English 241 DL
Professor Steve Brandon
Spring 2010
Cover Letter and Portfolio
In Professor Brandon’s Early American Literature course, I have learned just as much about myself as I have learned about Early American writers. In this reflective portfolio essay, I will discuss the key concepts I feel that I have learned. I will also discuss what I learned from writing the blog essays. I will discuss how I have learned from other in this class by way of discussion boards and responses to blog posts. I will discuss the literature, and what I learned from it, by period. I will point out the works that had the most influence on me. I will provide evidence of my learning by including works that were pertinent my overall learning experience. I will conclude the cover letter with a brief summary.
Key Concepts I learned
Before taking this class I had some idea as to the meaning of critical thinking. A critical thinker is “A person who thinks critically can ask appropriate questions, gather relevant information, efficiently and creatively sort through this information, reason logically from this information, and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions about the world that enable one to live and act successfully in it” (Schafersman). Critical thinking and critical writing are essential for college students. Critical writing and thinking teaches an individual how to deduce the validity of information presented to them. I believe that most of the writers that we discuss in this course were critical thinkers. They simply did not accept that which was presented to them as fact. Instead they were able to make their own rational decisions based on their own research. In particular I feel that Thoreau, Franklin, and Payne were some of the greatest writers who fall into this category. From reading these authors’ works, I feel that I have learned several key points that have helped me as a writer. I have learned to read faster. I have learned read with more skepticism. Finally, I have learned to become a better writer.
Blogs and Discussion Boards
Writing blogs was an amazing and liberating thing for me. I sometimes feel that I cannot express myself. I always seem to get into trouble when I post my somewhat liberal views on Face book. At work talking about religion, politics, or any other controversial issues is taboo. Blogging has opened doors to me that have been closed for too long. The discussion boards were great for engaging in mostly intelligent conversation. I learned how sensitive and single minded people can be. However, the discussion boards were a great place to share ideas and learn from each other.
The Literature and Learning
We began with the post colonial period where we discovered the American Renaissance. This period roughly covers the second half of the nineteenth century. American writing during this period was heavily influenced by the transcendentalist writers of New England. Emerson, Thoreau, Dickenson, and Douglas were members of the transcendentalist movement. Transcendentalism was a reaction to The Age of Enlightenment. Romantics and transcendentalists moved away from the more logical side of Enlightenment writers and focused more on emotion and the human being (Lewis).
It was during this period that we got a glimpse into both sides of the slavery argument. In this assignment we learned two see slavery from both perspectives. On one side you had the abolitionist such as J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, Harriet Jacobs, and earlier Benjamin Franklin with his On the Slave-Trade (Lauter). Later in the slavery debate, you had Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation. On the other side you had writers such as George Fitzhugh, and the magazine The Liberator which gave the southern take on slavery (Lauter). Prior to this course, I had not known that there were writers that had taken up the cause for slavery.
We were also introduced to the darker side of Romanticism with writers such as Poe. Poe wrote of the sinister side that lies beneath the surface of mankind. This area is explored though Poe’s Tell Tale Heart, The Back Cat, and, The Raven (Lauter). Not all of Poe’s works were dark. Poe’s The Philosophy of Composition was an intellectual way of describing what he believed constituted as good writing. Poe believed that there were three elements that made for good writing, length, unity of effect, and logical method (Wikipedia). I visited the Poe Museum during this class and discovered more about Poe as a person not just a writer.
Next we began to move backwards through time to the age of reason. I learned the most from this class by reading works written during the Age of Reason and The Enlightenment. I learned a great deal about our founding fathers and what influenced them to become the masons of our country (no pun intended). Franklin’s Speech to the Constitutional Convention, Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Paine’s easy to follow Common Sense, and Hamilton, Madison, and Jay’s Federalist Papers taught me about the American government, revolution, and what shaped our political system (Lauter). These men defined what it meant to perform civil duties. This section also changed my views of certain arguments being debated currently by congress. I have always felt that I would have sided with the Federalists and their belief in more government control. I now have swayed my feeling about government more to a Jeffersonian individualism way of thinking (minus the slavery issue).
There was also a religious aspect to this section. As a Christian I already had some basic notions of this time period. Still, I learned so much and was rather influenced by the views of the deists. Voltaire, Hume, Locke, and Paine each demonstrated how to understand God through reason and logic. This was also the time of The Great Awakening. During The Great Awakening, we saw the rise of a belief in Hell. In Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, we learned of the eleven considerations that should serve as a warning to the wicked (Lauter). This sermon elaborated on the concept that Hell was a real place. Religion became more visual and emotional during the 1700s.
Puritanism, which preceded The Great Awakening, brought us many good values which are still in place today. Puritanism gave us morals such as, looking out for each other, living righteously (living like Jesus), and The New England whose themes can still be found loosely in today’s texts (Brandon).
John Calvin and his followers believed that God saves everyone that he feels should be saved regardless human mistakes. Calvinism was another form of Christianity that predated Puritanism. Calvinism was based on the reformed Christian doctrines and center on five main points;
1. Total depravity
2. Unconditional election
3. Particular redemption
4. Efficacious grace
5. Perseverance of the saints
I personally disagree with the Calvinist way of thinking and wrote about it in my blog.
Conclusion
In conclusion I would like to review a few main points. First because of the blogs I feel that my expression of myself through writing has improved tenfold. I have learned how to use imagery for persuasive purposes when writing letters or emails. The literature has also greatly contributed to my rhetoric. I have been trying to use quotes from the literature when I feel the need to sway someone to my way of thinking. As a result of the literature I now have a more clear understanding of our American history. I believe that my critical thinking and writing skills have been improved which will benefit me throughout the rest of my college experience. I also feel that I will be able to contribute more to civil duties and actively participate in matters of politics.
