Question 2: Why does a society devoted to equal opportunity weaken each individual?
Response: According to Alexis de Tocqueville equal opportunity open to all weakens a person because everything becomes more competitive; the American becomes more competitive because they know they can attain what another American has. Alex said an individual is weakened because they are always competing with one another to attain the next best device or house, etc. Alexis de Tocqueville said, “It is odd to watch with that feverish ardor the Americans pursue prosperity and how they are ever tormented by the shadowy suspicion that they may not have chosen to the shortest route to get it.” In that quote Alexis is saying that the pressure from wanting to “be the best” and wanting to get the best causes the Americans to torment themselves because they are never able to rest. It weakens and blinds the American because they fail to acknowledge all they do have because they are always in competition to get the “best new thing”. Alexis said, “Americans cleave to things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet are in such a rush to snatch any that come within their reach, as id expecting to stop living before they have relished them. They clutch everything but hold nothing fast, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new delight.” The quote explains that Americans do not relish what they have. The Americans are weakened because they lack acknowledgement about everything they have, and because they torment themselves because they are always competing with another person for the next “best thing”.
Question 5: Does Tocqueville think Americans are restless because they don’t know what they want or because what they want is not attainable?
Response: Tocqueville thinks that Americans are restless because what they want is not attainable. He said, “Among democratic peoples men easily obtain a certain equality, but they will never get the sort of equality they long for.” Tocqueville is saying that there is the general equality that all men share (rules of government) but there is another equality, which is not attainable for some men. Then Tocqueville said, “That is a quality which ever retreats before them without getting quite out of sight, and as it retreats it beckons them on to pursue. Every instant they think they will catch it, and each time it slips through their fingers. They see it close enough to know its charms, but they do not get near enough to enjoy it, and they will be dead before they have fully relished its delights.” In that quote Tocqueville is talking about equality in a sense of one man wanting what another man has. He is saying that an American is restless because they get close to having what another man has but then it slips right through their fingers. Every time the American thinks that they all the same things as another man something new comes along (“every instant they think they will catch it, and each time it slips through their fingers”).
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Ethics and such
What are the ethics of your life? How do the people you interact with on a daily basis contribute to your understanding of how you should behave? Think of your parents/teachers/adults, but also of you friends and peers?
When i was younger we attended church a lot and from church i established my morals. Some of those general principles still remain with me today. Also, I in church and from television shows I learned that morals are important because without them people are more more lost than they have to be.In school the adults have a passion for their jobs,they try to help the children and for the most part they all well behaved. From them I have learned to search for a career path that I would be passionate about. My mother and father helped me to analyze situations ("think before i speak")and to make decisions that will benefit myself and others. From my friends I have learned what paths to follow and paths not to follow. One of my best friends helped me to understand action because she never waited on anybody to do anything for her so would just go out and get it done herself. I have learned also learned discipline from school, family and some friends. I think discipline is the most important thing i learned because it requires discipline to behave appropriately ...well discipline is required in every aspect of a persons life. Now that I think about it that what everybody has been trying to get to understand since i was a child and that is learn discipline. =)
When i was younger we attended church a lot and from church i established my morals. Some of those general principles still remain with me today. Also, I in church and from television shows I learned that morals are important because without them people are more more lost than they have to be.In school the adults have a passion for their jobs,they try to help the children and for the most part they all well behaved. From them I have learned to search for a career path that I would be passionate about. My mother and father helped me to analyze situations ("think before i speak")and to make decisions that will benefit myself and others. From my friends I have learned what paths to follow and paths not to follow. One of my best friends helped me to understand action because she never waited on anybody to do anything for her so would just go out and get it done herself. I have learned also learned discipline from school, family and some friends. I think discipline is the most important thing i learned because it requires discipline to behave appropriately ...well discipline is required in every aspect of a persons life. Now that I think about it that what everybody has been trying to get to understand since i was a child and that is learn discipline. =)
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Langston Hughes/ Claude McKay Comparison & Contrast
Compare Hughes poetry to Claude McKay. What is similar? What is different?
They are similar because they both speak of the depression of blacks in Harlem.
In Claude McKay’s Harlem Shadows he talked about the rough environment in Harlem, which forced women to become harlots. He explained what he saw at night. “In Negroe Harlem when the night lets fall its veil. I see the shapes of girl who pass to bend and barter to desires call.” In Langston Hughes Theme for English B he says, I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you: hear you, hear me-we two-you, me, talk on this page.” Langston Hughes is talking about Harlem and that although he writes the paper he is the voice of Harlem. Both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes serve, as the voices for Harlem and they both understand the Negroes situations in Harlem. Langston Hughes said, “I hear you, Harlem” because he understood that it was rough and Claude was had the more visual poem, which explained what women, did at night because of their rejection in society. Also, both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes write of Africa. In McKay’s To the White Friends he said, “ am I not Affric’s son?” and Langston Hughes The Negroe Speaks of Rivers Langston Hughes writes about Africa, which he uses to talk about the Negroe’s upbringing (foundation of his soul). The differences are that Claude McKay gives more details of what happens in Harlem (using people, seen in his story He so loved). Langston uses takes a broader approach he does not give anecdotes of peoples lives instead he talks about peoples struggles more as a whole (seen in his poem Mulatto).
