Michelle Romero
English 48
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Abraham Lincoln
"On the occasion corresponding to this for years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it--all sought to avert it....Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came" (1636).
In his inaugural speech, Lincoln once again describes the unity between the states. He is always, always about maintaining unity. In this case, Lincoln points fingers at no one for the war, even though there is now a clear "winner." In a sense, he does not see any "winner" coming from war. He maintains his neutrality and declares that no one wanted the war. No one could have imagined how long it would last. To make this point, he repeatedly says the word "all" so as to elude to the fact that they are all in the same boat.
This is very important for him to do because at this point families have been broken up, husbands and children have been lost, widows have been left, orphans have been left, and the nation needs a savior. It is easy for people to live with the hate experienced after someone or something so dear is taken away from you, but Lincoln brings them all back in to focus by saying that all of them are victims, all of them share the same experiences.
He never once points the finger at anyone within their walls, but instead says that "insurgents" did it. So classic! No one of them is responsible, but instead some outside force. And "the war came." His passiveness makes it seem like no one could have stopped or started the war, it just happened.
In any case, Lincoln's ability to unite the nation and maintain neutrality are clearly expressed in these passages.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Journal #20
Michelle Romero
English 48
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Speech: Second Inaugural Address
"Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we not be judged" (1636).
At this point, the North had officially won and Abraham Lincoln had been re-elected to a second term as president.
I am so awed by Lincoln's peaceful calm. His speeches are so anti-political it seems. (Except for the fact that he is going to go with the flow so as not to disrupt the masses). I think he might have been one of the United State's first hippies, all about peace. It is amazing that he can remain a great arbitrator between both the north and the south so as not to perpetuate any more violence or affliction.
Here, even after the North has now won, he can say that the profit obtained by the sweat of another man's toil is wrong, but can also say that it is no more wrong that the wrong done by any other man. He keeps the playing field neutral. He declares that no one should be the judge here on earth, but rather that each man will be judged accordingly by God.
In recent political speech, it seems we are always blaming someone. It is always someone's fault. But here, somehow Lincoln has a predisposition to peaceful calm that does not seem to sway him much. I think it is insightful of the ideology of the founding fathers since Lincoln repeatedly favors a government for the people, by the people. In that thinking, he can not give his personal opinion or declare that one thing is better than the other. Instead, he stands by and lets the people decide by their actions. He sees his role as simply being the glue that is supposed to maintain some sort of unity between them all, and nothing more.
English 48
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Speech: Second Inaugural Address
"Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we not be judged" (1636).
At this point, the North had officially won and Abraham Lincoln had been re-elected to a second term as president.
I am so awed by Lincoln's peaceful calm. His speeches are so anti-political it seems. (Except for the fact that he is going to go with the flow so as not to disrupt the masses). I think he might have been one of the United State's first hippies, all about peace. It is amazing that he can remain a great arbitrator between both the north and the south so as not to perpetuate any more violence or affliction.
Here, even after the North has now won, he can say that the profit obtained by the sweat of another man's toil is wrong, but can also say that it is no more wrong that the wrong done by any other man. He keeps the playing field neutral. He declares that no one should be the judge here on earth, but rather that each man will be judged accordingly by God.
In recent political speech, it seems we are always blaming someone. It is always someone's fault. But here, somehow Lincoln has a predisposition to peaceful calm that does not seem to sway him much. I think it is insightful of the ideology of the founding fathers since Lincoln repeatedly favors a government for the people, by the people. In that thinking, he can not give his personal opinion or declare that one thing is better than the other. Instead, he stands by and lets the people decide by their actions. He sees his role as simply being the glue that is supposed to maintain some sort of unity between them all, and nothing more.
Journal #19
Michelle Romero
English 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Abraham Lincoln
"Either the opponents of slavery, will arrest the further spread of it....or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all States, old as well as new--North as well as South. Have we no tendency to the latter condition?" (1629).
Here in his "A House Divided" speech, Lincoln declares that one side or another shall win, but by winning will unite all States. He does not see how slavery and anti-slavery can continue to exist in the same nation. He sees the danger that is imminent: either the opponents of slavery will stop it from spreading, or the advocates of slavery will push until it has infected the entire nation. The most important line is this: "Have we no tendency to the latter condition?" This statement is rather dismal and a bit spooky for those who did not believe in slavery or who did not want slavery in their part of town. Lincoln however, acknowledges their human tendencies to destroy and dominate.
