The Scarlet letter is a book that is filled with enriching historical reference. The book portrays the life of an adulterer in the 1800’s. The consequences that Hester had to live with on a daily basis are very different than the consequences that an adulterer has in today’s society. Some differences that occur between Hester’s time period in the 19th Century and today’s society in the 21st Century are the expectations within the town and family about marriage commitment, the frequency of broken marriages and adultery, and the affliction and punishment of adultery. The Scarlet Letter is important for kids to read today because it takes Hester adultery, a real life issue that people face today, and shows us how we as a country used to respond to the issue in a different time period. The book is also good because it includes in the book some of Hester’s thoughts and gives the readers a pretty good idea of what Hester might felt. All of these qualities of the book help argue that The Scarlet Letter is in fact a classic. A classic book must maintain its popularity over time, it must contain applicable situations, and timeless truths. The Scarlet Letter is considered a classic because it was written so long ago and is still relevant today.
In the 19th Century the family atmosphere was valued much higher. The sense of community was a big part of what differentiates today from our past. A big influence in 19th Century towns was the commitment to the church, nearly everyone attended church. The church set and enforced the rules, so the citizens were expected to live according to what the bible says. The bible says “do not commit adultery” so it was a very rare to see adultery in the 19th Century. Although family has taken a toll in today’s society and is not as important as it used to be, family is still something that people grasp today.
Another thing that separates our time period from that of Hester’s time is the consequences of sins. In Hester’s time period people were shunned from the church if they did something really bad. Because the church was such a large part of the community if you were shunned from the church, it was a big deal and everyone in town knew. Today the act of committing adultery is much more common. In some places people don’t even give it a second thought. It is really sad to think that our nation has gotten so accustom to sin that we don’t even think twice about it. By reading The Scarlet Letter it can put the sin of adultery back into perspective and give its readers a glimpse into our past as a country.
The book The Scarlet Letter is the story of Hester Prynne, who was sent to the new world to wait for her husband, Mr. Chillingworth, to come along later. After years of waiting, Hester assumed that her husband had died at sea. Hester fell in love with the town minister, Mr. Dimmesdale, and had a sex with him. The Scarlet Letter talks about the trial, consequences, and feelings that Hester had after she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter Pearl out of wedlock. During Hester’s trail her husband came to town but disguised himself as a doctor. He found is in search of the man that Hester, his wife, had sex with because he wants to get revenge. The story talks about the feelings that each character has throughout the story as well as the consequences of each character’s decisions. The affliction that Hester goes through is so much harsher than anything that people in today’s society go through today. The Scarlet Letter is a sometimes hard to read, because it is so descriptive, but it is a really good read because it gives its readers a perspective of where our country has come over the last two thousand years.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Scarlet letter blog 8
“If in all these past seven years,” thought he, “I could recall one instant of peace or hope, I would yet endure, for the sake of that earnest of Heaven’s mercy. But how, - since I am irrevocably doomed, - wherefore should I not snatch the solace allowed to the condemned culprit before his execution?"
The previous statement is of Mr. Dimmesdale after he got reacquainted, with Hester, after seven years. This sentence really shows Mr. Dimmesdale’s conscious. He feels bad knowing that for the last seven years he has avoided the punishment he rightfully deserved. Hest had been alone, suffering ever since the time that she got pregnant with pearl, seven years previously. Mr. Dimmesdale the town minister, was never caught in is adulterous act and therefore got away without having to pay any of the punishment he deserved. As seen in the quoted sentence, Mr. Dimmesdale had been tortured by his conscious. As he lets himself get clost to Hester again his conscious gets worse. For the previous years Mr. Dimmesdale had been avoiding Hester and any thoughts or feelings he had toward her. But now that they had rejoined their friendship he had been questioning his decision to stay hidden from the authorities. After all didn’t he deserve to be punished just as much as Hester did? If that wasn’t enough torture, he knew he owed it to Hester to stand through the humiliation with her. Instead he was facing the regret of knowing that he left her all alone to deal with the affliction as well as raising their little girl all by herself. He knew deep down that he needed to confess to the town that he, their minister that they respected, was the father of Hester’s child.
This sentence is a leading thought into Mr. Dimmesdale telling the authorities and community that he is to blame for adultery with Hester Prynne. His conscious had been pressuring him to tell, so this sentence is one of Mr. Dimmesdale’s final conclusions before telling that town of his sin.
The previous statement is of Mr. Dimmesdale after he got reacquainted, with Hester, after seven years. This sentence really shows Mr. Dimmesdale’s conscious. He feels bad knowing that for the last seven years he has avoided the punishment he rightfully deserved. Hest had been alone, suffering ever since the time that she got pregnant with pearl, seven years previously. Mr. Dimmesdale the town minister, was never caught in is adulterous act and therefore got away without having to pay any of the punishment he deserved. As seen in the quoted sentence, Mr. Dimmesdale had been tortured by his conscious. As he lets himself get clost to Hester again his conscious gets worse. For the previous years Mr. Dimmesdale had been avoiding Hester and any thoughts or feelings he had toward her. But now that they had rejoined their friendship he had been questioning his decision to stay hidden from the authorities. After all didn’t he deserve to be punished just as much as Hester did? If that wasn’t enough torture, he knew he owed it to Hester to stand through the humiliation with her. Instead he was facing the regret of knowing that he left her all alone to deal with the affliction as well as raising their little girl all by herself. He knew deep down that he needed to confess to the town that he, their minister that they respected, was the father of Hester’s child.
This sentence is a leading thought into Mr. Dimmesdale telling the authorities and community that he is to blame for adultery with Hester Prynne. His conscious had been pressuring him to tell, so this sentence is one of Mr. Dimmesdale’s final conclusions before telling that town of his sin.
Scarlet letter blog 7
After many years of suffering alone, staying hidden from Mr. Dimmesdale, Hester finally met with him a the woods. Right after Hester met with Mr. Dimmesdale alone she was filled with confused feelings towards him. Up until this point in her long journey of punishment Hester did not feel any obligation to Mr. Dimmesdale. However, after meeting with him in the woods she felt obligated to Mr. Dimmesdale in a new way. “Hester Prynne did not now occupy precisely the same position on which we beheld her during the earier periods of her ignominy.” This quote shows the readers how much Hester had succeeded in avoiding thinking and seeing Mr. Dimmesdale. The strong feeling of an emotion or connection towards him after seeing him just one time shows the readers the true passion that Hester and Mr. Dimmesdale had from each other.
This sentence also implies that Hester was in complete denial about Mr. Dimmesdale. Earlier in the book Hester refused to tell the authorities who the father of her child was. This act showed how loyal Hester was to Mr. Dimmesdale. Hester did not even hint at the effection that she still had towards Mr. Dimmesdale as seen in their meeting in the woods. The sentence implies that Hester was dealing with her feelings toward Mr. Dimmesdale well between the time that she got pregnant and her meeting with Mr. Dimmesdale in the woods. Although she was not proud of her scarlet letter, Hester had made it her own by embroidering some unique touches into it. The scarlet letter that Hester carried became a part of who she was. This along with raising her daughter Pearl kept her busy and kept her mind off of the man that she really loved.
