances of these times. Today in our society, there are many situations where kids get deprived of their childhood and must grow up quickly. One situation is the trials and tribulations families are facing from today’s economic issues. Many people are losing houses, jobs, and family members during these hard times. It’s a sad situation because the children are put through grown-up issues and much stress and then they try to figure the problem for the parents. And even at times the children are being forced to go in the workplace and help support the family. In an ideal world we think of childhood as something easy going and fun but in the realistic sense of things, there are many children who don’t get to have a childhood and grow up way too fast. In many cases the children that do have to grow up quicker tend to age quicker. It is a very upsetting situation but very realistic and Bradford says it best that these children “became decrepit in their youth.”
Title: How would you like to be invaded?
Laura Piper
Passage: NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382
Iraqi insurgent continues to fight U.S troops
Correlation: Today in class we read the story of an Iraqi insurgent and his hate toward Americans. I’m not one to keep up with everything over there, but this story got my wheels turning. I thought, from what media was telling us, that what we our troops were doing was a good thing and we were there to help. But who are we to say they need help? Just as the puritan’s came to help the Indians, the Indians did not need help nor did they want it, they were content with the way they were living life, they were imposed on and the puritan’s forced their “helping hands” on them. Maybe for the most part, Iraq liked the way their country was being ran. Help should not be forced, it should be asked for. It may have been a different story if the people of Iraq asked for help instead of us forcing it upon them. If someone came to our country and forced help on us, we would fight and I’m sure it would not be taken lightly by some Americans. So with that being said, who can blame some of these people for wanting to kill the invaders of their land? We would do the same. I understand we have the best of intentions being over there and “helping out” but how many years have we been there now? Give them the basics of how to fix their country and let them do the rest. It’s kind of like giving advice to a friend, you can tell them how to go about a problem a million times, but until they actually take that advice and do something with it, you can’t really do anything else for them.
Andrew Paschall
Title: Tough Love
Basic Passage: Rooted belief was that children were by nature “corrupt(able)” and needed to be molded into well-behaving adults.
Correlation: Children were treated very differently back in the early days of America. All children were treated as miniature adults, and were to take place in the same activities as adults as soon as they came of age. Kids back in those times had an unfortunate outlook upon them from the adults of the time. They were seen as naturally evil, and corporal punishment and rigidity were strongly recommended to the parents to help mold them into God loving adults. The most they had to look forward to was usually the taking over of the fathers or family profession. Times have changed drastically since then, and children are, for the most part, raised very differently. Today children are seen as pure beings that do not yet know evil. In most cases children are seen to be corrupted by the world, not corruptors of it. Commercials and advertisements children are often used as icons to show purity and wholesomeness. Major corporal punishment is usually looked down on. Children and teenagers all are given a chance for good education in schools now, while in the 1600’s most of the kids learned to read and write if their parents could teach them. Futures are now much more open to children. Most are given a chance to pursue their own interests and beliefs in order to attend a college and career field. Being limited to one or two options for a career now is often unheard of. A child’s dad may be a plumber and the kid could end up being a lawyer if they desire. It is very interesting to see how the view and treatment of children have change throughout the earlier years of America to its current day.
Courtney Wesolowski
A. Free and willing, not so much.
B. “…to bear the yoake in their youth and willing to bear parte of their parents burden…so oppressed with their hevie labours, that though their minds were free and willing yet their bodies bowed under weight of the same.”
C. We talked briefly in class about how hard it was to be a child during the Puritan age. In the passage out of Winthrop’s Plimoth Plantation, children could no longer enjoy the free and willing lifestyle of just being a child. These children were taught the understandings of having to try to survive in an adult world and deal with adult issues at such young ages. Professor Alfred said that the strain on these kids caused them to age much faster than an ordinary child would. I think what this passage is saying can be related to Anne Frank and her story during the Holocaust. Anne is forced to keep secrets and do anything to keep her and her family safe. In her diary Anne writes “…What’s the point of the war? Why, oh, why can’t people live together peacefully? Why all the destruction?” You can tell she is faced with questions that she can not quite understand. I feel as if the children of the Puritans lost out on their childhood so much by having to be so adult-like at such young ages. Would children today ask questions of why exactly the war on terror is going on or be faced with having to keep secrets just for the sake of their family’s safety? Probably not. Today, kids, here in the United States, are not faced with such things and tragedies as Anne Frank and children of the Puritans. Yes there are probably kids who are faced with these difficult questions and thoughts every day. Professor Alfred talked about a young girl who was on the cover of a magazine that was gorgeous with bright green eyes. The magazine had done a story on this girl as a child and went back to do research to see if such hard ships, and stress could age a child so quickly. They were shocked how different and older this girl had gotten. So just think if our kids were faced with these difficult decisions, what would they do?
