Wow.

Well reading about random articles on Wikipedia, I stumbled onto an inquiry that Henry K. Thaw may have been a user of what is called speedball, a drug that mixes cocaine and Heroin. We don't often attribute past behaviors to drugs and I find it interesting that Thaw's crazy mindset could have had a reason behind it. It just makes me wonder how other characters in history may have been effected by outside things.

My Ole

My first thoughts on my ole in the past-

Male, probably a Sophomore or a Junior.
His parents are both working to send him to college.
He works really hard to hopefully live up to them.
My setting is located directly after the stock market crash

My Defense of Jim

In the book My Antonia and in our discussion the other day on how it was felt that Jim seemingly "owned" Antonia, I just want to offer my defense on him to encourage more discussion. I believe that Jim was purely in love. He cared for Antonia so much that all he wanted to do was to be with her. I personally find that admirable, but our class thinks otherwise. It may seem weird that Jim felt the way he did, but that personally is how I see him playing his affection. He never hurt her in any was and only cared to see that she did well. I think the character of Jim was awesome and someone needs to stand up to him.

Gay New York Then and Now

After reading the section on politics and Gay Culture I find it incredibly surprising both of how far we have come and how deep we dove into masking gay culture and gay personalities. On one hand, I think we as a 21st century American culture have taken great strides to understanding homosexual values but I find it amazing that those values were ever misunderstood in the first place. In the time of Chauncey's writing, homosexuality was so different than what it was now.

Class And Coalhouse

A passage in Ragtime that I find shows me a real example of social class and discrepancies in these classes is when J. P. Morgan’s library is wired to be bombed by Coalhouse Walker Jr. Among the many ideas emerging during this time one that seems to be very important is a sense of individuals, taking action. Whether that would be in Emma Goldman’s anarchism or Coalhouse’s refusal to be wronged, many individuals felt that it was in their best interest to take action to those who wronged them. There are obvious and well known class issues shown in this passage, primarily dealing with Coalhouse Walker Jr. fighting back against the glorified upper class. Coalhouse Walker Jr was a professionally trained musician and a person who in all his mannerisms acted as any other upper high class person would. He decides to takes matters into his own hands and begins to attack the known and established upper class. J. P. Morgan is known around the world as an extremely influential and prominent businessman who owned millions of dollars and in many ways was more powerful than the president himself. Social class is easily identified in this passage shown with the shock and awe of Coalhouse not being able to stand for the injustices done to him and in standing up standing up to a class that refused to accept him. In this time it was exceedingly rare for an African American man to have what Coalhouse Walker Jr. had. Because of this, when he took his life into his own control, it seemed that outside characters recognized him instantly as a poor insensitive black man. Even when Booker T. Washington interviewed Coalhouse Walker Jr. it seemed that Washington laid judgment on this man before he even talked to him. Coalhouse therefore felt the need to fight back at this class. He may have done it out of anger for his car or out of a feeling of disrespect. Either way, Coalhouse Walker Jr. was sick of never being accepted into affluent circles, showing a reason why he may have targeted one of the richest men in the world.

Statue of Liberty Poem

While reading this poem, imagine yourself as one of the immigrants, finally reaching what they have dreamed about for their whole lives.

A Glorious Statue

With a flame and crown

Whose face is steadfast,

alive and hopeful

Standing, not moving

Back to the clouds

Relief to those coming home.

True Human Altruism

A thought that a couple of friends had a very intense conversation about last night came upon me and I really don't want to believe it is true, but makes quite a bit of sense in its semantics and thought system. This thought is that there is no possible way for true human altruism to exist due to the understanding that humans always act in self interest. When someone does an act it is to full fill a understood ethical paradigm that fully fills themselves more then it burdens that person or others. It does make sense but I just don't want to believe that all human actions are lead by self interest. This idea stemmed from a discussion about Christianity, but I think it really applies to our current reading as well. In Ragtime, I feel that the act of charity to bring in the newborn child into the family house was truly an altruistic act, and I really think that I would be hard pressed to argue otherwise. It is a very long philosophical road, but I'm excited to discuss things like this this year.

Death Throes of the Republic

Being a huge history fan and to launch my new blog edits, here is a link to one of my favorite podcast and Dan Carlin's fairly fresh Roman history podcast, Death Throes of the Republic. The Podcast. I just finished DTOTR, and it was 13+ hours well spent. I'm also in the middle of Ragtime and I'm pretty excited to discuss this part of American History.

