Q: Explain the major similarities and differences between FDR's and Obama's Inaugural Speeches. Feel free to comment on similar happenings and circumstances, but also on similarities and differences in structure and content.
A: Both our past president Franklin D. Roosevelt and our current president Barack H. Obama have been faced with difficult times in our country. They have both stated that there is a great need of change and it will not be an easy task. The country is in a state of a failing economy and citizens losing what they have. It is time to have a change and it has to happen now.
In Obama's Inaugural Speech he states, "Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; business shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet." In this one paragraph he sums up many of the greater seen problems we our currently fighting in our society. The first step in changing these problems is addressing them before any action is made. As FDR said, "...it can never be helped by merely talking about it." Action needs to made, but it has to come from the citizens as well, not just our president.
Past President FDR states in his first Inaugural Speech many of the same problems that need to be faced. He says, " They concern, thank god, only material things." Which was true at the time. It was mainly around money and how much we did not have. He states, " Values have stricken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone."
During the 1930's, the United States of America was facing the same difficulties that are repeating again today. The similarities between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Barack H. Obama's Presidency Inaugural Addresses have many of the same qualities for they have to face very similar problems in our society. Although, they do have differences as well. Today, we are faced with more global warming and are doing more harm to the earth then almost 80 years ago. FDR's speech did mention the need to care more for the earth and "go green" a little more, but Obama is wanting to make many more changes and a much bigger effort to change what is happening to our o-zone layer and to our world. Another difference would be the fact that we just elected an African-American would also mean that he had to make a bigger effort to convince the public that he is going to change our country and help our people.
The differences in the two Presidents also shows through their writing and how they present their speeches. I have not heard FDR's speech but I have read it in text and he does make many good points about what needs to change. Listening to Obama's speech during his inauguration was very uplifting. He shows how much he wants to change our country's problems and make our world a better place. I think that he is going to make a difference and be a great president. He has the ideas and plans that will help. His speech in text also seems much more inspirational and determined then FDR's. Fortunately, they both make good points and both have determination to get things back in place and back into peace.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
President Obama's Idea of "A New Era of Resonsibility"
Q: According to President Obama's inaugural address, this is "a new era of responsibility," as nothing is so defining of character as "difficult times." Tell what this refers to nationally, locally, and to your personality.
A: In these difficult times, we see small companies closing down because of going into bankrupt, our economy failing, and many other unfortunate events. Our country is even printing more money making our dollar bill contain less worth even though our country is already in a terrible debt. Fortunately, there is some change in the minds of Americans. People were able to look past the color of skin and elect a African-American president for the first time. People looked past race and chose because of the ideas he had swirling in his head and his plans to begin to restore our economy and our country.
In his address he states that this is "a new era of responsibility." Meaning that we are obligated to fix what disasters we have created and restore ourselves back to a stable, unfaltering state. In President Barack Obama's inaugural address speech he mentioned, "That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet." He is acknowledging the fact that our country, our economy, and our people need a change, and we are responsible to make that change. We were able to put ourselves in the condition we are in, and we should be able to reverse it and get ourselves out.
President Obama mentioned the war currently happening in Iraq. In my opinion, we have no need to have our soldiers over there any longer then they already have been. Hopefully, he returns them home to their friends and families safely. People are already starting to find that there is no need for them to be continually based in Iraq. Hopefully, we do not have another reaction from the people towards the soldiers as what happened after the Vietnam War. President Obama also made a quick mention of our economy. He states, "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." There needs to be a change in the way people spend money and the way our economy functions in our country. It will take years to restore what has been lost recently, some of it never returning. The jobs that are being lost is currently nearing 10% unemployment nationally. If the car industry fails and closes then it will jump dramatically. There has been an attempt to make some restoration...dropping the the gas prices drastically from about $4.60 a gallon to about $2.50. Unfortunately, they are currently increasing in price. Not nearly at the price they were, but they are still rising. President Barack H. Obama also mentioned the need to recognize our deteriorating earth and life on this planet. The landfills are filling up, the o-zone layer is changing and effecting our weather, and the smoke/smog that our factories are emitting, and the little amount of oil we have left for gas. There needs to be a change in how our Americans function. Hopefully it will help to get the entire world involved in restoring our earth.
