Problem with the Partisan

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. President here. As we discussed earlier in class, the two parties are meant to benefit our nation as a whole, not bring us down and cause contention.

Response 9

While pondering how I should approach the question "Why do you think it took so long before women decided to organize a concentrated effort to receive equal rights," I had to wonder how we quantify "so long," and in relation to what?

As a born and raised American woman, I understand what some of the hold ups may have been in the equal rights efforts for women. Since the beginning of time there have been separate roles for people, and in many cases, distinctly separate between genders. It is a common belief that women are made to work in the home. In most cultures, women are responsible for the caring and rearing of children, maintaining the home, cooking and taking part in tasks such as cleaning, sewing, weaving, molding of pots, and things of that nature.

As women are actively engaged in fulfilling their duties, it is common for men to be involved in a different realm of tasks. An indisputable reason is the difference in our physical bodies. Men and women are built differently. We have different structures which results in different types of strengths. Men generally have a greater upper body strength in comparison to women, which is helpful in lifting and building things. Women have unique bodies that are litterally made to bear children.

Another factor is the tradition of honoring male intellect and the need for their involvement in politics, business, decision making, theory development, philosophy, etc. This is obviously a controversial and debatable assumption. However, it must be concluded in the thought process of answering this question because it is an influencial element that has also existed since the beginning of time. Since women have had roles that are defined in the home, to complement these roles, men have had roles defined outside of the home. For a home and a family unit to be organized and to function, we need both. The issue should not be about who does what, but rather how it is done. It is still common for this tradition to be upheld in many homes in this country. And it is far more common that this tradition be seen in other countries throughout the world.

The fact that this type of organization of the home still exists all over the world makes me doubt the phrase that this process did take "so long." It is true that the effort to aliven women's rights was far after the effort toward equality in men. However, it is also true that real equality for men is still flawed in this country. We have not perfected equality in many instances even still. And the fact the women's rights was not too slow to follow the genesis of this country negates the opinion that it took "so long."

I cannot agree with this phrase because I know of the gender inequality and disparity that exists throughout the world. We are lucky to have as much freedom as we do. We are fortunate to have the rights that we do. We are a rare case, us American women, to have the endless opportunities availabel to us that are. It is both a blessing and a curse, because we are indeed blessed to be this fortunate, but it also makes us think we deserve so much more. And, we do. We all do. But we need not forget that we are a rare case, that we are a unique sect of the female population having all of this freedom, opportunity and choice available to us. We should not be blinded by the time it took for us to get this way into thinking that undermines the blessings we have. In fact it should instill us with a greater desire to fight for these same rights for all of the other women in this world who have far less opportunity and ability to make choices about their lives.

Response 8

My response to Amistad:

I am no movie critic, but if I were, this movie would get a five star badge from me. I thought it was absolutely fantastic. This movie forced me to think about how many of the unjust acts that are part of our history are due to the fact that we are, in many ways, ignorant people. In order to win the case and free the slaves, Baldwin had to prove that they did indeed sail from Africa. To me, this is an example of how our ignorance is detrimental. There needed to be proof of where these slaves were from in order to grant them the unalienable rights that every human being is entitled to. Instead of authorizing the punishment of those who captured this ship and were actively involved in the Atlantic Slave Trade, they opted to try to charge the Africans with murder for protecting their rights and their lives. A significant turning point in the movie involved a conversation between John Quincy Adams and Mr. Theodore Joadson:

Adams: “When I was an attorney a long time ago, I learned by trial and error, that whoever tells the best story wins. I offer that scrap of wisdom free of charge.”
Adams: “What is their story?”
Joadson: “Why, they are from West Africa.”
Adams: “No, what is their story? Mr. Joadson, you are from where originally?”
Joadson: “Why, Georgia, sir.”
Adams: “Georgia?”
Joadson: “Yes, sir.”
Adams: “Is that pretty much what you are, your story? No. You’re an ex-slave who has devoted his life to the abolition of slavery and overcoming great obstacles and hardships along the way, I imagine. That’s your story. Isn’t it? Hah. You and this young, so-called lawyer have proven you know what they are. They are Africans. Congratulations! What you don’t know, and as far as I can tell, haven’t bothered in the least to discover, is who they are. Right?”

This scene of the movie reminded me of the quote by Mary Lou Kownacki: "There isn't anyone you couldn't love once you've heard their story."

In essence, this was in fact the issue, there was no love and respect for these slaves. Oftentimes the simple fact of learning about people and acquiring understanding of their desires, their needs, their ambitions, their story, is the answer and the solution.

La Amistad

Shackles don't define me,
That lion was just a stepping stone,
I'm not a big man just a lucky one,
Give us, us free.

Response 7

“The third charge against the House of Representative sis that it will be taken from that class of citizens which will have least sympathy with the mass of the people, and be most likely to aim at an ambitious sacrifice of the many to the aggrandizement of the few. Of all the objections which have been framed against the federal Constitution, this is perhaps the most extraordinary. Whilst the objection itself is leveled against a pretended oligarchy, the principle of it strikes at the very root of republican government.”

This is drawn from James Madison’s Federalist paper No. 57: The alleged tendency of the new plan to elevate the few at the expense of the many considered in connection with representation. Although slavery is not included in Madison’s paper and was probably disregarded as being related to this issue, I find it to be intriguingly relevant.

As we have discussed on more than one occasion in class, slavery was an essential contribution to the foundation of this nation. Slavery provided Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others the resources they needed in order to form a new government and found a country. Slavery provided the Founding Fathers with money. Due to slavery, the Founding Fathers were able to refrain from work and still have production for income. They were not required to harvest their own crops; they had slaves to do that job. The Founding Fathers escaped the need to sell their produce; they had slaves to do it for them. The money that was gained through this process was able to contribute to extensive libraries, which were rare and exquisite in that day. Few people had access to leather bound books, let alone shelves full of them. But for Thomas Jefferson, this was his lifestyle.

Another resource provided to them, time. Since the Founding Fathers bypassed the obligation to work, they had ample time at hand for leisure activities. These activities, for most, included hours and hours of reading each day. The Founding Fathers were able to study forms of government from antiquity. They had the opportunity to feast on books about governments in order to critcize the best and the worst. This ability was essential to the success of the foundation, for it allowed a protracted political debate, it enabled the education of existing options, it facilitated the governmental foundation.

//

As Dr. H so eloquently summarizes it, "The system they ended up destroying was the system that allowed them to destroy it."

Response 6

"I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?" -Benjamin Franklin

I love this thought provoking question from Mr. Benjamin Franklin. It is intriguing to imagine the faith that existed in the hearts of the Founding Fathers. It was interesting to see in the movie, "A More Perfect Union," the prayers of George Washington and the great concern with his relationship with God.

I think it is important that we recognize the power of God's hand in the establishment and the fall of an empire. It is important to remember His role in the writing of history. I think for many this is a neglected truth.

After viewing this movie I was impressed with the portrayal of the humility of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. At times Franklin was well aware of his abilities, but he was sure to rely on the guidance of the Lord. He had the faith that it was He who had been the deliverer thus far and would continue to do so. Washington was humble about his abilities and was willing to admit failure and short coming. He was the first to run to his knees when reminded of the Divine help that was needed in the formation of this government.

The mere fact that this quote from Franklin came from an address at the Constitutional Convention solely on prayer says a lot about the priorities and wisdom of these men. We could use a greater deal of this in our system today.