The sentence quoted above is a sentence gives a inner picture of Hesters feelings throughout her punishment. It helps the readers understand how Hester learned to cope with her decision and punishment. This is a key part of the story because it gives the readers a biew of Hester’s emotions towards Mr. Dimmesdale.
This sentence also implies that Hester was in complete denial about Mr. Dimmesdale. Earlier in the book Hester refused to tell the authorities who the father of her child was. This act showed how loyal Hester was to Mr. Dimmesdale. Hester did not even hint at the effection that she still had towards Mr. Dimmesdale as seen in their meeting in the woods. The sentence implies that Hester was dealing with her feelings toward Mr. Dimmesdale well between the time that she got pregnant and her meeting with Mr. Dimmesdale in the woods. Although she was not proud of her scarlet letter, Hester had made it her own by embroidering some unique touches into it. The scarlet letter that Hester carried became a part of who she was. This along with raising her daughter Pearl kept her busy and kept her mind off of the man that she really loved.
The sentence quoted above is a sentence gives a inner picture of Hesters feelings throughout her punishment. It helps the readers understand how Hester learned to cope with her decision and punishment. This is a key part of the story because it gives the readers a biew of Hester’s emotions towards Mr. Dimmesdale.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Scarlet Letter 6
“Such a spiritual seer might have conceived, that, after sustaining the gaze of the multitude through seven miserable years as a necessity, a penance, and something which it was a stern religion to endure, she now, for the last time more, encountered it freely and voluntarily, in order to convert what had song been agony into a kind of triumph.” Two things brought my attention to this sentence. The first thing that caught my attention was that it shows Hester’s victory over her pain. Hester had been dealing with affliction for so many years and now she finally had found a way to be free herself from the misery. Hester did not necessarily free herself from the consequences, but she found a way to stand up in spite of them. The second thing that caught my eye about this sentence was that Hester had been in misery for seven years. It talked earlier in the book about what Hester had to do as a result of having adultery, but to think about being humiliated and alone for 7 years is a depressing thought. If I am fighting with my parents for even just a few days I start to feel depressed like no one cares for me. I cannot imagine feeling that way for such a long period of time.
The Scarlet Letter is notorious for run-on sentences. This sentence is a perfect example. I have acquired a new appreciation for correct writing. This sentence is very confusing because it is so long without commas to help emphasize. Although I cannot promise that I will never write another run-on sentence, I now have a better grasp for how annoying it can be!
The Scarlet Letter is notorious for run-on sentences. This sentence is a perfect example. I have acquired a new appreciation for correct writing. This sentence is very confusing because it is so long without commas to help emphasize. Although I cannot promise that I will never write another run-on sentence, I now have a better grasp for how annoying it can be!
The Scarlet Letter Blog 5
The preacher, Roger Chillingworth, in The Scarlet Letter stated “Wouldst thou have me to believe, O wise and pious friend, that a false show can be better – can be more for God’s glory, or man’s welfare – than God’s won truth? Trust me, such men deceive themselves!” This sentence talks about the inner battle between doing what is right in God’s eyes and doing what is right in the eyes of the World. In this statement, Roger Chillingworth was talking about the choices that people make, especially the choice that Hester was facing. Everyone has a choice to do what is right or not to. Often times instead of doing things that are right people choose to do things that only help themselves. In the story, Hester had a choice to make about whether or not she was going to keep her daughter. This choice is a good example of how Hester wanted to do what seemed best to her, not what was best for her daughter.
This is also a very good example of the kind of confusing language that Hawthorne used when describing his story. This language also sets the picture for the setting. If people today said words like “woulst” or “thou” everyone would look at them funny! Although we don’t use words like that today, when we other people use such elegant words we are reminded of the culture of our history, such as that of the 1850s. The Scarlet Letter does a very good job of the getting its readers into the mindset of the book.
This is also a very good example of the kind of confusing language that Hawthorne used when describing his story. This language also sets the picture for the setting. If people today said words like “woulst” or “thou” everyone would look at them funny! Although we don’t use words like that today, when we other people use such elegant words we are reminded of the culture of our history, such as that of the 1850s. The Scarlet Letter does a very good job of the getting its readers into the mindset of the book.
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Scarlet Letter Blog 4
“’I have thought of death,’ said she, -- ‘have wished for it, -- would even have prayed for it, were it fit that such as I should pray for anything.’” This shows the amount of affliction was placed on Hester after her trial. She was the disgrace of the whole town and because of that she was shunned. Hester spent her life alone from that day onward. Hester had her daughter Pearl’s company but that was all. Pearl, Hester’s daughter, would face much affliction because she was the result of Hester’s poor decision. Hester was afraid for her daughter because she knew that Pearl would be made fun of and rejected. Hester wanted nothing more than to be with her daughter for the rest of her life, but Hester also knew that she could not expect her daughter to stay with her forever. As much as Hester needed her daughters love, she loved her daughter and wanted the very best for her. As you can see by the quote above, Hester’s life was very depressing. I don’t think that this is the kind of life that Hester wanted for her daughter, or anyone else. The affliction that Hester received from her decision to have sex with a man that was not her husband, even though she had not heard from her husband in over 2 years, was very hard on her. Everyone in the community looked down upon her as being among the lowest. She was the symbol of a bad woman in her community and time period.
The Scarlet Letter Blog 3
“Throughout them all, giving up her individuality, she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and the moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” In order to fully understand “throughout them all” some background information is needed. In the sentence leading in to this one, Hawthorn talks about the toil, burden, misery, and shame that Hester is dealing with as a result of her consequences. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester, the main character, is put on trial for having a baby with someone that she is not married to. Although this action is frowned upon in today’s culture, having sex with someone who is not your husband was treated very harshly in the 1850’s. Hester’s actions became a disgrace to the whole community. The members of the church and community shunned Hester for her poor decisions. As a result Hester had a scarlet letter placed on her chest announcing that she had participated in sex outside of her marriage. The sentence, “throughout them all...,” comes from Hester’s perspective which talks about the disgrace, separation, and shame that Hester feels. The consequences and effects of Hester’s punishment, to have a scarlet letter on her chest, has scared Hester for life.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
“Throughout them all, giving up her individuality, she would become the general symbol at which the preacher and the moralist might point, and in which they might vivify and embody their images of woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” In order to fully understand “throughout them all” some background information is needed. In the sentence leading in to this one, Hawthorn talks about the toil, burden, misery, and shame that Hester is dealing with as a result of her consequences. In The Scarlet Letter, Hester, the main character, is put on trial for having a baby with someone that she is not married to. Although this action is frowned upon in today’s culture, having sex with someone who is not your husband was treated very harshly in the 1850’s. Hester’s actions became a disgrace to the whole community. The members of the church and community shunned Hester for her poor decisions. As a result Hester had a scarlet letter placed on her chest announcing that she had participated in sex outside of her marriage. The sentence, “throughout them all...,” comes from Hester’s perspective which talks about the disgrace, separation, and shame that Hester feels. The consequences and effects of Hester’s punishment, to have a scarlet letter on her chest, has scared Hester for life.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
One of the things that struck me about this sentence was the fact that Hester became the symbol of “woman’s frailty and sinful passion.” This is really hard on Hester. I can’t imagine having all of that weight put on me. The guilt that Hester had placed on her was constantly brought to her attention. I am glad that things have changed throughout the years. Today we are given another chance. If I were punished for every little thing that I did wrong, with the intensity of the 1850’s, I would struggle greatly.
