Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
In class yesterday, we studied the Scott v. Sandford case of 1857. Dred Scott was a slave who sued his owner for freedom, as other slaves had done at the time. Scott had a family and had been brought to a free state to live and work as a slave, then brought back to a slave state. He was suing his owner for "false imprisonment" and battery, mainly arguing that because slavery was prohibited in free states, he had become free when his owner moved there. When he was taken back into slavery states, he argued that it was against his will. As the case traveled up through the courts, the main debate became as follows: are slaves people, and therefore would be affected by such laws, or were they property, in which case their owners could take them wherever they wanted without a problem. Unfortunately for Scott, the supreme court ruled that slaves counted as property, and he was deprived of his freedom. This was a result of the political climate after "bloody Kansas" and other violent incidents leading to the civil war.
In class today, we watched a movie clip of the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, two candidates for the Illinois senate position in 1858. Douglas wanted to be President someday, so his way of getting votes and pleasing everyone while still addressing the slavery issue was to never voice his own opinion on slavery, but to answer every question concerning views on slavery with something along the lines of "I believe the people should decide." He even says at one point that the best way to be a country would be if every state did it's own thing and left the others alone. Lincoln, on the other hand, was clearly against slavery, although not for black rights. He believed that the Declaration, which said that all men are a created equal, entitled the blacks to their natural rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It was cool to watch the debate reenactments, and I was actually engaged in what was being said and the climate around the debate. I think we should do more of that, if it's available.
30-Day Challenge!
Tuesday, Day 22: "And one day, Buttercup realized that whenever Westley said 'as you wish,' he was really saying 'I love you.'" - Princess Bride
Wednesday, Day 23: "I can see that we will share all that love implies. We will be the perfect pair, rather like my thighs!" - Gaston, Beauty and the Beast on Broadway
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
30-Day Challenge!
And what you've all been waiting patiently for, this amazingly large updates post for the 30-day Challenge! I have passed the half-way mark and am well on my way to the finish! Here are the quotes I collected this long weekend!
Tuesday, Day 15: "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..." - Finding Nemo
Wednesday, Day 16: "You know what this apple tastes like?"
"What?"
"An apple."
Thursday, Day 17: "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you you are not alone!" - The Phantom of the Opera
Friday, Day 18: "What's this? What's this?! There's color everywhere! What's this? There's white things in the air! What's this? I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming; wake up, Jack, this isn't fair! What's this!?!" -The Nightmare Before Christmas
Saturday, Day 19: "I AM NOT LOSING TO A CPU!!!!" - Me
Sunday, Day 20: "Someone around here has a beautiful voice!"
"Oh, you're probably hearing Christine or Julia."
"What?"
"A lady likes your voice."
"What?
"We're giving you a compliment!"
"What?"
"We're talking about how ugly you are!!!!" - Santa Parade, Newburyport
Monday, Day 21: "I like your freckles."
"You like my freckles?!"
"I like you're freckles!" -Drama class
Tuesday, Day 15: "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming..." - Finding Nemo
Wednesday, Day 16: "You know what this apple tastes like?"
"What?"
"An apple."
Thursday, Day 17: "Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you you are not alone!" - The Phantom of the Opera
Friday, Day 18: "What's this? What's this?! There's color everywhere! What's this? There's white things in the air! What's this? I can't believe my eyes, I must be dreaming; wake up, Jack, this isn't fair! What's this!?!" -The Nightmare Before Christmas
Saturday, Day 19: "I AM NOT LOSING TO A CPU!!!!" - Me
Sunday, Day 20: "Someone around here has a beautiful voice!"
"Oh, you're probably hearing Christine or Julia."
"What?"
"A lady likes your voice."
"What?
"We're giving you a compliment!"
"What?"
"We're talking about how ugly you are!!!!" - Santa Parade, Newburyport
Monday, Day 21: "I like your freckles."
"You like my freckles?!"
