Thursday, April 17, 2008
The American Dream Essential Question Answered
Individuals are those that make up the community so if one individual is cut off from reaching the American dream because the community of nine others needed the one to fail in order for their own benefit then the rejected one is going to resort to the only available form of success which could manifest in steeling material goods to satisfy greed or murder to satisfy revenge. Both of which are counterfeit of true success because it means that not everyone reaches success in the end. So then that leads to the question that the American Dream might not even be true success if it means the failure of one for the benefit of another. So if this is true people are going in circles and if the American Dream is really the answer to everything if everyone can attain it, meaning that some will not, then life is meaningless. Fortunately the American Dream is not the answer to all our problems and humans are not in control of supreme order.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
REVOLUTION: Essetial Question
Peace and Liberty are deserved by all. So if disagreement or insurgence arises it is to be put down imidiatly before it disturbes the delecate balance of order.
This idea is of course obsured because it is contradictory and does not result in peace.
So the thought is that you need violence to achieve peace and liberty.
This was, and continues to be, the mindset of Americans who wanted to reach a eutopia for themselves even if it means the downfall of another.
So the Question is:
Can peace an liberty be attained for every individual in a community without a violation of the very goal of a eutopia?
This idea is of course obsured because it is contradictory and does not result in peace.
So the thought is that you need violence to achieve peace and liberty.
This was, and continues to be, the mindset of Americans who wanted to reach a eutopia for themselves even if it means the downfall of another.
So the Question is:
Can peace an liberty be attained for every individual in a community without a violation of the very goal of a eutopia?
REVOLUTION: "The Crisis No. 1"
REFLECTION:
“The Crisis No. 1,” is just another justification of violence through observing the faults of powers and determining which should be excommunicated from the picture in order to have order. The peace and independence, through shortsightedness to them, seems only attainable through an act of war against Brittan. This is what they think they can justify through scriptures and civil liberties. Yes Brittan has violated its own liberties but that doesn’t mean it has to be punished, it means it has to be corrected. Whether that be through a work of the spirit or an act obedience to Brittan because of its higher authority it doesn’t matter but violence disappeared from the list of solutions with the resurrection of Jesus.
DIARY ENTRY:
December 23, 1776
Dear Diary,
I’ve just read a pamphlet by Thomas Paine on the current crisis for our new nation. It has brought to me a new and refreshed sense of my duty and obligation to my country. God is surly on our side and the hard work of our fathers has brought us to this day in which we become the fathers of this nation and work to bring liberty to our children. Freedom is what the goal is, and freedom is what we fight for. It, in my eyes, is priceless but by the grace of God we can grasp it through our strife and struggle. I am thankful to the Lord who brings such blessing to the undeserving. Liberty!
“The Crisis No. 1,” is just another justification of violence through observing the faults of powers and determining which should be excommunicated from the picture in order to have order. The peace and independence, through shortsightedness to them, seems only attainable through an act of war against Brittan. This is what they think they can justify through scriptures and civil liberties. Yes Brittan has violated its own liberties but that doesn’t mean it has to be punished, it means it has to be corrected. Whether that be through a work of the spirit or an act obedience to Brittan because of its higher authority it doesn’t matter but violence disappeared from the list of solutions with the resurrection of Jesus.
DIARY ENTRY:
December 23, 1776
Dear Diary,
I’ve just read a pamphlet by Thomas Paine on the current crisis for our new nation. It has brought to me a new and refreshed sense of my duty and obligation to my country. God is surly on our side and the hard work of our fathers has brought us to this day in which we become the fathers of this nation and work to bring liberty to our children. Freedom is what the goal is, and freedom is what we fight for. It, in my eyes, is priceless but by the grace of God we can grasp it through our strife and struggle. I am thankful to the Lord who brings such blessing to the undeserving. Liberty!
REVOLUTION: "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"
REFLECTION:
“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” is a brilliantly written speech which mirrors, exceptionally, the mindset of white/free citizens in the United States during the late 17 hundreds. Written by a man under the influence of an obligation to Both God and one’s home country extracts the most sincere and unadulterated perspective of “patriots” to the US. The common theme was that they were responsible to their country first and God second. This of course was never spoken, especially by the church but was the presiding thought concerning obligation. Now this thought in itself is, for one, contradicting; as where it says you are to hate your family and friends in comparison to your love of God (in the bible by which they said they lived their lives). Another contradiction is when Henry states that the only lamp unto his feet is his experience; he is wrong by this if, as he says, he has this obligation to God. It’s not only that Jesus should be the only light unto his feet but the reason for that is because when we are born again as Jesus says, our past is no longer in a place of authority over our new lives. So as born again Christians we are BORN AGAIN, so in a sense we have no previous life. There are things from our past that arise and try to form the lie in our minds that we are products of our past. An example would be of an alcoholic who was delivered from his addiction to alcohol. You can almost guarantee that a friend who’s still drinking is going to send them an invite to go partying or something involving alcohol. But we, now living under a Greater Truth of freedom and liberty in Christ, we are no longer slaves to our sinful past, whether we are ashamed of it or not, it has no power either over us or our destinations.