Locally in our towns, we have seen the rising of gas prices, the drop of the housing industry and the amount of job unemployment that is engulfing our society one bite at a time. As time continues we watch as more small businesses, as well as large name-brand organizations, go bankrupt and are forced to fire their employees, leaving them jobless and without an income. Locally we can see that our unemployment rate in Shasta County is reaching almost 10% and continually ascending. Obama has recognized this and wants to make a difference and turn this around. Hopefully, he will also make an effort to change the way our schools are being funded. Money is continually being stripped from the children who will one day, run our country and be the ones in charge. That needs to be flipped and turn upside down to make sure our youth is given a fair future to reach for and a better chance to make a difference when they come of age.
Personally, what each American can do at the moment includes many small efforts to make a bigger difference. It will take more then the few who are already trying to make a difference to actually turn what is happening around and restore it back to a healthy state. It will not be easy, but it will take numbers to make something happen. Small efforts in every home should include saving and spending money wisely. No big time, unneeded spending should happen for a while. Recycling is another positive attribute that should be included as well. It would help greatly if everyone made at least an effort everyday to save their bottles and cans and make sure they are taken to a recycling plant instead of straight to a landfill where they will sit for many years to come. It will take small efforts in big numbers to make anything happen in this world. Hopefully, our new president, President Barack H. Obama will be the leader to make this happen and make the difference to change our society around.
A: In these difficult times, we see small companies closing down because of going into bankrupt, our economy failing, and many other unfortunate events. Our country is even printing more money making our dollar bill contain less worth even though our country is already in a terrible debt. Fortunately, there is some change in the minds of Americans. People were able to look past the color of skin and elect a African-American president for the first time. People looked past race and chose because of the ideas he had swirling in his head and his plans to begin to restore our economy and our country.
In his address he states that this is "a new era of responsibility." Meaning that we are obligated to fix what disasters we have created and restore ourselves back to a stable, unfaltering state. In President Barack Obama's inaugural address speech he mentioned, "That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet." He is acknowledging the fact that our country, our economy, and our people need a change, and we are responsible to make that change. We were able to put ourselves in the condition we are in, and we should be able to reverse it and get ourselves out.
President Obama mentioned the war currently happening in Iraq. In my opinion, we have no need to have our soldiers over there any longer then they already have been. Hopefully, he returns them home to their friends and families safely. People are already starting to find that there is no need for them to be continually based in Iraq. Hopefully, we do not have another reaction from the people towards the soldiers as what happened after the Vietnam War. President Obama also made a quick mention of our economy. He states, "Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." There needs to be a change in the way people spend money and the way our economy functions in our country. It will take years to restore what has been lost recently, some of it never returning. The jobs that are being lost is currently nearing 10% unemployment nationally. If the car industry fails and closes then it will jump dramatically. There has been an attempt to make some restoration...dropping the the gas prices drastically from about $4.60 a gallon to about $2.50. Unfortunately, they are currently increasing in price. Not nearly at the price they were, but they are still rising. President Barack H. Obama also mentioned the need to recognize our deteriorating earth and life on this planet. The landfills are filling up, the o-zone layer is changing and effecting our weather, and the smoke/smog that our factories are emitting, and the little amount of oil we have left for gas. There needs to be a change in how our Americans function. Hopefully it will help to get the entire world involved in restoring our earth.
Locally in our towns, we have seen the rising of gas prices, the drop of the housing industry and the amount of job unemployment that is engulfing our society one bite at a time. As time continues we watch as more small businesses, as well as large name-brand organizations, go bankrupt and are forced to fire their employees, leaving them jobless and without an income. Locally we can see that our unemployment rate in Shasta County is reaching almost 10% and continually ascending. Obama has recognized this and wants to make a difference and turn this around. Hopefully, he will also make an effort to change the way our schools are being funded. Money is continually being stripped from the children who will one day, run our country and be the ones in charge. That needs to be flipped and turn upside down to make sure our youth is given a fair future to reach for and a better chance to make a difference when they come of age.
