This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together." In his address to the nation President Obama seem to be focus on American union. In bringing together all the nation to create a better future. He refers to the past making sure that everyone understands that we the nation was created with the ideas of the founding fathers, but should adapt to the current necessities. These necessities are the current economic need and poverty. In my opinion, Obama is sending a message to those who have power to let them now that is not time to keep getting rich and allowing the economy sink. He seems to be sending a message of "lets get united" and try to come out of this problem before it is too late.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
12/17 Obama
For this final assignment I have chosen Obama's inauguration speech. I found the whole speech to be very interesting, educated and precise on the point he wanted to make. My part for discussion is the following: "But we have always understood that when times change, so must we; that fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges; that preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. For the American people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone than American soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and militias. No single person can train all the math and science teachers we'll need to equip our children for the future, or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores. Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people.
This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together." In his address to the nation President Obama seem to be focus on American union. In bringing together all the nation to create a better future. He refers to the past making sure that everyone understands that we the nation was created with the ideas of the founding fathers, but should adapt to the current necessities. These necessities are the current economic need and poverty. In my opinion, Obama is sending a message to those who have power to let them now that is not time to keep getting rich and allowing the economy sink. He seems to be sending a message of "lets get united" and try to come out of this problem before it is too late.
This generation of Americans has been tested by crises that steeled our resolve and proved our resilience. A decade of war is now ending. An economic recovery has begun. America's possibilities are limitless, for we possess all the qualities that this world without boundaries demands: youth and drive; diversity and openness; an endless capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it - so long as we seize it together." In his address to the nation President Obama seem to be focus on American union. In bringing together all the nation to create a better future. He refers to the past making sure that everyone understands that we the nation was created with the ideas of the founding fathers, but should adapt to the current necessities. These necessities are the current economic need and poverty. In my opinion, Obama is sending a message to those who have power to let them now that is not time to keep getting rich and allowing the economy sink. He seems to be sending a message of "lets get united" and try to come out of this problem before it is too late.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Progressive Era
Woodrow
Wilson
The
name Progressive Era caught my attention a lot this week. Reading the passages
I found not one, but two passages from Wilson that caught my attention a lot.
The first one because it shows how Wilson believe it in a government of action
and the second one because it talks about a reality we still live today.
In this first passage, Wilson speaks about the importance of having a government that exercise its power in terms over the market place. The president is to create a market place were of cooperation. I believe the main focus of Wilson's ideas was to eliminate monopolies from the market. There was a time in which America was not as big and powerful and allowing to be a passive president was normal since it did not have to defend its supremacy. Given the fact that America grew in size and power it was time for the president to step up and create an stronger government.
"You know that it was Jefferson who said that the best government is that which does as little governing as possible, which exercises its power as little as possible. That was said in a day when the opportunities of America were so obvious to every man, when every individual was so free to use his powers without let or hindrance, that all that was necessary was that the government should withhold its hand and see to it that every man got an opportunity to act if he would. But that time is past. America is not now, and cannot in the future be, a place for unrestricted individual enterprise. It is true that we have come upon an age of great cooperative industry. It is true that we must act absolutely upon this principle (p. 439)."
"You know that it was Jefferson who said that the best government is that which does as little governing as possible, which exercises its power as little as possible. That was said in a day when the opportunities of America were so obvious to every man, when every individual was so free to use his powers without let or hindrance, that all that was necessary was that the government should withhold its hand and see to it that every man got an opportunity to act if he would. But that time is past. America is not now, and cannot in the future be, a place for unrestricted individual enterprise. It is true that we have come upon an age of great cooperative industry. It is true that we must act absolutely upon this principle (p. 439)."
In the second passage he speaks about the workforce. He discusses how most of the people work for employers that they do not know and will never meet face to face. He mentions a private relationship. I believe Wilson was referring to the fact that after employees go over a certain number and the employer is never in a direct relationship with the employee the enterprise is no longer a private matter, but a public one. The fact that the enterprise has become so large and public creates a necessity for the government to stop acting the Jefferson's way and to start acting in the Wilson's progressive way.