"I like you're freckles!" -Drama class
Monday, November 19, 2012
Classroom Post 18
Monday, November 19th, 2012
In class on Friday we received a large excerpt of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I excerpt came from chapter 8 in which the slave owner approaches two slaves hunters an an attempt to retrieve his runaway slave, who was female. The main message of this excerpt comes from the three men's views on female slaves and the inhumanity with which they view them. They debate whether or not to send the dogs after her, but conclude that it isn't worth the risk, because the dogs were likely to just maul her. Although this wouldn't be a problem with other slaves, she is valued only for her looks and ability to produce more slaves, which means that she is only owned in order to get pregnant and pump out more children to be forced into slavery. Not only is the fact that she is owned disgusting, but that her only purpose is to give birth to child after child and watch them get sold into terrible lives for as long as she is able to get pregnant. The book itself is meant to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery, and it serves it's purpose.
In class today,we had a brief discussion pertaining to the reading we did on Friday. After that, we received and excerpt from the fugitive save act of 1850, from section 7. The purpose of that entire section is to prohibit any Northern or abolitionist from aiding a fugitive slave in any way, shape or form without severe fines and confinement. No only does this law confine slaves, but it condemns anyone with a heart good enough to help the slaves out of their tortured lives, almost condemning those who have good hearts and punishing them for it. This law not only encourages slavery, but discriminates against those who oppose it. We also received part of a speech by Frederick Douglass, one which described a slave's view of the Fourth of July celebrations. It was an interesting perspective, as I had never thought about what a celebration of our equality, freedom, and tolerance would look like to a slave who suffers torture every day at those who claim to uphold and exercise those right they earned in the war.
30-Day Challenge!
Monday, Day 14: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." -Ralph Wald Emerson
In class on Friday we received a large excerpt of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I excerpt came from chapter 8 in which the slave owner approaches two slaves hunters an an attempt to retrieve his runaway slave, who was female. The main message of this excerpt comes from the three men's views on female slaves and the inhumanity with which they view them. They debate whether or not to send the dogs after her, but conclude that it isn't worth the risk, because the dogs were likely to just maul her. Although this wouldn't be a problem with other slaves, she is valued only for her looks and ability to produce more slaves, which means that she is only owned in order to get pregnant and pump out more children to be forced into slavery. Not only is the fact that she is owned disgusting, but that her only purpose is to give birth to child after child and watch them get sold into terrible lives for as long as she is able to get pregnant. The book itself is meant to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery, and it serves it's purpose.
In class today,we had a brief discussion pertaining to the reading we did on Friday. After that, we received and excerpt from the fugitive save act of 1850, from section 7. The purpose of that entire section is to prohibit any Northern or abolitionist from aiding a fugitive slave in any way, shape or form without severe fines and confinement. No only does this law confine slaves, but it condemns anyone with a heart good enough to help the slaves out of their tortured lives, almost condemning those who have good hearts and punishing them for it. This law not only encourages slavery, but discriminates against those who oppose it. We also received part of a speech by Frederick Douglass, one which described a slave's view of the Fourth of July celebrations. It was an interesting perspective, as I had never thought about what a celebration of our equality, freedom, and tolerance would look like to a slave who suffers torture every day at those who claim to uphold and exercise those right they earned in the war.
30-Day Challenge!
Monday, Day 14: "Nothing can bring you peace but yourself." -Ralph Wald Emerson
Sunday, November 18, 2012
30-Day Challenge!
It's time for another one of those posts, people, only this one is one day later than usual. Oh well. I have a life sometimes. So, these three quotes come from a variety of sources. Friday's quote comes from a song we are preparing for the winter concert this year, which is quite jazzy and hilarious. Saturday's quote comes from the Phantom of the Opera, a great movie and even better stage show. I was watching it again that night while working on a present for a friend. And today's quote comes from Maddie Schmuch, a good friend of mine whom I love dearly.