Supporting documentation
Living Life
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” Henry David Thoreau from Walden
I began living life with a purpose about eight years ago. Prior to this it was as though I was just floating through this world and waiting for the next. You see I was not living life to the fullest instead I was just barely living. I think it had been this way for a long time. There was a time when I really had a purpose in life but I was almost too young to remember.
Today I am living a full life. This was not always the case. As far back as I can remember I was a shy, submissive loner. My father used to tell me that I was like an ostrich and that I should go bury my head in the sand. My father was right. I wanted to be like the others kids and my siblings. They were always playing together and enjoying each other’s company. I liked the fact that I could be equally content by myself. I enjoyed going out into the woods alone and reading. I valued this time to myself. Eventfully, the pressure to conform became too strong. I started to doubt my solitary childhood life.
Like Thoreau I did not want to die without feeling like I had lived. The only way I felt that I could accomplish this was to crawl out from under my introverted rock and walk into the sunlight of socialization. This was actually the beginning of a long lonely journey back to where I started. As I grew both in age and in the communal sense, I began to struggle more and more. In high school I traded in reading and writing, because that was the trademark of a loner, for senseless non educational vices. I picked up smoking because being a smoker made me a part of a group. I hung out with the drug users and bullies, mostly to avoid being one of their victims, and felt that I was living pretty well.
My father would tell me that I would never amount to anything especially if I chose not to have tons of friends. On the inside I was more lonely and longed for my little solitary forest called “Me.” I knew that I needed to suppress that feeling. I told myself to hang in there that this whole social life thing would get better. After high school, I joined a variety of volunteer organizations in order to find my place in the world of groups. I tried college but failed miserably. This was large in part to two things. First was my low confidence (this goes back to my father’s continuous negative comments). Second I was still more worried about trying to fit in. I worked full time and got married young. I married because I falsely believed that being single and alone was the worst thing in the world. Needless to say, a marriage like that could never work, and I found myself alone again. This time though, I was happy.
“A field of water betrays the spirit that is in the air. It is continually receiving new life and motion from above. It is intermediate between land and sky”
I used this time of being alone to begin analyzing my life. I began spending more and more time at my favorite place to get away, the James River. I would run a few miles (by myself), then lie on the rocks and stare at the sky. I would think to myself what it would be like to find someone who was just like me. Someone who would happily share in my joy of solitariness yet would also be there when I needed to not be alone. My quiet reflective time on the river was great, until the day I almost drowned there. My near drowning experience was a wakeup call to both the life that I was longing for, and to the way that I was throwing away my life.
I analyzed my career. I also pondered my education. I realized that the time for trying to fit in was over. I ignored the little voice of low self esteem and began the journey back to my confident inner forest. I started to tune out negativity and I focused on living. I quit trying to fit in. I stopped all of the useless vices that I had picked when I was trying to be social. I enrolled in junior college, and began to seek out promotion at work. Along the way I met my true love who happened to be the perfect match I was seeking. That was about eight years ago when this return pilgrimage began.
“It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar.”
Three years ago my agonizing journey had finally come to an end. My days of traveling through the world of trying to be something I wasn’t, were over. I had returned to my forest. Once I had returned to this place, I got promoted, married, became an “A” student, a rather assertive leader, and am quite pleased with spending time alone or with my wife and daughter. This is where I truly am living my life to the fullest. Occasionally my wife manages to pull me out of the house and engage in social activities. For me, being social today is nowhere near as painful as it had been. I know who I am and where I am going. This new sense of confidence allows me to talk and move about more freely in the social world. Still, I can count all of my friends on one finger. Oh, and as for my father, he could not be more proud. You see he was and is a loner like me. I never realized this until I finally put all of that trying to fit in stuff behind me. Today my dad is the first person on a very short list of friends, and he tells me all the time how proud he is of me.
Sublime
For months and months I planned to have a surgery that would remove part of my liver. The removed piece would be given to my mom, who was suffering a fatal liver illness. I attended seminars, discussions, and read all I could read on the subject. As the date drew near, I told myself that I was ready. The night before the surgery I stayed up playing cards and conversing with my mother who was staying in a room next to mine. That was the last time I spoke to or saw her until after the surgery. It was almost 24 hours after the surgery that I walked to my mother's critical care recovery room. I tried to prepare myself for what would be an emotional event. I walked in and could not speak. My mother looked up at me and we both just started crying. I hugged her and held her. I completely lost the awareness of space and time. No moment in my life has ever been that intense.
Billy
I am a fire fighter. I rush into horrible situations when other are running away. I have seen things that will make your skin crawl. I have delivered the message of someone’s death on more than one occasion. I don't know why people choose to be in the profession that I am in. Maybe it has something to do with coming extremely close to death and destruction and being able to walk away a hero (most of the time).
What Is an American?
To my good friend, I will attempt to explain to you what it means to be an American. I realize that you only know the face of America from what you have seen on television (what limited information your government filters for your sake). I will tell you of many great attributes, and a few less than great characteristics that come with being an American.
You see, unlike your country and its ageless history, America is but a newborn in this world. Our country was founded by an amalgamation of peoples seeking freedom from tyranny, servitude, and injustice. America won its independence from the European feudal system, and flourished with individual land owners who were not forced to serve some wealthy nobility. Each man had the opportunity to be his own master. Life was great here in the beginning, as long as you were not an African slave, or a woman. Successful white men who practiced the correct denomination of Christianity could live a very free life indeed.
Slavery was one of America’s guilty pleasures. You see my friend; we traded one form of servitude for another. However, slavery did not last forever. Our country even fought a bloody civil war partially attributed to ending slavery. Slavery’s end was in no way the end of unequal rights. On the contrary, it was just the beginning. African Americans had a long and unfair struggle to win their rights in the great Land of the Free. Truly it was only in recent times that a Black man truly had any rights. Once you have lived here in America long enough you too will have your chance to earn these rights through citizenship.