Who in this great audience knows his employer? I mean among
those who go down into the mines or go into the mills and factories. You never
see, you practically never deal with, the president of the corporation. You
probably don't know the directors of the corporation by sight. The only thing
you know is that by score, by the hundred, by the thousand, you are employed
with your fellow workmen by some agent of an invisible employer. Therefore,
whenever bodies of men employ bodies of men, it ceases to be a private
relationship" (p. 440)
About The Dust Bowl
The Dust Bowl is a major event of the 1930s. It was about eight years long and caused multiple difficulties in the South. It was a period of drought that affected women, children and men in their daily lives. It cause it an agricultural destruction and affected the already bad economical depression. The dust bowl is important because it affected the economy of the country as well as the world's economy which was already very related to the US.The Dust bowl started as a simple drought and continued to growth in size conformed the years past. During the first year 14 dust storms happened, the following the number grew to 38. The dust bowl time was difficult and got to be overcome with the authorities effort. Roosevelt created a committee in which re-ploting and planting trees helped to partially end the dust bowl in 1939 after more than eight years of drought.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Lincoln Part 1
I chose the following quote from Lincoln:
"How differently the respective courses of the Democratic and Republican parties incidentally bear on the question of forming a will- a public sentiment- for colonization, is easy to see. The Republican inculcate, with whatever ability they can, that the negro is a man; that his bondage is cruelly wrong, and that the field of his oppression ought not to be enlarged. The Democrats deny his manhood; deny, or dwarf to insignificance, the wrong of his bondage: so far as possible, crush all sympathy for him, and cultivate and excite hatred and disgust against him; compliment themselves as Union- savers for doing so; and call the indefinite outspreading of his bond age "a sacred right of self- government."...
This quote called my attention a lot because it shows how Lincoln saw the ideals of the Republican and Democratic parties. It also expresses what each party was trying to achieve in terms of sentiments towards negroes. Lincoln does not seem to agree with any of these parties, but shows the way they see and think about negroes. He talks about negroes being seen by Republicans as men and by Democrats as less than men kind. I think the main point of portraying the different views is to move people from one side to another.Â
In the African American Odyssey, Civil War section I found two interesting sections "Contraband of War" African American Fugitives to Union Lines and "Contrabands" at the Nation's Capitol. In the first section "Contraband of War" African American Fugitives to Union Lines, African American slaves caught fleeing from their masters were returned to their masters by the Union Army. On the other hand some otheres were allowed to work for the Army without being returned. In the second section, Union Lines and "Contrabands" this section is ery related to the first. African Americans who flew away and remained close to the Union troops. As is said in the description they proved themselves as very useful and later on were able to enroll as part of the troop.
Lincoln Part 1
I chose the following quote from Lincoln:
"How differently the respective courses of the Democratic and Republican parties incidentally bear on the question of forming a will- a public sentiment- for colonization, is easy to see. The Republican inculcate, with whatever ability they can, that the negro is a man; that his bondage is cruelly wrong, and that the field of his oppression ought not to be enlarged. The Democrats deny his manhood; deny, or dwarf to insignificance, the wrong of his bondage: so far as possible, crush all sympathy for him, and cultivate and excite hatred and disgust against him; compliment themselves as Union- savers for doing so; and call the indefinite outspreading of his bond age "a sacred right of self- government."...
This quote called my attention a lot because it shows how Lincoln saw the ideals of the Republican and Democratic parties. It also expresses what each party was trying to achieve in terms of sentiments towards negroes. Lincoln does not seem to agree with any of these parties, but shows the way they see and think about negroes. He talks about negroes being seen by Republicans as men and by Democrats as less than men kind. I think the main point of portraying the different views is to move people from one side to another.