Later he talks about tracing the construction of slavery all the way back to the foundation of the nation, "among its chief bosses, from the beginning" (1629.) From a Christian standpoint, if I were a Northerner, these passages would have sounded like a call to break a generational bondage. I think Lincoln's language is very religious and talks about this battle as spiritual warfare. He is asking the people to see in to their past and find the root of slavery. They will find Columbus, they will find many explorers who turned the natives in to slaves. They will also find even their first president, George Washington, owning slaves.
Lincoln, in a somewhat passive and ambiguous way, leads his listeners to this path and shows the bondage that binds their nation. I find it to be somewhat of an inspiration for the Northerners. However, due to the ambiguity and the fact that we know he did not take a strong stand in favor or in opposition of slavery until much later, I also see how the Southerners would hear this and think that it is slavery is a natural right exactly for the same reason, that since their beginning it has been a reality.
English 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Abraham Lincoln
"Either the opponents of slavery, will arrest the further spread of it....or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all States, old as well as new--North as well as South. Have we no tendency to the latter condition?" (1629).
Here in his "A House Divided" speech, Lincoln declares that one side or another shall win, but by winning will unite all States. He does not see how slavery and anti-slavery can continue to exist in the same nation. He sees the danger that is imminent: either the opponents of slavery will stop it from spreading, or the advocates of slavery will push until it has infected the entire nation. The most important line is this: "Have we no tendency to the latter condition?" This statement is rather dismal and a bit spooky for those who did not believe in slavery or who did not want slavery in their part of town. Lincoln however, acknowledges their human tendencies to destroy and dominate.
Later he talks about tracing the construction of slavery all the way back to the foundation of the nation, "among its chief bosses, from the beginning" (1629.) From a Christian standpoint, if I were a Northerner, these passages would have sounded like a call to break a generational bondage. I think Lincoln's language is very religious and talks about this battle as spiritual warfare. He is asking the people to see in to their past and find the root of slavery. They will find Columbus, they will find many explorers who turned the natives in to slaves. They will also find even their first president, George Washington, owning slaves.
Lincoln, in a somewhat passive and ambiguous way, leads his listeners to this path and shows the bondage that binds their nation. I find it to be somewhat of an inspiration for the Northerners. However, due to the ambiguity and the fact that we know he did not take a strong stand in favor or in opposition of slavery until much later, I also see how the Southerners would hear this and think that it is slavery is a natural right exactly for the same reason, that since their beginning it has been a reality.
Journal #18
Michelle Romero
Eng. 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
"Now, it was a very unusual thing for gentle little Mrs. Bird ever to trouble her head with what was going on in the house of the state, very wisely considering that she had enough to do to mind her own" (1721).
From this passage, we discover that Mrs. Bird is not usually one to challenge her husband or to inquire about his business affairs. However, we also see in the context of this passage, that she is in fact, at this very moment, asking about what is going on in the Senate in regard to slavery. She wants to know just what kinds of laws are being passed and just what exactly the men are up to.
I find it sarcastic the way Stowe describes "gentle little Mrs. Bird" because although Mrs. Bird is said to be this gentle little thing of a woman, her dialogue is quite strong and adamant in seeking the truth. She does not seem like a meek little character.
It is also important to acknowledge that Mrs. Bird is kind of known for not prying in to matters of the state. Perhaps in the past she did keep her nose out of it. However, the fact that she is so insistent here in regard to the Fugitive Slave Act suggests that there is a need for women to stand against its passage. Stowe calls for the women to join the slaves in their cause and be the compassionate Christian women they are supposed to be. There is no gray middle here; Stowe makes it very clear through Mrs. Bird's character that there is a clear right and wrong and that the Fugitive Slave Law is clearly wrong. She denounces those who would actually turn their back on a slave and declares that she will stand and break that law the second she can.
I think Stowe is trying to inspire the white women of the slave era to stand firm in their beliefs and by their conscious, not to let distortions of the truth steal away their Christianly qualities.
Eng. 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
"Now, it was a very unusual thing for gentle little Mrs. Bird ever to trouble her head with what was going on in the house of the state, very wisely considering that she had enough to do to mind her own" (1721).