Women of this country today have the same rights and freedom as American men. This was not always the case. Women did not begin to obtain their equal rights until the early part of the twentieth century. These rights were languishing at best until about the nineteen sixties. After the sexual revolution, as it was called, women began take on more traditional male roles. They became more than mere house wives. Women became leaders, fighters, and CEOs. Today theoretically women have just as much rights, and freedom as any man.
But, the ugly truth still is that inequality still exists not only for women but for non-white minorities as well. Even though America elected its first minority President, racial and gender inequality may never fully disappear from this country. Please do not take it personally if people treat you different. Your skin color, accent, and features may cause some people to turn away from you and offer little hospitality.
Our country was founded by a people seeking religious freedom. This idea of freedom of religion sounded as if our country would be tolerant of any religion. In the beginning this was not the case. Christianity was the predominant religion, as it was in the old country. Christianity had and still does have many different sects. Many sects of Christianity were not favored in early America. Catholicism and Orthodoxy were two examples of sects that were not so popular in early America. Even the more common protestant sects, despite their similarities, often had violent confrontations. Today however, religious freedom has moved closer to religious tolerance. America is still predominantly Christian in its outlook, so don’t be surprised if your non Christian faith is viewed with skeptical eyes.
All of this being said, both good and bad, I still wish to tell you more about being an American. We live in a land where we do not live in fear of our government. There are no dictators or tyrants. Our President and our senate are comprised of elected officials chosen to represent the people. Every person over the age of eighteen has the right to vote on these and other elected officials. In America you can vote without fear of being killed for your choices. Although America has many laws, we still maintain our freedom by limiting the control that our government has over us. You may even have the opportunity to vote on some of these laws at the local level. Our Constitution and government are far from perfect. However, we at least have the ability to participate in how our government interprets and acts on our Constitution which is a freedom not to be taken lightly.
In summary, my good friend you will find that America has its flaws, as well as its attempts at perfection. My advice to you is to come here with an open mind. Be ready to face some hardships, prejudices, and foiled perceptions. But, as you become accustom to our practices and our occasional prideful re-interpretation of history, you may just find your own idea of what it means to be an American. I look forward to seeing you soon.
The Cover Stealing Phantom
I was 8 years old when I encountered a ghost that liked to steal covers off people’s beds while they sleep. I was at my best friend’s house staying for the night. We decided to tell ghost stories. I, with my limited imagination, opted to tell my story after my friend told his. He told me of a phantom that had haunted his house for the past three years. This phantom had evil glowing emerald eyes and very sharp claw like appendages. Supposedly, this cruel creature would creep silently into your room. Then just as you were drifting off to la land, the ghoul would snatch your blanket from you. Well after my friend told me this ridiculous story I my covers began to slide off of the bed. Suddenly there was a crashing thump on my feet. I saw those emerald eyes blazing in the darkened room. I felt the sharp pain of one thousand needle sticks going into my legs as the beats stabbed me with its claws. Frozen with terror I could do nothing. Suddenly from somewhere deep inside I managed to let out a most blood curdling scream. My friend’s parents burst into the room, shotgun in hand. They flipped on the lights. There at the foot of the bed was the evil monster. Actually it really was not that evil after all. It was the family’s pet cat. I started laughing so hard that I was hysterical. That was the craziest thing that had ever happened to me in my entire eight years.
On Poe, and why people like ghost stories
I believe Poe does an excellent job of depicting the evil that men are capable of. In The Tell Tale Heart and Black Cat Poe demonstrates man's madness, as he builds his plot. By doing this Poe shows us that the scariest monster out there is the human mind.
People like to be scared. I feel that this is because deep down in everyone’s soul there is a drive to believe in the unexplainable. History records this over and over. Early civilization used the fear of the unknown to help maintain order. Later in history religion assumed a similar role. If people stop having something to fear, then there would be nothing to stop us from plunging into chaos.
On Self Reliance
I believe that one can be self reliant. Emerson says that we must first get in touch and understand ourselves and our ideal selves in order to become self reliant. My view of self reliance contrasts with Emerson and that is a good thing. My definition of self reliance has two parts. First, one must learn to critically analyze that which is presented to you by others, and not just accept it as the gospel. Second, once you are able to do this then you can focus on your own self and your ideal self. I do not think that self reliance is just some ideal. Now that I am learning to think critical about information given to me I find myself turning inwards for the answers to my questions. It has made me more of a free thinker. I get a personal satisfaction out of being able to think for myself. This has also allowed me to penetrate other people’s exterior barriers and see their true selves and their true motives, as well. I do not like being force fed what someone else thinks is right. I was never good with conformity.
Solutions to the problem of Gays and expression in...
Last week I pointed out that homosexuals in the armed forces do not have the freedom to express their sexual preference. I reflected upon the issue by posing several questions. This week I will look at some possible solutions.
Recently the highest ranking military official Admiral Mike Mullen told the senate panel that allowing homosexuals to openly state their sexual orientation was “the right thing to do.”
Mullen plans to appoint a committee that will spend one year looking into the best way to implement a repeal of the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy. They will then report their findings to congress so that congress can review and possibly vote on the subject. There should be no surprise that most Republicans oppose this plan.
I feel that this “plan” is a ploy to appease the people that want the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy removed. On the surface it appears that Mullen is truly is concerned about the matter. In reality all he has done is stall the matter. In one year the committee reports its findings to senate. Then the idea and any proposals must move through congress. This will take time. By then it will be 2012 election time in which the Republicans feel that they could win. If the Republicans win the next Presidential election the matter of open sexual preference in the military will be a dead issue.
