Blog Post #3 - How does societal oppression affect the individual? Open Sun., Jan. 26, thru Thurs., Jan. 30

Review and reflect upon the images of oppression shown below.  Then, answer the following question: "How does societal oppression affect the individual?"  (For example, does he adapt or rebel?  Should he abandon his beliefs, modify them, or hold firm to them?)

Blog Post #2 - Is the American Dream Available to Everyone? Open Sunday, Jan. 19, thru Thursday, Jan. 23

Scroll through the images below of some people's views of the American Dream and reflect on what is or isn't included in these pictures.  Then, answer the following question:  Is the American Dream available to everyone?

Remember to answer in RAP form, including an example from past or current society and providing a thoughtful explanation.

  

Blog Post #1 What Defines an American? Open Sunday, January 12, through Thursday, January 16

After you have read the presidential speech excerpts below (hard copies are located in your Blogging packet), please answer the following question:  What defines an American?

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

-Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address”, November 19, 1863

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith, becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American… There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

—Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

“We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

* * * * *

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country.”

-John F. Kennedy, “Inaugural Address”, January 20, 1961