Anne Bradstreet

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for Anne Bradstreet
November 29, 2011

Reading Quote:

“And when I could no longer look,

I blest His Name that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so ‘twas just.
It was His own, it was not mine,
Far be it that I should repine;” (page 212, lines 13-18)

Research Quote:

“She is the first in a long line of American poets who took their consolation not from theology but from the ‘wondrous works’…” (187).

Summary of Reading Quote:

The poet speaker is saying that God is the true owner of our earthly belongings and that it is not our place to complain about losing something that is not truly ours.

Response:

Anne Bradstreet’s devotion to Christianity is seen in many of her writings including her poem Here Follows Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10^th, 1666. The speaker in this poem finds consolation through her acceptance of God’s will. It is natural for us to feel the emotional devastation of losing a home; a place where we live our lives of love and comfort. When this place of pleasant memory is burned to ruins, we are left with few options. We can grieve over the loss and never let it go or accept the reality of the situation and move forward. Grief is easy because it is our natural reaction when we lose something memorable. Moving forward takes strength to overcome the emotional impact. The speaker in the poem laments over the loss but accepts the situation and moves forward in life. She understands that “all’s vanity” compared to her love for Christ. In fact, losing her home brings her closer to her religious belief of the Almighty; the Creator of life. She accepts what He “gave and took” and anticipates her new home with “that mighty Architect”. So what happens when we don’t believe in the Trinity? What if, instead, we believe in some other god or maybe no god? It essentially boils down to our very own personal reaction to the circumstance. God or no god; the decisions to be made are the same.  The poem reflects the real life incident of the poet and Bradstreet’s response show how her spirit is lifted from her love of the Lord. Despite such a significant loss, Bradstreet’s reaction exemplifies a Christian truly faithful to her religion.



Jonathan Edwards

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for J. Edwards
November 22, 2011

Reading Quote:

o   “If God should only withdraw His hand from the floodgate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power…” (431).

Research Quote:

o   “In his patient and lucid prose Edwards became a master at the art of persuading his congregation it could-and must-possess this intense awareness of humanity’s precarious condition” (385).

Summary of Reading Quote:

o   The reading quote is metaphorically saying that God is capable of inflicting intense punishment on us at any moment.

Response:

o   The power of Jonathan Edwards’s prose is that it is practically poetic. He writes this lengthy line to extensively intensify our reading experience and creatively uses alliteration and imagery in his descriptive metaphors to retain our interest. The reading quote is on the verge of being poetic; the most intense form of literature. His words are carefully chosen. We cannot help but “be moved by them” (385). It is great literature for the modern reader but, unfortunately, Edwards successfully persuades his congregation with his preaching through his language in his sermon titled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Fear God. This seems to be the message of that particular sermon. He brings horror into his listeners with repeated threats of God’s wrath rather than emphasizing on the Lord’s endless love. What is unfortunate is that it is questionable on whether his listeners truly believe in God’s creation and all He has to offer; or do they believe in Christ because Edwards’s powerful language was able to emotionally move them to a point where the belief is in God’s fury. What all this show is that communicating creatively with carefully crafted language that touches our senses is influential enough to shape a person’s thoughts, beliefs, and overall approach in life.

o   Developing the language was humanity’s greatest innovation. In fact, it still is our greatest innovation. We not only continue to add new vocabulary but continue to add new definitions to already existing words! For instance, since when was a mouse defined as a computer controlling device? What is the definition of crescentular or bulletize? To answer the first question; the definition obviously emerged alongside the development of the computers. The answer to the second question can be found at the following website: http://nws.merriam-webster.com/opendictionary/newword_display_recent.php. Perhaps we can say that a computer mouse may or may not be crescentular shaped but the structure of this journal is definitely bulletized. This simple example shows that language brings humanity together to a common understanding. Similarily, as mentioned before, words creatively crafted are capable of moving individuals such as the listeners and readers of Edwards's audience during the first Great Awakening.



Thomas Paine

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for Thomas Paine
November 15, 2011

Reading Quote:

“Hath your property been destroyed…your wife and children destitute of a bed to lie on, or bread to live on… Have you lost a parent or a child…? If you have not, then are you not a judge of those who have” (635).

Research Quote:

“By the time he arrived in Philadelphia… he had already had a remarkably full life” (629).

Summary of Reading Quote:

It is unfair for us to judge others without personally experiencing and having a true understanding of what we are judging.