A better solution exists. They key is to convince the people of America that this continued infringement on the rights of these brave service men and women is a violation of their liberties. It time for activists to wake up and see through the masquerade that Mullen’s has put on.
I believe that this can be resolved peacefully. Violence and rebellion will not work. Activists and opponents of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy need to continue to plea to their congress men and women to get this law repealed. It needs to be done now. Soon enough the Democrats will lose their power in congress, if homosexuals and supporters of individual rights don’t stand up and fight now it will be too late.
If the Republicans gain control over congress this issue will end. The question is where it will stop. What other liberties are they willing to remove? This is the land of the free. Our civil liberties and individual rights are what make this nation so great and so different from other nations. A homosexual should not have to lie about their sexual orientation while bravely defending our nation.
Homosexuality is taboo according to many religious principles. Our nation was not founded on what is written on religious texts alone. Our nation was founded on the notion that we have the freedom to separate religion from state. If religion continues to dominate this nations decisions than we may as well surrender all of our rights because that is what “the good book preaches”. America it is time that we take a stand. This is a matter of personal liberty versus a majority opinion. How long must these homosexuals live in fear?
We can further look at natural, moral, and civil law as it pertains to this issue. People are entitled to their natural rights. It may be natural for a homosexual to want to express their sexual orientation. I as a heterosexual male express my sexual orientation. Why should a homosexual be denied this right? Moralist may disagree. I feel that our morals in this country tend to be too influenced by interest groups that should stay out of certain affairs. It should not be a matter of civil law because of the separation of church and state. Our constitution says nothing about the sexual orientation. If the country keeps making this a civil issue them maybe it is time for civil disobedience. This could be accomplished by all homosexual military personnel and their sympathizers threatening to disband from the military. This may land some in court marshal, but if a mass of civil protesters threaten to do this, then what choice would our military have but to act on this issue with rapid change. Sometimes it takes such a radical move to make things happen.
Gay and in the Military Our country was founded...
Our country was founded on the idea that all men are created equal. The second amendment to the constitution gives our citizens the right to bear arms and form militias in the defense of our country. The United States has had a standing army since 1787. The question that I pose is, if all men are created equally should a homosexual be allowed to express his or her sexual preference while serving in the Armed Forces? Whether the answer is yes or no what does this say about our military. Is the matter truly secular or is there some non secular motive lurking behind the scenes? Does it even matter? I will attempt to answer each of these questions with thought provoking answers.
In the land of the free and home of the brave why are we so scared to accept homosexuality? I believe that the answer lies in our Judeo Christian history. Our country was founded mostly by devout Christians. Homosexuality is taboo in the Bible. One could easily use this for justification to ban sexual openness in the military and most Americans would accept this. However, we also live in a land where religion and government are supposed to be separate. Based on the separation of church and state, our military is setting itself up for a dilemma. By banning the openness of homosexuality in the military our country is already showing that we are biased to religion. Are we are going against our own constitution by discriminating homosexuality. Is this discrimination solely based on protecting the rights of homosexuals, or is this discrimination infringing upon their rights? This is a question that one must ask.
If we are discriminating homosexuality in the military, and if it is based on non secular reasons, then the question is where does this stop. I ask you to think about this in political terms. Democrats seem to be more liberal when it comes to homosexuality. Republicans seem to be less open minded about the subject. Over the past twenty years many people feel that the Republican Party has become increasingly influenced by the ultraconservative Christian right. The Christian right does not support the concept of homosexuality. Should one particular world view dominate a major political party’s decision making process? If so than is this constitutional? One must consider what would happen to the plight of homosexuals in America if an ultra conservative candidate were to become president.
The issue of homosexuals being allowed to express themselves in the military may just be the tip of the iceberg. Our country seems to be torn between conservative Christian values and liberal open-mindedness. Where will it lead? If the conservatives were to take power homosexuality may become intolerable. If extreme liberals were to take power gay marriage may become the norm. The issue can be viewed this way, six one way and half a dozen another. Regardless of whether or not either of those hypothetical situations was to ever occur, I believe that people should be allowed to express themselves whether they are working in a retail store or defending this country.
What I have learned so far
I have never read Poe, Thoreau, or Emerson until now. I had heard their names mentioned before on Jeopardy. I knew that Poe lived in Richmond for awhile. I knew that Emerson and particularly Thoreau had a passion for nature. I have learned how Thoreau believed that man needs to reconnect with nature and the simpler things in life. I wish it were that easy. I was thrilled to learn that Emerson was a non conformist like me. Lastly Poe taught me just how monstrous the human mind can be. To sum it up, so far these past three weeks have taught me a lot about what each of these authors had to say. More importantly each of the assignments has taught me a little more about myself.
My Ideal me
What constitutes the best me? That’s an excellent question and one I have never pondered. I can think of three things that I feel at least point towards the answer. I want to be the best father and family man that I can be. I want to be able to think for myself. I also want the freedom to express myself.
On the first, I wish to be the best father that I can be. I deeply desire to be with my family more than anything else in life. The mere thought of being apart from them is disheartening. This holds true especially if I must travel abroad without them. In Self Reliance, Emerson says “the wise man stays at home and when his necessities, his duties on any occasion call him from his house, or into foreign lands, he is at home still.” This passage sums up how I feel about my own ideal family life. Home is where the heart is. If your heart is on your family then you are truly at home. That’s how I see myself.
As I posted in the class discussion I want to be able to think for myself. I do not need to be programmed to someone else’s protocol. I need to be allowed to make decisions for myself. Emerson describes it best when he wrote “Nothing is at last sacred but your own mind.” Emerson was discussing conformity. Conformists are not free thinkers. This leads to my third trait that I feel constitutes the best me.
