Journal #11- Virtues

A virtue is a system of moral ideas or righteousness that a person lives by and demonstrates in their life.  A system of virtue that is many people follow is based in religion.  A person may believe in the values of their religion and try to live by them.  Their basis for decision making and thinking comes from their base values as a person.  A Christian may demonstrate compassion on someone who is less fortunate than themselves because one of their core beliefs is putting others before yourself.  This goes for all ways of life, not just Christianity.  What you believe in determines your view on life and the virtues that you choose to live by.

 You do not have to be religious to demonstrate a system of virtues though.  Benjamin Franklin never doubted the existence of a deity, but he was not fully devoted to the Puritan church either.  He shared many virtues that are similar to the ones held by religious groups.  This included the immortality of the human soul, the punishment for committing crimes, and that virtue is rewarded.  He also had some unique differences from the virtues of the Presbyterians of his time.  He believed that reasoning and logic could answer any question in life, and that church should not be about making people Christian.  Rather it should be about trying to make people morally stronger and better citizens. 

My system of virtues is based in my faith as a Christian, and my goal to be the best version of myself that I can be.  My set of virtues includes the attempt to live honestly, boldly, and faithfully in all that I do.  This means that I try to do my best in school, even when it seems pointless, and do my best in sports.  When I have a bad day, I cannot let that stop me.  Your personal system of virtues is what defines you as an individual and sets the standards for your life.

The Declaration of Independence

                 The Declaration of Independence, written by mostly Thomas Jefferson, has been one of the most influential documents ever written.  Its influence goes beyond the shaping of our own country, and remains the basis for many others like it.  Though it is such a remarkable piece, this great work of literature does have its blemishes.  The Declaration of Independence contains a number of propaganda techniques and minor errors in faulty logic including negative labeling, false statements, and exaggerations that are used to promote the cause of freedom in America. 

                Negative labeling, also known as name calling, is the most used propaganda technique in The Declaration of Independence.   Thomas Jefferson refers to the King of England as a “tyrant” and an ignorant king ( Jefferson 122).By using these terms in reference to nobility, Jefferson is tearing down his opponent and backing up his reasons with logical facts.  Name-calling adds to the effect of King George the Third’s mistreatment of America and promotes the cause of freedom in an appealing way to the patriots.  Another negative label that Jefferson places in this important piece of literature is on the Indians.  He refers to them as “merciless Indian savages” which also promotes the idea that the Americans are doing the right thing, while the Indians are causing so much trouble.   (Jefferson 124). This also comes from a negative view of the natives due to constant struggle for desired land between the opposing factions.

                False statements are another propaganda technique that is used to make The Declaration of Independence more appealing.  These instances are not direct lies, but they do not tell the full truth either   (Recognizing 1). The most apparent example of this is within the first few lines where Jefferson states “that all men are created equal”.  Although many Americans would like to believe this, our society proves that this is not the case.  The same was true for Americans back in the late eighteenth century also.  The upper and middle class have always dominated government.  Everyone may have the right to vote, but the treatment of various groups is very different.  By adding this statement into The Declaration of Independence, Jefferson gained the support of the lower classes by promising them equality.  Though equality still has not occurred, it has become much closer since the colonial times. 

                Exaggerations are the final propaganda technique and errors in faulty logic that is recognized in The Declaration of Independence.  Thomas Jefferson used these literary devices to emphasize his point and make English rule in America look worse than it was.  An example of this is Jefferson’s explanation of why England changed the government of Canada.  By “establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example  and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these colonies” (Jefferson 124).  Threatening America was not the sole reason that Canada’s form of government changes, so Jefferson was exaggerating his point to make the English look like the enemy.  All the exaggerations that he uses are slight so they fit into the Declaration well, and do not take away from the overall argument. 

                Propaganda techniques and sources of faulty errors in logic like exaggerations, false statements, and name-calling, are spread throughout The Declaration of Independence.  All of these examples are only seen in subtle locations and are used to increase the impact and appeal of this work of American literature.  The Declaration of Independence has long been one of the most important documents written by an American, and will remain to be because of its power and guaranteed rights to all people. 

Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." Glencoe Literature. Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 2009. 120-24. Print.

"Recognizing Propaganda Techniquesand Errors of Faulty Logic." Recognizing Propaganda--Guide to Critical Thinking--Academic Support. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2012. <http://academic.cuesta.edu/acasupp/as/404.htm>.

Journal #10- Brach's Star Brites mints

I think Mr. Langley should bring Brach's star Brites mints to class on Wednesday.  There are many apparent advantages to having mints in class.  The first is that it gives you good smelling breath.  If someone forgot to brush their teeth that morning, it would provide an opportunity to have better smelling breathe for the rest of the day.  It can also take the place of gum, which can be very messy when people are irresponsible.  Hard mints like these provide the perfect substitution for other candies that make breathe smell better.

 Another reason why we should have Brach's star Brites mints is it can keep the excess talking to a minimum.  Students will be too busy sucking on their mints, that they will not talk to each other during class.  This will help keep everyone on task, and much more will be accomplished during the course of the hour.  This can also play a factor into keeping the students from thinking about lunch.  With a mint to eat, students will not be as anxious to get out of class and to the lunch room.  This will provide a better thinking environment for the class.

We should bring Brach's Star Brites mints to class because it provides an chance to prove that high schoolers can be trusted with food in class.  Often times teachers do not give us food because they think we will make a mess and not clean it up.  By having mints, it gives us a chance to prove that we are responsible students and will clean up our garbage after we are done.  A final reason why we should have Brach's Star Brites mints next class is because we have successfully argued our point.  We deserve these mints because we understand the importance of persuasive arguments and the benefit that it can have.

Journal #9- Autumn

Autumn is a great season.  It is a time of change in nature, and beginning of the dormancy of life.  Leaves begin to change colors and fall off the trees, and the weather gets colder.  It is a time of a new school year, where every still wants to see each other.  Spirits are high in the fall for Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to seem only a few weeks away.  For me, the fall can sometimes be a stressful time, especially during this year. Cross-country, marching band and homework seem to take up all my spare moments.  Though it is a fun time going to football games, and supporting the team, it takes a lot of work to prepare our field show for band.  Autumn is in the prime time of the cross-country season.  Every week the team puts in around forty miles and has at least two races.  This is a great time, for the weather is perfect for running.  Practice is hard, but it is well worth it at the end of the season. Another thing that autumn brings is cool weather.  There is just something about walking outside in the fall that is different from every other season.  It feels fresher even though nature is slowing going into dormancy.  There is less light outside in the fall, but that does not stop me from having a good time.  When I was a kid I used to love raking leaves and jumping in a pile of them after I had worked so hard.  Autumn is a time of making great memories with friends and family and celebrating the changes of nature.  Two views can be taken from this season, one of optimism of change or pessimism of nature dying and life going into dormancy.  I tend to take the first view on this season, and look forward to the change back into winter where everything looks so clean when covered by snow.  Autumn is an amazing season.

Journal #8- Rational Approach

An emotional experience often times results in rash decisions that are made without thinking.  It takes a lot of drive and wisdom to make rational choices in a situation like this.  A time in my life that has involved this rational decision making was when I did not finish well in a track meet.  I was not happy with the way I ran or the time I finished in at the sectional meet.  I was seeded first because the two kids ahead of me dropped out.  A half hour previously I had run the 4x800 and qualified for state in that event.  I was tired and nervous by the time the 800 came around.  I took the race out too slow and ended up in fourth place with a 2:04.  I was severely disappointed in my time.  I let my emotions get the better of me for a while, but I decided to make the conscious decision to not give up.  I still had one more race at the state meet, and I would work my hardest to do well in that race.  I was fueled by the anger I felt at losing the race and the determination of running well for the rest of my team and myself.  It ended up being a blessing of not running at state because it was a very hot day and I got to just enjoy the experience of being there instead of stressing out over a race. Chosing the rational way to deal with my situation resulted in a better end to my season, than what would have occurred if I continued to pout.  By overcoming my emotions of anger and disappointment, I was able to enjoy the rest of the season and have a positive attitude about the years of running still to come.  Chosing the rational choice often is harder, but in the end produces better results. 