Lauren Harris
The American Exceptionalism Myth/The Just War Myth
Basic Passage: “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us,” John Winthrop stated.
Correlation: Since John Winthrop proposed was a city on a hill, Americans have believed that America’s cause is the cause of all mankind. We Americans believe that we have always fought for a just peace that favors liberty. This belief is apart of the idea of American Exceptionalism: the idea that the United States is a moral exemplar. The Just War Myth holds that war is a national project organized around the rational decisions of legitimate authority, fought in pursuit of a just cause, and executed by morally upright soldiers. This myth assumes that there is a unity of purpose and moral spirit that creates a just war. In the United States, this myth is connected to a way of understanding America as a moral power, a city on a hill. This ideal reminds us of our responsibility and it gives us a charge to live up to. But it becomes mythic when it causes us to believe that we are in fact a moral power. In reality there is no war that lives up to this ideal. Nations are not perfectly just and motives are often less than pure. Soldiers occasionally misbehave and leaders make mistakes.
We want to identify with community and feel part of the group, and this leads us to believe that the state is justified in its decisions. But the reality of political life is much more complicated than naive patriotism allows. States are not perfect and political decisions can be wrong. No soldier, president, or nation is infallible. It’s often difficult to see this because political life is infused with patriotism that shows up in the rituals, ceremonies, and symbols by which we reaffirm our collective identity. Our faith in our nation makes it easy to believe that the nation is above reproach, that is it only interested in justice, and that the wars it fights are good ones.
Title: Children in a Hard Time
Basic Passage: Children who lived in a time where people conformed to the society or had to hide their personal beliefs from everyone.
Correlation: The men and women who rebelled against the Roman Catholic Church in England had it very hard. But the children had it harder. The children of these families were put under a lot of stress whether it be working long hard days like they were adults, having the stress of always trying to hide from the community and government, or being exposed to so many deaths. Think back when you were a kid you were able to go and play anywhere you wanted with no worries. These children had to grow up years before they were supposed to. The kids couldn’t be kids. Their parents were very strict and very hard on them just so they could survive in the communities. Being hard on the children was due to the parents stress also. The spirits of these kids were broken and their bodies grew old very rapidly. An example of this is presidents with the stress and hard work they are put through. They look a lot older than when they come out of office than when they were elected. Through all this the children had to choose to either follow right along in their parents footsteps or rebel. Following in their parent’s footsteps would be the easy way out. To stay low and keep their religious beliefs even though they are different from Catholicism. The other option is to rebel against their parents and conform to the same religion as everyone else. This makes since because it happens in today’s society. If parents are very controlling and they don’t let their kids live their own lives they will rebel.
Stacy Moralis
Title: Child Labour
Basic Passage: The other day in class, we read in chapter 4 about how children had to do so much work. They had no time to be carefree. They grew old very fast. They had more responsibilities than some of us do now.
Correlation: “We are the world’s children. We are the victims of exploitation and abuse. We are the children of war. We are denied good quality education and health care. We are victims of political, economic, cultural, religious, and environmental discrimination. We are children whose voices are not being heard: it is time we are taken into account. We want a world fit for children, because a world fit for us is a world fit for everyone.” Statement for the Children’s Forum to the United Nations, May 2002. “Child labor came under the international spotlight in the 1990s (unicef.org). I don’t understand why children are still being given so much labor at such a young age. These children may have wished to one day be our new President or be a successful doctor or a teacher. They will never get the chance to fulfill these wishes. These days, with no education background, no one can get a decent job. It is not fair to the children. I’m sure they want to have some moments in their lives to just be carefree and not have to anything for a couple of hours. That type of thing will never happen for them. If the children are not working fast enough, there will be consequences. They will get whipped or held “captive.” Before the children are even 10 years old, they are working long hours.
Recently there have been actions taken to try to end child labor. We just have to keep taking small steps towards the end of child labor.