My ideal self would be the absolute contradictory of conformist. Society would have us mold ourselves and forms of expression to whatever the current culturally accepted trend is. I thank God for blogs (or whatever force may have created blogs). Here is a real chance to express one’s self. I could care less if I have many or none who follow my blogs. The fact is that I wrote my feelings and expressed my point of view on a subject that may only be important to me.
An example of the kind of social/cultural acceptance that I am talking about is not being allowed to express myself in my profession. This is just not tolerated in the culture of my profession. I think that it is nonsense that I am told what I can and cannot say. Oh but I got clever. I learned alternative ways to express my view especially when they contradict the culturally excepted rules. Subtle Latin phrases posted on social networking sites, and crafty pictures hanging on the walls where I work that have a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. I already mentioned blogs. Emerson sums it all up in Self Reliance when he writes “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” Amen. Self reliance is self satisfaction and justice.
I never really sat and thought of the ideal me before. This assignment has made me realize a few things about myself. I see myself as a family first, freethinking non conformist. I would say that Emerson and Thoreau would be proud but then again I rely on myself and could care less what others think of me. That is how I see the best me.
What I learned from last week’s readings and assignments
I learned that our country was founded by people who had different ideas on how our government should work. There were the Federalists who sought to have much government involvement of our daily lives. Then there were the anti federalists who believed that the government should stay out of people’s lives as much as possible.
I believe that there should be at least some government control on our liberties. Our current Constitution allows for this. If founders like Jefferson, and philosophers like Richard Henry Lee had their way I believe that our country may have sunk into decentralized separate smaller countries not United States.
How to improve upon one of my weakest virtues
I cannot stand to argue with people. I avoid conflict as much as possible. Unfortunately, there are times when I give in and argue with impossible people. This is usually when my foolishness gets the better of me. In an attempt to learn how to overcome this flaw I discovered the following advice from Wiki How. First they suggest you learn how to calm down. A recommended method for achieving this is to relax and breathe deeply. Trying to visualize a clam setting may help too.
Second, Wiki How recommends that you let go of being right. No two people can be right if they have opposing viewpoints. Someone must be strong enough to be humble.
Third, it is good to agree to disagree. Acknowledge another’s view and agree with them on any shared views
Lastly, the one that will be the most difficult for me, is practicing nonviolent communication. I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve. I think that I will attempt to converse with myself in front of a mirror and try to watch my own body language.
These are my ten rules for living a good and virtu...
These are my ten rules for living a good and virtuous life.
Rule One: Respect individual’s differences, no too people are alike. Learn to respect all people even those who may disagree with you.
Rule Two: Respect yourself, you must understand and respect your own unique perspective on life if you are to learn how to follow rule number one
Rule Three: Know when to fight for your beliefs, take a stand on what you believe in but be prepared to be challenged. Educate yourself in your beliefs before attempting to stand your ground.
Rule Four: Know when to turn and walk away, you will not win all of life’s arguments. Some people just won’t listen or are too stubborn to see your point of view. Know when the battle is lost and go prepare yourself for the next one.
Rule Five: Learn to be a critical thinker. You must learn to analyze critically any argument placed before you. Never accept anything at face value. Do the research. Learn to be skeptical.
Rule Six: Never stop learning. You can never completely master a subject. Any scholar in any discipline will tell you this. There is always an opportunity to learn even from things you may think that you have mastered.
Rule Seven: Know when to be humbled. No person on this earth is 100% perfect. Those who think that they are better than someone else are delusional.
Rule Eight: Learn to forgive. Anger and resentment will consume those who cannot forgive.
Rule Nine: Learning to Forgive does not mean Forgetting: Forgiveness is a kindhearted understanding of someone’s flaws. However you must not forget that persons flaw especially if it causes harm. Be wary not naive of treacherous people.
Rule Ten. Learn to Love. The world is a beautiful place full of wonderful people and cultures. You must learn how to love other human beings. Love is the key to understanding and connecting with others.
I find that following rule number four is very difficult but necessary. I have found myself caught up in useless arguments and senseless bickering. Sometime people just cannot be reasoned with. This is probably attributed to their own experiences. I have been working on this one for quite some time and I still have a long way to go.
Week 10
Blog post week 10
Madison’s arguments and the Modern Era
James Madison’s argument for a large government works well in today’s society. Although his vision is in place, I feel that Madison and his contemporaries were too flexible with state rights. . I will discuss which of Madison’s arguments would help make an even larger government work in light of the modern era. I will also add my own insight as to how our country could benefit from more government intervention.
In the Federalist Essay number 10 (Mclean Edition pg 77) Madison lays out his plan for the perfect Republican form of government. Madison’s form of government effectively puts an end to the loose Articles of Confederation and successfully combines the power of the 13 individual states into one united Union (www.sparknotes.com). Madison discusses the factions that come from having too many independent states. The factions that Madison referred to were, the individual states with their own agendas which were not always in harmony with the collective good, the wealthy factions who dominate the poor, and the political factions vying for power.
The first faction Madison describes is the State. Today I feel that states still have too many rights. These rights continue to create friction and disharmony. I will use healthcare as an example. States have tried and still cannot agree upon a common resolution to overhaul healthcare. It took many of our brave congress men and women to step and up get a new healthcare bill signed into law. Some call this the beginning of socialism. The reason we have a centralized government is to make the basic necessities obtainable to everyone in the United States regardless of which state you live in. I believe that if Madison were alive today he would not call healthcare reform socialism instead he would call this government at work.
Another area where a stronger government intervention is needed is the regulation of financial institutions. Madison and Hamilton saw the need for this. Hamilton established the first Bank of the United States. Madison saw the economic divide and wished to control or limit faction with more money from overpowering those with less (pg 80). Unfortunately in today’s society economic institution have been regulated too little too late. These economic factions have ruined our economy.
