Emerson and Society

Emerson felt that society takes away from the individual qualities of a person. He says, "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most request is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs." He feels like society is about being part of a group of people and not about being your own person. He does not like this. He feels like we should not depend on others and that we should all think for ourselves and be our own person. I partially agree with him. I think that we all need to be our own person and follow our own ideas. However, I feel that just because society offers conformity and certain ideas doesn't mean that we shouldn't be a part of it. Society offers us a sense of belonging and responsibility. These things are needed, along with non-conformity, to help a person grow and be happy.

Quran Burning on again, off again

Reverend Terry Jones wants to burn copies of the Quran on September 11th if he does not get a meeting with one of the founders of the Mosque that is being placed near ground zero. This raises the issue of having freedom of religion. In the United States everybody has the freedom to practice the religion that they wish. They are allowed to have a Mosque. There is nothing that says that they cannot practice the religion that they want to. I think that Rev. Jones should not be burning the Qurans. The people that would be worshiping at the mosque did nothing wrong. They did nothing wrong in the terms that they have the freedom of religion and that they had nothing to do with the planes hitting the World Trade Centers on 9/11. The people that flew the planes into the World Trade Centers were Muslim, were the ones that are to blame for the tragedy. However, the rest of the people who practice the Muslim religion had nothing to do with it. We cannot blame an entire religion for the tragedy that was caused by a certain group. It is not fair that we target other people just because they practice the same religion. We cannot stereotype.
I hardly remember the day that the World Trade Centers were hit. I was young and I really did not understand what was going on. As I started to grow up I was able to understand this tragedy and what had happened. However, I still believe that just because a certain group of people hit the buildings we cannot group everybody that is Muslim into that group. It is not fair to the amazing people that are Muslim that had nothing to do with it.

The American Crisis- Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine is calling the people together to fight for their rights. He wants people to take action, instead of just wanting there to be a change. Thomas Paine writes, "I call not upon a few, but upon all: not on this state or that state, but on every state; up and help us; lay your shoulders to the wheel; better have too much force than too little, when so great an object is at stake. Let it be told to the future world, that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet and to repulse it" (The American Reader, page 52). The American people should come to fight for their country. Taking action is something that they needed to do. They needed to stand up for what they believed in. In order for the fight to be successful they need everybody to set aside their fears and stand up for what is right. Thomas Paine talks about how people need to be brave. What they were going to face would not be easy but it was something that needed to be done. However, a man that is a coward could not do this. Thomas Paine wrote, "The heart that fees not now, is dead: the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength  from distress, and grow brave by reflection" (The American Reader, page 53). It takes a lot of courage to be able to take action. Thomas Paine is right when he says he loves a man who can put a smile on his face in a time of trouble. Everybody coming together to fight for America was an important part of why we have the freedoms we have today.