Wednesday, March 26, 2008

July's Poem (Indian attribution)


I give you this one thought to keep

- I am with you still -

I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone

- I am with you still -

in each new dawn.

-Told by the elders, in Blackfoot Indian tribes.


Reflection: This poem is a way of showing how the Blackfoot Indians did not morn over deaths but rejoice for their loved ones now could be with other spirits. They also believe that people did not literally "die" for they could be found in anything around them; such as, if you loved working in the garden during your physical years, in your spiritual years you could be found their in the plants of the garden and etc. In this poem the author uses a lot of metaphor in order to connect the person to nature, such as ' I am the autumn rain", and in this way it allows the 'human' life to become one with nature, so one's spirit surrounds the people. The author also speaks to the reader and directs him to remember one thing as he writes, "I give you this t to keep", thereby emphasizing the importance of the message. As well the poet uses repetition of "I am" to almost create the deceased as alive and still in being with the living - makes the deceased still an active participant in the world. This is kind of nice because when a person loses a loved one, he or she can still share thoughts and feelings with the loved one in another way - through nature. .

Dear Diary,
The white man has come onto our homeland, and I observe how hostile the white man is - he is rough and takes the land and the beasts as his own - he does not share those things which he has been given by the great one in the sky - In turn he takes our men - his language is different and he is not at peace with himself. I watch him from the trees and I know he his not safe. I do not trust him as I have seen my people die at his hand. My only consolation is from the Great Spirit. I myself have lost a loved one. Oh the sorrow I have felt. This poem written by one with wisdom helps heal my soul, my broken heart. It tells me to not morn but to look to everything as a symbol of my lost one. Don't cry for they are gone, laugh for the fun times which were shared. My loved one may be dead, their heart may have stopped but their soul will forever live on.

Signed,
Little Big Hands







ESSENTIAL QUESTION: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream?
The Native America Indian was not given the opportunity to chose the destiny of his people- the white man was. He was moved to a reservation and oppressed as a people. This is embarrassing as a white person to realize how our ancestors so discriminated others in light of pursuing their "dream". What are the opportunities available to the Native American? I do not have a chance to create my land, to further refurbish it with vegetables- it is now the white mans. My opportunity is now in the hands of someone else, it is no longer an opportunity, and it is a manifest destiny. Our community has now fallen apart, and we no longer sing and dance around the fire. Our crops have died for no one is able to care for them- we are not Indian anymore, we are just people, helping to make a population. Oh great father in the sky, show me the way.

Political cartoon:

(cartoon says; the reason for the indian outbreak)

In this cartoon the artist is trying to portray that the Indian outbreak was soley because of White men introducing money to the American Indians thus embedding greed and want into the Indians for money.

Monday, March 24, 2008

William Bradford

Political Cartoon:

In this cartoon the artist has placed lady liberty in the middle of a white women and black women over the white women there is a sign that says "To Freedom" over the black women there is a sign that says "To Jail". This cartoon is trying to potray the issue on rascism in America and stereotypes .



"In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for divers days together. And in one of them, as they thus lay at hull in a mighty storm, a lusty young man called John Howland, coming upon some occasion above the gratings, was, with a roll of the ship, thrown into sea; but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards, which hung overboard and ran out at length. Yet he held his hold (though he was sundry fathoms under water) till he was hauled up by the same rope to the brim of the water, and then with a boat hook and other means got into the ship again and his life saved. And though he was something ill with it, yet he lived many years after and became a profitable member both in church and commonwealth. In all this voyage there died but one of the passengers, which was William But ten, a youth, servant to Samuel Fuller, when they drew near the coast."



Bradford William "Of Plymouth Plantation <http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/bradford.htm >






Reflection: In this passage the author makes an appoint to state God as a reasoning for all things- " but it pleased God that he caught hold of the topsail halyards, which hung overboard and ran out at length. " Just like the puritians thought, God was credited for all things good and bad, if you were a good person good things would be placed upon you by God and if you were not a good person bad things would be placed upon you by God. The author also uses very descriptive language to make the reader feel as if they are a member upon the ship themselves-"In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not bear a knot of sail, but were forced to hull for divers days together".




Dear Diary,
Today was one in which I will never forget. The man in whom I love almost was lost, of course he
doesn't know I love him. Near death he survived, it is God's will for us to be together I just know
it. John Howland was knocked over boards because of thee harsh winds and storms brought our
way. He found hold of a ore in which was just enough link for him to hold onto with all his might. I
thank God over and over again, not only did he save a man, he saved my future husband.
Signed,

Elizabeth McGlaughlin


Essential Question: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is
the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream? In this
passage each individual were given an opportunity to come to America (which is what they are in
the process of doing), they have yet to experiance- not experiance the American Dream.



