Defining One's Place in Society

Emerson believes in the power of the individual to decide for themselves what role they want to have in society. He discourages the idea of conformity because he feels as though the differences amongst those in a society is what makes one stand out. Emerson says, "Ordinarily, everybody in society reminds us of somewhat else, or of some other person". In stead he insists on a society infused with character and reality. For one to establish their place in society, they must show that they are unique and have different ideas and opinions that have yet to be entertained by society. In Emerson's opinion, society seems to be a unity of clones; the same type of people, with the same desires, who make the same decisions regarding their lives. Nobody offers new ideas or strives to be any different. This could be because of a fear of being misunderstood or not accepted by those around them. Often times, those who are misunderstood by society become the ones recognizable years later for having found their place. Emerson agrees, saying "Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took to flesh". He concluded that "To be great is to be misunderstood". Those that are great are the ones who found their place in society. Everyone else (the clones) seemed to have simply faded into the background of an anti-individualistic society.

Thoughts and Memories about 9/11 and The First Amendment

It was a beautiful, September morning. I remember walking into my second grade classroom and taking my assigned seat. My teacher walked through the door, heading straight for the television. Click. I had never seen something so tremendously terrifying and sad before in my life. Being so young, I was unaware of what was going on. Returning home after school I entered a melancholy house. My mom's cousin was missing (later pronounced dead) and everyone was still distraught by the occurrences earlier that day. Most of us wondered why we were attacked and what had we done to deserve to be treated this way? News reports interviewed witnesses and relatives of missing people. It seemed as though a common idea began to be circulating amongst the American people; Muslims are the enemy. This idea seems to still be consistent amongst some American people's beliefs today, especially regarding the recent news of a Florida pastor deciding to burn the Koran. I do not believe it is fair to blame a whole race of people for a small group's mistakes. Though the First Amendment allows freedom of speech, it is not a good idea to allow for this pastor to burn the Koran. This public, offensive act would most likely result in an outbreak of revenge-seekers. This act would provoke terrorists to attack once again! The First Amendment was established in the best interest of the citizens. However, allowing the Koran to burn, would most definitely not be beneficial to the people. President Barack Obama agrees. "I hope he listens to those better angels and understands that this is a destructive act that he's engaging in," said the President yesterday. Since the president's statement, the pastor says he has reconsidered. I am not looking for any more horrifying memories, and would be grateful for the pastor not to burn the Koran. If he is stopped from doing so, another attack on the innocent people of America could be prevented.

"Whatever", "Bold Men", and Zinn's Revolution Response

"It is important to remember that despite the hardships, not a single one of them defeated or failed to honor his pledge".

It seems as though all of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were corageous leaders willing to do whatever it took to ensure freedom from Britain. They endured a lot, whether it was ridicule, or a lack of support from the people, "they paid their price and freedom was born.

Response to Thomas Paine's 'The American Crisis'

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph," says Thomas Paine regarding the conquest for freedom during the American Revolution. He believes that with no pain, there is no gain and uses his words to encourage the readers to take a stand for their rights. It seems as though he bribes the colonial people to act by guaranteeing that God will make it worth one's while. Paine leads the colonists to believe that since petitioning and debating freedom from Britain did not work, war is the only other option. He justifies this by saying that "God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or laeve them unsupportedly to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent". This convinces the readers that God will watch over them and keep them from harm if they fight for their beliefs. Though I think Paine's approach to convice colonists to fight is effective, I do not believe it is right of him to guarantee each person's safety under the guidance of God. I think he realized that it was night right of him to do so because later in "The American Crisis" he states that he loves "the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection". On the contrary, I think it was wise of him to encourage the people by saying that they could be heroes. It gives one a greater sense of purpose, and overall I think that is what convinced the colonists to fight.