Salem: The darkest times of the Salem actually put it on the map. As the tourists came to Salem the town was filled once again with witches.
Puritans: The puritan was created on the idea that orthodox christianity. They tried to live the bible as literally as possible in their own lives.
House of the seven gables: The House is believed to be haunted. Many employees believe there is a young boy and a women spirit.
Hawthorne: Hawthorne's grandfather was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials. Father died at a young age, mother went into seclusion until her death. Was a very angry writer, resembled the house.
The Puritans still make their way into our society today but we don't see it as much anymore. Their way of thinking still is around. The literal meanings of things are still around in our now a day political parties. Each has its interpretation on different things to different degrees. However most don't believe that there is a perfect person as did the Puritans. So all in all the Puritans as a society didn't last but their legacy and ways live on forever within the modern day world.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Moment I Knew I was an American
To be an American? Many things can classify a person as being American; views, background, virtues, goals. For me an American is anyone who expresses the views of freedom and the has the will to accomplish his or her goals. Race, ethnic background, culture have nothing to do with being an American. If you are a hardworking person looking to make a good life for yourself and share the necessity of freedom, you meet all the qualifications. Born in America makes you "American" but only by a slip of paper that says you were born in America. If you believe another countries virtues and opportunity are greater you could consider yourself that nationality. To say the number of people that consider themselves Americans is very few considering how many people say they live in America.
When I was a kid, I was always asking what I was. My mom would say your half Chinese and half Irish. I would also ask the story's of how our families got to America. I would ask my mom's mom especially because she immigrated from China and I found her story to be the most interesting out of all the story's. As I grew older I kept to the same story until I started being asked what race I was on surveys and tests. I had always considered myself Chinese-Irish (Chi-rish), but when I was then asked to choose between "white" and "Asian," I found myself pulled between sides of the family. I was very confused as why an "other" box was so hard to have, there has to be a pretty good amount of multi-racial kids besides just me. So this was the moment I truly realized I was an American. I represented the make up of all most the entire country. Like myself there are millions of Americans who are multi-cultural. There is only small amount of "pure-blood" people and the numbers are going down in each generation. So when I realized that being part of many cultures was the staple of America, I realized I was American.
America was sought as the "Land of Opportunity" and it brought many cultures into it. This movement of people to America is what makes it such a beauty. Before America I would have never existed. There is no way that I would've come to be if America hadn't existed. I am a true product of America because without it I would probably not be here. The chances of an Irish man going to China would've been very slim.
When I was a kid, I was always asking what I was. My mom would say your half Chinese and half Irish. I would also ask the story's of how our families got to America. I would ask my mom's mom especially because she immigrated from China and I found her story to be the most interesting out of all the story's. As I grew older I kept to the same story until I started being asked what race I was on surveys and tests. I had always considered myself Chinese-Irish (Chi-rish), but when I was then asked to choose between "white" and "Asian," I found myself pulled between sides of the family. I was very confused as why an "other" box was so hard to have, there has to be a pretty good amount of multi-racial kids besides just me. So this was the moment I truly realized I was an American. I represented the make up of all most the entire country. Like myself there are millions of Americans who are multi-cultural. There is only small amount of "pure-blood" people and the numbers are going down in each generation. So when I realized that being part of many cultures was the staple of America, I realized I was American.
America was sought as the "Land of Opportunity" and it brought many cultures into it. This movement of people to America is what makes it such a beauty. Before America I would have never existed. There is no way that I would've come to be if America hadn't existed. I am a true product of America because without it I would probably not be here. The chances of an Irish man going to China would've been very slim.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Us vs. Them... Us and Them
Absolutely no idea what this blog is supposed to be about, so here goes nothing.
As you go through life there are always going to be groups. Whether they're social, racial, sports, religion, or what ever they might be, they will exist forever until the world becomes one. However, I don't see this happening in my life time, but what I do see in my future is a lot of "Us vs. Them." Today all around the world their are fights between groups that have gone on for hundreds of years. For example, the Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups have been fighting for a long time and it seems as if there is no end in sight. Religion is a major group difference and it doesn't just happen in Muslim culture it happens in the majority of religious groups.