Response:

To have a true understanding of another person’s situation is to be “in his shoes”. With that said, no one knows you better than yourself. We can say the same about members within a society. King George III cannot fully understand an American Revolutionary’s passionate pursuit to be independent of his government. In contrast, an American born cannot truly understand life in the society of the British monarch. Therefore, how can one judge the other and argue or take arms against what they do not know. Thomas Paine, however, was “…the right man in the right place at the right time” (629). His first thirty-seven years of life credits him as an experienced member living within the society of Great Britain. His new life and perspective in America credits him as an American Revolutionary. Paine’s actions are justifiable because he has the understanding and perspective of both sides.

Bringing all this together and looking through a smaller scale of an individual toward another individual, we should question ourselves sometime. Who are we to judge someone when we have not been “in his shoes”? In fact, who are we to judge anyone? We do not know a person’s past life experience, his present state, or his perspective of the future; his emotions and thoughts during these times we do not know. No one truly knows but that specific person. Thus, it is unfair for us to judge each other. Opinionating, on the other hand, we are all entitled to. It is natural for us to form personal opinions because they are merely personal thoughts from personal perspectives. We begin to judge when these opinions trigger emotional responses because it is then, that we start saying “that’s not right” or “your behavior is inappropriate”. All in all, we should not forget moral righteousness at the humanistic level. It is fair for us to judge upon these values because we should “Do for others what you want them to do for you…” (Mathew 7:12).

Phillis Wheatley

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for P. Wheatley
November 20, 2011

Reading Quote:

“Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,/ May be refined, and join the angelic train” (Lines 7-8).

Research Quote:

“Wheatley was fortunate in her surroundings, for Susannah Wheatley was sympathetic toward this very frail and remarkably intelligent child” (751).

Summary of Reading Quote:

The speaker is reminding Christians that their religion is not limited to a single race.

Response:

With the mention of slavery, some may react with thoughts of brutal beatings, toilsome labor, or endless hunger. These thoughts, as well as many other inhumane treatments should not be ignored, but it would be narrow-minded to think that all slaves suffered immeasurably. In Lies My Teacher Told Me, Loewen mentions that the textbook Life and Liberty says, “…whipping was common in some places, unheard of on other plantations” (138). Although Phillis Wheatley was aware of cruel slave owners, she is one of the fortunate slaves who did not suffer intense inhumane treatment. We should not say that she was fortunate to be a slave, but her poetry shows an optimistic appreciation for life rather than a pessimistic perspective of not being free. Wheatley’s poem, On Being Brought from Africa to America, is such an example. A first time reader would expect the poem to literally be about a struggling slave brought from Africa to America. However, the poet speaker unexpectedly shows gratitude in discovering Christianity and encourages spreading the message of Christ. This shows how far Christian slave owners who live by the words of the bible can go. By spreading their sympathy and compassion through their faith in God, one can say that another soul is saved. In fact, it goes further than this. The speaker reminds the reader that Christianity is not limited to a single race. Wheatley uses her poem to express her gratitude and view of a religion introduced to her. Looking outside of religion, her poem is an example of the common saying “kindness goes a long way”.

 

Olaudah Equiano

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for O. Equiano
November 8, 2011

Reading Quote:

“…if ever it were my lot to be free, nothing could prevent me…on the other hand, if it were my fate not to be freed, I never should be so, and all my endeavors for that purpose would be fruitless” (700).

Research Quote:

“… [Equiano] gained his liberty by paying forty pounds- money he earned by carrying on his own business while managing King’s…” (675).

Summary of Reading Quote:

Equiano had converted to Christianity and the quote says that he accepts the fact that his freedom is in the hands of God.

Response:

There are instances in life that we simply cannot control. Nature can bring a natural disaster and rip our home apart or someone can burglarize our personal property. This shows that nature will take its course and humans will act as they do. Regardless of the inevitable, we live our lives based on rational judgment. However, should we rely solely on our own decisions? When an unfortunate incident happens, we often think to ourselves of what we could have done to prevent it. This can be viewed as fate but Equiano shows that the power of a religious belief offers a positive perspective. His belief in Christ gives him a sense of acceptance. Rather than being miserable and defiant, Equiano adapts and prospers in his situation. He strives for freedom, but at the same time is ready to accept a life of slavery. He leaves his life in the hands of his religious belief.

Perhaps his optimistic outlook through religion is how we should perceive our own lives. Believing in some higher power gives us a sense of security because we cannot control everything that happens to us in life. We believe that this greater existence will watch over our mortal existence. Aside from the shelter of divinity, religion enhances our appreciations in life. If we do not appreciate what we have, then what is the point of having anything (including life)? In Equiano’s case, his faith in God delivers him from feeling completely enslaved by man. He is able to fully appreciate his life and believes that Christ will determine what he deserves. As we have seen in his biography, the slave was freed.