The Scarlet Letter Blog 2
In the article found on pages 246 to 253 of The Scarlet Letter talk mostly about women’s rights and how they have changed throughout the years. Women’s rights have been a leading factor in the changing social environment between early America and America today. Women were given nearly no rights in the 1600s, during the time period that the scarlet letter was written in. Women now have nearly equal rights as men. The laws that have been written and implied throughout society, concerning women’s rights, have changed as a result of women demanding more and more rights throughout the years. In the articles it talked about the rights that men have over their wives, the rights that were given women at the Woman’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls in New York, and the roles of a woman.
The rights that husbands had over their wives are that “the husbands also might give his wife moderate correction. For, as he is to answer for her misbehavior, the law thought it reasonable to intrust him with this power of restraining her.” This must put a lot of pressure on the husband and wife to honor each other. Women in this culture may not have been so passionate for each other but they had a lot more potential to respect each other. Women a lot of time did everything they could to please and honor their husband, where today it is a constant battle about who is in control of the relationship.
The Rights Convention at Seneca Falls was a convention to determine the rights of women in the United States. This convention was held on July 19, 1848 in New York. During this convention the rights of women in the 19th Century were determined to be as followed: “the denial of the right to vote, deprivation of earnings if married, exclusion from colleges, and the state of coverture, which made married women “civilly dead.” All of these things have changed throughout time. For example, Hillary Clinton would never had been able to run for president in the 19th Century. Women were not even allowed to receive a college education or vote; running for president would never have been allowed.
The role of a woman, as defined in the Scarlet Letter, is better known as the “cult of domesticity.” This means that a woman is “to serve in the domestic arena as wife, mother, and keeper of the home and hearth.” This area too has changed from early America to today. Although there are some wives that take care of their families and their homes, most wives are out working a second job.
All of these three examples show how women’s rights have evolved throughout the years. The more rights that women demand, the fewer things that women are being restrained from. Women of today should be thankful for the women in our past who have fought for the rights that we have today as women.
The rights that husbands had over their wives are that “the husbands also might give his wife moderate correction. For, as he is to answer for her misbehavior, the law thought it reasonable to intrust him with this power of restraining her.” This must put a lot of pressure on the husband and wife to honor each other. Women in this culture may not have been so passionate for each other but they had a lot more potential to respect each other. Women a lot of time did everything they could to please and honor their husband, where today it is a constant battle about who is in control of the relationship.
The Rights Convention at Seneca Falls was a convention to determine the rights of women in the United States. This convention was held on July 19, 1848 in New York. During this convention the rights of women in the 19th Century were determined to be as followed: “the denial of the right to vote, deprivation of earnings if married, exclusion from colleges, and the state of coverture, which made married women “civilly dead.” All of these things have changed throughout time. For example, Hillary Clinton would never had been able to run for president in the 19th Century. Women were not even allowed to receive a college education or vote; running for president would never have been allowed.
The role of a woman, as defined in the Scarlet Letter, is better known as the “cult of domesticity.” This means that a woman is “to serve in the domestic arena as wife, mother, and keeper of the home and hearth.” This area too has changed from early America to today. Although there are some wives that take care of their families and their homes, most wives are out working a second job.
All of these three examples show how women’s rights have evolved throughout the years. The more rights that women demand, the fewer things that women are being restrained from. Women of today should be thankful for the women in our past who have fought for the rights that we have today as women.
The Scarlet Letter Blog 1
Adultery has changed drastically over the years. As I read the consequences that the adulators had to face it amazed me how much the people cared about morals and relationships in the 1600s. Reading through the six laws of just the Massachusetts Bay Colony alone gives us a pretty good example of how seriously people in the 1600s handled adultery. In comparing the way that people respond to adultery, from the 1600s to now, it has become apparent that people have lowered their standards, become more lenient, and learned to be less judgmental, staying out of people’s lives. I think so many times in today’s society people don’t care enough about what is going on in other people’s lives. This is a dramatic change from that of the 1600s.
The Laws Addressing Adultery in Massachusetts Bay Colony are very strict saying “that if any man shall have carnall copulacon with another mans wife, they both shalbee punished by death” or “if any person commit ADULTERIE with a married, or espoused wife; the adulterer and adulteresse shal surely be put to death.” From these laws it is very clear to see that adultery was strictly prohibited in the 1600s. It is clear from the seriousness of issues that people in this time period took a lot of pride in having morals and doing what is right.
I wish I could say the same about today’s culture, but sadly I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a decent argument that supported this view. The very sad part is that I can think of a number of examples supporting the view that today’s culture does not hold moral values very highly. For an example, Tiger Woods, a pro golfer, has committed adultery recently. Because Tiger Woods is in the lime light his life has become very public. Tiger is not the only person, in the public eye, that has committed adultery. Although Tiger was given a lot of flak from the media, no one would ever even think about killing him for his actions.
The Laws Addressing Adultery in Massachusetts Bay Colony are very strict saying “that if any man shall have carnall copulacon with another mans wife, they both shalbee punished by death” or “if any person commit ADULTERIE with a married, or espoused wife; the adulterer and adulteresse shal surely be put to death.” From these laws it is very clear to see that adultery was strictly prohibited in the 1600s. It is clear from the seriousness of issues that people in this time period took a lot of pride in having morals and doing what is right.
I wish I could say the same about today’s culture, but sadly I think I would be hard pressed to come up with a decent argument that supported this view. The very sad part is that I can think of a number of examples supporting the view that today’s culture does not hold moral values very highly. For an example, Tiger Woods, a pro golfer, has committed adultery recently. Because Tiger Woods is in the lime light his life has become very public. Tiger is not the only person, in the public eye, that has committed adultery. Although Tiger was given a lot of flak from the media, no one would ever even think about killing him for his actions.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
To Save a Life
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2010/01/movie-review-to-save-a-life.html
http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/02/01/growing_up_growing_a_conscience_in_to_save_a_life/
To Save a Life is a new Christian movie that came out in the beginning of the year. It is the story of a Teenage boy who is sorting out a number of issues in his life. Jake, the main character, was best friends with Roger, all through their growing up years. The movie starts out showing the funeral service for Roger, who had committed suicide. The movie goes back in time to show what led up to Roger’s death. Then it goes back to the present and shows how Jake and his friends learn to deal with Roger’s death. Along the way, Jake has to deal with many struggles of his own. Jake’s party lifestyle gets him into trouble when his girlfriend gets pregnant. This was just one of the many things that Jake has to learn to deal with throughout the movie. After Roger’s death, a local youth pastor makes a point to connect with Jake. Throughout the movie, it shows how Jake begins and grows in his new relationship with Christ. The movie, through watching Jake deal with the oncoming challenges that face him, can give kids a new sense of hope for the constant daily struggles that teens face today.
In a movie review, of the movie To Save A Life, the author admits that “one of the biggest problems in most Christian genre movies is their lack of edge, a reluctance on the part of the filmmakers to show ugly reality – real problems, real people who use drugs, have sex outside of marriage, get drunk and use profanity.” The author goes on to say that “pretty much by definition, that’s a Catch-22.” This author demonstrated that he was not all for the movie, nor was he all against it either. One thing he did give credit to the movie for was for being blunt about issues that teen face today.