In the African American Odyssey, Civil War section I found two interesting sections "Contraband of War" African American Fugitives to Union Lines and "Contrabands" at the Nation's Capitol. In the first section "Contraband of War" African American Fugitives to Union Lines, African American slaves caught fleeing from their masters were returned to their masters by the Union Army. On the other hand some otheres were allowed to work for the Army without being returned. In the second section, Union Lines and "Contrabands" this section is ery related to the first. African Americans who flew away and remained close to the Union troops. As is said in the description they proved themselves as very useful and later on were able to enroll as part of the troop.Â
Sent from Samsung tablet
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Rights
This week I found a very interesting reading from Frederick Douglas. It caugh my attention from beggining to end. It says "All men desire liberty. They desire to possess this inalienable birthright themselves, if they are not concerned about others being the recipients of its countless blessings. They instictively shrink from the idea of having their intellectual, their Moral, and their Physical organism, subjugated to the entire control of Tyranny, clothed in the vesture of assumed superiority. This love of their own identity is inseparably connected with their desire and hope of immorality. And even those who attack the citadel of man's personality, and seek to reduce him to a thing, are jealous of any invasion of their own Rights, and will resist to the death any encroachment upon the sacred domain of their own personal liberty. They are Abolitionists, as they seek to abolish the system of Oppression which has them for victims, even though they trample their own principles in the dust, when the Rights of other are invaded. This is neither just nor generous." (P. 239)
This quote which is very long caugh my attention from beggining to end. First, it says a reality "All men desire liberty". We all want to be free, even at this time when we are seem to be free there is always something that we want to be freed of. Although the freedom that Douglas was referring to another type of freedom he also refers to the freedom of the mind and the body from whatever makes it a slave. Second, this quote has multiple words which are marked with a beggining capital letter which I am not sure if is part of the grammatical use or a choice of the writer. Moral, Rights, Physical, Abolitionists, Oppression, Tyranny all show the main idea of what this quote is about. Moral, because the actions of the slave holders were not considered right. Rights, because is what Douglas was fighting for. Tyranny, because slaves suffer under the tyranny of the slaveholders. Abolitionist, because they were looking for a change. If these capitalized words were use with a purpose I guess still hundreds of years after we read them and find some kind of meaning. The main reason why I chose this passage is because it made me think about how much still this days we fight for some kind of freedom.
For Susan B Anthony I chose the following quote, "Yes, your honor, but by forms of law all madr by men, interpreted by men, in favor of men, and against women; and hence, your honor's ordered veredict of guilty, against a United States citizen for the exercise of "that citizen's right to vote," simply because that citizen was a woman and not a man." In this quote Susan B Anthony shows how brave she was. Also, she shows her determination to make of herself an example. She was clearly trying to show evidence of how being a women can get you in troubles that men do not get. I would have chosen any quote from her simply because I admire her work, but I chose this because of my own unability to vote. I am a legal resident. In fact I have been for the last six and a half years. For this mayoral elections I wished from the bottom of my heart that I could vote. I feel that after five years paying taxes in NY city without receiving anything from the government I was entitled to do so. Unfortunately, voting is just for citizens. If you do not have the amount of money to do your citizenship paperwork and you do not qualify for a waiver than you cannot vote. I felt like my right was taken away from being poor. After a certain number of years in a State we should be at least be able to vote for a major.
This quote which is very long caugh my attention from beggining to end. First, it says a reality "All men desire liberty". We all want to be free, even at this time when we are seem to be free there is always something that we want to be freed of. Although the freedom that Douglas was referring to another type of freedom he also refers to the freedom of the mind and the body from whatever makes it a slave. Second, this quote has multiple words which are marked with a beggining capital letter which I am not sure if is part of the grammatical use or a choice of the writer. Moral, Rights, Physical, Abolitionists, Oppression, Tyranny all show the main idea of what this quote is about. Moral, because the actions of the slave holders were not considered right. Rights, because is what Douglas was fighting for. Tyranny, because slaves suffer under the tyranny of the slaveholders. Abolitionist, because they were looking for a change. If these capitalized words were use with a purpose I guess still hundreds of years after we read them and find some kind of meaning. The main reason why I chose this passage is because it made me think about how much still this days we fight for some kind of freedom.
