Blog #11 Response to Mimi Heald

I agree with Mimi that both stories definitely talked about the importance of a noble death.  In both stories, there is talk about how African American went through brutal deaths and white people would just watch and yell.  I think this is a very disturbing thought and the fact that there was no respect when the African Americans were killed is unbelievable.  I think further that the authors were trying to describe these terrible actions to make the readers cringe and understand how terrible the lynchings were that took place back during that time period.  One part that really stood out to me as well is when the man is describing to the reverand why he lies.  It really shows the fear that the fugitive man has for the terrible death that he had watched happen to his friend.  Mimi does a really good job of describing the important points of both of these readings and shows the pain that the African Americans experienced during these lynchings.  I can't imagine watching a friend go through that horrible experience, and it was an almost normal thing during that time.

Blog #9

One significant comparison that I found between the time period of 1865-1914 and today is the progression of technology.  Both of these time periods have been huge within the progression of technology. Although the innovations between 1865-1914 were a lot more important, there have been big changes in our technology as well. Between 1865-1914 the light bulb, the telephone, the typewriter, the radio, the motion picture, the automobile, and the airplane were all created.  These are still some of the most important inventions in our lives today.  I think we have reached a time period in our lives where crazy new inventions are coming out.  Some inventions that have struck me as very innovative are the iPhone 4Gs and 3D television.  The iPhone 4Gs has a computer simulated voice called Siri that you can ask any question to and receive an answer.  The 3D television is pretty self explanatory, but it is amazing the picture that you can get from it.  Although these inventions are much more technological than the inventions of that time period, they are the important inventions that are shaping our community.  Ottmar Mergenthaler invented the linotype machine in 1882.  It was a revolutionary typesetting machine that helped improve methods of distribution and help publishers produce for the amount of demand for printed material.  Thomas Edison called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World."  I could compare this to the invention of the email.  Email has made it much easier for writing to be transfered between people, and has made communication and distribution so much easier.  Without email, there would still be the process of using "snail mail" to transfer documents.

Blog #10

One point in time when I came to a significant insight in my life was when my best friend passed away my senior year of high school.  I was miserable for weeks with the thought of losing such a significant person in my life.  I couldn't go to school for a while and really had a hard time with the realization.  Over time I came to realize that I had learned so much from him and what had happened.  Although it was the most tragic thing I have endured in my life, I learned to appreciate everything that I have been given.  I have been very blessed with an unbelievable group of friends and family and I have been able to cherish them so much more through what I have experienced.  You can never take for granted all of the blessings you obtain in life and I learned to always appreciate them.  My friend, August, had tons of compassion and I have come to realize how important it is to live like that.  I have always tried to compare myself to August since he passed back in 2008.  He was the most care-free person I have ever met, and I was always the worrier.  I came to realize how important it is to do everything you ever wanted to do.  You never know when something can happen and I never want to feel that I didn’t get everything out of life.  It was the worst thing I could have ever asked to happen, but it enlightened me on what is important in life.

Blog #8

John Brown's Last Speech and Henry Highland Garnet's "From a Memorial Discourse" both state that the institution of slavery should be extinguished throughout America on the basis of our Constitution and of Christianity. As a southern plantation owner, I must say it is intriguing that they should make such claims as our country is founded on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I suggest that I am in my own pursuit of happiness and have the liberty to own a plantation and my slaves that tend to it. When I was a citizen prior to our secession of the United States, I was wrongly denied this freedom, as my slaves were not citizens and therefore do not have the same claims to liberty as I do. I have a fundamental disagreement with Garnet's argument: "...all men holding allegiance to the government shall enjoy every right of American citizenship", because I do not believe that slaves should ever be given the right to become citizens. I disagree with John Brown's Last Speech because of its tenants regarding religion as he says he "...endeavored to act up to that [God's] instruction", because I do not consider myself a Christian and was free of religious persecution when I lived in the United States as well. So I disagree with Brown’s speech, as I should not have to abide by his Christian rules.  My non-christian values do not require me to treat others on an equal level and I prefer a country where I am not forced into religious ideals. Deliberating on both these matters, I am grateful to have seceded with the south where I can enjoy true freedom and possess slaves as they play an big economic role in my life.