The main problem with group differences is that they just follow the same views as the generation before them so really the same war is being fought hundreds of times. If you look at some of the main problems different groups have there aren't a lot of new problems that come up most of the problems have occurred for many years. In order to move from "Us vs. Them" to "Us and Them" we have to set our differences aside and solve our disputed problems and agree to disagree on somethings.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that in order for world peace or "Us and Them" different groups have to look at what they are really fighting for. Is the reason that important to be killing over? As soon as one group looks at the bigger picture and realizes, in a hundred years they have made no progress. This is a good sign that maybe that battle is never going to be one and from the beginning there was never going to be a winner. The point I'm really trying to make is that when people see that in order to survive we rely on the good of humanity as a whole, world peace could become a possibility. For example, when you are alone the chance of you surviving by yourself is much lower than if you had a companion, if you were stranded on an island. However, if you have a companion you are more likely to survive (Tom Hanks and Wilson in Castaway).
As you go through life there are always going to be groups. Whether they're social, racial, sports, religion, or what ever they might be, they will exist forever until the world becomes one. However, I don't see this happening in my life time, but what I do see in my future is a lot of "Us vs. Them." Today all around the world their are fights between groups that have gone on for hundreds of years. For example, the Shiite and Sunni Muslim groups have been fighting for a long time and it seems as if there is no end in sight. Religion is a major group difference and it doesn't just happen in Muslim culture it happens in the majority of religious groups.
The main problem with group differences is that they just follow the same views as the generation before them so really the same war is being fought hundreds of times. If you look at some of the main problems different groups have there aren't a lot of new problems that come up most of the problems have occurred for many years. In order to move from "Us vs. Them" to "Us and Them" we have to set our differences aside and solve our disputed problems and agree to disagree on somethings.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that in order for world peace or "Us and Them" different groups have to look at what they are really fighting for. Is the reason that important to be killing over? As soon as one group looks at the bigger picture and realizes, in a hundred years they have made no progress. This is a good sign that maybe that battle is never going to be one and from the beginning there was never going to be a winner. The point I'm really trying to make is that when people see that in order to survive we rely on the good of humanity as a whole, world peace could become a possibility. For example, when you are alone the chance of you surviving by yourself is much lower than if you had a companion, if you were stranded on an island. However, if you have a companion you are more likely to survive (Tom Hanks and Wilson in Castaway).
John Proctor, Hero or Stooge?
John Proctor a decent or dishonest man? He's both in a way. Throughout the story my views of John changed because first he was having an affair with Abagail and then he stayed by his wife when she was charged with witchcraft. So it's hard to decide what to call him because he seems to match all his bad with good. So in order to choose what side he belongs, hero or stooge, you have to look at the true message behind the majority of his messages.
The main thing John Proctor proved is that sometimes when you do something wrong, admitting is more powerful than denying because you send a message to all those who are against you. In John's case it was most of the town minus his wife that saw him to be a sinner, but in his eyes he was cleaning his name and his image by admitting to the charges and paying the price. Although some saw it as him escaping confession, the truth was he already made his peace with God and was just out to prove a point against the puritan society and how a accusations mean everything.
John Proctors example showed that in a puritan society no matter how much good you good one sin will get you executed. John wanted to show that he could have lied and gotten out of the mess he put himself into, but instead he would keep his name and image clean by not lying and facing the consequences of his actions. To me this makes a true hero because he accepted the consequences and didn't try to lie his way out.
All in all the puritan society is a little crazy over the fact that you can't make a sin or else you don't go to heaven. In all reality if you accept your punishment or accusation and make peace with your god, then that is all anyone can ask for. This is what John Proctor was ultimately trying to do in my eyes. He admitted to his wife and made peace with God so his sin was forgiven by everyone that mattered. The people didn't matter because no matter what he looked like a sinner and that is what his message to us was getting across.
The main thing John Proctor proved is that sometimes when you do something wrong, admitting is more powerful than denying because you send a message to all those who are against you. In John's case it was most of the town minus his wife that saw him to be a sinner, but in his eyes he was cleaning his name and his image by admitting to the charges and paying the price. Although some saw it as him escaping confession, the truth was he already made his peace with God and was just out to prove a point against the puritan society and how a accusations mean everything.