Saturday, March 22, 2008

Anne Bradstreet

We May Live Together

"If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever. "









Upon Some Distemper of Body


"In anguish of my heart replete with woes, And wasting pains, which best my body knows, In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed, Bedrenched with tears that flowed from mournful head, Till nature had exhausted all her store, Then eyes lay dry, disabled to weep more; And looking up unto his throne on high, Who sendeth help to those in misery; He chased away those clouds and let me see My anchor cast i' th' vale with safety. He eased my soul of woe, my flesh of pain, and brought me to the shore from troubled main. "

Bradstreet Anne <
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/Bradstreet/bradstreet.html#wemay>


In Thankful Remembrance for My Dear Husband's Safe Arrival Sept 3, 1662

" What shall I render to Thy name Or how Thy praises speak? My thanks how shall I testify? O Lord, Thou know'st I'm weak. I owe so much, so little can Return unto Thy name, Confusion seizes on my soul, And I am filled with shame. O Thou that hearest prayers, Lord, To Thee shall come all flesh Thou hast me heard and answered, My plaints have had access. What did I ask for but Thou gav'st? What could I more desire? But thankfulness even all my days I humbly this require. Thy mercies, Lord, have been so great In number numberless, Impossible for to recount Or any way express. O help Thy saints that sought Thy face T' return unto Thee praise And walk before Thee as they ought, In strict and upright ways. "





Dear Diary,
I look to poetry of love for the hope of John and I. One day we will be. We will have a relationship like Anne Bradstreet and her husband. I will love my man as she loves her's. They are the epitomy of what love truly is. Eternity, forever, after life, always. Of course my first husband; my Lord my Savior will always come first but closly after there John will have a embedded into my heart. I was sick a few weeks ago, there has been a cough going around on the ships. No one is quiet sure what exactly it is, but people are slowly leaving us one by one from this awful thing. There is a demon on this ship somewhere, we will soon find where. Mrs.Bradstreet described perfectly what is going on in our barracks.

Signed,

Elizabeth McGlaughlin

Essential Question: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream? Anne does not know she doesn't have to love her husband, she feels as if it is a duty of a women to love a man. She feels it is the "American" way to provide and care for her husband. She was not given the oppotunities along with many other women to get a full education, to be independent, and in some cases even choose who they are to spend the rest of their life with. Community was stable at time periods of such, but what if one single women would have branched out and decided to not be a house wife. What are the possibilities, imagine all the things that could have been different in our history to now.

^ POETRY CHARTS!!!

Friday, March 21, 2008

Edward Taylor



Huswifery


"Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat;


Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee.


Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate,


And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.


My Conversation make to be thy Reele,


And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine:


And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills:


Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine.


Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.


Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice,


All pinkt with Varnish't Flowers of Paradise.

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will,


Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory;


My Words and Actions, that their shine may fill


My wayes with glory and thee glorify.


Then mine apparell shall display before yee


That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory."




^ POETRY CHART!!

Dear Diary,
Dear God Almighty, maker of heavan and earth, allow me to be the best I can be- Use me as your will desires. Feel my heart with love for you first Lord, and John second. Cleanse my heart body and soul, I am your clay Lord, mold me. I am a beding branch beneath your will. Edward Taylor, speaks of a relationship I desire with you Lord. Use his metaphoric poetry and cast those relationships upon us all. Allow John to love you first Lord, and if your desire me second. Use my hands to mend bread for my future husband, my back to hold me up when bearing a child, and my feet to walk through what struggles that may come forth.
Signed,
Elizabeth McGlaughlin

Essential Question: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream? When God is in charge of all good and bad things, when does it become the problems/excitings of the people. The Puritans were not given the opportunity to have the chance to create their own destiny, they believed "what comes, comes". Thus, no one was able to reach for goals, mourn for lost ones, or rejoice on holidays; they didn't get to truly experiance what we would call "life". When a single individual isn't in recieving of similar opportunities people around them tend to help one acheive such, but when the community as a whole does not recieve opportunities no one knows any difference therefore they continue to live life without opportunities like the rest.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Jonathan Edwards



Sinners in the hands of an Angry God!


"There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. -- He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty to subdue a rebel, who has found means to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defence from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God's enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken in pieces. They are as great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry stubble before devouring flames. We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell. What are we, that we should think to stand before him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the rocks are thrown down? "


Reflection: As a Christian it is almost hurtful for me to read something as such. Anything bad is not of God, God does not condem, God does not pick and choose whom/who to love, God does not allow for hurt/pain/sorrow/rascism/depression/anxiety that is of Satan himself and no other. Jonathan Edwards was a man with the wrong ideals, sadly he was very persuassive and had a voice in which people listened.