They are similar because they both speak of the depression of blacks in Harlem.
In Claude McKay’s Harlem Shadows he talked about the rough environment in Harlem, which forced women to become harlots. He explained what he saw at night. “In Negroe Harlem when the night lets fall its veil. I see the shapes of girl who pass to bend and barter to desires call.” In Langston Hughes Theme for English B he says, I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you: hear you, hear me-we two-you, me, talk on this page.” Langston Hughes is talking about Harlem and that although he writes the paper he is the voice of Harlem. Both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes serve, as the voices for Harlem and they both understand the Negroes situations in Harlem. Langston Hughes said, “I hear you, Harlem” because he understood that it was rough and Claude was had the more visual poem, which explained what women, did at night because of their rejection in society. Also, both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes write of Africa. In McKay’s To the White Friends he said, “ am I not Affric’s son?” and Langston Hughes The Negroe Speaks of Rivers Langston Hughes writes about Africa, which he uses to talk about the Negroe’s upbringing (foundation of his soul). The differences are that Claude McKay gives more details of what happens in Harlem (using people, seen in his story He so loved). Langston uses takes a broader approach he does not give anecdotes of peoples lives instead he talks about peoples struggles more as a whole (seen in his poem Mulatto).
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
"Dig someone out of the grave"
Book One Chapter Three
“Recalled to life”
“He was on his way to dig someone out of the grave”
The significance of Dickens’s word choice is using “dig someone out of the grave” to mean that Lorry is going to bring Manette (the ghost back to life). This passage is significant because it is foreshadowing what is soon to happen. Lorry asked, “ Buried how long?” and the ghost replies, “ almost eighteen years.” Later in the passage Lorry asked “you had abandoned all hope of being dug out?” and the ghost replies, “long ago.” The word buried in this context means to be gone mentally and Lorry proves that later in the test when he says, “ Gracious Creator of day! To be buried alive for eighteen years!” Also, Lorry asked the ghost, “ I hope you care to live?” and the ghost replied, “ I can’t say.” This explains that Manette (the ghost) has been buried mentally for so long that he has lost hope of ever returning to his original state. Then Lorry says, “ Shall I show her to you? Will you come and see her?” This is important because the “her” is Manette’s daughter Lucy, and Lucy is the person who will bring Manette back to his original state- back to life. Dickens used the choice of words because; it forces the reader to think outside the box, and to search for a different meaning for the word. Dickens used words and imagery in a different way because he wanted readers to see what it was to be buried through another perspective. It kept the suspense of the story, and gave the reader a different approach to analyzing the characters in books.
“Recalled to life”
“He was on his way to dig someone out of the grave”
The significance of Dickens’s word choice is using “dig someone out of the grave” to mean that Lorry is going to bring Manette (the ghost back to life). This passage is significant because it is foreshadowing what is soon to happen. Lorry asked, “ Buried how long?” and the ghost replies, “ almost eighteen years.” Later in the passage Lorry asked “you had abandoned all hope of being dug out?” and the ghost replies, “long ago.” The word buried in this context means to be gone mentally and Lorry proves that later in the test when he says, “ Gracious Creator of day! To be buried alive for eighteen years!” Also, Lorry asked the ghost, “ I hope you care to live?” and the ghost replied, “ I can’t say.” This explains that Manette (the ghost) has been buried mentally for so long that he has lost hope of ever returning to his original state. Then Lorry says, “ Shall I show her to you? Will you come and see her?” This is important because the “her” is Manette’s daughter Lucy, and Lucy is the person who will bring Manette back to his original state- back to life. Dickens used the choice of words because; it forces the reader to think outside the box, and to search for a different meaning for the word. Dickens used words and imagery in a different way because he wanted readers to see what it was to be buried through another perspective. It kept the suspense of the story, and gave the reader a different approach to analyzing the characters in books.
Washington
Question: How is Washington providing an answer to the “go north” or “stay south” debate we looked at in Frederick Douglass’s Life and Times?
Answer: Washington suggested staying south. Washington is saying basically to save the economy in the south and to use each other to do so. He tells the whites to help the blacks, and in return blacks would help whites. He says “ cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded”. He is speaking to the white man and telling them make friends with the blacks. Later Washington says, “Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging them as you are doing on these grounds, and to education of head, hand, ad heart, you will find that they will buy your surplus land, make blossom the waste places in your fields, and run your factories” Washington is saying that if whites befriended blacks or gave them a chance then they could help better the economy. Washington also said, “ in all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” During Washington’s first half of the speech he emphasized casting down the bucket, and now he has provided another reason why to cast down the bucket and why to give blacks a chance. He basically has said that it is not necessary to be separate because it will get not get anybody anywhere but that all people know to progress everybody needs to be on mutual terms. He told them that are the only way to progress.