John Proctors example showed that in a puritan society no matter how much good you good one sin will get you executed. John wanted to show that he could have lied and gotten out of the mess he put himself into, but instead he would keep his name and image clean by not lying and facing the consequences of his actions. To me this makes a true hero because he accepted the consequences and didn't try to lie his way out.
All in all the puritan society is a little crazy over the fact that you can't make a sin or else you don't go to heaven. In all reality if you accept your punishment or accusation and make peace with your god, then that is all anyone can ask for. This is what John Proctor was ultimately trying to do in my eyes. He admitted to his wife and made peace with God so his sin was forgiven by everyone that mattered. The people didn't matter because no matter what he looked like a sinner and that is what his message to us was getting across.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
This radical sermon sparked lots of controversy and was hard to believe for some to comprehend. Jonathan Edwards came out with this piece to try to prove to all that he wasn't just crazy, but that his beliefs were true. He believed in the Puritan way and was totally into the whole idea that if you didn't do as the bible said word for word that you weren't going to heaven. He, along with many others, believed that the only way to make it into heaven was to obey the laws of God throughout your entire life with out missing a beat. This was borderline insanity for some to comprehend.
For some it was to much and they found the Puritans different as in a bad way. Most people in England didn't find the Puritans as good company and demised them. Because the English had booted them with their bad reputation, they looked for refuge in the 13 colonies. Even the Natives found this type of religion to be a little strange. However, the main reason people didn't understand them is that they new what was outside of the society, where as the Puritans only new the Puritan way. The craziness that the Puritans put forth as reason quickly made people turn away as they saw no logic in Jonathan Edward's speeches and sermons. The majority of the English found them to be weird and saw the Puritans as an unfitting group so they let them go to the New America.
All in all the Puritans were a misunderstood group. Kind of like today's Amish people. We may find them a bit strange because they are stuck in the past but we have outside views on them, where as they only know what is within the group. The biggest part into understanding a different culture or social group is to make sure you have the right perspective on things. For example, if you automatically assume the Amish are weird then you aren't fully understanding them. However if you take the right angle and you see that they know nothing but the Amish way you would understand and not criticize. Things appear differently with perspective, but in order to see them the right way you have to look at them with the right perspective.
For some it was to much and they found the Puritans different as in a bad way. Most people in England didn't find the Puritans as good company and demised them. Because the English had booted them with their bad reputation, they looked for refuge in the 13 colonies. Even the Natives found this type of religion to be a little strange. However, the main reason people didn't understand them is that they new what was outside of the society, where as the Puritans only new the Puritan way. The craziness that the Puritans put forth as reason quickly made people turn away as they saw no logic in Jonathan Edward's speeches and sermons. The majority of the English found them to be weird and saw the Puritans as an unfitting group so they let them go to the New America.
All in all the Puritans were a misunderstood group. Kind of like today's Amish people. We may find them a bit strange because they are stuck in the past but we have outside views on them, where as they only know what is within the group. The biggest part into understanding a different culture or social group is to make sure you have the right perspective on things. For example, if you automatically assume the Amish are weird then you aren't fully understanding them. However if you take the right angle and you see that they know nothing but the Amish way you would understand and not criticize. Things appear differently with perspective, but in order to see them the right way you have to look at them with the right perspective.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
There goes the neighborhood
In my neighborhood there are a clash of generations. My parents generation all live in the same area and/or the same house in some cases. There is an increasing number of newer families coming into the neighborhood and some of them disagree with what the older parents have. My parents did not come from Chicago so they aren't really part of it but even so some of the newer parents put them with the older generation. I've noticed this not as much on my block but more the old school and parish I attended, Queen of Angels Elementary School and Parish.
I started to notice this as I got older and it was because a lot of newer families started to move in. They came in and started to "take over" control in a lot of the committees at school. In the neighborhood as well they started to change a lot of things that had stayed the same for many years, some for the best. Within the school the "older families" that had been in the neighborhood for many years didn't like the change and began to complain. Things started to change in the grades below me, but things stayed the same for my class. Things were changing and people didn't like it.
Overall, the newer families were doing what they thought best for their kids. But, the older families didn't like the change and gave them a hard time and it was like a civil war with in the school. The events ran their course and people are still not getting along unfortunately. So for the time being it will be Young vs. Old. Neither side will adopt the changes and with that will come controversy over anything that happens with in the school. This is happening all over and it shouldn't happen because everyone should try to compromise and move on with life.
