bradsaptblog

It was difficult for me to come up with just one idea to write about amongst the 90+ pages we were assigned over this weekend. The first striking part of this book is the way Mr. Lewis is able to go back and forth between present day and the past. As an author, it is usually a tough task to do this without confusing the reader, but Lewis does it in a way that allows those reading his words to follow and even understand better. Besides that, the idea that I suppose stickes out the most for me was Lewis' commitment to non-violence as the civil rights movement began to heat up. This idea was made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King, and it still astounds me that they were able and willing to voice their concerns in a loving and Biblical way. Its almost hard for somebody like me to fathom, because if I were oppressed the way those men were, I would be so furious that violence would probably be extremely appealing. There were some in the civil rights movement who preached hatred, but the peaceful revolutionaries ruled the day. Lewis discusses how he was learned the teaching of Ghandi, and other peaceful men, and also how Martin Luther King taught him to love those who hate you. Again I reiterate, that way of thinking is hard for me to accept, but I thank God for men like that.

-Brad

For this post, I would like to discuss Douglass's speech regarding the Fourth of July. I very much enjoyed it, for I have never looked at that holiday through the eyes of a people not free. July 4th would be the ultimate slap-in-the-face to those enslaved as its a day where American's celebrate their Independence. Douglass illustrates wonderfully the true feelings of the black man at a time when they had absolutely no rights, which is impossible for me reading it to truly understand. All I and others can do is read his words and learn from them. We must not only learn about the good in our past, but also that mistakes made by our fore-fathers. His descriptions of the physical torments and injustices that slaves had to go through were nauseating, and the section where he blames man for slavey saying it is not the will of God to do something like this was very interesting. This speech reminded me of those Martin Luther King gave a century earlier, and that comparison is a compliment to both men.

-Brad

Reading Douglass is obviously a stark contrast from the words of Lincoln. Putting history into perspective is always important so that one can really feel how things were, and the story of Frederick Douglass does that with excellence. For me, the most interesting and sad part was his description of himself as a slave-boy. One particular part that really got to me was when he compared a slave-boy from a white-boy. He says that the white-boy cannot really be a child, because he is under the constant microscope of high society. But a slave-boy, could roll around in the dirt, and just do the things that young boys should be doing. That part of the book almost glorified his enslavement, which I felt was unfortunate. After reading the way these children had to grow up, and the sadness they had to feel, like when Douglass was betrayed by his grandmammy, it is unbelievable that an institution like slavery was even able to exist. The way Douglass wrote these chapters allows the reader to feel his pain, not to be too cliche, but I believe that aspect of this reading is powerful, and probably his intention.

-Brad

There have been numerous great and memorable speeches given in the history of our great country, and some not so great. But in my personal opinion, the two very best political speeches were assigned for us to read for today. First is the Gettysburg Address, which I feel is the absolute best. It was so short and so perfect for the occasion, that even afterwords people wanted to get copies of the speech. A little known story about the day it was dedicated, the keynote speaker spoke before Lincoln, and allegedly rambled on for almost two hours. He was a famous writer and orator of the time, but bored people so badly that they began getting restless and talking amongst themselves. The Lincoln got up and in just two paragraphs captivated the nation. The worlds of that speech are forever enshrined on the wall of his memorial in our nations capitol. Lincoln was able to honor those who died at Gettysburg better than any political figure could today, which is unfortunate.

I believe the second greatest speech in American history is his second inaugural address. It really reflected the mood of the nation as the civil war was drawing to a close. As his first inaugural was long and optomistic, his second was short, realistic, and healing. Lincoln knew better than anyone that the nation was in shambles, and it was his job to use his words to begin putting it back together. The speech was amazingly well written, and Lincoln once again amazed the country that elected him twice through its most trying years. Unfortunately, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated only two months later. The last paragraph of his address is probably the most famous, and when read its obvious why:

With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan -- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.

Perfection.

-Brad

For this post, I will discuss Lincoln's address about Colonization. Again, I was shocked. I actually had heard a rumor that Lincoln wanted to send black people to a foreign country but I never believed it was true. I was wrong. I'm not sure how Mr. Lincoln came up with this idea, perhaps he was so desperate for a solution to the problem of slavery this popped into his mind. Who knows. But what I do know, thanks to the letter to Horace Greeley, Lincoln was willing to do whatever it took to save the Union. He says he didnt care about ending slavery if he could save the Union. Evidentally, he was willing to begin a massive exportation of black people to either Latin America or Liberia.

God only knows what would have happened if this plan would have been executed. Im even willing to admit that for blacks at the time, this idea might have been appealing. After being enslaved and oppressed for so long, why wouldn't you want to leave? Obviously, what was proposed never happened, for reasons I am unaware of. But just the fact Lincoln has such an idea illustrates the dire time in which this speech was given. We cant even fathom such language or ideas today, which is probably a good thing. But this is an unfortunate piece of our history as Americans, and being educated on the bad points only makes us better as a people.