In another article, that reviews the movie in a less professional setting, the author criticizes the movie for mentioning all the struggles instead of just focusing on one or two. The fact of the matter is, though, teens today can not pick and choose what issues that want to deal with on a daily basis, they are struck with all of them all at once. Although this movie deals with drinking, drugs, sex, divorce, cutting, teen pregnancy, and suicide it deals with each one in a very realistic way. Teens, after watching this movie, can come away with a new hope that God can work through all the crap that life brings.
This movie does not try to hide God at all. In fact, To Save a Life does a good job of showing that God will always be there for us when we are going through hard times. Even when we think we don’t deserve Him, He is there. As Jake goes through all of the many struggles that face him, he learns a lot about what God is trying to show him, through all these challenges. This is movie sets a good example, for teens today who are struggling in their daily lives, because it encourages students to make the most out of each situation.
http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/02/01/growing_up_growing_a_conscience_in_to_save_a_life/
To Save a Life is a new Christian movie that came out in the beginning of the year. It is the story of a Teenage boy who is sorting out a number of issues in his life. Jake, the main character, was best friends with Roger, all through their growing up years. The movie starts out showing the funeral service for Roger, who had committed suicide. The movie goes back in time to show what led up to Roger’s death. Then it goes back to the present and shows how Jake and his friends learn to deal with Roger’s death. Along the way, Jake has to deal with many struggles of his own. Jake’s party lifestyle gets him into trouble when his girlfriend gets pregnant. This was just one of the many things that Jake has to learn to deal with throughout the movie. After Roger’s death, a local youth pastor makes a point to connect with Jake. Throughout the movie, it shows how Jake begins and grows in his new relationship with Christ. The movie, through watching Jake deal with the oncoming challenges that face him, can give kids a new sense of hope for the constant daily struggles that teens face today.
In a movie review, of the movie To Save A Life, the author admits that “one of the biggest problems in most Christian genre movies is their lack of edge, a reluctance on the part of the filmmakers to show ugly reality – real problems, real people who use drugs, have sex outside of marriage, get drunk and use profanity.” The author goes on to say that “pretty much by definition, that’s a Catch-22.” This author demonstrated that he was not all for the movie, nor was he all against it either. One thing he did give credit to the movie for was for being blunt about issues that teen face today.
In another article, that reviews the movie in a less professional setting, the author criticizes the movie for mentioning all the struggles instead of just focusing on one or two. The fact of the matter is, though, teens today can not pick and choose what issues that want to deal with on a daily basis, they are struck with all of them all at once. Although this movie deals with drinking, drugs, sex, divorce, cutting, teen pregnancy, and suicide it deals with each one in a very realistic way. Teens, after watching this movie, can come away with a new hope that God can work through all the crap that life brings.
This movie does not try to hide God at all. In fact, To Save a Life does a good job of showing that God will always be there for us when we are going through hard times. Even when we think we don’t deserve Him, He is there. As Jake goes through all of the many struggles that face him, he learns a lot about what God is trying to show him, through all these challenges. This is movie sets a good example, for teens today who are struggling in their daily lives, because it encourages students to make the most out of each situation.
A Response to Ken Ham’s article
http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2010/03/15/you-wont-believe-what-came-out-of-calvin-college-last-week/
Ken Ham is one of the founders of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum. Ken Ham is an out spoken scientist that supports Creationist views. “In the beginning God created to heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Ken Ham recently wrote an article in response to “State of the Nation 2” by a Calvin College religion professor. The article “State of the Nation 2” stated that “Scripture is not inerrant and there are mistakes in the Bible.” Calvin College is known for being a Christian College, but based on the fact that the religion professor claims that there are mistakes in the Bible, it is not hard to imagine how the spiritual life on campus supports this view. When I think of a Christian College I think of a college that practices the faith that God instructs us to live out in His word that He gave us, The Bible. Not everyone on a Christian campus will follow what God instructs us to do, but if a religion professor doesn’t defend Biblical truth then this makes me question the sincerity of faith in God at the college. If a religion professor who doesn’t support the foundation for the college and can’t agree with what the Bible says then what is he teaching his students? When a Calvin College student confronted Ken Ham, through a letter in response to the article that Ken wrote reflecting on what the religion professor had said, the student defended his education and the beliefs at Calvin College through a very sarcastic, disrespectful manner. This disrespectful manner in which the student defended Calvin College’s spiritual and academic excellent campus simply affirms Ken Ham’s negative view on the lack of spiritual commitment at Calvin College. This along with the skeptical view of the Christian faith, that the religion professor claims to believe, simply shows that Calvin College is not a strong Christian college campus.
This article intrigued me especially because this past year, during my college search, I visited Calvin College. As a devoted Christian I was looking for a college where I would be spiritually strengthened as well as academically challenged. While on campus I happened across a school magazine where it was brought up the issue of homosexuality and gay rights. Being that I was in a “Christian,” or what I thought to be a Bible believing environment, I expected that they would side on the how the Bible approaches same sex sin. They did not however, professors and students agreed that homosexuality was the right of the person, and that they could do whatever they wanted. Although this is proven to be true, that we can do whatever we want, this is not the kind of support I wished to receive from a Christian college education.
In a letter, from a 19 year old Calvin student, to Ken Ham, the young man addresses Ken with a brash, almost bitter, tone. If you read the article for yourself, there are many places where the young man responds to Ken Ham’s concern for Calvin College in an insulting, derogatory way. “All my Calvin professors, including those in the religion and biology departments, have claimed that salvation is through faith in Christ. So that seems to suggest that, like you say, they are indeed Christians. But then you seem to imply that Calvin is a phony Christian school and its pro-evolution professors will face eternal judgment and quite possibly damnation.” Although everyone is not forced to believe the same views that Ken Ham does, it seems really unchristian like for the college to respond to Ken’s article as they did. It also brings up the question of where Calvin College is truly a “Christian College,” when a religion professor, who has spend so many years studying his beliefs, claims that the Bible has errors.
Ken Ham is one of the founders of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum. Ken Ham is an out spoken scientist that supports Creationist views. “In the beginning God created to heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Ken Ham recently wrote an article in response to “State of the Nation 2” by a Calvin College religion professor. The article “State of the Nation 2” stated that “Scripture is not inerrant and there are mistakes in the Bible.” Calvin College is known for being a Christian College, but based on the fact that the religion professor claims that there are mistakes in the Bible, it is not hard to imagine how the spiritual life on campus supports this view. When I think of a Christian College I think of a college that practices the faith that God instructs us to live out in His word that He gave us, The Bible. Not everyone on a Christian campus will follow what God instructs us to do, but if a religion professor doesn’t defend Biblical truth then this makes me question the sincerity of faith in God at the college. If a religion professor who doesn’t support the foundation for the college and can’t agree with what the Bible says then what is he teaching his students? When a Calvin College student confronted Ken Ham, through a letter in response to the article that Ken wrote reflecting on what the religion professor had said, the student defended his education and the beliefs at Calvin College through a very sarcastic, disrespectful manner. This disrespectful manner in which the student defended Calvin College’s spiritual and academic excellent campus simply affirms Ken Ham’s negative view on the lack of spiritual commitment at Calvin College. This along with the skeptical view of the Christian faith, that the religion professor claims to believe, simply shows that Calvin College is not a strong Christian college campus.