From this passage, we discover that Mrs. Bird is not usually one to challenge her husband or to inquire about his business affairs. However, we also see in the context of this passage, that she is in fact, at this very moment, asking about what is going on in the Senate in regard to slavery. She wants to know just what kinds of laws are being passed and just what exactly the men are up to.
I find it sarcastic the way Stowe describes "gentle little Mrs. Bird" because although Mrs. Bird is said to be this gentle little thing of a woman, her dialogue is quite strong and adamant in seeking the truth. She does not seem like a meek little character.
It is also important to acknowledge that Mrs. Bird is kind of known for not prying in to matters of the state. Perhaps in the past she did keep her nose out of it. However, the fact that she is so insistent here in regard to the Fugitive Slave Act suggests that there is a need for women to stand against its passage. Stowe calls for the women to join the slaves in their cause and be the compassionate Christian women they are supposed to be. There is no gray middle here; Stowe makes it very clear through Mrs. Bird's character that there is a clear right and wrong and that the Fugitive Slave Law is clearly wrong. She denounces those who would actually turn their back on a slave and declares that she will stand and break that law the second she can.
I think Stowe is trying to inspire the white women of the slave era to stand firm in their beliefs and by their conscious, not to let distortions of the truth steal away their Christianly qualities.
Journal #17
Michelle Romero
English 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
"I hate reasoning, John,--especially reasoning on such subjects. There's a way you political folks have of coming round and round a plain right thing; and you don't believe in it yourselves, when it comes to practice" (1723).
At this point in the story Mrs. Bird is arguing with Mr. Bird over whether or not a law has been passed that would prevent them from helping a runaway slave. They are talking about the Fugitive Slave Law. Mrs. Bird can not fathom that men would even put this law in to effect, but her husband tells her "My dear, let me reason with you" (1723). We then see Mrs. Bird's response to her husband's plea, in the quote above.
Mrs. Bird's response is so pointedly mocking of male reasoning. Stowe does a good job of setting her character up to be a compassionate Christian women who embodies all of the kind characteristics that a Christian woman should have. In doing this, it appears that Mrs. Bird is right and Mr. Bird is being insensitive. I also like how Mrs. Bird tells him that even he doesn't believe in the law even if he did help to pass it. She basically challenged him to reflect on his own conscious and not what he calls "reasoning." Her statements reflect her beliefs that humans have a conscious for a reason and should act on that conscious in ethical matters. She laughs at so-called "reason" and argues that there is nothing reasonable about it.
I also noticed how Stowe reveals the strength of women through Mrs. Bird's character. She portrays Mrs. Bird as Christianly, but also very strong and firm in her beliefs despite what her husband thinks. Her language with her husband is strong and her emotions are clearly expressed without restraint. To me, this is a revolutionary fact of Stowe's writing as well.
English 48A
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
"I hate reasoning, John,--especially reasoning on such subjects. There's a way you political folks have of coming round and round a plain right thing; and you don't believe in it yourselves, when it comes to practice" (1723).
At this point in the story Mrs. Bird is arguing with Mr. Bird over whether or not a law has been passed that would prevent them from helping a runaway slave. They are talking about the Fugitive Slave Law. Mrs. Bird can not fathom that men would even put this law in to effect, but her husband tells her "My dear, let me reason with you" (1723). We then see Mrs. Bird's response to her husband's plea, in the quote above.
Mrs. Bird's response is so pointedly mocking of male reasoning. Stowe does a good job of setting her character up to be a compassionate Christian women who embodies all of the kind characteristics that a Christian woman should have. In doing this, it appears that Mrs. Bird is right and Mr. Bird is being insensitive. I also like how Mrs. Bird tells him that even he doesn't believe in the law even if he did help to pass it. She basically challenged him to reflect on his own conscious and not what he calls "reasoning." Her statements reflect her beliefs that humans have a conscious for a reason and should act on that conscious in ethical matters. She laughs at so-called "reason" and argues that there is nothing reasonable about it.
I also noticed how Stowe reveals the strength of women through Mrs. Bird's character. She portrays Mrs. Bird as Christianly, but also very strong and firm in her beliefs despite what her husband thinks. Her language with her husband is strong and her emotions are clearly expressed without restraint. To me, this is a revolutionary fact of Stowe's writing as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
