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The power of the individual: The American Enlightenment and Romanticism
During the 18th century, scientific and social changes reshaped the concept of the self. The individual slowly separated from the collective and began to develop as an antithesis of the collective agrarian society of prior centuries; thus, giving rise to a wave of new philosophical thought that evolved into the popular movement of the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment developed around the belief that scientific thought and expression should be free from religious interference and that the foundations of society should be human reason and logic. Over time, these ideals gave rise to Romanticism which introduced the contrast of nature and the self, the internal desires, feelings and beliefs, and juxtaposed Nature with science. Franklin, Poe and Thoreau each represent one of the three popular faces of Enlightenment and Romanticism: Franklin, a well-respected Enlightenment writer, focused his writings on the improvement of the social order through improvement of the self and the realization of a deistic world; Thoreau, an Emersonian or “bright” Romantic, merged Nature with science and allowed for both to work simultaneously while emphasizing the individual’s ability to remove themselves from the flow of society; Poe, a “dark” romantic, wrote mainly on the way the individual views his world and the way the nature of the mind can recreate the world.
The following text comes from an American Army guidebook that was distributed during the second World War to soldiers stationed in Iraq.
(Emphasis added to some lines.)
SOME IMPORTANT DO’S AND DON’TS
Keep away from mosques.
Smoke or spit somewhere else—never in front of a mosque.
If you come near a mosque, keep moving (away) and don’t loiter.
Keep silent when the Moslems are praying (which they do five times a day) and don’t stare.
Discuss something else—NEVER religion or politics or women—with Moslems.
Remember the fear of the “evil eye.” Don’t stare at anyone. Don’t point your camera in anyone’s face.
Avoid offering opinions on internal politics.
Shake hands with the Iraqi; otherwise don’t touch them or slap them on the back.
Remember that the Iraqi are a very modest people and avoid any exposure of the body in their presence.
Keep out of the sun whenever you can. When you can’t, keep your head and neck covered.
Start eating only after your host has begun.
Thoughts on Ronald Reagan’s 1964 “A Time For Choosing” Speech
This speech was televised during the Goldwater campaign in 1964 in support of his candidacy. This was a sweeping speech touching on most of the hotbed issues of the time; Vietnam, welfare, taxes and the ever over budget American government.
This speech was made directly to the people, and although it was made in support of Goldwater, it seems to be a foundation of Reagan’s political career. Reagan went beyond the basic party line that the democrat’s were ruining America, and picked at every fault in the democrat’s plans, he blasted away at all of the programs of the “Great Society”, exposed the gross inaccuracies in the planning and execution of existing programs. He then portrayed Goldwater as a kind and caring individual, who would do anything to help someone in trouble.
Analysis Cuban missile crises letter to Kennedy from Khrushchev
The letter was a long-winded appeal by Russian Premier Khrushchev attempting to convince President Kennedy to not invade Cuba and end the United States blockade; in return, Premier Khrushchev promised that the Russians would stop shipments of armaments to Cuba.
The letter is directed to President Kennedy personally and places all the blame for the situation on Kennedy entirely. Khrushchev paints a picture of an evil America threatening the peaceful communist countries of the world and in a very propagandist maneuver describes communists as hard-working peaceful peasant farmers who want nothing more than pleasant diplomatic relations with their neighbors.
Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings” as a Look Into Racism and Life in General.
Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings” is a wonderful look into the mind of a girl in her battles with racism, sexism and coming to terms with herself. Her story begins at the age of three on the way Momma’s store after her mother put her on a train and ends years later after the birth of her son. Through out this time Maya must learn to live with others perception of her and even more difficultly herself.
Maya’s rape set the stage for the rest of her life. It starts off for Maya as just searching for affection and she begins to look at Mr. Freeman as a father figure, however Freeman takes advantage of this and after two smaller incidents rapes her. Freeman not only rapes her but rather than being a so-called crime of passion plans it specifically.
Analysis of Susan Estrich’s “Thin Thin Line Between Safe and Free”
The line between safe and free speech is quite thin, or so Susan Estrich claims. In reality the line is actually non-existent because in stopping free speech you also stop the basic foundation of the constitution. However occasionally, under the correct circumstances it is more important to stop the speech, for whatever reason, than ensure the right to the same speech. Because even if it does deny the freedom of speech, it can also prevent the spreading of speech that would likely cause death or injury.