This article intrigued me especially because this past year, during my college search, I visited Calvin College. As a devoted Christian I was looking for a college where I would be spiritually strengthened as well as academically challenged. While on campus I happened across a school magazine where it was brought up the issue of homosexuality and gay rights. Being that I was in a “Christian,” or what I thought to be a Bible believing environment, I expected that they would side on the how the Bible approaches same sex sin. They did not however, professors and students agreed that homosexuality was the right of the person, and that they could do whatever they wanted. Although this is proven to be true, that we can do whatever we want, this is not the kind of support I wished to receive from a Christian college education.
In a letter, from a 19 year old Calvin student, to Ken Ham, the young man addresses Ken with a brash, almost bitter, tone. If you read the article for yourself, there are many places where the young man responds to Ken Ham’s concern for Calvin College in an insulting, derogatory way. “All my Calvin professors, including those in the religion and biology departments, have claimed that salvation is through faith in Christ. So that seems to suggest that, like you say, they are indeed Christians. But then you seem to imply that Calvin is a phony Christian school and its pro-evolution professors will face eternal judgment and quite possibly damnation.” Although everyone is not forced to believe the same views that Ken Ham does, it seems really unchristian like for the college to respond to Ken’s article as they did. It also brings up the question of where Calvin College is truly a “Christian College,” when a religion professor, who has spend so many years studying his beliefs, claims that the Bible has errors.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Homeless and Their Children
In the essay The Homeless and Their Children, by Jonathan Kozol, it tells the story of an illiterate women who is raising her family in the … Hotel in New York. In this story, Jonathan visits The … Hotel, one of the biggest hotels for the homeless in New York. While he is there, he gets introduced to Laura, an illiterate single mom who is raising her four kids in the hotel. Throughout this article, it provokes a sense of sympathy for the thousands of homeless all over the country. It is hard to imagine just the kind of life that these homeless children and adults have gone through. Life is a vicious cycle. Just like when students go to their public schools everyday and do not know what it is like at other schools; children that grow up in The… Hotel only know what life is like to fight starvation and to live in the hotels for the homeless, in order for them to expect something more from life, these kids would have to know what to expect first. This cycle of life is one of the most frustrating as an American citizen. It is sad to think that the place or kind of childhood a person grew up with would be such a main factor in the outcome of their life.
As it is really hard to break the barriers that separate the rich from the poor we as a nation need to make sure that everyone has a chance to succeed. In the article it talk about when Jonathan talks to Laura and finds papers that Laura has stored up, but never had read to her. In the stack of papers that Jonathan found there were multiple urgent letters. One of the letters, from the hospital, informed Laura that her son had a bad case of lead poison. In an attempt to stay alive, kids would eat the sweet tasting paint that chipped off of the walls, much of which contained lead poisoning. This is just one of many papers that were stacked up on Laura’s desk, many of which were very important, but Laura didn’t know what they said because couldn’t read. Why did Laura not know what was going on in her own child’s life?
As it is really hard to break the barriers that separate the rich from the poor we as a nation need to make sure that everyone has a chance to succeed. In the article it talk about when Jonathan talks to Laura and finds papers that Laura has stored up, but never had read to her. In the stack of papers that Jonathan found there were multiple urgent letters. One of the letters, from the hospital, informed Laura that her son had a bad case of lead poison. In an attempt to stay alive, kids would eat the sweet tasting paint that chipped off of the walls, much of which contained lead poisoning. This is just one of many papers that were stacked up on Laura’s desk, many of which were very important, but Laura didn’t know what they said because couldn’t read. Why did Laura not know what was going on in her own child’s life?
Give me an A!
In the essay Gimme an A (I Insist!) by Abigail Sullivan Moore it talks about the increase in students receiving good grades in the current systems. Abigail argues that in recent years, compared to in the past, students grades have increased but the SAT scores have stayed the same. Abigail also complains that parents, and the students themselves, are pressuring teachers into giving good grades so that students will be accepted into good universities. Both points, grades improving while SAT scores stay the same and teachers being pressured into giving out good grades, are valid points, but even in our society, where it is normal to be a straight A student, there are plenty of ways to know who the really exceptional students are. If a student is looking for ways to excel in school, there are plenty of opportunities that are open to them today. Students who are exceptionally strong in their studies have exceptional SAT/ACT scores. The fact is that although the increase of grades may seem harmful, really it is just grade inflation and when good grades are given more freely in high schools the colleges need to raise the standard to match the current grades being given. It is not the teachers fault that the students are receiving a good grades in class, teachers have to make learning in high school attainable for every student. The standard of learning in high schools need to be attainable, but that does not mean that the exceptional student can’t go beyond getting good grades and look for additional ways to educate themselves; additional ways include post secondary options, exceptional ACT/SAT scores, and making sure they are well rounded individuals.
Abigail’s points out that grades are increasing but SAT scores are staying constant don’t go together. Just because teachers have been “pressured” into giving good grades, this does not mean that students today are any smarter than students ten years ago. Although it doesn’t make a lot of sense to give out good it grades without the students deserving them, it does give the students a boost to pursue their dreams. As Abigail said “teachers feel a pressure to not shatter students’ self-esteem.” A good teacher knows how to give out accurate grades without shattering the student’s self-esteem. This is a very fine line, but it is important for an experienced teacher, that knows what level to expect from a student, to have standards before a class ever starts. Students do not always enjoy a class with such qualified teachers, but students will be pushed to be the very best that they can be. You may say that the teachers are being generous with grades or maybe you think that they are being pressured giving the good grades, but either way the standards have been lowered. Whatever the reason for the inflation of grades may be students who wish to go above the average must be able to prove themselves exceptional in multiple areas. Colleges are looking for well rounded people who can hand more than one thing at a time. Students who participate in sports and music often times have a higher chance of getting a scholarship than someone who is not as well balanced.
Not all students are exceptionally gifted in academics. Schools are really good about making sure that every student gets an equal opportunity to success. Schools should be commended for trying to be a place where all students can be challenged and still feel good about themselves. The inflation of grades makes students feel better about their success, but an A doesn’t necessarily mean that you are the top of your class. Knowing that an A does not mean that you are an exceptional student is the first step to fixing the grade inflation problem.
Abigail’s points out that grades are increasing but SAT scores are staying constant don’t go together. Just because teachers have been “pressured” into giving good grades, this does not mean that students today are any smarter than students ten years ago. Although it doesn’t make a lot of sense to give out good it grades without the students deserving them, it does give the students a boost to pursue their dreams. As Abigail said “teachers feel a pressure to not shatter students’ self-esteem.” A good teacher knows how to give out accurate grades without shattering the student’s self-esteem. This is a very fine line, but it is important for an experienced teacher, that knows what level to expect from a student, to have standards before a class ever starts. Students do not always enjoy a class with such qualified teachers, but students will be pushed to be the very best that they can be. You may say that the teachers are being generous with grades or maybe you think that they are being pressured giving the good grades, but either way the standards have been lowered. Whatever the reason for the inflation of grades may be students who wish to go above the average must be able to prove themselves exceptional in multiple areas. Colleges are looking for well rounded people who can hand more than one thing at a time. Students who participate in sports and music often times have a higher chance of getting a scholarship than someone who is not as well balanced.
