tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77774721789552696382024-03-12T20:10:02.503-07:00POL166-H01Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-60009970121260590422014-12-06T07:48:00.000-08:002014-12-06T07:48:52.479-08:00Due 12/6/14<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Separating black children from others solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. The impact of segregation is greater when it has the sanction of law. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law tends to impede the educational and mental development of black children and deprives them of some of the benefits they would receive in an integrated school system. Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority and any language to the contrary in Plessy v. Ferguson is rejected.</span></blockquote>
<br />
I choose the following passage from the summary of "Brown Vs. Board of Education. This passage gives us a simplified summary of the Supreme Court Case. The meaning behind this passage is just a basic overview of the decision that was made. In this passage the writer explains to us the decision that was made regarding the segregation of black children vs. white children in classrooms because of the color of their skins. it is explains to us that the separation because of skin color is an indicator of" feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely to be undone." Its also explain that having a law that states that separation is necessary make the lives of those that it affect unfair and unjust. Being thought differently in "impede the education and mental development" of those not being benefited.<br />
<br />
I choose this passage because with other this case and many others I wouldn't have the type of education that I've been receiving today. To be able to go to school and learn the same things everyone else is learning, to have the same goal, to have the friendship, and the knowledge to know that my skin color doesn't make a difference in my education status are the reason that I choose this passage. I believe this case is very important because it show that the Constitution is being used to benefit all types of people. Its also important because it shows that people are fighting for what is right and getting the result that are need to make this country better. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-50327630891310228482014-11-23T21:18:00.001-08:002014-11-23T21:18:25.529-08:00Due 11/22/14<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Tonight,
we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation not because of the height of
our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy; our
pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over
two hundred years ago: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal... that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. "That is the true genius of America, a faith... ... a
faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles; that we can tuck in
our children at night and know that they are fed and clothed and safe from
harm; that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a
sudden knock on the door; that we can have an idea and start our own business
without paying a bribe; that we can participate in the political process
without fear of retribution; and that our votes will be counted -- or at least,
most of the time."</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">I choose this passage from the "Transcript:
Illinois Senate Candidate Barack Obama". In this passage Senate </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Candidate</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> Obama is addressing the nation on behalf on John Kerry he is giving us back ground information of Mr. Kerry and the issues that he plans to deal with when he enters office. He is explaining or informing us the listeners(readers) what he know our nation is greater or is know for. Mr. Obama does this by quoting lines from the "Declaration of Independence." Senate Candidate Obama is letting us know that American is built on ideals such as "faith" and a "simple dream". He is letting us know that to make America great we the people have to do the work along side the leaders of our nation. We have to work hard in order for to live the American Dream, and in order to do that we have to vote in Mr.Kerry in office so that progress can be made. </span></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I
choose this passage to write about because I because of the person that gave
the speech. One of the things that Senate Candidate Obama is know for his giving the
nation a brilliant speech that hits on key point in our lives. He know the
current issue and are willing to point them out in a way that everyone can
understand and is willing to support anyone that is able to make the lives of everyone better. I also choose to write about this because I can visualize current
President Obama giving this speech to our nation and seeing everyone relate to
what he is saying. Senate Candidate now President Obama work and is currently working hard still to get these issues resolved. I choose this passage to write about because quotes a line from the Declaration of Independence that we are all still trying to fulfill. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-50413424276386632002014-11-08T20:30:00.001-08:002014-11-08T20:40:10.585-08:00Repost-POL166-H01: Due 11/1/14-Accidentally deleted<a href="http://letsblogg86.blogspot.com/2014/11/due-11114.html" style="color: #993322; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 30px; text-decoration: none;">Due 11/1/14</a><br />
<div class="post-header" style="color: #997755; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1173296701931532837" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5; position: relative; width: 568px;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“ What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy -- a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour”.</i></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="color: #330200; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i style="color: #330200; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"> </i><span style="color: #330200; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> The passage that I choose to write about is from “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro” by Fredrick Douglas. In the above passage the author is reminding us that the 4th of July has different meaning to African Americans. The author is recounting the horrifying actions that led to him not celebrating this day the way many Americans choose to celebrate it, but choosing to looking back and reflecting on the things that made the day what it is. In the passage the author states "your celebration is a sham". </span><span style="color: #330200; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><u>Frederick Douglas</u> goes on to list all the feeling and actions on this day and says to us that those actions and feeling shows how "heartless" they are. He states to us and government that its not a day to forget the unjust that has been done to the fellow man and pretend that it did not happen. </span><span style="color: #330200; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The way in which this passage relates to the theme of the lectures in class is that it hits upon subject such as civil liberties, the government, and political views.</span><br /><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; min-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #330200; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">