Our country has always had its political factions. Today there are only two that really stand out from the others. The two biggest factions are Republicans and the Democrats, or the left and the right. The right is in favor of the individual and the power of the state, and the left leans towards stronger government involvement and control. I think that Madison would have pushed for one moderate political party instead of two powerful political factions.
In summary, it seems that our constitution is failing our nation. Economic strife, political factions, and too many state rights are tearing our country apart. It’s time to get creative. Our constitution was written at a different time under different circumstances. In his book A More Perfect Constitution political scientist Larry Sabato recommends forming a continental congress to look at the possibility of a creating a new constitution or revising our current constitution. I only hope that there are people just like Madison, Hamilton, and Jay that are creative enough to suggest and campaign for a stronger government to be incorporated into a new or revised constitution should Sabato’s idea ever be acted upon.
Draft of week 8 assignment
Sunday, March 14, 2010
William M. Wood Jr.
ENG 241
Professor Brandon
3-4-2010
I have never read Poe, Thoreau, Franklin, Fitzhugh, Crevecoeur, or Emerson until now. I had heard their names mentioned before on Jeopardy. I knew that Poe lived in Richmond for awhile. I knew that Emerson and Thoreau had a passion for nature. I have learned how Thoreau believed that man needs to reconnect with nature and the simpler things in life. I wish it were that easy. I was thrilled to learn that Emerson was a non conformist like me. Poe taught me just how monstrous the human mind can be. I have read writings from the abolitionists before. In contrast, I did not even know that there was literature written to defend the idea of slavery.
To sum it up, so far these past eight weeks have taught me a lot about what each of these authors had to say. I have also learned valuable lessons. I have learned the contrast of the Age of Reason with The Age of Romanticism. More importantly each of the assignments has taught me a little more about myself.
I will attempt to write briefly about what I learned from each of these authors. There is so much to say that I doubt I could fit it all in one essay. I will also discuss the case for my grade. I will present evidence to defend my argument.
We started with Romanticism. We discussed three of the American Romantics. Two had very similar ideas and one did not. Romanticism covered two new styles. First there was an influence on the individual and nature as we see in writers like Emerson and Thoreau. Then there were those who focused more on the sublime and human nature such as Poe.
Thoreau and Emerson
Thoreau and Emerson were transcendentalists. Both valued the individual, employed the idea of feeling over reason, both felt for the little guy, both believed in getting back to nature, and both believed in a small government. Thoreau believed in returning to nature while maintaining a balance of civilization. Thoreau recorded in his journal that Emerson said “The charm of the Indian to me is that he stands free and unconstrained in Nature” (Henry David Thoreau, Journal, Monday, April 26, 1841). Emerson took more of the total return to nature approach. Both were members of the Transcendentalist club of New England. Both leaned towards a utopian style of society. Their view on God was that all things were divine. This led many to believe that the transcendentalists were mad. In the case of Thoreau this would have been especially true. Thoreau was a believer in Darwin’s theory of evolution, and a vegetarian. The theory of evolution was and still is highly controversial especially to most Christians. Thoreau and Emerson have influenced many great writers and rhetoricians.
Edgar Allen Poe
Poe was also a romantic but not like Emerson or Thoreau. First of all Poe was from the south and was very critical of northern writers. Secondly, unlike his nature loving peers, Poe embraced the sublime through a mastery of the macabre. I learned from Poe that there is a potential monster at the heart of every man. Many thought that Poe was mad, but they appreciated his work, which rivaled the likes of other horror writers around the globe.
Poe also wrote science fiction and writing theory. I learned this on a recent visit to the Poe Museum right here in Richmond. On my visit, I also learned that Poe’s works have been turned into movies in many different languages and countries. Lastly, I learned that Poe created the detective style story telling.
The Abolitionists
Slavery came to this country with the colonization by European expansion. Our founding fathers struggled with notion of slavery. Thomas Jefferson claimed in an 1805 letter to William A. Burwell that “I have long since given up the expectation of any early provision for the extinguishment of slavery among us” (Argument in case of Howell v. Netherland). The early abolitionists tried two methods. First, they tried to stop the spread of slavery to the west. Second, some early abolitionists believed that the United States should create a new African colony and send emancipated slaves there.
Later with the rise of Romanticism, people began to be able to sympathize with the plight of the slave. Romantic writers placed an emphasis on individualism and many romantics wrote in defense of the slave as a human being who should have the same rights as anyone else. Songs like John Brown’s Body told the plight of slaves to those who could not read. Eventually political leaders like Abraham Lincoln realized the injustice of slavery. This notion was particularly popular in the North but not so much in the South. The South relied on slavery for their very way of life. Writers of the Antebellum Era, such as Fitzhugh, argued for slavery. This caught me by surprise. I now know that there are two sides to every story, even if the story is not a pretty one.
The Age of Reason
Prior to the Romantic period, there was the Age of Reason. This period is also called the Age of Enlightenment. Writers and thinkers of this period questioned the wisdom of the Christian grounded 15th and 16th centuries. Some of the writers and thinkers were known as the Deists. Deists did not completely discredit Christianity, but did question some of the explanations that Christianity offered. During this period, there was a renewed focus on the classical Greek and Roman philosophy. Some of the great names of the enlightenment period are Paine, Franklin, and Jefferson.
Ben Franklin
We were assigned to read Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. I have learned from his autobiography that Franklin was more than an inventor. I knew that he started the first fire department in the United States, but I had no idea how important his role as a founder was. It was great to learn that Franklin was an early abolitionist. As I read Franklin’s autobiography, I felt myself moved in a more patriotic direction. Franklin is truly an inspiration.