-Brad

I decided to write this post about the Fourth Lincoln-Douglas Debate. This particular speech by Lincoln was shocking to me. It doesnt seem like he is saying these words in satire, but I hope I am mistaken. In class, we discussed how some historians claim Lincoln had a tendency to give political positions depending on his audience, and his words in this particular debate might be conclusive evidence of that theory. In this speech, he basically says that he does not believe blacks should be equal to whites, like his opponent appearently claimed. He even goes so far as to say that blacks are inferior to the white race, which is an unfortunate choice of words.

Obviously, Lincoln was known, from prior speeches and writings, to be someone who thought slavery was wrong, but it seems he wanted to make sure that no person saw him as an advocate of racial equality. This speech, if I am reading it correctly, is a tarnishment upon the image of one of the greatest American's. In defense of Mr. Lincoln, I truly feel his words signify more a sign of the times, rather than his actual opinion.

Allow me to precede my observations by making a personal one; I absolutely love reading Lincoln. The way the man used words should be the envy of every person who writes in english. His eloquence is unmatched, and his intellect obvious. Thank you for assigning this book.

Now, on to the reading.

I would like to analyze the first reading. What struck me immediately was Lincoln's knowledge, as early as 1838, that a conflict pitting American against American was basically imminent. His optomism regarding the state of our nation at that time was refreshing, but his outlook bleak. He says:

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.

He ended that speech with a colage of praise for our founding fathers, but also with a warning for the young men in the audience. Lincoln knew that the generation before him was great, but also a dying breed. He realized that the sons and grandsons of the Revolutionary's would have to inherit their land and laws, but must not blindly follow their blue prints. The next group, according to Lincoln, must not only preserve and remember what the framers fought for and created, but make it better.

Again, the speech was very uplifting, but also very honest. He began by citing some cruel injustices that were popular in the day, mainly the lynching of people unfitting such punishment. He explained why such action should not be accepted, and because of those types of actions, the best among us should rise up and take the lead. It was a very appropriate speech to give to an audience made up of youth. Typical Lincoln.

If I were to be brutally honest, which our recent class discussions would warrent, I have absolutely no idea what Emerson was trying to say in the "Experience Essay." It was so long that it just ended up becoming way too confusing. I could not gather a common theme, perhaps I am just not smart enough to gather his thesis, and for that I apologize.

The second reading was a little most understandable. The most interesting aspect of that essay was Emerson's obvious disdain of the federal government. As we have seen in his past writings, he is very much an advocate for the individual, and I gathered from "Politics" that he feels the more powerful the government, the less powerful and free the individual. He says the following:

Hence, the less government we have, the better, -- the fewer laws, and the less confided power. The antidote to this abuse of formal Government, is, the influence of private character, the growth of the Individual; the appearance of the principal to supersede the proxy; the appearance of the wise man, of whom the existing government, is, it must be owned, but a shabby imitation.

I believe he feels like laws constrict people, and even make us more evil on the whole. He is also very critical of political parties, and he realizes, even in 1844, how many simple toe the party line regardless of what repercussions their acts might involve. This portion gives good insight for people today to realize that the polarization that we see now is nothing new to our democracy. He says, "From neither party, when in power, has the world any benefit to expect in science, art, or humanity, at all commensurate with the resources of our nation."

-Brad

My favorite piece of this writing by Emerson is as follows:

Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other. It undergoes continual changes; it is barbarous, it is civilized, it is christianized, it is rich, it is scientific; but this change is not amelioration. For every thing that is given, something is taken. Society aquires new arts, and loses old instincts. What a contrast between the well-clad, reading, writing, thinking American, with a watch, a pencil, and a bill of exchange in his pocket, and the naked New Zealander, whose property is a club, a spear, a mat, and an undivided twentieth of a shed to sleep under! But compare the health of the two men, and you shall see that the white man has lost his aboriginal strength. If the traveller tell us truly, strike the savage with a broad axe, and in a day or two the flesh shall unite and heal as if you struck the blow into soft pitch, and the same blow shall send the white to his grave.

Ive never really looked at society through a zero-sum lens. I have always thought that we advance as a people, without having to give something back. Im not sure I agree with Emerson here, but his argument is certainly intriging. I also like this essay as a whole. The idea of self-reliance is one that I completely believe in. When he says, "Insist on yourself, never imitate," I take those words to heart, and If more people thought like that, especially today, I believe we wouldnt have such an image problem in our culture. That entire paragraph was very well written and very uplifting in my opinion.

Finally, I like the fact that Emerson uses God in this essay. I understand that he was a religious man, and he uses our Creator throughout his works, but I believe it is especially special on this level because of the emphasis on the individual. This is one of his best writing.

-Brad