I choose this passage because it gives me a chance to reflect on what the Fourth of July actually means. It's not just a day to celebrate and watch the fire works, its also a day to reflect on what went on during those time. To remember all the things our ancestors had to go through for us to be where we are today. I also choose this passage because it reminded me of one of our online lectures when you state "<span style="color: #232323;">Republican majority House of Representatives began their session by reading out the Constitution, however they omitted these controversial passages".</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-88184977108618233682014-11-08T20:04:00.000-08:002014-11-08T20:04:25.011-08:00Due 11.8.2014<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Citizenship is a status bestowed on those who are full members of a community. All who possess the status are equal with respects to the rights and duties with which the status is endowed. There in no universal principle that determines what those rights and duties shall be, but societies in which citizenship is a developing institution create an image of ideal citizenship against which achievement can be measured and towards which aspiration can be directed. the urge forward also the path thus plotted in a urge towards a fuller measure of equality, an enrichment of the study of which the status is made and an increase in the number of those on whom the status is bestowed. Social class, on the other hand, is a system of inequality. And it too, like citizenship, can be based a set of ideals, beliefs and values. It is therefore reasonable to expect that impact of citizenship on social class should take the form of a conflict between opposing principles. If I am right in my contention that citizenship has been a developing institution in England at least since the latter part of the seventeenth century, then it is clear that its growth coincides with the rise of capitalism, which is a system, not of equality, but of inequality. Here is something that needs explaining. How is it that these two opposing principles could grow and flourish side by side in the same soil? What made in possible for them to be reconciled with on another and to become, for a time at least, allies instead of antagonists? The question is a pertinent one, for it is clear that, in the twentieth century, citizenship and the capitalist class system have been at war. "</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In T.H. </span>Marshall<span style="font-family: inherit;"> "</span><u style="font-family: inherit;">Citizenship and Social Class"</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> he stress to us the difference between Citizenship and the Social Class. Marshall because this passage by </span>explaining<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that </span>citizenship is a status that is bestowed upon those who are a full member of the society, not to those who are visiting or have been there for a short period. He express to us that with citizenship everyone who possess it "are equal with respects to the rights and duties with which the status endowed." You are equal in your claim and pride of belong to that nation but that is all there is. He lets us know that there wasn't or isn't any "principle that determines" your do and font's but it is an "ideal". Marshall goes on compare citizenship and socials class to capitalism. He believed at that time that there was no difference between citizenship and capitalism. A person can claim a right to something but that does not mean that he can get it without working hard to get it.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> I choose the following passage </span>because it highlights to us the meaning of citizenship. It gives me and those who read this article a clear view of what the meaning of citizenship is us today and how it was in earlier times. It also shows us that many of these principles regarding citizenship is still in affect today. They are many individuals think that being a citizen means that it comes with all the rights and privileges that everyone else has, only to find out that there is still a separation in the socials status and many other aspect of our lives . Another reason that I choose this passage is because its telling us the reader to stop living with the fantasy of being a citizen and look at the facts and truth of what belongs to a nation entails.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-68730401797050185552014-09-27T19:55:00.001-07:002014-09-27T19:55:04.578-07:00The Federalist #51<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> “In order to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government, which to a certain extent is admitted on all hands to be essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others. Were this principle rigorously adhered to, it would require that all the appointments for the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary magistracies should be drawn from the same fountain of authority, the people, through channels having no communication whatever with one another. Perhaps such a plan of constructing the several departments would be less difficult in practice than it may in contemplation appear. Some difficulties, however, and some additional expense would attend the execution of it. Some deviations, therefore, from the principle must be admitted. In the constitution of the judiciary department in particular, it might be inexpedient to insist rigorously on the principle: first, because peculiar qualifications being essential in the members, the primary consideration ought to be to select that mode of choice which best secures these qualifications; secondly, because the