A. God : the ultimate vindication
Eric Richardson
B. “What Cotton is telling these about-to-be-Americans is that they are God’s new chosen people. This they like to hear.” The Wordy Shipmates
C. America was described by Bradford as “a place where they could establish a church and worship God” but if this is true why at the first chance they got the settlers murdered and stole from the Indians. Why didn’t the new Americans find this to be contradicting to the teachings of God? Did they really think brutally murdering and stealing land was part of gods plan for them? Some insights for their actions are reflected in the old testament in the bible. Where the Jews took control over Jerusalem from the Israelites. They believed that this story in the Bible was enough justification for them to move into these new lands no matter who it affected and take what was not theirs. This excuse only raises more questions. How did they come to the conclusion that this story was meant for them follow? Did God personally come tell the pilgrims that this story pertains to their situation?
As shown on the cover of Vowell’s, The Wordy Shipmates, the Bible was a figure that the pilgrims supposedly lived their life around. This also seems to be contradicting because the bible clearly states “Thou shall not kill” and “Thou shall not steal”. How could the pilgrims omit something as big as one of the ten commandments? The commandments are also clear and concise so it would be hard for someone to get another meaning or come up with a justification to get around disobeying one of the sacred commandments.
Its hard to ignore the contradictions in the pilgrims actions compared to their beliefs. It makes you wonder if they really thought they were doing God’s work during these times or if they were just trying to find excuses for their on greed to advance with their own selfish motives.
Title – America! The Liberators or Invaders?
Basic Passage – Today in class we talked about the Iraqi insurgent and why he thinks he should carry on his fights. He also said “Americans are here to harm us”, but is it really the case?
Correlation: On March 19th 2003 when President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq many nations were quite angry about the decision. Even though the American majority voted for the war many in the Muslim world (including US closest allies, Saudi Arabia, Egypt) saw that as an act of invasion. Relations between the Muslim world and the United States started to plunge after September eleventh 2001.But was that really the ultimate justification of the war? Did we actually go to Iraq to liberate its people from the brutal tyrant Saddam Hussein or to secure American interest in that region? As I heard the interesting interview of the Iraqi insurgent and his perspective over American, it was obvious that his hate is quite deep. In his mind America is possibly the great devil who is only there to kill innocent women and children and suck dry the resource of his country. I don’t blame him and why would I? If someone killed eleven members of my family, I would probably have the same feeling. But instead of blaming the Americans he should be blaming the tyrant who tortured and massacred his own citizens. America did not invade Iraq on self interest but rather on mutual interest. The freedom that everyone here in United States takes for granted should not be restricted within the borders. Iraqi people are paying the price for freedom which they will cherish later. Freedom is usually written in blood and it’s not free.
Devin lochridge
Title: Real Christian?
Basic passage: In class Discussion on the apparent suicide of Dorothy Bradford.
On December 7, 1620, before the colony was established, Bradford’s wife died. Dorothy Bradford died while the Mayflower was at anchor in Provincetown Harbor, which is also known as Plymouth Rock. However there are no accounts, only a later mention of drowning by Cotton Mather in Magnalia Christi Americana. Most believe that she was stricken with sadness for leaving their own son back in the Netherlands before embarking on “The New World.” The Pilgrims left England because they believed the English and Catholic church did not follow the correct scriptures of the Bible. William Bradford does not go into great detail about his wife’s death. Which is very interesting, If your wife suddenly dies you would probably be very saddened. Not only is death of a wife tragic, but a wife committing suicide is even worse. I cant even fathom the feeling. But William Bradford not writing much about his wife brings some concern to me. It is widely known that the Pilgrims were so called “Christians,” but suicide is a sin according to the Bible. This is why I believe Bradford doesn’t mention his first wife Dorothy that often in his writings.
If you are a real Christian you would not commit suicide because of the fear of living eternity in fire an brimstone. In the Holy Bible one of the ten commandments states “Thou shall not kill.” Also it says that your body is a holy temple in Gods eyes and you should take care of it. If Dorothy Bradford was a true Christian would she commit suicide? Knowing what the “consequences” where. I would not call my self a true “Christian,” at the same time if I was committed to something with so much heart to leave my country because of persecution on my own beliefs, I would not commit suicide if it was a rule against my religion.