For Susan B Anthony I chose the following quote, "Yes, your honor, but by forms of law all madr by men, interpreted by men, in favor of men, and against women; and hence, your honor's ordered veredict of guilty, against a United States citizen for the exercise of "that citizen's right to vote," simply because that citizen was a woman and not a man." In this quote Susan B Anthony shows how brave she was. Also, she shows her determination to make of herself an example. She was clearly trying to show evidence of how being a women can get you in troubles that men do not get. I would have chosen any quote from her simply because I admire her work, but I chose this because of my own unability to vote. I am a legal resident. In fact I have been for the last six and a half years. For this mayoral elections I wished from the bottom of my heart that I could vote. I feel that after five years paying taxes in NY city without receiving anything from the government I was entitled to do so. Unfortunately, voting is just for citizens. If you do not have the amount of money to do your citizenship paperwork and you do not qualify for a waiver than you cannot vote. I felt like my right was taken away from being poor. After a certain number of years in a State we should be at least be able to vote for a major.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Civil Disobedience
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
Civil Disobedience
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
Civil Disobedience
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
Civil Disobedience
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
Civil Disobedience
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
Civil Disobedience
If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth––certainly the machine will wear out. If the injustice has a spring, or a pulley, or a rope, or a crank, exclusively for itself, then perhaps you may consider whether the remedy will not be worse than the evil; but if it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say break the law. Let you life be a counter friction to stop the machine. What I have to do is to see at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn (p. 226).
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
I chose this passage since it makes more clear the idea of civil disobedience which we are looking at this week. First, Thoreau refers to injustice and looks at it from two points of view. The one that sees injustice as a necessary evil and the one who would stand against it. Thoreau is very specific saying that if a person is to create injustice for others it should not allow itself to do the wrong thing.
"The Conflict Between Christianity and Slavery" and "Christian Against Slavery" would be the most appealing to this week's assignment. It talks about how Christians should oppose slavery because humans have been given rights that go beyond the human law. By having slaves Christians would be taking away those rights that the divinity gave in the first place. This has a lot to do with Thoreau's passage in which he says that if you are to create injustice for others you should not allow yourself to take certain actions.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Anti-Federalist
"One party is composed of little insurgents, men in debt, who want no law, and who want a share of the property of others; these are called levellers, Shayites [as in Shay's Rebellion], etc. The other party is composed of a few, but more dangerous men, with their servile dependents; these avaricioulsy grasp at all power and property; you may discover in all the actions of these men, an evident dislike to free and equal government, and they will go systematically to work to change, essentially, the forms of government in this country; these are called aristocrats, m––ites [possibly monarchites?], etc. etc. Between these two parties is the weight of the community; the men of middling property, men not in debt on the one hand, and men, on the other, content with republican governments, and not aiming at immense fortunes, offices, and power (p. 135).
In this week reading the quote that called my attention the most defines two kind of people. Those who look for a change everyday and those who do not what the change to maintain their elite status. Levellers as called in this quote or abolitionists are the rebels who are able to share what is available to make the world more equal. On the other hand, the elite id aldo described as the few. Those who would do what it takes to maintain their power and status over the others. These are called aristocrats. What catches my attetion the most is how after so many years the struggle between both classes continues to be the same. Nowadays we have the elite 1%, the disappearing middle class and the poor who constantly looks for a way to close the gap between the classes.
In our readings we are able to identify two kinds of federalism. Vertical and horizontal federalism. Vertical federalism is the kind that sees the federal or national government as the most important government. The horizontal federalism gives more importance to what each state believes is the norm.
In this week reading the quote that called my attention the most defines two kind of people. Those who look for a change everyday and those who do not what the change to maintain their elite status. Levellers as called in this quote or abolitionists are the rebels who are able to share what is available to make the world more equal. On the other hand, the elite id aldo described as the few. Those who would do what it takes to maintain their power and status over the others. These are called aristocrats. What catches my attetion the most is how after so many years the struggle between both classes continues to be the same. Nowadays we have the elite 1%, the disappearing middle class and the poor who constantly looks for a way to close the gap between the classes.
In our readings we are able to identify two kinds of federalism. Vertical and horizontal federalism. Vertical federalism is the kind that sees the federal or national government as the most important government. The horizontal federalism gives more importance to what each state believes is the norm.
Monday, October 21, 2013
The Federalist
This week when reading Madison's passages this piece called my attention a lot. "The appointment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice. Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pocket (p. 93)." The subject of taxes has always been very controversial. We would think about taxes as something we should always be careful with, but as Madison says taxes are an opportunity for those with power to save an extra penny from their pocket. This quote reminds me a lot of today's debate over taxes and the wealthy 1%. We poor people pay lots of taxes that seem to be taking away our breath while the top people who are able to pay a little bit more saves more money in the bank. Although taxes are "relative" to our income and look "impartial" poor people have always the worse part on it.