The Crucible Act 4

Puritan forms of literature went through some major changes at the end of the seventeenth century.  Their religion had become a pretense rather than a lifestyle for many people.  The literature of the time addressed the dangers and results of Puritans’ actions.  “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards and The Crucible by Arthur Miller have some very similar elements pertaining to the characters including the hypocrisy and negativity of the Puritans and the attempted purification of its people. 

The Puritans in the Crucible and the Puritans of Jonathan Edward’s sermon were more focused on how negative the Puritans could be.  Jonathan Edward’s sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” showed the wrath of God and how the Puritans needed to view themselves as worthless. They had become so sinful that they needed to be threatened to realize their own problems (Edwards  98).  The Crucible also portrays the Puritans as being negative and vengeful toward each other, worried more about outward appearances than about any kind of internal faith.  These works both lead to the conclusion that the Puritan religion has become authoritative and judgmental as a result of a faith of rituals rather than heart felt belief. 

Both these stories tell of the hypocrisy within the Puritan body of believers of their time.  In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Edwards preaches against this dangerous sin and tells the people that hell is waiting for any who do not repent.  He even specifically mentions that there was many in the crowd that was looking to their neighbor, when really the problem was in themselves.  The Crucible also had much hypocrisy within it.  Abigail knew the truth that the witchcraft was all a hoax, but continued to use the cover of an afflicted girl calling out to God for help.  Even Parris, the minister, would go about condemning others for their sins, when often times he did the same things they did.  When he accused Proctor of not going to church, Proctor responded that it was because Parris hardly ever mentioned God any more (Miller 29).  In both these stories hypocrisy is described by the characters’ actions and the fall from true faith in God. 

Another similarity between these works of Puritan literature is the attempt to return life to control under Puritan beliefs. To accomplish this task in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Jonathon Edwards used vivid imagery and an accusing tone to turn the hearts of his listeners back to God.  He also went into detail about the destruction of people and the end of the earth.  The early Puritans thought it was a sin to go into great detail, but by the time Jonathan Edwards started writing sermons, that thought was over looked.  Some people repented after hearing such a strong sermon, but many continued in their sinful ways.  The Crucible also attempted to return life to Puritan control.  Their way of life had become so entangled in selfish beliefs that they went about it an entirely wrong way.  When witchcraft was rumored in town, it became the goal of many prominent men like Parris and Hale, to purify the community from these sins.  Going about it in this way brought division in the town and did more bad than good.  Even though both of these stories tried to redeem Puritan principles, their goals were not accomplished completely. 

Both “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and The Crucible demonstrated the extremes that can occur under the pretense of religion.  Hypocrisy, negativity, and attempted purification are all results of holding a religious guise.  The change from the original Puritan beliefs and doctrines to what is described in these two works of literature, proves that Puritans are no longer the pilgrims of the New World, but a changing social class who must address their own needs before they destroy themselves.    

 

Edwards, Jonathan. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."  American Literature. Ed Jeffrey Wilhelm. Columbus: McGraw-Hill/Glencoe, 2009. 63-70. Print.

 