permanent tenure by which the appointments are held in that department, must soon destroy all sense of dependence on the authority conferring them.”By James Madison</i></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<i style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></i></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> They are many ways in which the government can be split/run. In </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison’s</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> “The Federalist No. 51” he give us a “general observation” on ways the government runs. In the passage above </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">states that for us to have a basis of government and to see the differences in each parts in “it is evident that each department should have a will of its own; and consequently should be so constituted that the members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others”. He wants the different departments and that each division should have little to no hand in the appointment of each members. The people would have a hand in saying who is to rule. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> states ”Some difficulties, however, and some additional expense would attend the execution of it.” He believes this will have some problem areas in they way in which things will be done, this will also cause problems in the way they Constitution will be interpreted. Many other problems will be in determining the “qualifications” of said individuals to be put in which every divisions, who authority must and should be followed in order to have a smoothly run </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">government</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">. One main concern would also be what “mode of choice” is best to determine the qualifications of the person to be in charge. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">From </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison’s</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> “The Federalist No.51 I choose the passage because I feel that in a way that is how the government is being run currently. Every branch is a separate entity unto itself. They are not working together for the greater good of the people anymore. An example of this is going on today which “Obama care”. Instead of everyone sitting down and work together to make this happen for the American people they are many disagreement going on in the government regarding this issue. The branches of the government looks to be set again each other, some within the same </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">branch</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">. </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-25801720649457527922014-09-27T18:33:00.003-07:002014-09-27T18:59:55.119-07:00The Federalist #10<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i> “The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. So strong is this propensity of mankind to fall into mutual animosities, that where no substantial occasion presents itself, the most frivolous and fanciful distinctions have been sufficient to kindle their unfriendly passions and excite their most violent conflicts. But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society. Those who are creditors, and those who are debtors, fall under a like discrimination. A landed interest, a manufacturing interest, a mercantile interest, a moneyed interest, with many lesser interests, grow up of necessity in civilized nations, and divide them into different classes, actuated by different sentiments and views. The regulation of these various and interfering interests forms the principal task of modern legislation, and involves the spirit of party and faction in the necessary and ordinary operations of the government.”by James Madison</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> They are many ways in which to describe the nature of man and ways in which they thinks, acts, and do things. In </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison’s’</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> “The Federalist No. 10” he imparting to us the readers of then and now they ways in which certain situations would play out depending on his certain actions taken. In the above passage James Madison is giving us the reader his view on why “faction” are formed. He states on “a zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good” is a way in which factions come into existence. According to </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> the most long lasting factions is having to do with the “distribution of properties”. He states that the haves and have not will continue to have friction through out time. Factions will be form from civil to hostile depending on the severity of the issue and will disrupt they way in which things are done, some will make changes and some will cause pandemonium and will affect the way in which the government does things, in the end a decision will be made such as changes in the Constitution. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> I choose this particular passage from </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">James Madison</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> “The Federalist No. 10” because the reason for mankind building factions have not change throughout history. In todays government we see that they are still parties that do not get along so each find ways to discredit each other. An example of factions coming together to make changes in a religious way is in toward the “Pledge of Allegiance’s…….’under God we trust”. Many groups and individuals have brought forth change to be made to the Pledge throughout the years and has continue to do in hopes of getting to change. They are hoping to take this case to the Supreme court if necessary. I also choose this passage </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">because these issues are still affection us today and they are factions forming to make a difference in the way things are done and will be done in the future. </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-73573365647185672432014-09-26T10:59:00.001-07:002014-09-26T10:59:41.364-07:00The American Political System: 9/20 The Constitution and the Federalist (Part 1)<a href="http://theamericanpoliticalsystem.blogspot.com/2012/06/th-67-constitution-and-federalist.html?spref=bl">The American Political System: 9/20 The Constitution and the Federalist (Part 1)</a>: "Scene at the Signing of the Constitution," Howard Chandler Christy, 1940, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. The Articles of ..<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> "There<br />