Summary
This semester so far has been eye opening. I have studied many authors from around the world. I have never placed so much emphasis on American writers as I have in this class. So far I am not disappointed. I think that it is essential that all American college students acquire an appreciation for the great American writers and their place in the shaping of our culture.
Why do I deserve the grade I think I deserve?
I have never been asked to grade myself. It is very difficult for me to place a letter value on so much learning. The interaction though discussion boards and blogs has really broadened my horizons. I feel that I have a solid grasp on what we have covered so far. I choose not to grade myself nor defend any letter grade that I may or may not deserve. I think that doing so would undermine my learning experience.
I will provide a brief narrative for six pieces of...
I will provide a brief narrative for six pieces of work that I have done so far in this course. These six pieces represent a culmination of my deepest thoughts and most flourishing works. Each piece plays a significant part in my overall learning so far this semester. I will begin with the most stimulating assignment we were given, and will reveal how each piece builds upon the other. I will present my illustrations based on what I learned from each assignment.
Friday, January 29, 2010 “Living Life”
I wrote this assignment after reading Walden, and Thoreau. I felt their passion for nature and was moved to write about my own thoughts on nature. For me being in touch with nature allows me to delve deep into my soul and discover the things that make me who I am. In this post I discussed a time in my life when my local river had a dramatic influence on the way I was living. As I wrote, I felt a deep connection to Thoreau. Though I had struggled to master his literary style, after writing this piece I went back and re-read his works. I had a much more clear understanding of the message he was trying to convey.
Sunday, January 24, 2010 “Sublime”
This piece on the sublime was assigned after having read some of the bone chilling works by Poe. My impression of Poe was that he must have been mad maybe insane. I decided to visit The Poe Museum downtown to learn more about this crazy man. What I learned there about Poe’s life and upbringing taught me that you do not have to be a monster or a mad man to have a sublime experience. Events that words cannot describe happen to ordinary people every day. I wrote of my surgery and the awe-inspiring, no word can describe experience, which happened to me.
Monday, February 8, 2010 “My Ideal me”
Again influenced by Thoreau, I found that part of the ideal me was being a non conformist. I do not follow rules very well. I am extremely independent. I prefer the company of ME. This assignment also taught me that everything I just wrote was not entirely true today. Today I am a hard working family first kind of guy. I still have my rebellious moments. Unfortunately those wild thoughts of protest and revolt usually never make it to reality.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 “these are my ten rules for living a good and virtuous life”
Franklin’s virtues were a bit difficult to read the first time through. I had to read through it again to fully grasp the impact it had on me. Once I seized the main concepts I was more than prepared to write my own virtues. I try to read this post once in a while and remind myself of my own virtue.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 “How to improve upon one of my weakest virtues”
Well it should come as no surprise that this piece would naturally follow the former. Thinking about and writing about my weakest virtue has taught me a great deal in understanding my flaws. One thing thought that this class has taught me is people will argue. Fellow classmates have made several attempts e by way of the discussion board to lure me into argument instead of a discussion. I have had to restrain myself since giving in is not one of my strongest virtues. On a lighter note, my wife tells me that I am improving.
Sunday, April 18, 2010 “Major Themes and lessons”
To conclude this post on what I have learned about reading, writing, and understanding literature I felt it only appropriate to revisit last week’s post on Major Themes and Lessons. I believe that this piece truly summarizes the impact that this course has had on my life as a critical thinker and reader. To quote myself;
“So far in this course I have discovered several major points that I feel Professor Brandon is attempting to convey. First I feel that we have been given a chance to think critically about the written text that we have examined. All of the blogging that we have done has increased our ability to write clearly, effectively, and concisely.”
Learning of our not too pretty past has opened my eyes to my questioning of so called authority and experts. Through the writings and reading in this course I truly feel more aware of my suspicious nature. I don’t believe that I will ever fall into the trap of going with the flow ever again.
Learning Reflection April 25
This post will be my explanation of my participation in this course. I feel that my performance in this class has been satisfactory. I have kept up with my reading, blog posts, and I have been active in the discussion board.
I have tried to have my reading done within two days of being given the assignment. This is mainly so that I can spend the remaining effort in completing the writing assignments. The reading has been thrilling and educational. I almost cannot wait each week to find out what comes next. The political literature has by far been my favorite reading.
The blog posts are an awesome way to release my feelings. It has been quite rewarding. I plan to continue with my blog postings when this course is over. I also will be putting a link on my face book page so thatr I can share the power of blogging with my friends who do not know blogging yet.
I have mixed feelings about discussion boards. I feel that some people do not put much effort into this area. I can definitely smell the BS when someone is writing a response just to earn credit for participation.
I have learned that I am rather opinionated. I always felt that I was a non conformist. This class has helped me see that I follow the beat of my own drum and that I question authority frequently. I will never again believe something without doing my own research into the subject.
My take on Calvinism’s Five Points
I do agree with much of what the five points of Calvinism say, such as irresistible grace and perseverance of the saints, but I do not think that all of these points are strictly biblical.
One thing that really surprised me was how much the Calvin’s borrowed from sources such as Dante Allegheny and John Milton. The whole concept of the fall was never so much minutely detailed in the Bible as it was In Paradise Lost. Some of their five points seem to be heavily influenced by literature and not the “divine” word. In particular I believe that the concept of total depravity comes directly from Paradise Lost.
The Calvinist concept of unconditional election seems a lot like The Inferno. In the inferno Dante’s guide through the underworld explains to him that God chose to take some of the souls who lived before the resurrection up to Heaven with him. I did not necessarily see this in the Bible except in an abstract way when Jesus is speaking with Moses and another spirit.