Not all students are exceptionally gifted in academics. Schools are really good about making sure that every student gets an equal opportunity to success. Schools should be commended for trying to be a place where all students can be challenged and still feel good about themselves. The inflation of grades makes students feel better about their success, but an A doesn’t necessarily mean that you are the top of your class. Knowing that an A does not mean that you are an exceptional student is the first step to fixing the grade inflation problem.
Is Hannah Montana a good role model?
In an article discussing whether Hannah Montana/Miley Cirus is a good role model for teens the author, J. M. Rock, claims that she is a good role model for teens today. This article can be found at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/407616/is_hannah_montana_the_right_role_model_pg2.html?cat=25. In the article, Rock commends Hannah for being so moderately dressed, having appropriate lyrics in her music, and for avoiding scandals. Contrary to Rock’s point of view, I would argue that Hannah is not a good role model for kids because of how inappropriate Hannah Montana is when it comes to her lack of modesty in her clothing, her questionable acting, and in appropriate dancing. This is not the kind of role model I want to see setting the trend for young girls to be admiring and copying.
Is Hannah Montana a role model that our younger generations should be admiring? Last christmas at a family gathering as we were flipping through the channels on the TV the Party in the USA music video came on. When my 4 year old cousin saw this she started dancing and singing along! It was adorable watching my cousin dance to the music, but it was disturbing to me that my 4 year old cousin admired Miley Cyrus to that extent. Her parents went on to say that she knows every Miley Cirus song and that she goes around the house singing them constantly! In the article, Rock defends Miley by saying that "Mylie Cyrus seems to be a down to earth girl, who's very kind and loves life. She is a wonderful role model for preteens and teenagers." It seems unclear to me what this information is based upon. It does not take a very long time of watching youtube videos before you can prove this statement wrong. For example, after watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxUr2ggLlhI it is clear to me that Miley is not such a wonderful role model for preteens and teenagers. There has been a lot talk about the section of the song when Miley performed a pole dance, but even if we were to ignore that disturbing section of the song, her clothing selection was very inappropriate and not something that I ever want to see my sister dressed in. In the article, Rock states that "even in full blown Hannah Montana mode the character is always fully clothed, meaning there are no flashes of belly buttons from cropped tops and not once is her bottom exposed by wearing pants that are slung just a little too low." There was nothing about the video that I just watched that confirmed this statement truth, and if that wasn’t enough evidence take a look at this!
Even if Miley Cirus used to be modest in clothing choices, this has changed. Now she is encouraging modeling in a towel! As comfirmed by my 4 year old cousin, Miley Cirus's audience starts at a very young age. It saddens me to think that so many young girls admire Miley and want to be just like her. If my 4 year old cousin was to walk around dressed in the same attire that Miley Cyrus clothes herself in, many would be appalled. My cousin, along with thousands of other little girls, follow Miley’s every move. Is this really the best role model that America can come up with for our future generations?
Is Hannah Montana a role model that our younger generations should be admiring? Last christmas at a family gathering as we were flipping through the channels on the TV the Party in the USA music video came on. When my 4 year old cousin saw this she started dancing and singing along! It was adorable watching my cousin dance to the music, but it was disturbing to me that my 4 year old cousin admired Miley Cyrus to that extent. Her parents went on to say that she knows every Miley Cirus song and that she goes around the house singing them constantly! In the article, Rock defends Miley by saying that "Mylie Cyrus seems to be a down to earth girl, who's very kind and loves life. She is a wonderful role model for preteens and teenagers." It seems unclear to me what this information is based upon. It does not take a very long time of watching youtube videos before you can prove this statement wrong. For example, after watching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxUr2ggLlhI it is clear to me that Miley is not such a wonderful role model for preteens and teenagers. There has been a lot talk about the section of the song when Miley performed a pole dance, but even if we were to ignore that disturbing section of the song, her clothing selection was very inappropriate and not something that I ever want to see my sister dressed in. In the article, Rock states that "even in full blown Hannah Montana mode the character is always fully clothed, meaning there are no flashes of belly buttons from cropped tops and not once is her bottom exposed by wearing pants that are slung just a little too low." There was nothing about the video that I just watched that confirmed this statement truth, and if that wasn’t enough evidence take a look at this!
Even if Miley Cirus used to be modest in clothing choices, this has changed. Now she is encouraging modeling in a towel! As comfirmed by my 4 year old cousin, Miley Cirus's audience starts at a very young age. It saddens me to think that so many young girls admire Miley and want to be just like her. If my 4 year old cousin was to walk around dressed in the same attire that Miley Cyrus clothes herself in, many would be appalled. My cousin, along with thousands of other little girls, follow Miley’s every move. Is this really the best role model that America can come up with for our future generations?
Is Dance a Sport?
“Is Dance a Sport” is an article written by The Quimdecim that is found at http://media.www.thequindecim.com/media/storage/paper618/news/2003/03/05/SportsAndWellness/Is.Dance.A.Sport-385715.shtml. This article faces the question of whether dance is a sport or an art. In the article dance students at Goucher College discuss whether they think dance is a sport or not. Because dance fits so well in both categories, art and sport, it is seems that dance can be considered as both an art and a sport. Dancing is often times done in a competitive manor, as shown in dance studios where they compete in dance competitions, this aspect of dancing is very easily argued as a sport. Though on the other hand, dancing is not just about perfecting, it is also about performing and entertaining the audience, this aspect of dancing is all about the arts.
In the heat of this discussion, between the dance students at Goucher College, the dictionary definition of a sport was brought up. The dictionary says that a sport is "an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively." If it is to be argued that dancing is merely a sport, because it is physical and has rules, are there not plenty of other activities that should quality as a sport? Professional ball players get paid for being exceptionally skilled at memorizing plays, learning rules, and executing all the things they have learned. Art, when defined, is “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, or what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.” Although dance is a physical art, it fits into this definition of art just as much as is does the definition of a sport, if not more. When watching a dance performance it is really boring to watch the dancer perform his/her routine technically perfect with no expression, instead generally the audience likes to see an expressive, beautiful performance, such as the definition of art.
As it was said earlier if it is to be argued that dancing is merely a sport, because it is physical and has rules, are there not plenty of other activities that should quality as a sport? No one ever questions’ whether playing an instrument is a sport. After all there is a lot of competition involved between musicians, and for most instruments it is very physical. While playing the oboe, for example, it is very easy to run out of breath, especially while playing for an extended period of time. As far as rules are concerned, there are certain guild lines that musicians have to follow as well. This being said though, if someone would say that music is a sport there would probably be a heated argument! The same goes for dancing, although dancing is a physical activity it is nearly impossible to argue that dancing is not an art.