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Journal #7- Bullying

Bullying can have major effects on both the bully and the victim.  This impact can be both physical and emotional.  The bully normally starts with an identity problem that leads them to take these actions against other people.  They believe that bullying other people will make them feel better, when really it does not.  Bullying often leads to more hurt feelings on both sides and the bully's integrity of themselves is decreased because of their actions.  The victim on the other hand may be effected either physically, emotionally,  or even  both.  The bully could physically hurt the victim by beating them up or he could just say hurtful comments.  Either way, the victim is often left scarred and feels inferior to everyone else after an effect like this.  The victim learns to fear the bully and avoid him as much as possible.  Bullies and victims are seen in many pieces of literature including The Crucible.  Abigail can be considered a bully because she causes so many families to be broken apart and the town split between ideas.  Her identity problem of wanting Proctor, but not getting him led her to take these actions.  As she continued to go with the "witchcraft" idea, she fell farther into the pit she was digging herself.  Being a bully in this case, caused her to lose her child innocence and integrity to her God and community.  Though others did not know she was acting, God did who would judge her in the end.  Puritan life was centered around God and following his commands.  By starting this "witchcraft" Abigail had bullied and lied to her own society to try to fit in.  The victims were the countless souls that she and the other girls accused of witchcraft.  There lifes were destroyed by either actual death by hanging, or life in prison.  Even if they confessed, they had to deal with the guilt of lying.  Bullying as seen in The Crucible can lead to major consequences for both the bully and the victim.

The Crucible Act III

Human nature and the Puritan beliefs often contradict each other.  Human nature is what people do automatically without thinking about what they are doing.  The Puritan rules, on the other hand, force the Puritans to be conscious of and careful about everything they do otherwise it could be counted against them.  The contradictions between human nature and the Puritan rules become evident in the third act of The Crucible.  Many elements of the dark side of human nature are reflected in The Crucible including selfishness, rumor feeding, and blaming others for mistakes. 

                Selfishness is a common element of human nature portrayed by the characters in The Crucible.  Many of the characters in this play were only acting on their own selfish ambitions instead of the good of the community.  Proctor accused Mr. Putman of this by saying that he was calling people out in order to buy their land after they were sentenced.  (Miller 96).  Religion had become a cover up instead of a way of life for these Puritans.  Abigail is another example of this selfish ambition.  She wanted to win back Proctor’s love and tried to call out his wife as a witch in order to win him over.  (Miller 23).  This purely selfish motive had many more consequences than Abigail could have originally expected including sending both the Proctors to prison. 

                Another element of human nature displayed in this play is the spread of fear and rumors.  Human’s basic instinct is to shun the unknown and follow the crowd. In The Crucible, the trouble started when a few girls lay “sick” in bed and the rumor of witchcraft involvement began to spread.  This fear brought forth a fast string of events where impulse held more power than wisdom.  The townspeople fed on the fear, and some used it to their advantage.  Abigail used her new found power to manipulate the court into arresting her adversaries.  She used the human natural instinct of panic to get her own way even when it was morally wrong.  The judges Danforth and Hathorne were also controlled by these widespread rumors and fear in the town.  They tried to retaliate harshly by punishing unconfessed “witches” with death all in the name of Christianity. (Miller 88).   The human emotion of fear had driven this town past the point of logical choices to social chaos. 

                A final element of human nature seen throughout The Crucible is humans’ reaction to blame others and not themselves.  The Puritans were thrown into jail and hung because their neighbor blamed them of being a witch.  When certain people in the community realized that their society was breaking down, they became angry at the leaders of the court and were thrown in jail as well for breaking the rules and challenging authority.  Puritan religion said that Mary should tell the truth, but her, and all the children, lied to escape punishment.  Mary wanted to do the right thing, but her fear of taking the blame for the conflict was too strong.  (Miller 118).  All the girls experienced this.  They had the choice to repent and ask for forgiveness, but chose to continue in their “witch hunt” because they did not want to be blamed and punished for their actions. 

Human nature is not always pretty, and these less boastful qualities like selfishness, fear, and blame are reflected in The Crucible.  Often times it was very difficult to be a proper Puritan because the religious rules conflicted with human nature.  It is only in the darkest trials that the true qualities of human nature are put against the moral integrity of the human spirit.  At this point, it is apparent which quality the Puritan character is truly living for, themselves or their religion. 