I started to notice this as I got older and it was because a lot of newer families started to move in. They came in and started to "take over" control in a lot of the committees at school. In the neighborhood as well they started to change a lot of things that had stayed the same for many years, some for the best. Within the school the "older families" that had been in the neighborhood for many years didn't like the change and began to complain. Things started to change in the grades below me, but things stayed the same for my class. Things were changing and people didn't like it.
Overall, the newer families were doing what they thought best for their kids. But, the older families didn't like the change and gave them a hard time and it was like a civil war with in the school. The events ran their course and people are still not getting along unfortunately. So for the time being it will be Young vs. Old. Neither side will adopt the changes and with that will come controversy over anything that happens with in the school. This is happening all over and it shouldn't happen because everyone should try to compromise and move on with life.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Introduction
Hi, my name is Ryan Brown. I am half Chinese and the rest Irish, German, and a little Welsh. Fortunately, I've lived in the same house my whole life and made many good friends with the people that live around me. Growing up I've learned to try new things thanks to my parents. They allowed me the opportunities to try new things and through these I've fallen in love with a few things.
From a young age I my parents helped me through school and to stay focused. As I got older I realized why they had pushed me to do well in school, to do well you have to have the drive to succeed. It hit me the hardest in 7th grade when my grades determined my academic future. With the knowledge my parents had instilled in me I was able to well in 7th grade. My parents were a big part of my motivation to do well in school when I lacked it. I thank them for that as that is how I got to where I am now.
I've been an active kid all my life. I never was the one that liked to sit around, I had to be doing something. I've played sports since I was young and the two I still play are baseball (the longest)and football which I've played for a couple years (one which was played at Whitney Young). One of my favorite things to do is ski. I started skiing when I was about 5 and kept it up ever since. I tried snowboarding when I was younger but it wasn't the same (I was pretty bad at it). Over the years I've improved and now some hills are a piece of cake that I would've never done in years past. The first time I went skiing in Colorado was one of the best times of my life. Until then I had only skied the Midwest and after awhile the double black diamonds (highest difficulty) get pretty boring. So Colorado was a big change and I loved it. If I could live out there all winter I would.
Overall, I am an outgoing energetic person. I am very friendly although I am sometimes shy at first. I am open to try a lot of new things from foods to challenges. I love my parents no matter what even though they make me mad at times because they helped me get to where I am today. I am proud of my heritage and like to learn about my ancestors. I like the outdoors, skiing, and sports and I hope I can continue them forever. In the future I hope to be an electrical engineer that works with robots. In conclusion, I try to live life to the fullest and accomplish all my goals big and small.
From a young age I my parents helped me through school and to stay focused. As I got older I realized why they had pushed me to do well in school, to do well you have to have the drive to succeed. It hit me the hardest in 7th grade when my grades determined my academic future. With the knowledge my parents had instilled in me I was able to well in 7th grade. My parents were a big part of my motivation to do well in school when I lacked it. I thank them for that as that is how I got to where I am now.
I've been an active kid all my life. I never was the one that liked to sit around, I had to be doing something. I've played sports since I was young and the two I still play are baseball (the longest)and football which I've played for a couple years (one which was played at Whitney Young). One of my favorite things to do is ski. I started skiing when I was about 5 and kept it up ever since. I tried snowboarding when I was younger but it wasn't the same (I was pretty bad at it). Over the years I've improved and now some hills are a piece of cake that I would've never done in years past. The first time I went skiing in Colorado was one of the best times of my life. Until then I had only skied the Midwest and after awhile the double black diamonds (highest difficulty) get pretty boring. So Colorado was a big change and I loved it. If I could live out there all winter I would.
Overall, I am an outgoing energetic person. I am very friendly although I am sometimes shy at first. I am open to try a lot of new things from foods to challenges. I love my parents no matter what even though they make me mad at times because they helped me get to where I am today. I am proud of my heritage and like to learn about my ancestors. I like the outdoors, skiing, and sports and I hope I can continue them forever. In the future I hope to be an electrical engineer that works with robots. In conclusion, I try to live life to the fullest and accomplish all my goals big and small.
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