Ernest Dixon
Right or Wrong
Passage (1): Iraqi Insurgent Continues Fight against U.S. Troops from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100468382
Passage (2): “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us
Correlation: The United States of America is looked upon by many as being the most powerful and influential nation in the world. With this type of reputation comes responsibility and criticism. John Winthrop’s quote “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us" still rings true today. The actions and decisions the United States carries out is looked at through a microscope by its own citizens and the rest of the world, and rightly so. With Decisions come consequences, and in those consequences lies the measuring stick of right and wrong; are the consequences of too high a cost or no. It is imperative that our leaders foresee any and all consequence to an action taken and plan accordingly. A great failure to this rule would be our actions in Iraq. I believed the United States and its leaders, in regards to their decision to invade Iraq, did so with good intentions. I also believed they made the right decision under a particular set of circumstance in a post 911 world at that time. If our leaders had known then, what we know now, I believe their course of action would have been different. However, because our leaders failed to foresee the sectarian violence (that some describe as a civil war) that would ensue between Sunnis and Shiites Iraq became a place of constant chaos and what seemed to be never ended violence. Terrorist attacks couple with the sectarian violence made death tolls skyrocket which in return made the U.S. look more like invaders who were imposing their own will instead of great nation lending a help hand. This type of depiction helps religious radicals and terrorist like Aziz fight America. Hate for America is an ideology taught by extremist due to a radical belief. It is important now more than ever that the U.S. and leaders do not forget that age old quote “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”
Stuart Lang
Title: Possible similarities between Puritan living and modern America
Correlate: There has been a lot of talk in class about how the Puritans and their beliefs in working the children at a young age. However, there are some possible similarities to the way they treated their children and the way we treat ours today.
First, the obvious reason the Puritans wanted the children to work was for them to help around the house and be profitable workers. With the help the Puritans received in labor from their children had to have been beneficial in that way. Today, we have child labor laws that forbid parents exploiting their children through labor. However, there are plenty of ways to financially profit from just being a parent. Throughout the past few weeks America media has been infatuated with a mother of 6 named Nadya Suleman who recently had octuplets. She is now requesting that the government reimburses her for her hospital bills. She seems to be completely “playing the system” and defiantly has some possible deceptive motives. Her Social Security check is going to be outrageous now, considering she has 14 kids and is only 33 years old.
Second of all, the Puritans wanted the children to grow up tough and become good Christian adults. These days, children of ALL ages in certain churches are expected to memorize and understand Biblical passages and the deep meanings in which they are intended. Parents in Puritan times, as well as parents now desperately hope that an early foundation in the church will be a simple choice.
These two similarities allow modern America to realize that America has evolved away from brutal child labor practices. However some of modern day parent’s goals for their children don’t seem that different than the Puritans.
Laura Butler
The Anti-Christ Conspiracy
I had never really heard much about the Anti-Christ before this class. Naturally, I wanted to research it more. Webster’s dictionary simply defines “Anti-Christ” as “one who denies or opposes Christ; a great antagonist expected to fill the world with wickedness”. The Puritans saw the Pope as the Anti-Christ. But theories of a Catholic leader being the Anti-Christ date back to the eleventh century, when both heretics and saints were said to have called the bishop of Rome the Anti-Christ. Practitioners of many religions, including Lutherans, Anabaptists, and Methodists all make references in their confessions of faith to the Papacy being the Anti-Christ.
Not only do I believe there is no Anti-Christ, I also strongly believe that the Anti-Christ conspiracy is just a plot to stir up riots and create disorder among both the religious and non-religious. Those supporting the theory are constantly changing their ideas of who the Anti-Christ may be. First they believed it was a Catholic leader, but after the reformation of the church, conspirators announced that Czar Peter the Great was the Anti-Christ, because he separated the church from the state and required clergymen to pay taxes and shave. Today, supporters of the Anti-Christ conspiracy list everyone from Britney Spears and Madonna to Prince William and Robert Oppenheimer. You can buy books and DVDs describing various conspiracies, and a few websites have instructions on how to be saved from the Anti-Christ. Another quoted at the top of the page, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:4-5)”. I think Jesus meant it to be a warning to us all, to not be fooled by wolves who don sheep’s clothing. But some people have taken that idea, twisted it all around, and come up with a superstition that has lasted hundreds of years.
“ Blurry ”
Passage:
During class today a fellow student mentioned the story of an American Soldier who killed an Iraqi child.