Dear Diary,
Father God, although I trust and love you with all my heart, and speak with you at all hours of the day; Jonathon Edwards does not speak of you in the holy way. Lord he creates an imagery of you being a condeming man, I know my Lord is not of such. I trust you are here to help everyone, no matter their mistakes or downfalls. Allow Jonathon Edwards to be filled with your holy spitit father, so he may also know the true you.
Signed,

Elizabeth McGlaughlin
Essential Question: (Same as Edward Taylor, response) So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream? When God is in charge of all good and bad things, when does it become the problems/excitings of the people. The Puritans were not given the opportunity to have the chance to create their own destiny, they believed "what comes, comes". Thus, no one was able to reach for goals, mourn for lost ones, or rejoice on holidays; they didn't get to truly experiance what we would call "life". When a single individual isn't in recieving of similar opportunities people around them tend to help one acheive such, but when the community as a whole does not recieve opportunities no one knows any difference therefore they continue to live life without opportunities like the rest.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Olidah Equiano's account of the MiddlePassage.



"While we stayed on the coast I was mostly on deck; and one day, to my great astonishment, I saw one of these vessels coming in with the sails up. As soon as the whites saw it, they gave a great shout, at which we were amazed; and the more so, as the vessel appeared larger by approaching nearer. At last, she came to an anchor in my sight, and when the anchor was let go, I and my countrymen who saw it, were lost in astonishment to observe the vessel stop and were now convinced it was done by magic. Soon after this the other ship got her boats out, and they came on board of us, and the people of both ships seemed very glad to see each other. Several of the strangers also shook hands with us black people, and made motions with their hands, signifying I suppose, we were to go to their country, but we did not understand them."



-olaudah equiano












Response: Everyone should have a chance to be able to hear the struggles of others, without knowledge of hurt and pain we ourselfs would continue to make the same mistakes/ and cause the same pain over and over again. Equiano used precise language, and descriptive imagery in order to create a tone of despair and at some times hope, thus, connecting the reader emotionally and developing a linking chain between the audience's hurt/hope/despair and his own. Equiano was denyed his education, right to make his own choices, and most importantly freedom.




Dear Diary,

Its been some hard months latley, we here aint got no food, scraps for clothes and dust as furniture. If only Leroy was able to go to school, maybe we would pull ourselves out of this here poverty we seem to have been stricken by. As a mother of four I feel as if it is my fault my children are crying from the bear eating away at their stomach, and on my daughters birthday having to give her a doll made out of straw. Is I a falling my family? - but there is nothing I can do, the white men wont allow for no black women to have a job or even learn to read. Times are hard, but they can only get better.

Signed,

Marie Smith



Essential Question: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream? The meaning of a slave is to be owned by another; the word in its self is a stripping of freedom. Equiano was not given the opportunity to recieve even a basic education, have a job in which he wanted, or even provide for his family. Along with many African Americans he was treated as if the color of his skin was of Satan. Community can not allow for rascism, for when rascism exsist there is no structure, no leaning on one enother, and no moral's. All things in which a community needs in order to survive.


(The artist/author of this cartoon has a member of the KKK holding a book in which says "Torture Etiquete" the author is trying to show that memembers of racsist groups such as the KKK are not able to think for them selves therefore following the writings/actions of others)

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Patrick Henry & Thomas Paine

"No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve."





- Patrick Henry












"I have as little superstition in me as any man living, but my secret opinion has ever been, and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent. Neither have I so much of the infidel in me, as to suppose that He has relinquished the government of the world, and given us up to the care of devils; and as I do not, I cannot see on what grounds the king of Britain can look up to heaven for help against us: a common murderer, a highwayman, or a house-breaker, has as good a pretence as he."



-Thomas Paine



<http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Rosemary_Dibben/English11/NewNation/PaineCrisis1.pdf>





Reflection:
Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine likewise both use conitations, extended metaphors and descriptive language in order to convey a tone of determination to show the signifigance of going to war for freedom to the American people .




Dear Diary,


Our country has partaken in war. I can not rejoice for I do not find it to be a rejoiceful time. They have started the draft for all men starting at the age of sixteen. Johnathon and I recently married and now he is called to do what is supposivly "his duty" to America. Oh, how I have longed to be with him all these years, from the very first siting on the boat here. You answered my prayers, it was of your will for us to be together; so Lord why shall it be of your will to take him away? I can only pray to see my dear Johnathon again. To hell with this war, it will take us all.
Signed,


Elizabeth McGlaughlin



Essential Question: So what happens when one does not receive similar opportunities? What is the effect on individuals and on community when all are not able to realize their dream? During the draft Americans were not given the opportunity to speak/show their ideals of war. They were forced to leave families and jobs behind. Many women with children suffered for they were not able to get jobs, therefore whille their husbands were at war they had no means of income. The community as a whole has a downfall because of lack of jobs, and economic income.