DIARY ENTRY:
March 23, 1775
Dear Diary,
Patrick Henry has just recently addressed the current situation under the imminent influence of war on our flourishing colony. With powerful words and commanding statements he has won the hearts of many and, by God, liberty is in grasp for this new America. For my love of country and of God I will pursue the freedom and independence for our country for that is what we will be and should be. We have power and I praise God for what we have. We will take our nation by force and eliminate our oppressors. For I cry in unison with the patriots of America “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death,” is a brilliantly written speech which mirrors, exceptionally, the mindset of white/free citizens in the United States during the late 17 hundreds. Written by a man under the influence of an obligation to Both God and one’s home country extracts the most sincere and unadulterated perspective of “patriots” to the US. The common theme was that they were responsible to their country first and God second. This of course was never spoken, especially by the church but was the presiding thought concerning obligation. Now this thought in itself is, for one, contradicting; as where it says you are to hate your family and friends in comparison to your love of God (in the bible by which they said they lived their lives). Another contradiction is when Henry states that the only lamp unto his feet is his experience; he is wrong by this if, as he says, he has this obligation to God. It’s not only that Jesus should be the only light unto his feet but the reason for that is because when we are born again as Jesus says, our past is no longer in a place of authority over our new lives. So as born again Christians we are BORN AGAIN, so in a sense we have no previous life. There are things from our past that arise and try to form the lie in our minds that we are products of our past. An example would be of an alcoholic who was delivered from his addiction to alcohol. You can almost guarantee that a friend who’s still drinking is going to send them an invite to go partying or something involving alcohol. But we, now living under a Greater Truth of freedom and liberty in Christ, we are no longer slaves to our sinful past, whether we are ashamed of it or not, it has no power either over us or our destinations.
DIARY ENTRY:
March 23, 1775
Dear Diary,
Patrick Henry has just recently addressed the current situation under the imminent influence of war on our flourishing colony. With powerful words and commanding statements he has won the hearts of many and, by God, liberty is in grasp for this new America. For my love of country and of God I will pursue the freedom and independence for our country for that is what we will be and should be. We have power and I praise God for what we have. We will take our nation by force and eliminate our oppressors. For I cry in unison with the patriots of America “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!”
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Culture Clash
LITERATURE:
INDIAN NAMES AND WHITEMAN NUMBERS
In the old days of the Cherokees all
used to have just one name; but back
when everybody had to get enrolled,
they had to give two names before
they were given a roll number. That
was so there would be no confusion
about people with the same name.
Well, when people went down to
enroll they would pick out just
anything for a second name, because
they thought it was all just some sort
of whiteman's joke anyway. I guess
that's how the Drywaters and the
Rattlinggourds and Roastingears
and Snakeheads and Dreadfulwaters
all got their names.
One time there was a whiteman
that came and hired a crew from
around here to work on a government
project. We all went down to work
the first morning and that whiteman
had a list of roll numbers and we
were all supposed to give him our
names, so he could write them down
in his book. Well, he read out the
first number and Crabgrass Gritts
gave him his name. Then he read
the second number, and Chickadee
Augerhole gave his name. Then he
read the third number and
Groundhog Rooster told him his
name. That was when that whiteman
quit writing and said, "Now come
on, you fellows, this is serious
business. I've got to have your real
names to put down here; and I don't
want you fooling around and
stringing me along like that."
Well, after a long time we got him
quietened down so he believed that
all those names were real names,
sure enough. So then he called out
the fourth roll number, and I don't
remember now if it was Hawkshooter
Pigeon or Birdtail Nofire that
answered. Come to think of it, it
might have been that old man
Peacheater Peacheater.
REFLECTION:
In the old days of the Cherokees all
used to have just one name; but back
when everybody had to get enrolled,
they had to give two names before
they were given a roll number. That
was so there would be no confusion
about people with the same name.
Well, when people went down to
enroll they would pick out just
anything for a second name, because
they thought it was all just some sort
of whiteman's joke anyway. I guess
that's how the Drywaters and the
Rattlinggourds and Roastingears
and Snakeheads and Dreadfulwaters
all got their names.