In the heat of this discussion, between the dance students at Goucher College, the dictionary definition of a sport was brought up. The dictionary says that a sport is "an activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively." If it is to be argued that dancing is merely a sport, because it is physical and has rules, are there not plenty of other activities that should quality as a sport? Professional ball players get paid for being exceptionally skilled at memorizing plays, learning rules, and executing all the things they have learned. Art, when defined, is “the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, or what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.” Although dance is a physical art, it fits into this definition of art just as much as is does the definition of a sport, if not more. When watching a dance performance it is really boring to watch the dancer perform his/her routine technically perfect with no expression, instead generally the audience likes to see an expressive, beautiful performance, such as the definition of art.
As it was said earlier if it is to be argued that dancing is merely a sport, because it is physical and has rules, are there not plenty of other activities that should quality as a sport? No one ever questions’ whether playing an instrument is a sport. After all there is a lot of competition involved between musicians, and for most instruments it is very physical. While playing the oboe, for example, it is very easy to run out of breath, especially while playing for an extended period of time. As far as rules are concerned, there are certain guild lines that musicians have to follow as well. This being said though, if someone would say that music is a sport there would probably be a heated argument! The same goes for dancing, although dancing is a physical activity it is nearly impossible to argue that dancing is not an art.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Reflection on My Friend Michelle, an Alcoholic
In the story My Friend Michelle, and Alcoholic, Bridgid Stone talks about her college roommate, Michelle, who was a problem drinker throughout college. As Bridgid describes Michelle’s drinking addition, she also explains her reasoning behind the effects of drinking. Bridgid also describes the ongoing problem of statistics showing the increasing number of college students who give in to alcohol. This increase in drinking during school has become a problem not only for the grades that students are receiving but also for dedication that students put into their studies. Drinking in colleges have become a “must do” in the social atmosphere in college, but this social habit can become addicting creating problems in the academic part of college as well as when creating a professional appearance needed for finding a job after college. Drinking in college is can be harmful when making decisions about our future.
Drinking is a real problem in colleges today. According to Fraternities and Sororities on Contemporary College Campuses, “73 percent of fraternity advisers believe that alcohol is a problem in fraternities.” As if that is not evidence enough that there is a ongoing alcohol problem in colleges, it is reported in Alcohol and Youth that “more that 80 percent of all college students surveyed had been drinking in the previous month.” As large as this number is, it did not come as a big surprise to me. It amazes me that students spend such a large amount of money going to college, but then waste their money by skipping classes due to carelessness’ such as getting drunk. I would also like to point out that students go to colleges to learn about a specific work field so that they can go and be professionals in their workplaces. Would you be comforted going into a surgery knowing that the doctor that is going to do your surgery spent his years of schooling going to parties and skipping classes? I would hope not!
In the story Michelle tells Bridgid that she only drinks “to loosen up; she is much more fun if she has been drinking.” Based on this explanation of why Michelle drinks it seems to me she drinks because it is the “right” thing to do socially. Also due to Michelle’s drinking addiction, she makes poor decisions such as choosing not to attend her morning classes. These poor decisions compound leading into much larger consequences. Drinking is just one example of how one things leads to one thing right after another. Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I love this verse because it reminds us that we need to be smart about our everyday decisions and that decisions that we make today will effect who we will become in the future.
Drinking is a real problem in colleges today. According to Fraternities and Sororities on Contemporary College Campuses, “73 percent of fraternity advisers believe that alcohol is a problem in fraternities.” As if that is not evidence enough that there is a ongoing alcohol problem in colleges, it is reported in Alcohol and Youth that “more that 80 percent of all college students surveyed had been drinking in the previous month.” As large as this number is, it did not come as a big surprise to me. It amazes me that students spend such a large amount of money going to college, but then waste their money by skipping classes due to carelessness’ such as getting drunk. I would also like to point out that students go to colleges to learn about a specific work field so that they can go and be professionals in their workplaces. Would you be comforted going into a surgery knowing that the doctor that is going to do your surgery spent his years of schooling going to parties and skipping classes? I would hope not!
In the story Michelle tells Bridgid that she only drinks “to loosen up; she is much more fun if she has been drinking.” Based on this explanation of why Michelle drinks it seems to me she drinks because it is the “right” thing to do socially. Also due to Michelle’s drinking addiction, she makes poor decisions such as choosing not to attend her morning classes. These poor decisions compound leading into much larger consequences. Drinking is just one example of how one things leads to one thing right after another. Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I love this verse because it reminds us that we need to be smart about our everyday decisions and that decisions that we make today will effect who we will become in the future.
The "scary and frightening" Lion King
Anyone who is going to read my blog today is a bored computer nerd.. oh there I go again stereotyping again. Well at least I am in good company. Both Disney, makers of the Lion King, and Margaret Lazarus, the author of All’s Not Well in Land of “The Lion King” make broad stereotypes about the characters in Disney film The Lion King. The Lion King, a story of a young lion prince who is deceived and threatened by his jealous uncle, the second in line for the throne, is an exciting story that has become a favorite movie that many kids remember loving. This story, though it has much some action, is not a threat to kids. In Margaret Lazarus’ evaluation of the movie, she claims that there is racism hinted at within the characters. I would like to argue that unless you are searching for something to be wrong with the movie this “racism” is not easily detected. For example, in a class discussion of Margaret Lazarus’ essay, where both black and white students where represented, the whole class agreed that Margaret was making a big deal out of nothing. While trying to get her point across about the different people represented by the character’s voices in the film The Lion King, Margaret is creates harsh stereotypes that make me wonder her ability to evaluate the movie fairly from an unbiased perspective.
Margaret Lazarus’ All’s Not Well in Land of “The Lion King” critiques The Lion King harshly. She accuses Disney of associating the characters in the film to people groups. “The hyenas are dark – mostly back – and they are nasty…one of their voices is done by Whoopie Goldberg, in a clearly inner-city dialect.” She goes on later to say similar bold statements about Scar, the bad lion who is trying to take over the thrown. “Scar has a black mane, and speaks in an effeminate, limp-pawed, British style.” Scar throughout the whole movie is trying to take away the kingdom from the lion price. Disney needed a distinctive voice that would represent “the bad guy” to the audience and Disney needed someone to do it. Although I disagree with her statement that Scar spoke in an effeminate and limp-pawed form, this proves the fact that Margaret is using very broad racist stereotypes. In an effort to try to get her readers to think about implied racial tension behind the movie, Margaret Lazarus simply makes many critical stereotypes that are racist herself.
While creating kids movies such as The Lion King, was it really Disney’s intension to have an inner city ghetto feel about them? Who are we to claim that Disney had racial discrepancy hidden within their movies? I think it is really important that we take into account the age of the directed audience that this film was originally created for. When a little kid is watching The Lion King -- a movie about a lion king and his cub, who is being threatened by a bad hyena -- I doubt that this prescribed kid is thinking about the racial meaning behind the voices. Let’s be wild and say that we come across a little kid who is thinking about the voices, what little kid is going to connect Scar’s British accent with being gay? Margaret Lazarus, though she has a right to be concerned that her son might be “scared and frightened”, has gone over the top in her critique of The Lion King by making the movie about racial discrepancy, when she has no proof that the movie was originally intended for that purpose. It can just as easily be argued that the voices that Disney used in The Lion King simply portray a vivid distinction between the “good guys” and the “bad guys”.