 

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Journal #6- Repercussions

There can be many repercussions to blaming someone for something that they did not do. These would include making enemies of people that were once friends, and normally what goes around comes around.  If you were to steal a cookie from the cookie jar and blamed it on someone else, this could lead to major consequences.  You might be able get away with it for a little while, but eventually the truth could be found out.  The first thing that would be hurt is your own integrity.  It is morally wrong to lie and this would destroy your sense of truthfulness in your own eyes.  A second repercussion that will most definitely affect you in this scenario is that you will lose a friend.  The person on whom you placed the blame will know the truth though no one else does.  This means that they will no longer put the same trust in you that they once did.  Another example of blaming something for what they did not do occurred in The Crucible.  Jealousy led Abigail to lie about people committing witch craft when they really did not.  Most people believed her lies, but Proctor knew the truth.  The repercussions of Abigail's actions lead her to lose her friendship with Proctor and he no longer trusted her at all.  He tried to get the truth out, but no one believed him enough to save him.  Another repercussion that Abigail faced was the possibility of being discovered.  If they townspeople found out that the girls had been lying the entire time, there would be major consequences.   Some sort of repercussion always follows blaming someone for something that they did not do.  Most of the time it only means losing that friend, but the consequences can get much more severe.  As seen in The Crucible, many more problems can arise from just one accusation. 

The Crucible Act II

The characters in The Crucible have very different personalities, which influence their actions and feelings toward one another.  These personalities intersect with the circumstances that arise and result in a crisis that impacts an entire community.  Ultimately, it is the conflict between personalities that allows the unfortunate loss of innocent lives.  

 John Proctor is one of the main characters in The Crucible.  He is portrayed with a “green” personality which suits his thinking attitude.  He, along with his wife, doubts the legitimacy of witches in Salem and this opinion made them a prime target for accusations.  John fits under the role of a green personality because he uses logical ideas to come to conclusions and often questions authority.  Proctor disagrees with Reverend Parris’s sermons and believes him to be a selfish hypocrite.  He is not afraid to vocalize this fact either.  “Take it to heart, Mr. Parris.  There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more” (Miller 29).  Proctor again challenges authority when Cheever tries to arrest Elizabeth, John’s wife.  Proctor responds by pushing Cheever away and only when Elizabeth tells him to stop, does he submit.  (Miller 74).  Proctor’s personality is what defines his character and the actions that it drives him to take. 

Abigail Williams is portrayed as the antagonist of The Crucible with an “orange” personality.  She is the opposite of Proctor because she is a doer, and she rarely thinks before she acts.  Abigail started the whole plot of witches in Salem with a night of dancing with voodoo and music.  Her rash actions led to the death of many people, and the destruction of a once peaceful village.  (Miller 19).  Abigail is an orphaned girl that longs for acceptance and is a risk taker that acts on impulse.  She has an affair with Proctor before the book starts that ended with Abigail longing for more and hating Elizabeth for keeping John.  This impulsive anger drives Abigail to go along with the witch’s outbreak.  She seems to thrive during the crisis and uses the mass paranoia to her advantage by accusing those who she held grudges against with witchcraft.  Her desire to be accepted and gain power in the community leads her to such ends.

Reverend John Hale is another prominent character in The Crucible.  He has a “gold” personality that demonstrates his motivation to help others and to return order to the community.  Hale is responsible and dedicated to his position and enjoys the authority it provides.  Hale honestly wants to solve the mysterious symptoms seen in Salem, but makes the wrong choices to do it.  He is responsible for diagnosing the young girls with being controlled with witchcraft which throws the entire village into an uproar.  (Miller 39).  Hale’s goal was to use his knowledge to save Salem, but he ends up siding with the witch hunters and is in charge of questioning suspects.  He enjoys the public spotlight and likes the authority and respect that accompanies his job.  His personality leads him to make many of these choices based on his own knowledge and pride.  He desires to be self-sufficient and so does not ask for assistance in determining the validity of the claims.

All three of these characters made very different decisions throughout the Salem witch trials driven by their personalities. John Proctor, John Hale, and Abigail all had unique character traits which gave them each a different view on the events that were unfolding before them.  Their personality and resulting character worked against them to intensify the unfolding issues in Act 1.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.

