Blog #4

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is a song that was sung by slaves in the south while they were working on plantations. Although the author of this song is unknown, the meaning of it is pretty clear by the lyrics of the song. One of the lines that is repeated many times throughout the song is "Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home," (Swing). I think that this line means that they just want to go to heaven because they would rather be up there than be enslaved. I think that every time the word "home" is used in this song it is referring to heaven because of other lines in this song. For example, in line 8 it goes "a band of angels comin' after me" and again in line 12 when it says "Tell all my friends I'm comin' too" (Swing). I think that this song has a very religious meaning. In Go Down Moses I noticed that one of the most repeated lines in this song is "Let my People Go!" which automatically makes me think of slavery (Go Down). As I was reading through the lyrics of this song, I began to realize that this song is also heavily based on religion. For example, it says "God-The Lord said 'Go down, Moses Way down in Egypt land Tell all Pharaoes to Let My People Go!" (Go Down). I think that these few lines mean exactly what it says, that God sent Moses to Egypt to tell the Pharaoes to let his people free. I think that this song and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot are similar in that they are both religious songs. In the song Keep Your Hand on the Plow, it also refers to Jesus and God quite a lot. On of the most repeated verses in this song is "Keep your hands on that plow, hold on" which makes me think that whoever is holding that plow is struggling to keep going (Keep). The writer of this song makes quite a few references to Jesus in this song, for example they say "Peter was so nice and neat Wouldn't let Jesus wash his feet" and "Jesus said, "If I wash them not You'll have no father in this lot."" (Keep). I think that a common theme in all three of these songs is that even if you are struggling to keep going, God is there and will help you through it. Once again I think that all of these songs include quite a bit of religion in them, which is also a philosophy found in the writings of Emerson.



"Keep Your Hands On The Plow - GospelSongLyrics.Org." GospelSongLyrics.org - Lyrics and Music to All Your Favorite Gospel Songs. Web. 09 Feb. 2012.

"Go Down Moses Lyrics - Lyrics." Gospel Music Lyrics. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. "Go Down Moses Lyrics - Lyrics." Gospel Music Lyrics. Web. 09 Feb. 2012.


"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Lyrics." Scout Songs: Song Lyrics for Boy Scouts Songs, Girl Scouts Songs, and American Patriotic Songs. Web. 09 Feb. 2012.

Blog #3

Walt Whitman was a nurse in the Civil War, and his poem Cavalry Crossing a Ford describes the scenes of a cavalry of troops crossing a ford. First of all, I would like to say that a ford is a stream because if you do not know what a ford is this poem makes no sense. In this poem, he talks about a group of troops that are crossing a ford, winding in and out between islands (Whitman). He talks about how the group of troops marched together at the same rhythm and how they stopped and loitered in the middle of the stream (Whitman). From reading this poem, I thought that Whitman seemed to be very patriotic. For example, at the very end of his poem he says "Scarlet, and blue, and snowy white, The guidon flags flutter gaily in the wind." (Whitman 7-8). I think that both Whitman and Emerson both valued and supported freedom, but they believed in different kinds of freedom. For example, the freedom that Emerson worked for was more of an individual type of freedom and the freedom that Whitman wrote about was freedom for his country. Something that I found interesting about this poem was that Whitman never talked in first person or referred to a single soldier, it was always as a group (Whitman). For example, he says "-- their arms flash in the sun--" and "behold the brown-faced men--each group, each person, a picture--" (Whitman 1-4). I think that this poem can be interpreted in many different ways, but the way I chose to look at it made it seem to be very patriotic. I think that Walt Whitman was very supportive of the Civil War because he was a nurse and because he helped the wounded soldiers. Something that all men had in common is their dislike for slavery. In writings from all of them they discuss freedom, and they did not like slavery because that takes away freedom.

Bibliography

Whitman, Walt. "118. Cavalry Crossing a Ford. Whitman, Walt. 1900. Leaves of Grass."Bartleby.com: Great Books Online -- Quotes, Poems, Novels, Classics and Hundreds More. Web. 09 Feb. 2012.