Personally, what each American can do at the moment includes many small efforts to make a bigger difference. It will take more then the few who are already trying to make a difference to actually turn what is happening around and restore it back to a healthy state. It will not be easy, but it will take numbers to make something happen. Small efforts in every home should include saving and spending money wisely. No big time, unneeded spending should happen for a while. Recycling is another positive attribute that should be included as well. It would help greatly if everyone made at least an effort everyday to save their bottles and cans and make sure they are taken to a recycling plant instead of straight to a landfill where they will sit for many years to come. It will take small efforts in big numbers to make anything happen in this world. Hopefully, our new president, President Barack H. Obama will be the leader to make this happen and make the difference to change our society around.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Breaking an "Unjust Law"
Q: When would you consider it appropriate to break an "unjust law"? Use information from "Perils of Obedience" and "Letter from Birmingham Jail" to support your reasoning?
A: Most laws have no reason to be considered unjust. Most have straightforward law restraining or allowing some act. Although, some laws contradict what our morals tell us to do and what we find to be "the right thing to do". As we grow up and are raised by our parents, we were taught to obey and follow orders. Our parents taught us to never say no when given directions. But every so often, directions given go against our morals and what we know as right. Some people go along and obey even though their conscience is telling them not to. Few people feel the need to stand up and go against what they are told for their own beliefs and morals. It is harder to stand up to a higher force alone then it is to stand up in a group with other people as support. The army sends their soldiers through boot camp in order to take away their desire to make decisions apart from those around them or the rest of the group. They are also taught to follow directions no matter what they are.
In Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail he responds saying that blacks have been following orders and what they have been told for many years in the past. They are just now trying to change and go against all that and be considered as equal with the white people, who consider themselves superior. He also responds saying that they are following their own morals. The people that believe in desegregation know that segregation is against what is known to be better and are trying to make a difference, no matter what color their skin is.
The Perils of Obedience is an experiment showing what people will do when given directions, even though they know it is hurting someone else. It was an attempt to show that they people in Germany during Hitler's rein were following what they were told, knowing the consequences they would receive if they did not obey. The people in the experiment of The Perils of Obedience were told only what they were to do, not what their consequences would be if they were to go against their directions. They were left with the unknown knowledge of what was to come of them if they said, "No." It just goes to show that the fear of consequence is sometimes higher in the thought chain then going against directions for another persons own sake, sometimes even their life. Few people have the integrity or guts to do what they know as right, but those are the people that we should be following, not the directions that are given when they are morally incorrect.
A: Most laws have no reason to be considered unjust. Most have straightforward law restraining or allowing some act. Although, some laws contradict what our morals tell us to do and what we find to be "the right thing to do". As we grow up and are raised by our parents, we were taught to obey and follow orders. Our parents taught us to never say no when given directions. But every so often, directions given go against our morals and what we know as right. Some people go along and obey even though their conscience is telling them not to. Few people feel the need to stand up and go against what they are told for their own beliefs and morals. It is harder to stand up to a higher force alone then it is to stand up in a group with other people as support. The army sends their soldiers through boot camp in order to take away their desire to make decisions apart from those around them or the rest of the group. They are also taught to follow directions no matter what they are.
In Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail he responds saying that blacks have been following orders and what they have been told for many years in the past. They are just now trying to change and go against all that and be considered as equal with the white people, who consider themselves superior. He also responds saying that they are following their own morals. The people that believe in desegregation know that segregation is against what is known to be better and are trying to make a difference, no matter what color their skin is.
The Perils of Obedience is an experiment showing what people will do when given directions, even though they know it is hurting someone else. It was an attempt to show that they people in Germany during Hitler's rein were following what they were told, knowing the consequences they would receive if they did not obey. The people in the experiment of The Perils of Obedience were told only what they were to do, not what their consequences would be if they were to go against their directions. They were left with the unknown knowledge of what was to come of them if they said, "No." It just goes to show that the fear of consequence is sometimes higher in the thought chain then going against directions for another persons own sake, sometimes even their life. Few people have the integrity or guts to do what they know as right, but those are the people that we should be following, not the directions that are given when they are morally incorrect.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Greatness of the Great Gatsby
Q: What is great about Great Gatsby? What are your opinions of Gatsby now that you have finished the novel? How great was he and why?