Major Themes and lessons
So far in this course I have discovered several major points that I feel Professor Brandon is attempting to convey. First I feel that we have been given a chance to think critically about the written text that we have examined. All of the blogging that we have done has increased our ability to write clearly, effectively, and concisely.
Second we have witnessed the growth of American Literature in reverse chronological order. We started with Poe, Walden, and the transcendentalist movement and how it compared to the enlightenment. Once we learned of the enlightenment we discovered more on politics and the views that our founding fathers had on the subject. We then moved into the Great Awakening and discovered religion and revival.
Third we have been presented with contributions that America writers made to the overall literature world. Our own writings of our struggles with tyranny helped other European nations reform their own governments. Our revolution helped to fuel the French revolution.
We definitely have seen how culture and times have affected American writing. For example, we discussed Romanticism and the abolitionist movement. Slavery played a significant role in the shaping of our nation. We read arguments from both sides of this cultural subject.
Learning Reflection for Week 12
Top Ten Things I’ve Learned in this Course
First I have learned to become a better writer. I have definitely acquired a better means of expressing myself and my opinions through the use of blogs and discussion boards.
Second, I have learned more about how our nation was founded and the many different opinions that our founders had in regards to how the country should be established.
Third, I have learned to read faster.
Fourth, I have learned to more skeptical of what I hear and read.
Fifth, along that line I feel that I have learned to think more for myself and to look at things from different perspectives.
Sixth, I have learned that not everyone shares the same opinions as me and that is okay.
Seventh, I have learned to take constructive criticism from others.
Eight, I have learned that field trips such as the one I took to the Poe Museum, can help to appreciate the writer and their works.
Ninth, I have learned how to manage time better.
Tenth, I learned a little bit more about using the internet for research.
This week I was amazed to learn of the many different religious views that went into making our country what it is today.
On Faith
I am what most consider a Christian. I believe in one God who exists in three parts. The first part is God; the second was his human form Jesus also known as his son. The third part is the Holy Spirit which is God in each individual. Of these three parts each plays an important role and each part depends on the other. I believe that when I die I will join God in eternity. I believe that Jesus was real and that my belief in Him is what will lead to my eternal reward. I believe that the Holy Spirit is God's way of guiding me and keeping on my path.
Now I will discuss some of the more controversial views that I have in regards to God. First, the reason that I keep referring to myself and God and not mankind and God is because I believe in a personal relationship with God that is different for each individual. There is a myriad of Christian denominations. Each one has a different view of how your relationship with the godhead should be. I have been a part of three major denominations. I have come to the decision that no denomination has it right.
Second, the Bible is not the infallible word written by the hand of God. Man wrote the Bible. These imperfect men were probably inspired by what they knew of God. Along those lines, I feel that much of the writers of the Bible were also influenced by the customs, politics, and culture of their day (by the way the bible was not written until well after the time of Jesus).
Third, according to the New Testament the written word in the Bible is too be the final say so. Nothing is supposed to be added. This leads me to doubt any creed, method, or denominational rules since the Bible is rather vague on these issues. If you believe that the Bible is infallible then one must obey the rules and not add to it.
Fourth, is my view concerning the Bible is the letters written by Paul. Paul, formally Saul, was a nonbeliever and a dis-creditor of the Jesus believing Jews until his miraculous conversion. Paul was not one of the original disciples and had never met the human form of God (Jesus). Paul did know some of the disciples but disagreed with them on most everything. Yet despite these strikes against Paul, most denominations base their methods, sermons, and ways of worship on the teachings of Paul.
Fifth, and here is my most controversial view, I believe that God speaks to different cultures in different ways. My view on this is that all forms of religion may be right in their view of God. I reiterate that I feel that human relationships with God are personal. God spoke to my hearth through Christianity. As a Christian I am taught that the Christian belief is the only correct belief. What if I had been born somewhere like Iran? I would believe that the Muslim belief of God was true and all other beliefs were false. The same holds true for Hindu, Shinto, Buddhism, Jews, and anyone else who believes in a higher power. Obviously if you do not believe in some form of higher power than that is your choice.
Now that I have stated my feelings on religion and faith I feel that the issue of church and state needs to be addressed.
If God made his presence know through multiple forms of religious belief, then can any nation state rule by religion? I believe that they can and should not. Government should be open and flexible to religious beliefs (or non beliefs). I believe that this is part of what deists such as Paine were trying to convey. Also other non deists such as Jefferson seemed to think that religion and state do not mesh well together. Today we live in a country that is supposed to be separating religion from state. At times I question this.
First it is widely know that the Republican Party has become heavily influenced by the Christian Right. Second, most of the western world including the United States bases their laws off of a Christian influenced base. God is still incorporated in our pledge of allegiance. Most Americans whether they believe in God or not still seem to follow a mostly Christian influenced set of ethics and morals.
There is no doubt how much Constantine’s adoption of Christianity for the Roman Empire has shaped the way western governments work to this day. Then there are other parts of the world where religion is the law. We see this mostly with Islamic governed Nation States. Nations such as Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and others are completely dominated by their religious belief.
In conclusion I wish to stress my views. A relationship with God is personal and different for everyone. God speaks to people of different cultures in different ways, so who is to say which religion is the right one. Lastly, governments are run by humans and should not be run by God or any other higher power.
Billy
Works Cited
Brandon, Stephen. Assignments Week Thirteen. April 2010. 5 May 2010
Lauter, Paul. Anthology of American Literature. Vol. A. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Hartcourt Publishing Company, 2009.
Lewis, Jone Johnson. What is Transcendentalism? 2002. 5 May 2010
Schafersman, Steven D. "AN INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL THINKING." January 1991. freeinquiry.com. 5 May 2010
Wikipedia. The Philosophy of Composition. 28 April 2010. 5 May 2010