Quotes

Thoreau

I heartily accept the motto, "That government is best which governs least"; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which also I believe — "That government is best which governs not at all"; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.

Emerson

Standing on the bare ground, — my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, — all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God.

De Tocqueville

Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot.

Thoughts on thoreau

Thoughts on Thoreau

I would just like to take some time and go over again what we talked about in class and how I feel that we, as students, can't live as deliberately as Thoreau did but perhaps we can change our attitudes so that we could possibly live life as much as possible. I also want to critique Thoreau on the essay we read for Monday and I am excited to offer my critique of Civil Disobedience on Wednesday.

Students these days in my experience just do not trust in their abilities that with everything that all students do, everything will usually turn out fine. Once students can gain this knowledge, I can see, like Thoreau mentioned, an awakening happening where pure thoughts and inhibitions can come forth. I personally attempt to live deliberately as I see Thoreau's offering just as much as I possibly can, which will lead into my critique.

I think that Thoreau doesn't take into account that with an inevitable rise of technology it gets much much harder for the average student to work and live in his deliberate way of life. I do not think one has to turn away from all of that like Thoreau did but use it to make society a better place. Even thought he, from my interpretation seems to be very cynical of all those around him and almost creates a trust conflict in the underline notion of his writing, I can't help but disagree that technology and his way of living can live hand in hand. So I pledge, and tell everyone also, to live in your affirmation of deliberatance that you create and perhaps use Thoreau's dialog or completely reject it, because by rejecting it you are proving that you are awake and thinking about everything around you.

Fraternities

What would a fraternity at St. Olaf look like? It is a fun thought, one I think could work with some effort. Would it be a brotherhood or no gender bound group of people who look after each other just because they are members? As our group looks into different fraternities like the Knight's Templar or Freemasonry, I can't help but create my own version of a unique and mysterious St. Olaf Fraternity.

The Royal Order of the Lion

Composed of a Counsel of 12 leaders and a limited amount of members. The group, like the freemasonry or the KKK, will eventually have long outstanding routes that could possibly effect America. An interesting prospect, and who knows? It could happen.

Coffee

You know, it is really hard to give up something that will actually affect the way you work with people.

What I gave up for Lent?

Caffeine.

I had a bad day on Monday. I did poorly on a test and I was disappointed on how socially I was interacting with some people. It is insane how much a cup of coffee changed my day. I felt alive, alert and able to face my problems head on. I loved it, and sadly I am happy I stopped giving up what I promised. Maybe it is the effort that counts. Maybe, as my religion professor Booth said, it is about learning about yourself and not being able to give something up. But I'm just happy to have my coffee back.

Lybia and the 21st Century Democracy Revolution

In a Time article I recently read, they put the revolution in the Middle East up against Europe in the 1800's. From rising food costs to similar authority power, the similarities were striking. I think it is fascinating how history could rhyme so easily and often. Democracy is necessary in countries whose people are oppressed and aren't allowed a word in how they are treated. I am very happy about this new-found Democracy, but I am wondering what the implications will be for the future. With a stronger Middle East, and most likely unified under democracy and similar historical back rounds, I could definitely see the Middle East aligning themselves together, forming a powerful bond such as the European Union or the SEAN. Where does this place America? We have no powerful, economic bond with any other group of nations. The global hegemony that the US maintains is also declining. What might happen? I would hope the United States will peer into themselves and see that the world that they are growing into just doesn't fit their political policy. For the good of the country, I hope we change.

My Absence and how that Should Change

Hello all who follow me and whoever may be reading this. I am going to apologize for my lack of blogging this semester and I just want to assure you all that this should change very soon. I am not exactly grasping the power of these blogs but I plan on writing much more for the rest of the semester. I plan on writing more about my opinions on life and Democracy and how they relate. I am very into the news, so often these posts will be reflected off of this. I apologize to all, and I hope this becomes a very interesting and wonderful read.