When reading Alexander Hamilton's I chose this part. "A Constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents (p. 121)." This is mostly what we all know today about the constitution. It called my attention because it might be the place from were we all got a definition of the constitution without knowing. The constitution as Hamilton says is fundamental. It is evident that laws are to be followed and that they help our day by day go smoothly. Between this two quotes I should say Madison's seems to be more realistic and open-minded. This is the reason why I chose it in the first place, rather than just showing an idealistic point of view Madison showed how even when we think those with power should be doing what is best for us the sometimes do what is best for themselves.
When reading Alexander Hamilton's I chose this part. "A Constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning, as well as the meaning of any particular act proceeding from the legislative body. If there should happen to be an irreconcilable variance between the two, that which has the superior obligation and validity ought, of course, to be preferred; or, in other words, the Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents (p. 121)." This is mostly what we all know today about the constitution. It called my attention because it might be the place from were we all got a definition of the constitution without knowing. The constitution as Hamilton says is fundamental. It is evident that laws are to be followed and that they help our day by day go smoothly. Between this two quotes I should say Madison's seems to be more realistic and open-minded. This is the reason why I chose it in the first place, rather than just showing an idealistic point of view Madison showed how even when we think those with power should be doing what is best for us the sometimes do what is best for themselves.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
10/8 assignment
Article 4 section 2 of the Constitution:
The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.
No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.
This article is very related to my previous blogs on citizenship. It gives citizens the rights and privileges they should all be entitle to. Also, it sets the jurisdiction power of the states. If a person commits a crime in a particular state and travels to another it gives the right to the state to take custody. That state is required to transfer that person to the state that needs it.
Also, this section talks about slavery. It sets laws for fugitive slaves. If a fugitive slave goes to a different state the slave should be returned by the new state. This part of the article has no value since it was amended.
The article I chose from Politico is Obama massages negotiation messaging. This article caugh my attention because of the whole controversy with the government shut down. I agree with Obama's approach because he is trying his best to stop the shut down without acepting the preasure the Republicans are putting on him and America. "But eight days into a government shutdown, with the debt ceiling in danger of being breached as early as Oct. 17, Obama has changed his tenor and tone to avoid taking blame for Washington’s meltdown." This quote I feel summarizes the whole idea of the article. President Obama and his administration do not want to take the blame for the bad decisions and the preassure the Republicans are putting on them. I feel this shutdown is a bad strategy that politiciands are using without thinking in the hardworking people that is affraid of a new recession.
The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found in another state, shall on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.
No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due.
This article is very related to my previous blogs on citizenship. It gives citizens the rights and privileges they should all be entitle to. Also, it sets the jurisdiction power of the states. If a person commits a crime in a particular state and travels to another it gives the right to the state to take custody. That state is required to transfer that person to the state that needs it.
Also, this section talks about slavery. It sets laws for fugitive slaves. If a fugitive slave goes to a different state the slave should be returned by the new state. This part of the article has no value since it was amended.
The article I chose from Politico is Obama massages negotiation messaging. This article caugh my attention because of the whole controversy with the government shut down. I agree with Obama's approach because he is trying his best to stop the shut down without acepting the preasure the Republicans are putting on him and America. "But eight days into a government shutdown, with the debt ceiling in danger of being breached as early as Oct. 17, Obama has changed his tenor and tone to avoid taking blame for Washington’s meltdown." This quote I feel summarizes the whole idea of the article. President Obama and his administration do not want to take the blame for the bad decisions and the preassure the Republicans are putting on them. I feel this shutdown is a bad strategy that politiciands are using without thinking in the hardworking people that is affraid of a new recession.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Adams Vs Declaration of Independence
The quote that caught my attention the most is part of Adams "Social Contract":
All Men have a Right to remain in a State of Nature as long as they please: And in case of intollerable [sic] Oppression, Civil or Religious, to leave the Society they belong to, and enter into another.–When Men enter into Society, it is by voluntary consent; and they have a right to demand and insist upon the performance of such conditions, And previous limitations as form an equitable original compact. (p. 40)
This quote has a lot to do with pur previous discussion about citizenship. Adams talks about a natural human right to be part of a State as long as a person wants to. I believe he really means that people should be able to live at a place that represents its interest. Also he points out that people enter a particular society by a voluntary consent and therefore should have rights. These ideas sound like the world that we live in nowadays. Although we are not always able to leave a State or a Country very easily. The idea of entering a society by voluntary consent is what we do as immigrants.