Friday, Day 11: "That's what happens when you listen to advice given by three witches and your wife!"- The Tragedy of Macbeth
Saturday, Day 12: "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" -The Phantom of the Opera
Sunday, Day 13: "Just ignore me. Not completely, nod and smile, but ignore me." - Maddie Schmuch
Friday, Day 11: "That's what happens when you listen to advice given by three witches and your wife!"- The Tragedy of Macbeth
Saturday, Day 12: "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes!" -The Phantom of the Opera
Sunday, Day 13: "Just ignore me. Not completely, nod and smile, but ignore me." - Maddie Schmuch
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Classroom Post 17
Thursday, November 14, 2012
In class yesterday, we went over the answers for the Internet things we did on Friday. The interesting part of the conversation was that half the class had different answers for the first question, which asked which half of the country was more populated, the north or the south. Half responded with North, and half with South. After some discussion, we discovered the problem. Slaves did not count as people, instead only counting as 3/5 of a person. Although we had learned about it before, I forgot. It just shows how whites viewed blacks at the time. No one deserves to be considered less than a person. After that, we read three different descriptions of the Mexican war. One was from 1911, one from 1995, and one from 2005. The description from the newest book was the most informative, which was strange. You'd think that the description made closer to the actual event would be the most descriptive, but that was not the case.
In class today, we watched a quick video describing the Mexican war. We had to take notes while watching, which was a new experience, and it was hard to get dates and names. After we finished the video, we took a small video quiz. It was pretty easy, just some true or false questions. After that, we discussed the compromises made in an attempt to unit the country after the Mexican war. This was presented in five separate bills, which allowed California to be admitted to the U.S. as a free state, allowed slavery to continue in Washington DC, enforced a tougher fugitive slave law, allowed New Mexico and Utah to decide of they wanted to be free states or not, and shrunk Texas and expanded New Mexico. Interestingly enough, even though the bills were technically supposed to be voted on, they asked those who are opposed to simply not vote. This was supposed to bring he country together again, but we know how that turned out.
30-Day Challenge!!!
Wednesday, Day 9: "I can't believe Jesus called me a dick!"
Thursday, Day 10: "Da-who Dores, da-who Dores welcome Christmas Christmas Day!"
In class yesterday, we went over the answers for the Internet things we did on Friday. The interesting part of the conversation was that half the class had different answers for the first question, which asked which half of the country was more populated, the north or the south. Half responded with North, and half with South. After some discussion, we discovered the problem. Slaves did not count as people, instead only counting as 3/5 of a person. Although we had learned about it before, I forgot. It just shows how whites viewed blacks at the time. No one deserves to be considered less than a person. After that, we read three different descriptions of the Mexican war. One was from 1911, one from 1995, and one from 2005. The description from the newest book was the most informative, which was strange. You'd think that the description made closer to the actual event would be the most descriptive, but that was not the case.
In class today, we watched a quick video describing the Mexican war. We had to take notes while watching, which was a new experience, and it was hard to get dates and names. After we finished the video, we took a small video quiz. It was pretty easy, just some true or false questions. After that, we discussed the compromises made in an attempt to unit the country after the Mexican war. This was presented in five separate bills, which allowed California to be admitted to the U.S. as a free state, allowed slavery to continue in Washington DC, enforced a tougher fugitive slave law, allowed New Mexico and Utah to decide of they wanted to be free states or not, and shrunk Texas and expanded New Mexico. Interestingly enough, even though the bills were technically supposed to be voted on, they asked those who are opposed to simply not vote. This was supposed to bring he country together again, but we know how that turned out.
30-Day Challenge!!!
Wednesday, Day 9: "I can't believe Jesus called me a dick!"
Thursday, Day 10: "Da-who Dores, da-who Dores welcome Christmas Christmas Day!"
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Harriet Tubman VoiceThread
Here it is! My Harriet Tubman VoiceThread, narrated by yours truly. Feel free to leave a comment! (Hahaha as if you have a choice.)
30-Day Challenge!
And it's time for another two days of quotes! On Monday, I had the pleasure of watching Wreck-It Ralph in theaters, which was quite the adorable little movie. It apparently referenced a lot of retro video-games, but my brother and I only recognized a few. Our parents, on the other hand, recognized a lot from their childhoods. And today's quote comes from English class, where we were sharing what it was about the holiday season that we liked.
Monday, Day 7: "I'm bad, and that's good. I'll never be good, and that's not bad. There is no one I'd rather be but me." - Ralph
Tuesday, Day 8: "I like the sound of winter. It's like impending doom without the doom." - Jess Macey
Monday, Day 7: "I'm bad, and that's good. I'll never be good, and that's not bad. There is no one I'd rather be but me." - Ralph
Tuesday, Day 8: "I like the sound of winter. It's like impending doom without the doom." - Jess Macey
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