Margaret Lazarus’ All’s Not Well in Land of “The Lion King” critiques The Lion King harshly. She accuses Disney of associating the characters in the film to people groups. “The hyenas are dark – mostly back – and they are nasty…one of their voices is done by Whoopie Goldberg, in a clearly inner-city dialect.” She goes on later to say similar bold statements about Scar, the bad lion who is trying to take over the thrown. “Scar has a black mane, and speaks in an effeminate, limp-pawed, British style.” Scar throughout the whole movie is trying to take away the kingdom from the lion price. Disney needed a distinctive voice that would represent “the bad guy” to the audience and Disney needed someone to do it. Although I disagree with her statement that Scar spoke in an effeminate and limp-pawed form, this proves the fact that Margaret is using very broad racist stereotypes. In an effort to try to get her readers to think about implied racial tension behind the movie, Margaret Lazarus simply makes many critical stereotypes that are racist herself.
While creating kids movies such as The Lion King, was it really Disney’s intension to have an inner city ghetto feel about them? Who are we to claim that Disney had racial discrepancy hidden within their movies? I think it is really important that we take into account the age of the directed audience that this film was originally created for. When a little kid is watching The Lion King -- a movie about a lion king and his cub, who is being threatened by a bad hyena -- I doubt that this prescribed kid is thinking about the racial meaning behind the voices. Let’s be wild and say that we come across a little kid who is thinking about the voices, what little kid is going to connect Scar’s British accent with being gay? Margaret Lazarus, though she has a right to be concerned that her son might be “scared and frightened”, has gone over the top in her critique of The Lion King by making the movie about racial discrepancy, when she has no proof that the movie was originally intended for that purpose. It can just as easily be argued that the voices that Disney used in The Lion King simply portray a vivid distinction between the “good guys” and the “bad guys”.
Showing God's Love to People in Need
In the journal entry Raid Leaves Families Fractured, by Bruce Finley, it talks about the damaging results that occur after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement conduct a raid. This particular story tells how the raids affected Isabel Ramirez and her family. The ICE detained Isabel Ramirez’s husband, Juan, leaving her with their eighteen-month-old daughter, Brenda, their three-year-old son Juanito, and their seven-year-old daughter, Laura. “He was the only one working. He paid for everything, the bills, rent.” Along with the financial crises, which the broken families now have to deal with, there is also a lot of shame involved. The Ramirez family was not the only family affected in that area, though. As if this financial crisis is not enough to process, “the raids left more than one hundred children with no parents present” according to the church officials and community organizers. The financial crisis, shame, and orphaned children are all effects of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, whose goal is to find and deport illegal immigrants living in America. This leaves the families and communities broken and unable to support themselves.
In Matthew 25, it tells us that we are to take care of those in need. This past year in my Spanish class, we went on a field trip about immigration. We spent a great deal of time in a church that has set up an outreach to help illegal immigrants get American citizenship and to help those who do have citizenship get and keep jobs. After talking to a family who came over illegally, I acquired a great deal of sympathy for Mexicans here in America. The “hoops” that the U.S. government makes Mexicans go through in order to become American citizens is outrageous. Although I do not think that it is right to go against the law generally, there are times that it is necessary to do so. God’s law trumps man’s law. In the Bible God requires us to fulfill his law by meeting the needs of those less fortunate. Mexicans who manage to come to America are humans just like all those who were fortunate enough to be born in the States. We need to be careful to treat everyone just as we would want to be treated. I feel it is my duty to love and do what I can for those around me.
The effects of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, to find illegal immigrants in America, leave the families and communities devastated. What a perfect opportunity to help people in need. We need to be ready to let Christ live through our actions.
In Matthew 25, it tells us that we are to take care of those in need. This past year in my Spanish class, we went on a field trip about immigration. We spent a great deal of time in a church that has set up an outreach to help illegal immigrants get American citizenship and to help those who do have citizenship get and keep jobs. After talking to a family who came over illegally, I acquired a great deal of sympathy for Mexicans here in America. The “hoops” that the U.S. government makes Mexicans go through in order to become American citizens is outrageous. Although I do not think that it is right to go against the law generally, there are times that it is necessary to do so. God’s law trumps man’s law. In the Bible God requires us to fulfill his law by meeting the needs of those less fortunate. Mexicans who manage to come to America are humans just like all those who were fortunate enough to be born in the States. We need to be careful to treat everyone just as we would want to be treated. I feel it is my duty to love and do what I can for those around me.
The effects of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, to find illegal immigrants in America, leave the families and communities devastated. What a perfect opportunity to help people in need. We need to be ready to let Christ live through our actions.
Friday, January 22, 2010
My response to "The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl"
The essay "The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl", by Elizabeth Wong, is the story of a Chinese girl who was born and raised in the U.S. but still had many Chinese customs expected of her. Throughout the story, the young Chinese writer talks about her struggle to fit in with the American culture. Although the girl works very hard in her American studies, she is forced to attend a Chinese school as well where she learns the Chinese customs of her ancestors. It is important to the girl to do well in the American culture. It is also important to her and her brother that their mom learn the culture as well. Her excellence in learning and using the American culture is so obvious that even the surrounding Chinese community members notice. "Even the people in my culture would cluck and say that I'd do well in life." As the girl works to be an “all-American girl” she is also being forced to learn the Chinese culture. In this story, the author is showing the difficulty of being able to adjust to new surroundings.
I cannot relate to the struggles that the young girl and her family faced daily. The culture shock that her mom went through, coming from a Chinese background to America, must have been a challenge. Also difficult would be the girl’s dilemma, since she was born and raised in the U.S. After reading this story, it seems that both the girl and the mom have good reasons for their attitudes toward the Chinese culture. Although I see the reasoning behind both of their attitudes, both of their actions seem extreme to me. The mom forcing the girl to go to a Chinese school, outside of her consent, seems to be hard on the girl. She did not enjoy learning the Chinese costumes or culture. Thus being forced to attend the Chinese school only seemed to make matters worse. As hard as it was for the girl, she could have been more understanding toward her mom. That is how she was raised, so that is how she knew to raise her own daughter. In this case, a compromise of the two different wills would have been beneficial to both the girl and the mom. This can be a life lesson to help us open our eyes to the struggles and needs of others. You may not know the reasoning behind their motives, but we can always be more understanding of those around us.
I cannot relate to the struggles that the young girl and her family faced daily. The culture shock that her mom went through, coming from a Chinese background to America, must have been a challenge. Also difficult would be the girl’s dilemma, since she was born and raised in the U.S. After reading this story, it seems that both the girl and the mom have good reasons for their attitudes toward the Chinese culture. Although I see the reasoning behind both of their attitudes, both of their actions seem extreme to me. The mom forcing the girl to go to a Chinese school, outside of her consent, seems to be hard on the girl. She did not enjoy learning the Chinese costumes or culture. Thus being forced to attend the Chinese school only seemed to make matters worse. As hard as it was for the girl, she could have been more understanding toward her mom. That is how she was raised, so that is how she knew to raise her own daughter. In this case, a compromise of the two different wills would have been beneficial to both the girl and the mom. This can be a life lesson to help us open our eyes to the struggles and needs of others. You may not know the reasoning behind their motives, but we can always be more understanding of those around us.
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