Correlation:
Whenever the student told the story about the American Soldier slitting the throat of an Iraqi child, the whole room seemed to get quiet. No one knew really how to respond. It’s not every day that we hear morbid stories like that about our own troops. Here is something an Ex- American soldier had to say,“We lost 135 guys, we can kill people now. We were ordered, when fired upon, hunker down, with radio, waiting for orders to return fire. In April, they told us, ‘in a crowded area, if one person shoots at you, kill everybody.” Not to disrespect the noble troops, their choices, and the work they do to maintain our freedom. But, war tends to create a blurred perception of what life really is all about. Even if troops do not want to have to murder an individual, they know a head of time that the weapons they carry are used for that very thing. The basis of our country was founded on war I have recently realized. Does this mean that we formed this nation on a “blurred” perception of what life ist? Not even to be used in a religious aspect the Bible had a great truth:
“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
DEUTERONOMY 30:19
Life is meant to be an enjoyable experience. I hear many people throw around the phrase, “enjoy your life experience.” It cannot be done, if you are dead.Hopefully our nation will realize that the same injustices we are trying to help “resolve” in other countries, our own are doing the exact same. The lives of innocent Iraqi citizens are just as precious the U.S. of A.
( here is a link to the ex- soldier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwwMF6biCJU&feature=PlayList&p=EF775A1C8096BECF&playnext=1&index=8 )
mylena
Patriot and Traitor
BASIC PASSAGE: Treason was given an enduring symbol in 1780 when gen. Benedict Arnold disillusioned wit the revolution cause, unsuccessfully schemed to surrender the army garrison at west point to the British, fleeing to the British after his plot was discovered. Arnolds name remains synonymous with the betrayal in American history. Efforts to punish disloyalty to the new nation predated it independence. On 24 June, 1776 the continental congress adopted a motion by its committee on spies recommending that individual colonies punish those “who shall levy war against any of the said colonies. The emphasis was on protecting the new nation not the rights or intent of the accused. Punishments most often involved confiscation of property and exile. The revolutionaries justified such severity by the presumption that as the Virginia treason statue suggested all countries have a right to the personal services of their inhabitants. The excesses of the revolution prompted the framers of the constitution to restrict the definition of treason to levying war against the U.S. and providing aid and comfort to its enemies. They limited punishments to the person charged and abjured the attainder of the traitor’s relatives.
CORRELATION: Treason is often caused by people whom are not honest or responsible. In today’s society people are traitors because the don’t want to be fault for things that can affect them. Traitors are known to be murdered or out at risk in someway Traitors are considered not to be trusted at anytime. Where as patriots in my opinion will stick with there nation to keep everything together and not betray. The founding fathers had to become traitors to their king to create the United States. A bibliography is NATHANIEL WEYL. TREASON: THE STORY OF DISLOYALTY AND BETRAYAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY, 1950.
Brett Allen
Smallpox and Disease
In The Wordy Shipmates the author states that ine out of ten natives from Chile to Newfoundland died of contagions between 1492 and 1650. While this may not have been much different from how children of puritans died, it was a surprising change that began when the Europeans came. Mainly smallpox killed natives, and the problem did not fix itself until we made penicillin.
People may notice how health care workers do not seem to get sick as often as others because they have to build up an immunity to the diseases they encounter every day. The problem with the Indians is that they had never seen smallpox so their bodies were excellent targets for the unfamiliar disease. Bubonic plague affected Europe this way, killing a third of its population only a few hundred years earlier. The plague was stopped by quarantine and figuring out how it was spread, which was through rodents and unsanitary living. Indians lived more primitively than the settlers, making it easier for the spread of disease. Burying corn in the ground, for example, may not have been sanitary even if they were wrapped up in baskets. Smallpox is less lethal than the plague, which can cause disease when a person touches a very small amount of the disease. The Indians may have been predisposed to some diseases because of a genetic factor. For example, black people will get sickle-celled anemia but whites will not. Vowell writes how Cherokee priests destroyed sacred objects because they had lost confidence in their gods because of smallpox. Indians were unfavorably disposed in part to the colonists because they knew they could not fight the diseases that came from Europe. The fear that a foreign or unknown virus may come from space is the basis of movies like Andromeda Strain and Species. Chemists are making new compound every day, and they deal with lethal chemicals. This is why people are afraid to experiment with these kinds of diseases. There is a chance of stopping an outbreak, but people may unintentionally infect themselves.
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