One time there was a whiteman
that came and hired a crew from
around here to work on a government
project. We all went down to work
the first morning and that whiteman
had a list of roll numbers and we
were all supposed to give him our
names, so he could write them down
in his book. Well, he read out the
first number and Crabgrass Gritts
gave him his name. Then he read
the second number, and Chickadee
Augerhole gave his name. Then he
read the third number and
Groundhog Rooster told him his
name. That was when that whiteman
quit writing and said, "Now come
on, you fellows, this is serious
business. I've got to have your real
names to put down here; and I don't
want you fooling around and
stringing me along like that."
Well, after a long time we got him
quietened down so he believed that
all those names were real names,
sure enough. So then he called out
the fourth roll number, and I don't
remember now if it was Hawkshooter
Pigeon or Birdtail Nofire that
answered. Come to think of it, it
might have been that old man
Peacheater Peacheater.
REFLECTION:
This small clash of cultures is almost humorous. Sympathy to an innocent mindset over matters that the other point of view has built in order to thrive is prominent in this selection as the issue of names is seen as a minor struggle to maintain order. You can't help but be lifted by the foolishness of either side; whether it be the side that does not understand customs or the side that failed to educate.
With Lack of Understanding and failure to elaborate on the cultural lifestyle of the laboring white man, I find that the employers of the company are the ones at fault: if they expect certain things of the Indians but don't bother to reach a level of understanding or compromise of cultures, for the cultures. So from small infractions such as the double name scenario lead to the shattering of one of the two cultures, in this case Native American.
With Lack of Understanding and failure to elaborate on the cultural lifestyle of the laboring white man, I find that the employers of the company are the ones at fault: if they expect certain things of the Indians but don't bother to reach a level of understanding or compromise of cultures, for the cultures. So from small infractions such as the double name scenario lead to the shattering of one of the two cultures, in this case Native American.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
"Of Plymouth Plantation"
What could now sustain them but the Spirit of God and His grace? May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: "Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity," etc. "Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and His mercies endure forever." "Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how He hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord His loving kindness and His wonderful works before the sons of men."
The first thing I noticed in this section is that right after giving complete credit to God, they say that their children will be proud to say that their fathers were englishmen who came over the great ocean. More appropriatly i would have expected a reference from the old testament exodus and elaboration on rejoicing or complaining through strife. They priase the Lord because He's good not becuse He duos things for them, that expresses a good level of revelation on their part. His mercies did extend to them unfairly though as he so graciously is. Praise God that if life were fair we'ed all be in Hell. I am impressed by this section seeing as it expresses good understanding for that period of time.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Anne Bradstreet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persevere
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
This is a great expression of a responsible relationship in bloom. In her art Anne Bradstreet was able to depict a love for her husband based on a foundation of understanding without absolute dependency.
Repetition: the first three lines begin with "if," emphasizing points that describe the same thing.
Metaphore: with an inderect metaphore she compares her love to that of something that can be exhausted such as that "which a river cannot quench. She also, through this line, excersizes the use of imagery with love fulfilled by water.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Team Members
ricksamdream.blogspot.com - Rick Wachowiak
jcartrettedream.blogspot.com - Jenna Cartrette
jcartrettedream.blogspot.com - Jenna Cartrette
Saturday, March 1, 2008
American Dream Interview
John Escobar:
Do You Feel You Have Fulfilled the American Dream?
No. But, I feel I’ve discovered the joy of being in the process of learning to dream with God and find my greatest dreams in Him. And only He can fulfill those. What is the “American” Dream anyway? Money, riches, wealth, financial independence? Or, simply freedom to live and work for something you love and find your true place and purpose in this earthly life in a way that can impact other people’s lives for the highest good? And, what is the highest good? I believe that can only be found in God, the One Who is the Highest Good. And, if dreams are built on our deepest, most intense hopes and “hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when it is fulfilled it is a tree of life. . . ,“ then maybe we need to consider our hopes more seriously and really seek to find the Tree of Life.
Dan Gaudinier:
The American dream, if by that you mean prosperity and happiness… having traveled abroad, I start thinking, “Am I living the kingdom life? Am I living in rightness with God? I’m happy, I’m secure financially, I don’t really think about the American dream that much at all. I’m glad I live in America with freedoms that others don’t have, but I’m not constantly striving to the owner of a multi-billion dollar corporation in that sense I already got everything I need and I’m living to further the kingdom of God and I’m preparing to bring up my children and my whole family to do that even when I’m no longer living on this earth.
Norma Escobar:
What is the American Dream? If it means freedom to do work you love and to be able to make a living at it, then yes. I have meaningful work that allows me to make a difference in the world. I think sometimes we think things like cars, houses, financial security or the other things we equate with the “American Dream” will give us happiness. Happiness does not come from stuff. It comes from being content in who you are, who you’ve been created to be. It comes from within. I appreciate living in a country where I have freedom to pursue my dreams and to feel safe from government intervention. In that sense, I do feel like I have fulfilled the American Dream. I am truly blessed.
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