From the Declaration of Independence I chose the most well know paragraph:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness (p. 59).
This paragraph talks about every important thing a democracy should be based on. It is very related to Adams' ideas of natural rights. Also, this piece of the Declaration of Independence talks about how government should preserve these rights. Furthermore, Adams as well as the Declaration of Independence express that a government who does not fulfill its purpose should be overthrown. I chose both of these quotes because they represent the idea of freedom that represents me and most of the people. Despite the fact that these ideals have not been achieved completely; they create the foundations for a better world.
All Men have a Right to remain in a State of Nature as long as they please: And in case of intollerable [sic] Oppression, Civil or Religious, to leave the Society they belong to, and enter into another.–When Men enter into Society, it is by voluntary consent; and they have a right to demand and insist upon the performance of such conditions, And previous limitations as form an equitable original compact. (p. 40)
This quote has a lot to do with pur previous discussion about citizenship. Adams talks about a natural human right to be part of a State as long as a person wants to. I believe he really means that people should be able to live at a place that represents its interest. Also he points out that people enter a particular society by a voluntary consent and therefore should have rights. These ideas sound like the world that we live in nowadays. Although we are not always able to leave a State or a Country very easily. The idea of entering a society by voluntary consent is what we do as immigrants.
From the Declaration of Independence I chose the most well know paragraph:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness (p. 59).
This paragraph talks about every important thing a democracy should be based on. It is very related to Adams' ideas of natural rights. Also, this piece of the Declaration of Independence talks about how government should preserve these rights. Furthermore, Adams as well as the Declaration of Independence express that a government who does not fulfill its purpose should be overthrown. I chose both of these quotes because they represent the idea of freedom that represents me and most of the people. Despite the fact that these ideals have not been achieved completely; they create the foundations for a better world.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Chesterton's Ideas on American Citizenship
"Now in a much vaguer and more evolutionary fashion, there is something of the same idea at the back of the great American experiment; the experiment of a democracy of diverse races which has been compared to a melting-pot. But even that metaphor implies the pot itself is of a certain shape and a certain substance. The melting-pot must not melt. The original shape was traced on the the lines of Jeffersonian democracy; and it will remain in that shape until it becomes shapeless. America invites all men to become citizens; but it implies the dogma that there is such a thing as citizenship. Only, so far as its primary ideal is concerned, its exclusiveness is religious because it is not racial (p. 9)."
In this quote Chesterton refers to the different cultures and races that form America. He calls the idea of American of welcoming new citizens an experiment. This experiment is seen as failure which will eventually mix so many races that will loose its original shape. The foundation of the American society is called by Chesterton a melting pot.
Citizenship is seen by Chesterton as a questionable set of believes with no real sustainability. He also argues how American princibles are made of Christianity ideas and believes. These ideals of freedom and liberty are the foundation of the declararion of independence. This declaration is against anarchism, poligamy, and atheism the same way as Christianism.
Chesterton also compares the American set of believes and actions with the Spanish Inquisition. During this cruzade Christianism and its believes was the excuse for many wrongful acts. The essay this week is very simmilar in the context of citizenship it shows. As immigrants we have to undergo a set of questions and give up our own ideas of democracy.
Despite of the amount of years it has passed since Chesterton's essay we still have to answer questions that go against our own believes. We no longer have to answer how many husbands or wives we have, but yet we have to give up loyalty to the countries that gave us birth. Chesterton also discusses innequality and seems to understand it as the result of the comparision people tend to perform in order to try compete between one and other. He does not see it as something that is real and tangible.
In this quote Chesterton refers to the different cultures and races that form America. He calls the idea of American of welcoming new citizens an experiment. This experiment is seen as failure which will eventually mix so many races that will loose its original shape. The foundation of the American society is called by Chesterton a melting pot.
Citizenship is seen by Chesterton as a questionable set of believes with no real sustainability. He also argues how American princibles are made of Christianity ideas and believes. These ideals of freedom and liberty are the foundation of the declararion of independence. This declaration is against anarchism, poligamy, and atheism the same way as Christianism.
