Always Do the Right Thing

In How Bigger Was Born, the author states that the character Bigger started out as racially ambiguous. He says, "I made the discovery that Bigger Thomas was not black at the time, he was white, too, and there were literally millions of him, everywhere" (441). While Bigger's race played a factor in the discrimination he received, any race can feel the same prejudices as he did depending on the neighborhood they live in. Normally, whites are portrayed as holding the power, but in Do the Right Thing, in this small neighborhood the Blacks held the power. Sal and his two sons, Pino and Vito, were the minority. So, they felt the discrimination and hate from those around them. Bigger character, to an extreme, is a feeling of emotion that many have felt before, trapped. In Do The Right Thing Sal feels trapped in the neighborhood his business is in. Pino states that their family does not belong there and that it would be smarter for them to move their business away from blacks because they're "crazy." But, Sal says even in a neighborhood full of whites, he still wouldn't receive as much business. He feels controlled by the majority, the blacks, to stay put because he will have better business. But, at the same time, he feels as though he must come across as flat, not racist at all, because he doesn't want to upset the business around him. Bigger felt trapped in the world he lived in. He felt that the Whites had freedoms that he couldn't ever achieve. He felt alienated and controlled in a world where he did not belong. Both characters, black or white, felt discrimination in a place that they did not belong. At the same time, these two pieces differ. In How Bigger Was Born Bigger was completely helpless. He never had the upper hand over whites, except for the murder of Mary. Violence was his answer to power. In Do the Right Thing, violence also brought power but the violence was somewhat reasonable. Bigger's murder of Bessie was completely unreasonable and irrational. The violence in Do the Right Thing was used as a tool to express the unfair treatment the citizens had been feeling.

The moment that struck me the most during the movie was when Radio Raheem was killed. Police officers are supposed to stop violence and enforce the law. But, these police created violence by killing Radio Raheem. I think the white cop felt that he had complete control over Raheem in the choke hold and used it to purposefully kill him. The other cop was constantly telling him to stop but he kept choking Raheem. This act was a way to prove his supremacy and show off his strength over Blacks. He wasn't just killing Raheem, but mentally hurting all the other Blacks. This act was an act of exposition, used almost as a nagging way to show control of the situation. It sickens and disgusts me that the cops could do that. If we can't trust our own law enforcement to do the right thing, who can we trust? I think of all the characters Mookie does the right thing by throwing the garbage can. I think the garbage can is symbolic of all of the hate, the "trash" talked about opposing races. He screams hate and throws it through the window breaking the glass. Mookie was throwing away all of the hate felt in the community to hopefully protect Sal and his sons. Glass symbolically could be a metaphor for protection. Glass is used to protect from the heat, the snow, bugs, and the cold. By breaking the glass Mookie is throwing all of the hate away and making the truth vulnerable and real. After Sal's is destroyed he realizes that he doesn't belong and should move to a place where he doesn't need that protection.

Document #1

In what ways did Stokes’s election represent a milestone for black power? What do you think his election meant for black citizens?

Carl Stokes, a lawyer who grew up in Cleveland, entered politics in the late 1950s. He became the first black American elected to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives. In 1967, Stokes decided to run for mayor in Cleveland and became the first black mayor of a major city in the United States.Stokes electrion represented a milestone for black power by showing that dedication and devotion can lead to success.

Stokes started out on the bottom of the political food chain as a lawyer, owning a firm with his brother. He had 120 dollars in his pocket and much prejudice ahead. He was able to slowly work his way up and gain black and white support throughout his city, winning him the title of mayor. Stokes showed that determination can lead to success, despite black prejudice. He was able to use his intelligence and to gain political power. This showed that Blacks can not only rule over Blacks but also Whites. By gaining the title of mayor he was able to show that courage, determination and devotion to the church can help ease black stereotypes. By becoming mayor Stokes helped lessen the black stereotype. He was able to gain white support and create relationships with White people. His election meant that Blacks could succeed, despite many rash stereotypes.