is a controversial passage in Article IV that protects slavery: "No person<br />
held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into<br />
another, shall, in Consequence of any Law of Regulation therein, be discharged<br />
from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of<br />
the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due." There is also a<br />
clause in Article 1 Section 2 that refers to counting slaves as 3/5 of a person<br />
for determining representatives and taxes."</span></i><br /><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> The way in which I would<br />
interpret the fact that the “Republican majority House of Representatives<br />
begins this session by reading out the Constitution” and omitted the above<br />
listed passage is in two parts. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I believe it was done because this is not the<br />
way people of color is being counted in this day and time and also there is no<br />
person that is held in service in this day and time.A person of color is no<br />
longer considered 3/5 of a person everyone is counted as a whole no matter the<br />
race and skin color of that person.They are ashamed and is looking for a way to move and change the Constitution. Another way to interpret this is that they are try to cover up part of our history and is hoping that the wrong that was done wouldn't matter to many people in this day and age. The reader of the Constitution and his fellow members either wanted to steer clear of that issue and "sweep in under the rug".</span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span> </o:p> </span><br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
</span></span> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7777472178955269638.post-33623546883067399862014-09-20T11:18:00.001-07:002014-09-20T11:18:30.744-07:00Assignment>9.20.14<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<i>“Let me begin my American impressions with two impressions I had before I went to America. One was an incident and the other an idea; and when taken together they illustrate the attitude I mean. The first principle is that nobody should be ashamed of thinking a thing funny because it is foreign; the second is that he should be ashamed of thinking it wrong because it is funny. The reaction of his senses and superficial habits of mind against something new, and to him abnormal, is a perfectly healthy reaction. But the mind which imagines that mere unfamiliarity can possibly prove anything about inferiority is a very inadequate mind. It is inadequate even in criticising things that may really be inferior to the things involved here. It is far better to laugh at a negro for having a black face than to sneer at him for having a sloping skull. It is proportionally even more preferable to laugh rather than judge in dealing with highly civilised peoples. Therefore I put at the beginning two working examples of what I felt about America before I saw it; the sort of thing that a man has a right to enjoy as a joke, and the sort of thing he has a duty to understand and respect, because it is the explanation of the joke.”</i></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In my opinion the meaning behind the passage listed above from the chapter “What is America?” by Chesterton gives us and insight of what he though of America before he came to the country, also his first impression/reaction. Chesterton states “The first principle is that nobody should be ashamed of thinking a thing funny because it if foreign; the second is that he should be ashamed of thinking it wrong because it is funny.” Chesterton is trying to reassuring us that it is ok to see new and unsuspected things and think they are funny because you have never experience it before. And when you are thinking something is funny you should not think its wrong because it doesn’t fit you ideal of what is right. People should be more open minded because you are no longer in the safety of your homeland where everyone confirm to your way of seeing and doing things. He confirms this ideal when he mentions in an another passage that American is a “melting-pot that must not melt”-we are now in a country that is very diverse in many way such as its people, religion, and way of life.Chesterton goes on to say that “the reaction of his senses and superficial habits of mind against something, new, and to him abnormal, is a perfectly health reaction.” He is reaffirming that new people and they way in which they do things differently takes time to get use to our reaction is normal when coming to a foreign place and seeing things that we are not accustom to on a daily basis. Prior thinking, thoughts, and reaction may make new experience funny to many individuals but thats no reason to look down at another man and think that your way is better when visiting or staying at a new place. You have the right to your first reaction, but do not let that first reaction be your everyday approach going forward in America. Diversity is American’s backbone.</div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px;">
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>From G. K. Chesterton book I choose the above passage from his first chapter “What is America” because I can relate personally. Like many people in America including me ,I was not born here in this country. I got my view and idea of what America looks like from listening to my parents and other family members speak, from pictures in books and magazine, from school and little from television. With the information I was given, be it a little or a lot depending on the source I did my best to come up with an idea of what America is like, most ideas where fantasy-blown out of proportion and little of reality. When I came to America I did think things were funny when I first saw them. I was also very fascinated by the new and different things. Some of my experiences have different reactions from many individuals that I’ve been when I first entered this country. From my fellow African-American born classmates I was sneer at for being different and ofter pick on. I believe this was because of the narrow minded view that they were given from their family members. I also chose this passage because it reassures me that my first reaction upon entering this country and meeting and seeing all these different people and things was very reasonable. I did not let my first reaction color my view of things to come. I evolve along side everyone else and learn to love my difference and also others. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075359417804606496noreply@blogger.com0