Part 3

By writing Democracy in America, De Tocqueville makes many observations that really tell what he has to say about America and proposes accurate advantages and disadvantages to the American system. He offers three occurrences that can be found in his observation of American Democracy. One is how America deals with the law, and how the Americans stop the tyranny of a majority rule. “Democratic laws generally tend toward the good of the greatest possible number for they stem from the majority of all the citizens, a majority which may be in error but which could not follow a path contrary to its own interests. Aristocratic laws tend, by contrast, toward concentrating wealth and power solely in the hands of a small number, because aristocracy consists of a minority by its very nature.” The majority rules in America. De Tocqueville has issues with this, where the system is not equal and many are unfairly left out and thrown aside. This tyranny is balanced however by realizing that in a mixed government the power of the sovereign has to go somewhere and that power it is decentralized through lack of an overreaching federal government. De Tocqueville also explains that judicially America can act in a utilitarian matter, where if there is a problem that a group is being oppressed they can act to help their needs. This tyranny cannot be without a description of De Tocqueville’s second distinction in Democracy of America where he states that America can be characterized by always valuing and having freedom but not necessarily having equality. This is opposed to the occurrence in France of oppressive equality, where even though there is complete equality between the people there is not freedom for the citizens of the country. The legitimacy of this claim can be argued, as there were slaves and the Native American population of America was extremely mistreated. But De Tocqueville does make mention of slavery in America, when he says “These evils are unquestionably great; but they are the necessary and foreseen consequence of the very principle of slavery.” American citizens were and always had a sense of freedom that is very important when recognizing how a republic and a democracy like the American system can come back.

De Tocqueville’s last major claim in Democracy in America is the importance of political and voluntary associations to the American political system. Associations, according to De Tocqueville, have a specific purpose that is vital for the wellbeing of America. “In the United States, associations aim to promote public safety, business, industry, morality, and religion. There is nothing the human will despairs of attaining through the free action of the combined power of individuals.” Associations come about from the freedoms that again characterize America, and they serve the people in ways that cannot be mimicked by the government. One association, the YMCA, or Young Men’s Christian Association really shows how much impact associations in America have and how much De Tocqueville was correct in his words above. In the 19^th century, the YMCA was designed to allow immigrant youths to have a place to go and be active. With the sprawl in urbanization throughout this time, the YMCA flourished and found many members. This organization really shows how De Tocqueville’s belief in the importance of voluntary associations is true.

De Tocqueville’s Democracy in America offers to France and the rest of the world a unique look into a very distinct democracy, one that would be very difficult to replicate anywhere else. He makes many claims into how American democracy works, where he highly emphasizes the importance of citizen associations. These associations, he states, offer a specialized group led welfare to the whole country that is required for the country to exist and function as well as it has. America, De Tocqueville claims, is ruled by a majority, so there is always threat of tyrannical majority rule. He leaves us with evidence that shows the majority rule does not work like that but rather the American judicial and law system prevents this awful tyranny. De Tocqueville also discusses freedom in America and how lucky the Americans were to have always had freedom from the very start of their being. Democracy in America is an accurate representation of American democracy and De Tocqueville is correct in these observations of America in the 19^th century.

Part two

The Origins of De Tocqueville’s claims come from his reasons for writing Democracy in America. Alexis De Tocqueville was born in France in the early 1800’s. A prominent politician in his later years, De Tocqueville wrote of American Democracy when he was young and still observing the world. With discontent for the French political system and distaste for the way the aristocracy ruled France, Alexis De Tocqueville traveled to America and observed how America goes about its democratic ways. He compares this to France and France’s system, where often in the book he discusses issues like freedom before equality and the tyranny of the majority or minority. Being French, De Tocqueville obviously wrote this work to show France another working model to replace or modify the French Aristocracy. Democracy in America also has an international audience, displaying proudly or not to the rest of the world the behaviors of Americans and how their system does or does not work so well. America should also be mentioned as perhaps an unintended audience, where they see their democracy at work through the lens of an outsider. All of these audiences add to why De Tocqueville wrote this great work and help support his claims made about American democracy.

Beginnings of De Tocqueville essay

De Tocqueville, American Democracy and the YMCA

In Democracy in America, Alexis De Tocqueville accurately paints a wonderful portrait of his impression of America Democracy for the better understanding of America for the rest of the world and the United States themselves. Many different can interpretations can be drawn from De Tocqueville‘s statements on democracy, but these statements can be uncovered even through the ambiguity of his account of America. De Tocqueville has a specific view and purpose for writing this work, where he claims that American democracy works because of a collaboration of citizens in political and voluntary associations, freedom for the individual even without complete equality and a limit of the downsides of majority rule, or as he puts it a tyranny of the majority. All claims made by De Tocqueville are shown through evidence throughout the book. De Tocqueville’s claims can be backed up by the understanding of a specific voluntary association, the YMCA. These claims of American democracy should also be viewed by his past and with the knowledge of the audience he was intending. The audience meant can be considered solely the French, but it can also be considered America as well.