Chesterton also compares the American set of believes and actions with the Spanish Inquisition. During this cruzade Christianism and its believes was the excuse for many wrongful acts. The essay this week is very simmilar in the context of citizenship it shows. As immigrants we have to undergo a set of questions and give up our own ideas of democracy.
Despite of the amount of years it has passed since Chesterton's essay we still have to answer questions that go against our own believes. We no longer have to answer how many husbands or wives we have, but yet we have to give up loyalty to the countries that gave us birth. Chesterton also discusses innequality and seems to understand it as the result of the comparision people tend to perform in order to try compete between one and other. He does not see it as something that is real and tangible.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Bourne and Dual Citizenship
|
D
|
ual citizenship we may
have to recognize as the rudimentary form of that international citizenship to
which, if our words mean anything, we aspire. We have assumed unquestioningly
that mere participation in the political life of the United States must cut the
new citizen off from all sympathy with his old allegiance. Anything but a
bodily transfer of devotion from one sovereignty to another has been viewed as
a sort of moral treason against the Republic. We have insisted that the
immigrant whom we welcomed escaping from the very exclusive nationalism of his
European home shall forthwith adopt a nationalism just as exclusive, just as
narrow, and even less legitimate because it is founded on no warm traditions of
his own. Yet a nation like France is said to permit a formal and legal dual
citizenship even at the present time. Though a citizen of hers may pretend to
cast off his allegiance in favor of some other sovereignty, he is still subject
to her laws when he returns. Once a citizen, always a citizen, no matter how
many new-citizenships he may embrace. And such a dual citizenship seems to us
sound and right. For it recognizes that, although the Frenchman may accept the
formal institutional framework of his new country and indeed become intensely
loyal to it, yet his Frenchness he will never lose. What makes up the fabric of
his soul will always be of this Frenchness,-so that unless he becomes utterly
degenerate he will always to some degree dwell still in his native environment.”
In this
piece of writing Bourne talks about the universal citizenship. In my
understanding what he means is a form of immigration in which people could
travel anywhere and acquire multiple citizenships. Citizens are often required
to express loyalty to the country of which they are citizens giving up loyalty
to the country in which the where born. This action often creates a conflict of
interest. Bourne tries to explain using France as a guide how people can be
loyal to multiple countries, one at a time. He explains how each citizen can be
subject to the laws and rules of a particular country when being in that
country and loyal to other countries in which they are also citizens at any
other time.
I
decided to focus in this quote written by Bourne moved by my own feelings
regarding my country and how as immigrants we have no choice other than promise
to give up our roots. In this essay Bourne continuously refers to an important
process in which every immigrant redefines itself after immigrating to America.
He also refers to how America is made up of immigrants and shows an unfriendly
approach to the mixture of cultures. It looks like America has taken multiple
cultures to create one which will help the others disappear. Also, this quote
shows how to move forward in allowing the new citizens be not only American
citizens, but to maintain their own identity outside its new land. The French
dual citizenship seems like the ideal of a world where most of the people get
to be immigrants at least once and remain faithful to their origins.
Bourne’s
ideas were very futuristic. Nowadays, we still have to give up our citizenships
in other countries even if we plan to be faithful to America. Bourne mentions a
narrow nationalism which can be seen as illegitimate because it has no
foundations in the roots of the new citizen. In my own words I can say he means
that in America’s idea citizens are supposed acquire their love and loyalty to
this country as soon as they decide to become American citizens even if the process
happens from one day to the next one.
Despite the fact that some immigrants do not have any reason coming from
their hearts or memories loyalty to this country in the eyes of America is an
automatic situation.
In my
country the Dominican Republic, dual citizenship is allowed and is not seen as
treason. Therefore, when I first read the allegiance I was confused by the reasons
why I should stop being faithful to my country of origins. It is not a secret
that I am faithful to both countries and do not see any conflict between loving
the Dominica Republic where I was born and the United States the country who
has given me the opportunity to grow. In my opinion, Bourne’s essay is a very
important eye opener of what the U.S should eventually become an open doors
country who gives its best to immigrants and nationals in the same way.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Welcome
Hello Everyone!!!
Welcome to my first blog ever. I look forward to a wonderful semester and to getting to know you through your posts and comments. Good luck to us in this great adventure!!
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