A: Gatsby was a great person in many ways. He became very caring and considerate of those around him, trying to please them, especially Daisy. No matter what happened he stayed truthful and faithful to Daisy despite what she did. When they were younger they had fallen in love. Soon afterwards, Gatsby was sent to war, with the promise of Daisy waiting for his return. Unfortunately, she was forced into a marriage to another man, Tom Buchanan. Upon his return, he was unfortunate to find that his love was wed to another man and was not there for him. Even though she was not there for him, he continued to care about her no matter what situation she was in and made sure that she was cared for and loved.
Even though Gatsby did not make any amazing discoveries that changed the world, saved the city or something of that sort, he was still very well liked and considerate. He would also be considered great because of the personal greatness that he achieved. When he was younger he was suppose to stay in the same poor state that his parents were in, but he was able to greater himself and rise above what was expected of him. During the war, he received a medal of honor, which was one way that he bettered himself. He later received a streak of good luck and inherited a large sum of money for his relatives helping him to become part of the "new money" in the West Egg. With that, he gained the respect of his fellow citizens and respect from the person he cared most about, Daisy. He proved that he was willing to work hard to gain what he wanted, and he almost got Daisy if it weren't for the forced marriage. She stilled loved him and cared for his welfare, but was unable to leave her husband because she would also lose her family as well.
Gatsby also became great from the parties he made for those around him. He was successful enough and well liked to have so many people wish to attend his parties and be there in his house that he was able to attain because of his own efforts. While at the parties, he waited on all his guest and watched their actions, even though he never drank himself. He made sure they were all comfortable and taken care of. He wanted to make sure they were all cared for because he wished to have Daisy visit one of his parties one day. He wished to impress her and he had to make his parties great enough to expect her and her husband to attend.
Gatsby was able to make himself great on his own, only with the fortunate help of some relatives that left him with a great inheritance. He cared about those who were around him more then he cared for himself, which made him have a great personality as well. He wanted to make an effort to make everyone else a little bit happier.
A: Gatsby was a great person in many ways. He became very caring and considerate of those around him, trying to please them, especially Daisy. No matter what happened he stayed truthful and faithful to Daisy despite what she did. When they were younger they had fallen in love. Soon afterwards, Gatsby was sent to war, with the promise of Daisy waiting for his return. Unfortunately, she was forced into a marriage to another man, Tom Buchanan. Upon his return, he was unfortunate to find that his love was wed to another man and was not there for him. Even though she was not there for him, he continued to care about her no matter what situation she was in and made sure that she was cared for and loved.
Even though Gatsby did not make any amazing discoveries that changed the world, saved the city or something of that sort, he was still very well liked and considerate. He would also be considered great because of the personal greatness that he achieved. When he was younger he was suppose to stay in the same poor state that his parents were in, but he was able to greater himself and rise above what was expected of him. During the war, he received a medal of honor, which was one way that he bettered himself. He later received a streak of good luck and inherited a large sum of money for his relatives helping him to become part of the "new money" in the West Egg. With that, he gained the respect of his fellow citizens and respect from the person he cared most about, Daisy. He proved that he was willing to work hard to gain what he wanted, and he almost got Daisy if it weren't for the forced marriage. She stilled loved him and cared for his welfare, but was unable to leave her husband because she would also lose her family as well.
Gatsby also became great from the parties he made for those around him. He was successful enough and well liked to have so many people wish to attend his parties and be there in his house that he was able to attain because of his own efforts. While at the parties, he waited on all his guest and watched their actions, even though he never drank himself. He made sure they were all comfortable and taken care of. He wanted to make sure they were all cared for because he wished to have Daisy visit one of his parties one day. He wished to impress her and he had to make his parties great enough to expect her and her husband to attend.
Gatsby was able to make himself great on his own, only with the fortunate help of some relatives that left him with a great inheritance. He cared about those who were around him more then he cared for himself, which made him have a great personality as well. He wanted to make an effort to make everyone else a little bit happier.
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