Answer: Washington suggested staying south. Washington is saying basically to save the economy in the south and to use each other to do so. He tells the whites to help the blacks, and in return blacks would help whites. He says “ cast it down in making friends in every manly way of the people of all races by whom we are surrounded”. He is speaking to the white man and telling them make friends with the blacks. Later Washington says, “Casting down your bucket among my people, helping and encouraging them as you are doing on these grounds, and to education of head, hand, ad heart, you will find that they will buy your surplus land, make blossom the waste places in your fields, and run your factories” Washington is saying that if whites befriended blacks or gave them a chance then they could help better the economy. Washington also said, “ in all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.” During Washington’s first half of the speech he emphasized casting down the bucket, and now he has provided another reason why to cast down the bucket and why to give blacks a chance. He basically has said that it is not necessary to be separate because it will get not get anybody anywhere but that all people know to progress everybody needs to be on mutual terms. He told them that are the only way to progress.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Compare Equiano & Smith Narratives
Victoria Holland
Venture Smith focused on the American dream more, and Equiano focused more on sharing his life story. Venture was in the pursuit of money, whereas Equiano wanted to tell his story of how hard it was being a slave and how immoral it was. Venture talked about how bad slavery was and that money was being used the wrong way, but after he bought his freedom all he focused on was money. He even wanted slaves himself! Before he was emancipated all he was more concerned more so with family, but when he was freed all he cared about was what his masters had been focused on. Also Ventures narrative was not as vernacular because he had someone write it for him. Equinao’s narrative was in its purest form because he did not have someone write it for him. All were his truest thoughts. Equiano also never changed, after slavery he still cared about family. Also, Equinao’s narrative went more in depth, in Venture’s he was not as detailed. Equiano wanted to better himself after being emancipated but not by being controlling like Venture Smith.
Victoria Holland
Venture Smith focused on the American dream more, and Equiano focused more on sharing his life story. Venture was in the pursuit of money, whereas Equiano wanted to tell his story of how hard it was being a slave and how immoral it was. Venture talked about how bad slavery was and that money was being used the wrong way, but after he bought his freedom all he focused on was money. He even wanted slaves himself! Before he was emancipated all he was more concerned more so with family, but when he was freed all he cared about was what his masters had been focused on. Also Ventures narrative was not as vernacular because he had someone write it for him. Equinao’s narrative was in its purest form because he did not have someone write it for him. All were his truest thoughts. Equiano also never changed, after slavery he still cared about family. Also, Equinao’s narrative went more in depth, in Venture’s he was not as detailed. Equiano wanted to better himself after being emancipated but not by being controlling like Venture Smith.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Why is it difficult not to care about what others think of you? Do we control the way other people see and think about us?
Question: Why is it difficult not to care about what others think of you? Do we control the way other people see and think about us?
It is difficult not to care about what others think because if a person perceives you the wrong way then they will tell another person which then becomes your reputation. For example, if you are a new kid at University High school and a kid calls you weird, then the group that person hangs around will consider you weird. They will consider you weird because they have accepted what another person (their friend) has said instead of getting to know you personally. That kid gets a bad reputation because one kid perceived them the wrong way. Also, it is difficult not to care what others think because everyone wants to be accepted. Everyone wants to be understood as an individual and when perceived the wrong by another individual that person is not given the chance to express him or herself.
To a certain degree we control the way people see and think of us but only by our actions. We control how they see us by actions, but we cannot control how they see us within social class. For example, in India people are born into a poor, average, and rich class depending on what class there parents were in. A kid that is poor in India can grow up to be rich but is still looked upon as poor. People can control the way others perceive them by their mannerisms. If they are a polite and respectful person others see them as polite and respectful. We do not have control over how people see us physically, and externally. People will always judge a person on the way they dress, and they way they speak, etc.
It is difficult not to care about what others think because if a person perceives you the wrong way then they will tell another person which then becomes your reputation. For example, if you are a new kid at University High school and a kid calls you weird, then the group that person hangs around will consider you weird. They will consider you weird because they have accepted what another person (their friend) has said instead of getting to know you personally. That kid gets a bad reputation because one kid perceived them the wrong way. Also, it is difficult not to care what others think because everyone wants to be accepted. Everyone wants to be understood as an individual and when perceived the wrong by another individual that person is not given the chance to express him or herself.
To a certain degree we control the way people see and think of us but only by our actions. We control how they see us by actions, but we cannot control how they see us within social class. For example, in India people are born into a poor, average, and rich class depending on what class there parents were in. A kid that is poor in India can grow up to be rich but is still looked upon as poor. People can control the way others perceive them by their mannerisms. If they are a polite and respectful person others see them as polite and respectful. We do not have control over how people see us physically, and externally. People will always judge a person on the way they dress, and they way they speak, etc.
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