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Seventh Son Discussion

I chose to do question 2 "What is more important on the frontier- the individual or the community?

I feel like the whole book in general was about both of them. Everybody there knew eachother and vibed with eachother every well. They were all so faithful and loyal to eachother when it came to there friendships, which made them a community. They were like a huge family. They stuck together.

 

As far as individualism, they all knew there strengths. They knew what they needed to do. What made them different. What made them themselves, and everybody knew everyone elses knacks or strengths. That makes them strogn people i feel.

The Seventh Son

In American Studies class i am reading a novel called "The Seventh Son".It is about a young boy by the name of Alvin Jr growing up. One of the questions that we were asked is What is more important on the frontier – the individual or the community? My response to this is that the community is more important than the individual.

During this novel, the people in the town basically depend on each other. For example, when they went to get the millstone. The all contributed to moving the logs down so the millstone could just roll down without being stopped.

Another example is when Alvin Jr stopped the millstone from rolling down with his leg. He knew that it would be painful but he did it anyways just to help out his family memebers. He messed up his leg, breaking bones. He sacrificed his well being for a millstone. He is demonstrating that his family is more important than his well being.

In conclusion that is why i think community is more important than the idividual itself.

 

 

Witch Crap. . .

4. Could we have another witchcraft hysteria in present-day America -- even if it's not exactly about witchcraft?

I honestly feel like we "could" have another witchcraft hysteria in present day america. I feel people got bored with themselves and started this whole thing anyway. Just because it all started in 1692 and its 2010 now there is no change in the way people act. Personally I dont believe that this stuff is real, and im sure there are other people that feel the same as me. It still amazes me that this topic was a HUGE problem back then. I feel humans go over and beyond for anything cause theres crazy people in this world!! If I were to yell "witch" and point at a random lady theres a select few people who would look and laugh, because yet again ill say some people really dont believe that witches, and goblins, and anything else in that nature are real. BUT then there would be the CRAZY people who would go along with me and fall out saying shes hurting them with her eyes.<-- CRAZYY PEOPLE BEING DRAMATIC!!! I strongly feel back 1692 they killed innocent people. I dont believe anyone was a "actual" witch. But this is where humans bring out there acting skills and once you tell yourself something and start to believe it, it becomes real to you and to others. Then people get out of control and start to go over board, and start lieing, and start acting as if something is wrong with them when its really not. No matter how old the world is or the time frame were all going to be the same. 

Religon Is War.

Religion is a huge part of what America is and what we as a nation stand for. We have the right to practice any religion we want, other countries don't have this amazing attribute. Religion also makes many people very upset because they don't believe in what certain religions practice. What would happen if every country with different practices tried to change other countries into what they believe. An argument between all of the countries would be first, then one would get tired of arguing and go to war with that group of country. The reason this topic is being brought up is because in class someone stated that war and religon are soon to be hand and hand. I brought up that's a good point because the movie The Book of Eliwas based in the future after a nuclear war wiped out the majority of the population and leaving people left to have to survive on their own and rebuild what was once theirs. The reason for the war was because people wanted to delete religion from the way of life. People and governments started to destroy the bible and hide it's messages from people. This is why the war was started, I believe religion it's self causes many problems in the way people think and what they do. It is also the most touchy conversation for people because not everyone believes in the same way.

X Men: A Direct Realtionship to Civil Rights Movement?

        I remember a long time ago my brother told me of a relationship between Martin Luther King (MLK) and Professor Xavier, from the comic book and movies of X Men. Back then I knew much more about Prof. X than MLK and was skeptical of what he was telling me. But looking at that relationship now, I realize their different "movements" were quite the same.
        Now in X Men there are 'mutants' born with special powers. The mutants are oppressed and hated by the majority, who mostly fear them. Regular humans don't want the humans in the same school as their children or do they want them to have any equality with them. The government even has a secret operation who use unethical ways of oppressing them.
        There are two fractions of the Mutant Movement. One is led by Professor Xavier who wants equality between mutants and humans and want them to integrate. The other group is led by Magneto, who has had a troubling childhood (kind of like Malcolm X?), who wants his people to "fight on ther feet and not live on their knees".
        Now try and tell me their is no simalarities between the movements, in one the 'X Men' movies, Ian McKellen (Magneto) even says one of Malcolm X's famous quotes, "By any means necessary."

Conclusion of Feminist Critique

If the current technology in which some people rely on in their everyday lives influence people to break the bad stereotypes and support the good stereotypes, then the world would be a lot better. Once the technology is going down the right path, then the audience will change their ideology and eliminate the negative stereotypes. Today’s media is a reflection of the country, but society is also shaped by the media as well. Once the media starts shaping the society in a positive way, and the people start only excepting positive things from the media. Then there’s a definite chance of stopping sexism.

An example of a Femisnist Critique introduction

            A stereotype; an idea that many people have about a thing or a group that sometimes is untrue or partly true. In today’s society stereotypical ideas have been formed about men and women. From the tough guys, gangsters and geeks. To the maids, sex objects and seductresses. Stereotypes can be formed based on clothing, culture, race, size (physical appearance), grades etc.

            Some of the TV shows, music, movies, and clothing of today’s generation help break certain stereotypes, but some of this same popular technology support bad stereotypes as well. For example; a female stereotype known as a sex object. Some of the music videos shown on television usually have beautiful women in a bikini dancing provocatively for money, or music videos made by female artistes (Ciara, Christina Aguilera, Brittany Spears), where that specific artist is in a video dancing with shirtless man in order to make money.