Journal #5- 21st Century Punishments

I believe a fair 21st century punishment should involve taking away children's technology.  Technology has become such a large part of the life of American children that it only sounds correct to take away these rights if they disobey their parents or do something wrong.  By taking away ipods, Gameboys, xboxes, and computers, the child not only is given a chance to rethink their actions, but also learn how to live with out these electronics.  These forms of technology have become so entertwined in our society that most people do not know how to function with out it.  Between Iphones, Ipods, laptops, and television, a person cannot go a day without interaction with these devices.  Most people cannot even go an hour without them, or if their cellphone buzzes, they do not have the patience to wait to read it.  This instant reaction has proved that people of this society no longer know what patience is.  Many technology users think that everything should be there at a click of a button or screen and there should be no wait.  The problem is that life is never predictable so teaching children a lesson by withholding technology has more than one benifit.  I have realized that many kids these days no longer have much of an imagination because the computer and television does all the idea making for them.  I have noticed in my own life that it is hard to just make up original ideas that I have not taken from some sort of technology.  As a punishment it is important to discipline children so they do not make the same mistake twice.  The society of today is leaning further towards this control of technology in peoples lives and it is important to know how to function without these luxuries.  Children today are being influenced by technology at a younger and younger age, so we must be careful what they are being influenced by and respond properly when they make mistakes. 

The Crucible Act 1

The Puritan lifestyle is commonly associated with religion, laws, and piety.  Through The Crucible, these Puritan values are shown in a distorted light, where corruption and selfish motives tarnish this self-righteous image.  This book shows how tradition and truth can often times get warped by the changing society around it.  The Crucible represents the Puritan lifestyle through religion, hospitality, and   government and reflects how these components breakdown during the Salem witch trials. 

                The Puritans took their religion very seriously.  They went as far as to hang or imprison people they thought who believed in something other than their beliefs.  Their lives centered on their religion, the position of Reverend in the community was the highest position, and all their rules centered on their religion.  However, their view of religion became twisted during the time of the Crucible and they began to use it as an excuse to destroy their neighbor instead of loving and helping them.  Religion became synonymous with punishment rather than love.  Another way the Puritan’s beliefs were falling apart is seen in when a lady named Abigail confronts a man named Proctor about their affair together.  (Miller 23).  Puritans were not permitted to commit adultery, but Proctor committed it with Abigail against his wife reflecting a breakdown in the community values.

In the community, outward hospitality was expected and people were not to seek vengeance or air their disagreements.  However, this value of hospitality breaks down during the witch trials when people begin to accuse their neighbors of heresy and witchcraft.  When Proctor loses his temper and accuses Parris of not preaching about God in church is one of many examples of this failing value.    The Puritan religion says that a person should not hold any grudges against another person or get vengeance for them.  This rule was broken as soon as people were blamed of witchcraft.  If a person did not like another person all he or she had to do to get rid of his or her adversary was to call them a witch.  This abuse of Puritan beliefs shows that people were willing to compromise their integrity for earthly happiness. 

The Puritan society during the time the book took place was governed by the people in the church. The people heading the trials were from the local community and they determined whether or not a person was a witch.  These people had the most power because they held the lives of many people in their hands.  Essentially the Puritan form of government broke down and people governed themselves during the time of The Crucible because they could blame anyone of being a witch and that person would soon be gone.  This situation made people watch their every move because they were paranoid that their neighbors would call them a witch.  During the Salem witch trials nature became important because they used it as evidence against people in court.  For example Goody Osburn, a midwife to Mrs. Putnam was accused of killing three of her children in childbirth when really they were all just still born or miscarried.   (Miller 47).  Also, they were able to use the supernatural as evidence, they could claim to have been visited by a spirit and use that as evidence against someone else.
            
         The overriding element in the Puritan society was their religion.  Once their religion was compromised, it impacted the other components of government, hospitality, and views about each other and nature. Without the sense of community, the Puritan society could not function.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY: Penguin, 1996. Print.