The Power of the Past- Beloved Chapter 9

The focus of it revolves about the issue of Memory, Rememory, and the Power of the Past - what is the novel saying about these topics at this point?  What are the challenges and issues that arise when the past is either raised or specifically avoided?  When is it embraced - when is it hidden - why?

    The past is a dangerous secret, a weapon almost, that can be used to help or hurt a cause. The past may contain secrets that one is ashamed of sharing. But, at the same time, it can hold memories that make a person who they truly are and make them proud of their personality and personal values.
    The challenge of hiding your past is large. The past makes us who we are today, whether we like it or not, so avoiding it is difficult. Things from our past many times just erupt and come out during everyday conversation. When an object or scenario provokes a memory we usually let it out to whoever is around. We see this occur with Sethe at the Clearing. The Clearing was an area that provoked memories for Sethe. It brought back Baby Suggs, her struggles, Halle, Denver. It made Sethe regret and, "Blame herself for Baby Suggs' collapse." Looking back into the past we usually see our mistakes and get so caught up and upset with them that we wish we could go back and fix them, we can't. And we shouldn't. We learn from our mistakes, its human nature. In order to grow we must make mistakes to learn what is wrong and right.
   Our past is embraced when it brings feelings of warmth and tenderness. For Sethe her memories of 124 was before it was, "shut down and put up with the venom of ghosts." When the present isn't pleasant, we look to the past to warm us. Many times it won't. We remember the bad rather than the good because we always strive to do better and regret our mistakes. But, the rare occasions when the past is embraced are occasions that are to be held with much importance. These memories push us to move forward and enjoy life, Carpe Diem, seize the day.
  At this point Beloved is saying that the issues in the past of all of the characters have drastically made them who they are. The memories of the past are flooding their minds make it hard for them, especially Sethe, to move on. We see Sethe move on when she accepts Paul D into her life saying, "She wanted Paul D." She was able to let go of Halle, her life before, and create a new life that she was proud of. The visit to the Clearing allowed Sethe to move forward and stop letting the past control her.

Self-Reliance Response

     Emerson thinks a person should define his/her place is society by their wants and needs and not what society pressures them to do. He believes people shouldn't conform, give into popular belief, and should follow their values and wants to fill their personal virtues in life.  Although there may be a "right" path it is okay to stray from that path to create a person that you are proud of. You should do things for yourself and for no one else. Society defines models of perfection that are constantly pushed in our face through the media, education, and our home life. We don't need to fill these molds and we shouldn't fill these molds. We should create our own, unique person.  He says, "It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude" (23). Emerson says that when living with others its easy to follow others. When living alone its easy to live by one's own opinions. But, a true man is one who lives with others but also remains true to himself. Life isn't about impressing others its about yourself. A person should define their place in society by what they want and not let others pressure them to change their core beliefs. No one should live to please others, others being peers, the media, or family members. Live life for yourself but don't be afraid to change your path. The only thing constant in life is change. Its hard to admit defeat in times of grief or hardship and this is when we tend to lean on whats right because we've lost our spirit and given up. We shouldn't let society do this to us and we should follow our paths even if they are constantly changing. We only have one life to live and we have to live it for our self.
   Emerson says, "Whoso would be a man must be a noncomformist" (21). A true man is one who follows his own beliefs regardless if they are popular or not. Emerson says a person should define their place in society by their wants and needs. He says many people do not, but if you do then you are a true man.

Remembering 9/11

    Pastor Jones in Florida plans to burn the Quran in his church if the plan of building a mosque at the ground zero site is carried through. Those who support this view believe that by building a mosque at the site where Islams destroyed our many of our countries important buildings is hypocritical. We are advertising and helping a religion that caused unnecessary destruction to our country. Those who are against burning the Quran believe that is rude to the Islamic culture to burn their most important document. Just because members of the Islamic community hurt our country doesn't mean that all are necessarily bad and hurtful. It would be the repetition of the Holocaust on a smaller scale. We would be overgeneralizing that a group of people are all harmful just because one member did something hurtful. This raises the issues of freedom of religion and the freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