Blog #2

On November 19, 1863 Abraham Lincoln gave what is known today as one of the most famous speeches ever given (Basler). I remember back in eighth grade when we had to memorize parts of this speech, so it seems like it is very important. In this speech, Lincoln talks about the Civil War and about what people have done for our country to have the freedom we have. For example, he says "We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for
those who here gave their lives that that nation might live" and also "The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract" (Basler). I think that both of these quotes from the Gettysburg Address show that Abraham Lincoln feels strongly for freedom. This philosophy is one that is quite similar to a philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who also felt strongly about freedom. Emerson was a former slave so I think that his reaons are obvious for feeling so strongly about freedom. Abraham Lincoln talks about freedom in his speech when he says " -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- " (Basler). He is talking about how all of the men who gave their lives for this country did not die in vain because the outcome of it all will be freedom(Basler). Although I did notice a similar philosophy shared between Lincoln and Emerson, I believe that Lincoln and Thoreau have different views when it comes to government. In Lincoln's speech, he says " -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not
perish from the earth. " (Basler). I think what he means when he says this is that if the government is ran by the people, then it will not fail. On the other hand, in Thoreau's Civil Disobedience he says "After all, the practical reason why, when the power is once in the hands of the people, a majority are permitted, and for a long period continue, to rule, is not becausse they are most likely to be in the right, nor because this seems fairest to the minority, but because they are physically the strongest" (Lenant). From this passage I gathered that Thoreau felt that if a governemt is ruled by the people, everything is always going to go the way the stronger group wanted it to just simply because they were stronger, not right.

Bibliography

Basler, Roy P. "The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln." NetINS Showcase. Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Web. 08 Feb. 2012.

Lenant, Richard. "Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - 1." The Thoreau Reader. Web.

Blog #1

On July 5, 1852 Fredrick Douglass, who was once enslaved himself, gave a speech about the meaning of the fourth of July to black slaves (Joe). For most people, the fourth of July is a time of celebrating freedom and patriotism, but unfortunately for black slaves they were generally not allowed to celebrate (Joe). Some people believe that the black slaves were not allowed to celebrate the fourth of July because they feared that it would give them ideas of freedom (Joe). In his speech, he talks fondly of the men who were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, but then he begins to tell about the fourth of July from the point of view of black slaves (Joe). For example, he says "What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim." (Foner 13). This passage is a great example of how the black slaves felt on the fourth of July. I think that Fredrick Douglass and Emerson have quite a few philosophies that are similar. For example, both Douglass and Emerson believed that slavery was bad and they were both against it (Brewton). Both Douglass and Emerson also strongly believed in independence, which goes hand in hand with them being against slavery (Brewton). It seems that both men also have a strong belief that everyone should learn from their own experiences (Brewton). Although I think that both Douglass and Emerson share many of the same philosophies, I do think there is a difference in the writings of them. I think that it seems like Fredrick Douglass' writings are more from a logical point of view and that Emerson's writings are more spiritual. For example, throughout his speech Douglass talks about American Institutions, the slave trade, and American politics. To me it seems like these topics are more logic based than spiritual.

Bibliography

Foner, Philip S. "Africans in America/Part 4/Frederick Douglass Speech." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 07 Feb. 2012

Joe. "Frederick Douglass: On the Meaning of the 4th of July :: Racismreview.com."Racism Review. Racism Review, 4 July 2010. Web. 07 Feb. 2012

Brewton, Vince. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo [Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy]."Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Web. 07 Feb. 2012

Reflection Blog- Civil Disobedience

In Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, there are many characteristics from both the Romanticism and the Trancendentalism time periods. A few characteristics that are commonly found in Trancendentalism writing are that it is very political, it also values emotion over reason, and it stresses that every person knows the difference between right and wrong. There are a few similar characteristics between Romanticism and Trancendentalsim, but there are also quite a few differences. For example, Romanticism writings are more likely to include imagination and descriptions than Trancendentalism writings. I think that Civil Disobedience is a great example of Trancendentalism writing because the entire essay is about government, and one of the characteristics of Trancendentalism writing is that it is very political. Throughout his entire essay, Henry David Thoreau is discussing the problems he sees with the government and pretty much defines what he think is an unjust government. At the very beginning of his essay, he says that he agrees with this statement "That government is best which governs not at all", which I think shows that he really does not like the government (Thoreau's). One of the biggest things Thoreau argues in his essay is that there is sometimes a difference between what is right and what is voted on by the strongest group (Thoreau's). Basically what he is saying is that just because the biggest or strongest group votes on something, that does not make it right. He thinks that people should decide things based on conscience rather than majority rules. He says

Must the citizen, ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislator? Why has every man a conscience, then? I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward (Thoreau's).