Margaret Fuller

Vince Tang
English 48A
Journal for M. Fuller
November 1, 2011

Reading Quote:

“She had taken a course of her own, and no man stood in her way. Many of her acts had been unusual, but excited no uproar. Few helped, but none checked her; and the many men, who knew her mind and her life, showed to her confidence as to a brother, gentleness as to a sister” (1646).

Research Quote:

“She [Fuller] was evidently a brilliant and thoughtful conversationalist, much respected for her intellect and learning…” (http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/fuller/).

Summary of Reading Quote:

Fuller is essentially saying that she believed in something, put her mind to it, and acted upon her beliefs with or without support.

Response:

Margaret Fuller lived her life to the fullest. Defying conventions, expressing her position, and encouraging equality, the “living mind’ shifted America’s perspective to see the potential of women outside the common housewife. Her accomplishment is clearly seen through inspiring female role models of today. Fuller’s courage and commitment to pursue moral righteousness is what we need in all of us if we are to ever reach a state of harmony in humanity. Think of how unfortunate it would be if women were still viewed as inferior human beings; or how unfortunate it would be if we were still in the midst of women’s rights movements. Our understanding that both genders deserve equal human rights shows that we have overcome our ignorance and can now live harmoniously with equality of the genders.

Humanity, however, is far more complex than just gender differences. There are different religions, laws, cultures, societies within these cultures, and so on. The list is endless but in essence, the differences stems from opinions and perspectives. For instance, why did the U.S. wage war on terrorism? What was the reason for the September 11 attacks? Why was the U.S. supporting Israel? The international differences of opinions and perception of each other resulted in losses of innocent lives. These issues would not have occurred if the involved parties were to reach an understanding and agreement of terms such as how Americans themselves have developed their understanding of gender equality.

It is inevitable for everyone to share the same opinions and perceive the world similarly. This means that we need people with Fuller’s courage and commitment to speak out on what is morally right through intellectual reasoning. We do not need people who act upon fits of passion because, “Those who would reform the world must show that they do not speak in the heat of wild impulse” (1649). Our difference of opinions and perceptions is what interferes with humanity’s harmony so the question is: Is peace on earth inevitable?

Henry David Thoreau

Vince Tang

English 48A

Journal for H. D. Thoreau

October 27, 2011

Reading Quote:

“…and he has voluntarily chosen to be an agent of the government. How shall he ever know well what he is and does as an officer of the government, or as a man, until he is obliged to consider whether he shall treat me… as a neighbor and well-disposed man, or as a maniac and disturber of the peace…” (1864).

 Research Quote:

“No essay in Thoreau’s canon more powerfully exemplifies his independence than ‘Resistance to Civil Government’…” (1856).

Summary of Reading Quote:

Thoreau is essentially saying that a government employee, blind of his lawful duty and humanity, will remain so until he crosses a decision between governmental laws and moral righteousness.

Response:

What should we make of the peace officers on the streets of our current “Occupy” protesting sites? Surely they must understand that they are part of “the 99 percent”. Their decision to defend the government laws written by man suggests that they are merely “…marching in admirable order… against their common sense and consciences…” (1858). Shadowed by their lawful duty, the government officials loses sight of their conscience and takes action with guns, and gas, and mace, and tasers, and batons. The turmoil of our social and economic position is clearly in need of restructuring and the peace officers can support the protesting demonstrations by laying down their arms or as Thoreau puts it, “…resign your office” (1865). It is morally right to promote social and economic equality. When the officers resign, they learn to “…be men first, and subjects afterward” (1858). If they do not resign, then the peace officers become the opposing force to the peaceful protesters.

However, do we not seek their assistance when someone robs us of our personal property or threatens our lives? Do we not conform to government laws in our everyday lives; the laws our taxes pay for them to defend? We apparently need government officials such as police officers to maintain the system. It would be anarchy without a government. As we have seen with violent protestors, not everyone reacts to situations peacefully. Perhaps the officers at the “Occupy” protesting sites deserve both sympathy and appreciation. Sympathy because they are sacrificing their moral righteousness to sustain our society and appreciation because they allow others to freely demonstrate social and economic inequality.

The way it works; the way society and government function as a whole I cannot say, but the way it is I fully accept and appreciate. I believe Thoreau would share my position because he says, “I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation… the government does not concern me much, and I shall bestow the fewest possible thoughts on it” (1870).