     In the first Ammendment in the Bill of Rights it states that we have the right to religion and the exercise thereof. So, although I disagree with building a mosque or even anything at such an historical sight, technically the freedom to build and practice that religion at the ground zero sight is constitutional. While many may not agree why we would build a mosque at the sight where people who practice that religion hurt our country they have no constitutional argument against it. Another argument it raises is the freedom to petition the government. Inside of taking such a drastic measure against the Islamic people, those who are against the mosque should focus on petition the government and not burn the books. Even though the government isn't listening the people are doing just as much harm by burning the Quran. Members of the Islamic community destroyed something that is important to America so would we be any better by destroying something important to the Islamic people? No, we wouldn't. We would be dipping down to their level and we would end up right where we started. Medhat Singab, a 47-year-old Egyptian-born Briton, said the news media were making a circus of "a church with 30 followers and an idiot." And that, "they can go on burning the Quran, its not going to destroy Islam." While that may be true it will destroy the spirit of the Islamic people. By destroying the Pentagon it didn't destroy America but rather the spirit of the American people. If anything though, it made us stronger and helped our pride grow. This might give fuel to the anger the Islamic people have and could backfire and create more harm.

     My personal view is that the Quran shouldn't be burned and having a mosque is fine. The area is going to hold office buildings, fast food places, other religious centers, a memorial. Why not put a mosque? Its just another religious view. Although its the view that some terriorists held and hurt our country not all the people that hold that view are terrorists. I look down on the people wanting to burn the Quran. It's stupid and childish and basically saying "an eye for an eye." It won't accomplish anything. When someone punches you and you punch back they get even angrier and punch back, harder. If we insult the Islamic people they may build rage against the US and attack. I hope that we can resolve this issue and come to an agreement on how the mosque and burning should be handled. For now though I have all the victims of 9/11 in my prayers and say Rest in Peace.

Reponse to "What Happened To the Signers of the Declaration of Independence."

"They paid their price and freedom was born" (57). In life, if you want something you usually have to sacrifice something else to get it. Whether its money, time, a valuable item, or dedication, you'll have to lose it to gain. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence knew that by putting their names on a controversial document could, and probably would, cause some sort of negative consequence.  At first, independence seemed almost unreachable, unavoidable. But these men put their lives and the lives of their family in danger to do something good for their country. While the rest of the country benefited from the Declaration and their conditions improved, the men that signed the Declaration did not. These men were rich, white upperclassman that used to live life luxuriously and carefree. Once they signed their name to this controversial document they put their lives under a microscope. Suddenly they were faced with problems they had never encountered, or would have ever encountered, before. Many lost their lives, were beaten, lost their family, lost their property, lost their money. You must lose to gain.

The American Crisis

"It matters not where you live, or what rank of life you hold, the evil or the blessing will reach you all. The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and poor, will suffer or rejoice alike." (52). Thomas Paine believes that war affects us all the same. No matter our race, religion, social class, or gender we are all affected by the consequences of war. Whether good, or bad, war will always change daily life. The rich may still be rich and the poor may still be poor but many things will change. The toll that war has on the spirit of a nation is almost unescapable. How can one have pride for a nation at a time of war? How can one have confidence? To live in fear, something Paine does not, is unavoidable for most at a time of high trauma. I believe though, that fear is a good thing. It keeps us alert and on our feet. It makes us look at little details that would otherwise go unnoticed. It causes us to be creative in thinking and action. Most importantly, it bonds us together. When we're scared we cling to others for support and assurance. Usually we don't care who that support is from. Support is support. When fear sweeps over a nation it forces its citizens to bond together to prevail through the hard times. Paine is saying that a war affects not just those physically fighting in it, but also anyone in that nation. While many would look at war's consquences as negatives: death, famine, destruction, separation, they fail to see the positive it brings. It causes people to put aside their differences to work together, to live together, to survive. Is the American Crisis war? Or is that we are looking at war the wrong way?