Thoreau believes that if a person respects laws and the government to much, they will do bad things. He thinks that people should do what they are obligated to do, not just what the laws tell them to do. Although throughout most of his essay he is critizing the government, in this passage he states that he is not looking to eleminate government, but to make a better one

But, to speak pracically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obaining it (Thoreau's).

I think that Civil Disobedience was a really cool essay to read because it was filled with Henry David Thoreau's opinions on the government. I thought it was neat that he said just because its the majority does not mean its right because the majority could just be the strongest group, not necessarily the group that is justified. I think that Civil Disobedience is a great example of Trancendentalism simply because of how political it is and because that is a characteristic of the writing style from this time.

Bibliography

"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - 1." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. .

Journal #26- Breaking the Rules

I think that maybe in some situations people see no other way out than to break the law, but if you ask me I think there is always a better way of doing things. There are some people who break the law for fun, which I think is kind of ignorant but there are also people who break the law because they do not know of any other way to get what they need. There are a lot of laws that everyone breaks like speed limits and curfews, which is not really a big deal but I think shoplifting and things similar to that are never acceptable because there is always a better way to get the things you need to live. For example, if you do not have enough money to pay for your own food then there are many ways you can get around this without stealing food. If you have more stable relatives then maybe you could go ask them for help, and if that is not an option there are still many other ways to get by without shoplifting. Some people break laws for fun, which should not ever be acceptable but I suppose some of the laws that we have in society today are really pointless and stupid. For example, jay walking is illegal so I think that everyone has broken that law and in my opinion it is acceptable to break that law because it is so silly. Sometimes I wonder why people break the laws because with all of the technology we have in today's society it is almost impossible for them to get away with it. If someone is shoplifting there are censors on many items, cameras outside and inside the store, and if all of that fails it is likely that there are witnesses around to see it all go down. I think that people should really think about all of their options before they go and break the law because almost every time there is something that can be done to help them out.

Reflection Blog- The Minister's Black Veil

Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote The Minister's Black Veil, which is a short story that tells us about a sexton who wears this black veil over his face and about all of the drama and mystery this black veil brings. I thought that this story was kind of weird at first, but once I finished it and looked back at what everything actually meant it was a pretty cool story. This story starts out with people's first reacitons to seeing Mr. Hooper with a mysterious black veil covering most of his face. From what I understood from this story, it seemed that people thought that he was crazy or that something. For example, on page 283 there is a quote from a man discussing the matter with his wife:

But the strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary, even on a sober-minded man like myself. The black veil, though it covers only our pastor's face, throws its influence over his whole person, and makes him ghostlike from head to foot (Hawthorne 283).

This passage shows a glimpse of how some of the people in the town felt about the mysterious black veil that covered the face of their pastor. I think that because Mr. Hooper wore this black veil, he troubled many of the members of his church because no one knew why he was wearing it. Finally when Mr. Hooper is on his death bed, he tells everyone that he had been wearing the black veil because of his own personal belief that his black veil was similar to a persons face because both hide a persons evil thoughts and sins (Hawthorne 280). That right there is a quality of Dark Romanticism writing because they expressed the belief in sin and evil throughout this story. The Minister's Black Veil included many characterisitcs from the Romanticism and Dark Romanticisim time period. A few characterisitcs of the Dark Romanticism time period are that it is said to pay attention to the mysteries of life, and to have a belief in sin and evil (Dark). In addition to those characteristics, people during these times valued feelings and emotion over reason and also emphasized looking inward for the truth (Dark). I think that it is pretty cool to see how much people freaked out about Mr. Hooper wearing a veil over his face because if you really think about it, it is not a big deal. I think what scared people most about the black veil that covered their minister's face was the fact that to them the meaning behind it was a mystery. People thought Mr. Hooper had gone crazy, or that he was a monster, but really he was just proving a point. He believed that a veil is the same as a person's face because they both hide the truth and sin. I think that the way the people react to Mr. Hooper's black veil is very realistic though because I know that if something similar to that happened to me I would think they were crazy as well. I think that people fear what they do not have an answer to, and because they did not know why Mr. Hooper was wearing this black veil they feared it.

"Dark Romanticism - ArticleWorld." Main Page - ArticleWorld. Web. 23 Jan. 2012.

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. “The Minister’s Black Veil.” Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm,
Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed.
Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 280-289. Print.