American Political Jurisdiction

I find it fascinating and a point that I had never really thought about which is we elect those who preside over political jurisdiction in the United States but in other places they don't do that. I find it very weird to have a fair trial when the jurors are not elected by the people but rather entitled. In that same light, I guess it would be easy to bias a judge or those who preside and offer jurisdiction when they are elected. That is just my pondering, and it is an interesting thing to ponder.

DeTocqueville and France

As I dive into Democracy in America, I can't help but look into Detocqueville and his French audience that the work seems to be pointed to. As was mentioned in class, this work is aimed towards the French and I can't wait to see his French influence on everything. I have a very good friend who is from France and I look forward to see similarities between Detocqueville and his mannerisms.

The Dream of Upward Mobility

Do we still have, as Cullen puts it, a dream of Upward Mobility? Or a possibility of reaching this eventual point of success in America? I really think we do, and this idea or argument is a crux of the political battles now a days. There seems to be a constant battle between the middle class and the higher class. There is no longer slavery, but a divide has yet come about on the importance of the Union and the government in individual affairs. I find the reading very fitting for presidents day, and I really enjoyed the commentary on Jackson and Lincoln especially. America has been built by the mysticism of self made men.

Democracy

Something must be said about democracy, especially America’s odd structure and our, the American people’s, love for democracy. It is certainly an incredible experience that all American citizens live through that is not the same or replicated anywhere else in the world. What is our democracy, or rather, America’s democracy? Is it equal to all, or does it cater to only the privileged? American democracy is an experience with good and bad parts to it. This democracy affects so many around the world and its influence spreads so far.

What is democracy? More specifically, what is American democracy? Pure democracy values the will of the people for every issue that the state must reside over, from private property to infrastructure.  One could argue that the Roman Republic was a direct democracy, even with their extreme class issues. However, the American democratic model is very different than that. We hold value in the power of elected officials. These elections are often not based whether or not they are intelligent or able to lead, but if they hold in line a similar view of the country as their constituents would believe in. For our current system too, one could argue that the bi-partisan system limits the power of the people to voice their opinion and empowers lobbyists and the oligarchical establishment that supports the government, but that is another argument in among itself. American democracy could then be criticized as being unfair, or unequal to those of the minority.

            But with this criticism offered, one must look at why and how America’s democracy does work. To quote Walt Whitman in Democratic Vistas, “Long ere the second centennial arrives, there will be some forty to fifty great States, among them Canada and Cuba. When the present century closes, our population will be sixty or seventy millions. The Pacific will be ours, and the Atlantic mainly ours. There will be a daily electric communication with every part of the globe. What an age! What a land! Where, elsewhere, one so great? The individuality of one nation must then, as always, lead the world.” Although this rhetoric would probably not be appreciated as much as it was in Whitman’s context, I think it is important to note that he essentially saw that the American struggle for democracy and the product after these struggles will be good, which it is. The standard of living in the USA is arguably the best in the world, even among bickering politicians who never seem to accomplish anything. This form of argumentative not necessarily full representative democracy is not perfect, but has made the United States an extremely successful and influential nation.

            I personally enjoyed Whitman’s almost idealistic approach to American democracy, but one must also look at it through a rational and realistic lens. We as Americans have a specific view of freedom that we covered highly last semester. It is a very odd and precise view, although everyone sees it differently. I find it fascinating then that Americans can allow themselves the non-liberty of direct democracy, in order to use a democracy that is, like I said above, unequal in that often the idea of utilitarianism, or the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people is thrown by the wayside for the idea of “the greatest amount of good… for me.” I believe that this strange paradox of American ideals is often forgotten and is important to view when analyzing American democracy.

To offer another critique to Whitman’s Democratic Vistas, I felt that he did not give a good enough argument for utilitarianism. With that being said, his beliefs and those of other early Americans may show where our current ideals originated. Whitman talks about in the work how suffrage is dangerous. This comes from a belief that I have viewed of Whitman that some people should not vote, because they are uneducated or inept in their understandings of the world. I will have to disagree with this as well, because again, this does not count for everyone’s interests. American democracy has evolved over time, and will keep growing for many years to come.