            The gangster stereotype is highly supported in today’s society. Out of 100% of hip hop videos today, approximately 85 to 90 % are based on rappers who are real gangsters or are trying to be gangsters. These rappers are sometimes recognized as gangsters by certain colors, clothing, bandannas (Du-Rags), etc. Examples such as these definitely support some of the male stereotypes, but also these explicit videos support some race stereotypes established in the late 1800’s. When rappers show guns, and promote violence primarily African American rappers, there supporting the brute stereotype.

Patriot-Loyalist

In 1776, American colonists felt they were being mistreated by Britain. America has reasonable reasons to feel mistreated. Thomas Paine certainly believed this, “Even Brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families...” (Paine 60). It's interesting how often the metaphor of Britain as the parent and United States as the rebelling teenager.  The quote is telling us that even the most primitive do not kill their young, nor fight against their family. America was taxed on everything from tea to stamps, and were forced to pay for a war in which they did not gain any of the winnings.

The British also felt they were being mistreated. From their point-of-view, they felt they were helping America by protecting them in the French-Indian War and America could not even pay for  the protection. They were taxing America for tea that was a better price than they would have got from most places.  Britain gave Americans everything they could ever want, and yet they were still revolting against the hand that was feeding them.

Overall both sides felt they were being mistreated and wanted and were the ones being noble.  Britain and America felt they were doing nothing wrong.

Homophobia protest

As we all know, we have seen papers posted on lockers against homophobia. It is for a good cause, but I think its alittle far. I'm not a homophobe, and I have never seen any signs of it. I have seen my friends get mad an people who were hitting on them, of the same sex. Thats not being homophobic though, anyone might get annoyed at that. I have never seen any obvious signs of homophobia, so I dont see what the problem really is.Now if it was a constant occasion, I can see a reason for being upset. This school is one of the best in the state, so that means there are others that are worse. 

They mean for a good cause but just saying this needs to stop isn't going to solve anything. If there is actually anything to solve. They need to make this problem more aware if it is happening to them, not just handing out flyers. I am for their protest, they just need to speak up louder and take more action.

Revised Cultural Analysis

    On September 11^th 2007, arguably the most popular rapper, Kanye West, realeased 'Graduation', his third installment of his school “trilogy” of albums. However, Kanye West has risen to fame completely going against the ideology of rap songs. He doesn't talk about guns, money, and women instead he talks about people in poor countries working to get diamonds, how he lost his mom's respect, and waiting in the emergency room for a family member.

    All of Kanye's songs are either about something he has experienced or someone close to him has experienced.  You get the feeling that he truly loves what he does, which is evident with his infamous tantrums at award shows, which you cannot say for the common ideology of rappers. On October 23^rd, 2002, Kanye was in a terrible car crash and while he was in the hospital he created “Through The Wire” he even performed the song with his jaw still wired shut! Now having listened to the album, Kanye gave his fans even more proof he is all about changing our perception of rap. One of many examples is the last track on 'Graduation', he talks about his love/hate relationship with his mentor Jay-Z. Kanye has at least changed the perception, if not the ideology, that not all rappers talk about guns and drugs.

are you as hip as you can be?

What is hip? Is it cooler to be with the in crowd or do your own thing? If your in the in crowd there are always expectations how will you react, are you actually cool enough for everyone else. Its a lot of pressure but you also get connections and a little more leeway with everything you do. If you do your own thing its cool because no one expects anything of you so you can do whatever you want and just chill but with that you don't have as much freedom in getting stuff done that you might want because you cant get a lot of people to back you up because you arnt in the in crowd and you might not have that kind of leeway with everything you do.I feel the best position to take is have your foot in the door of the in crowed so you can have the leeway to do things and have the people to back you up but be able to realize when something is stupid and be able to do your own thing over all its best to have the slight power with the in crowd but be able to be an individualist.

Order v. Freedom

A reoccurring theme in American history has been the tension between two paradoxical values: collective security (order) and individual freedom. Collective security is extremely important and in order to keep the country more secure, individual freedom has to be sacrificed. Individual freedom is basically a person's private life and would be in jeopardy for the sake of the countries security. So, the question arises, which is more important, collective security or individual freedom, there's no middle line here. Arthur Miller claims that “it is impossible for man to organize his social life without repressions, and the balance has yet to be struck between order and freedom” (Miller 7). Miller was right because it's impossible to have a private personal life without repressions. During the Puritan, McCarthy, and post 9/11 eras the government wrongfully took away the nations private life to have a greater national security.

Comparing

Everyone knows about the Salem Witchtrials of 1692. And everyone knows about the "red scare" and McCarthyism in the 1950's but are is there something like this today. Like accusing people of being terrorists and not giving them a right to go to trial; like in Guantanamo. Or the government being able to look through peoples personal information because they think your a threat. The government being able to arrest you if they have the least amount of suspision all because of the Patriot Act. Is this another one of theese phenomenons or are they really trying to improve security.

The Crucible

What's your opinion on the book so far? Who is your favorite character? Well my favorite character or the character that I find most intriguing is Parris because that fact and the big question still remains? Why does he have enemies already in the town of Salem? I remembered when he was talking to Abigail William s and he said that he doesn't want to ruin his reputation or in other words gain more enemies in the town of Salem.

Another thing that I recognized about Parris is that, he acts like the preacher is so powerful and cant be messed with. I received that from the reading where he stated something such as they wont mess with the preacher in my words. I think that that means that he feels that the preacher is the big part of the town and no body will really challenge what the preacher has to say. But if that's true, then why does he have so many enemies.