Monday, February 19, 2007

Interview





Name: Cary Staton
Age: 50



(Q) When you were young what did you think that America Dream was?
(A) Home ownership and personal freedom

(Q) How did you think obtain this dream?
(A)Hard-work

(Q)Now that you are older what is your American Dream?
(A) Same thing

(Q)Have you obtained it?
(A) Yes, not so much person freedom.

(Q)Why do you think you haven't received personal freedom?
(A) Because over time we have given up our personal rights and privileges, offered by the constitution.- we no longer can bear arms- we're unduly taxed- we lack representation - the only thing that has gotten bigger is gov't- gov't should be smaller-that's the cost of every bodies freedom

(Q) What would you do to change this?
(A) Follow the constitution of the US strictly, it was written at a great time by great men- we are incredibly vain to think we know better then they did

(Q)Are their any exceptions?
(A)Personally I think their are a few, but as a society NO; we made amendments to the const. that I don't think are all great ideas

(Q)What do you think of the 2008 election/ candidates?
(A) I think we, I can't think of a worse group to chose from at a more critical time in our history, "there are no leaders, it's like watching American Idol, it's a fame game, this is why we watch American Idol"- there are no leaders in our country anymore, our country doesn't respect conviction & we have been as a society dumb down by the media to a mob mentality similar to most great civilizations were brought down from within, that is what is happening to us. Rome fell from within, not the barbarians; that is what is happening right now, to the US. We have nobody to stand up, we as people are cowards.

(Q)What needs to happen within the US for each individual to have an opportunity to reach the American goal?
(A) Far less gov't, more personal responsibility that is easy to say but it means so much, it is the key to all of us, and we have to quit blaming our problems on other things. Personal responsibility is what it is about; you can't constantly bail people out for poor decisions. Our society make people like me out to be monsters of some kind, which I’m far from I am as passionate as any if I think people are trying.

(Q)In the 1920's the called that the era of greed; what would our era called if you were to sum it up?
(A)I would say, self interest, everybody was out for themselves everyone has their own little pet project, what about us? It’s not their fault, its just they way they have been led

(Q)What is the effect of this on community?
(A) It fragments the community, society, country our greatness is our oneness, we are one nation under god "doesn’t mean we don’t have to worship god" but our oneness is a single god, I by no means am religious but I will stand up for what needs to be done, for us to discourage it to were nothing counts when our country was founded on that is ridiculous. The way to keep us at bay, the way to keep the country from rebellion basically is to fragment them. "We're worried about Mexicans" "Mexicans are worried about the black" "rich about poor" they initially divert our attention while gradually stealing our rights. They being government, media, the same...really it is all the same. What people do is they listen to main stream media and main stream media talks bad about alternative media sources, they discredit them, but they put their own spin on every story; spin journalism. We always hear about who's dying in Iraq, when we hear about schools being built, people being saved....but that isn’t sensational.

(Q)What is to come of my generation in 10-15 years?
(A) There is going to be an education crisis, especially in colleges and college education. I think we will have a weak economy for the next 10-15 years, your generation will probably be the first to feel full weight of entire baby boom gen. - people my age, between 50-65 all hitting retirement more us then you, you will have to work hard enough to support self plus pension, retirement basically you'll have to work for 2-3 people. - Short term social security will be cut, people my age wont get any, probably true. What you do get won’t be proportional as is now. We also are loosing jobs to world market, we may loose retired people to other countries where their money will go farther. If I thought a solution, bring back trade-semi skilled work. So people can make a living doing so.

(Q)Any last things you would like to say about our economy, the American dream?
(A)If I had to tell young people anything, it is don't wait to get involved in your gov't. Strive to make it smaller, don't ask what they can do for you, tell them how you are going to do it for them.

Ask yourself everyday, if I dropped off the face of the earth, would the earth miss me? If your answer is no, you need to find something else to do.

Everyday we go without fighting back, it is a battle lost. By the time you hit my age you think, what kind of world am I leaving for my children? Have we made this world better? I would have to say for my generation the answer is, we haven't.


One more thing,

The second most important rule, after do unto others, is if you do not know your history you are doomed to repeat it. If you don’t learn anything else in high school learn your rights, freedoms, and the constitution don't get wrapped up in today’s gov't get wrapped up in the gov't of 1776.
















Reflection: You never really realize how wise one is until you take a momment to sit down and just talk. My step-dad (Cary) and I tend to never get along, we don't talk to eachother, we live in the same house, but in two completly different worlds. I didn't realize until tonight how much Cary has to offer, how much we have in common and how much I can acctually learn from him. The thing that stood out to me most about this interview is the fact that Cary said "people look at people like me as some sort of monster, but really if I see you are trying I can be just as passioniate as anyone else". This stood out becuase I myself have thought of Cary as something like a "monster" but when he said this it made me acctually take a look at myself, and for once I realized it really is me, not him.