Paradise

I lay on the beach
The shore smells like sweet tanning lotion.
Relaxing under the bright, warm sun.
The air tastes fresh and clean,
The waves crash into the shore like rolling claps of thunder.
The colorful umbrellas say, "welcome to paradise."

The Troubles Of Being A Teenager

                As a teenager, it is easy to be the first person for an adult to blame when something goes wrong.  Unfortunately, some teens choose to follow a path of rebellion, while the others are left to work hard to improve their negative reputation.  Like the African-American woman in “Sears Life”, Wanda Coleman, shopping as a minor, or a person of a different race, can make a person feel inferior to the judgmental, intimidating salesmen that surround you with their suspicious eyes.  While feeding off of misconceptions, the workers often expect the worst from some of the best people.  While shopping during the holiday season last year, I was on top of the world.  I was glowing with pride as I shopped with my newly acquired driver’s license and debit card in hand, determined to find the perfect gift for each member of my family.  As I walked into stores, I immediately felt uncomfortable as the salesmen followed my every move, as if they were trying to count my steps.  Like Coleman, I had come with good intentions, only to be looked down on. 

                While leaving one of the stores, the metal detectors began to sound as I approached the doors.  Immediately, my face turned bright red and my stomach twisted into knots.  The workers surrounded me with their glaring eyes, assuming that I had attempted to steal their merchandise.  I immediately began to panic as they began searching my bags.  After what had seemed like hours, an employee came across a shirt I had purchased at a previous store that still had a security tag sewn into the seam.  Rather than assuming it was the other clerk’s mistake, the manager began reviewing my receipts, desperate to catch me in the act.  When they realized I was innocent, the workers practically seemed disappointed.  Whether you differ in age, size or race, everyone is subject to judgments formed by stereotypes and assumptions.  Wanda was immediately judged because of her race, with no reason or proof behind the worker’s claims.

 As a teen, I am still learning from my mistakes.  I openly admit my imperfections and I look to find the best in others.  Although most adults teach adolescents to treat others with respect and equality, they struggle to follow this advice themselves.  Not one person is alike.  Although skepticism towards my age can be insulting, discrimination is inexcusable.  Breaking barriers is difficult; however, once they are broken they can lead to a greater good and understanding of others. 

Seize the Day

                Come one, come all!  Explore the depths of living life to its fullest.  In his poem, “A Birthday Poem,” Ted Kooser references light and nature to convey a theme of growth and progress throughout one’s lifetime.  As each birthday passes, Kooser insists that we must pursue opportunities that are, “waiting for someone to come.”  Like the break of dawn at the start of a new day, we begin our lives with a spectacular future ahead.  As we grow in age, we develop into the people we are destined to be.  Kooser describes the importance of appreciating life by, “feasting on every green moment.”  Kooser personifies the darkness by suggesting that is “calls” to us and suggests that the trees, or opportunities, are “waiting” for someone to come to them.  As our life comes to a close, like the end of the day, we walk into the darkness with the hopes of being remembered.  Kooser’s simple style encourages the reader to appreciate the simple memories acquired throughout our life’s course.  Have you truly lived life to its fullest?  Do you feel you have struggled to find the key to happiness and solitude?  Welcome, my friend!  You have come to right place.

Enough Is Enough

I chose the idiom, “more than what meets the eye” to represent Jorge from the poem Jorge the Church Janitor Finally Quits by Martín Espada.  As a janitor at the church, Jorge felt underappreciated and masked by a stereotypical barrier.  Although he had been employed at the church for a long amount of time, no one had taken to time to know him as an individual.  Jorge wished to be seen as more than the man who mopped the floors and cleaned the restrooms.  Jorge chose to quit, but felt that no one would even notice that he had left unless they needed someone to complain to.  Rather than identifying Jorge as an independent man, most identified him as the figure behind the mop.

¿Qué Es Poesía?

¿Qué es poesía? dices

mientras clavas en mi pupila ta pupila azul.

¿Qué es poesía? Y tú me lo preguntas?

Poesía eres tú.

“What is poetry?” you asked,

as your deep blue eyes gazed into mine. 

What is poetry, you ask? 

Poetry, my love, is you.

Jumping Into Trouble

We ran out the doors without a care in the world.  It was a warm summer day, and my friend, Makayla, had finally moved into her new, beautiful home.  Our mom’s, who had been friends throughout most of their lifetime, toured the lavish house while Makayla and I snuck outside to jump into the pool, ignoring our mother’s orders to stay inside.  After all, what could go wrong?  Little did I know, I would come close to losing my life.

                Before jumping off of the long, white diving board, I slipped a large diving mask on to cover my eyes.  Makayla shouted, “1…2…3… Jump!” I plunged into the cool water with my smile reaching ear to ear.  Once my feet reached the deep, course pool floor, I used all of my strength to push myself to the bright surface.  As a soared to the top of the pool the mask, which was at first intended for protection, slid up my face and suctioned to my mouth and nose.  The more I swam, the tighter the mask would suction to my face.  Once I reached the surface, I gasped for air that didn’t exist.  I attempted to rip off the mask to release the pressure that had built up.  My chest tightened as my lungs ran out of air.  While the mask suffocated me, I ran out strength, sinking to the bottom of the pool.  After only a few seconds, I could no longer see and everything turned black.  I lost consciousness.

Once Makayla realized that I hadn’t returned to the surface, she sprinted into the house and screamed, “Mom! Mrs. Kim! Something is wrong with Rachel, she needs your help!  Hurry!”  Our mom’s panicked, realizing that we had not listened, and fled to the backyard to see what we had gotten ourselves into.  When they reached the backyard, they saw Makayla yelling and pointing to the bottom of the pool and found that she was pointing to me.  Kaylynn, Makayla’s mom, immediately dove to the bottom of the pool and pulled me out onto the hot concrete while my mom called 911 for help.  As she tried to rip the mask off of my face, Kaylynn realized she was running out of time.  I had already turned blue.  After cutting the mask off of my face, Kaylynn did all that she could to save my life by giving me CPR until the ambulance arrived. 

Once the ambulance reached the house, I had barely begun gaining consciousness.  I slowly opened my eyes and found myself surrounded by paramedics.  The sun pierced through my eyes and the hot concrete burnt my skin.  I could not remember what had happened; however, I knew I was not the same.  I was immediately taken to the hospital.  At first, I was not showing signs of recovery.  The doctors asked my question after question while I just stared at them, lost and confused. 

After hours in the hospital, I began to see thing more clearly and recognized more of the people around me.  Once the doctors ensured that I was going to be ok, my parents and I couldn’t thank Kaylynn enough.  She saved my life.  The next day, I woke up thinking the day before had just been a nightmare; however, after glancing at the white medical identification bands tied around my wrists, a chill raced down my spine.  I realized how lucky I was to still be alive.

Simply The Best

                While reading the short story “Gryphon” the substitute teacher at Five Oaks reminded me of a favorite teacher of my own.  As a freshman in high school, I was naive and constantly worried about what others thought of me.  On the first day of school I met my speech teacher, Ms. Kitzmiller.  She greeted me at the door and I immediately felt welcome, as if I had known her for years.  Like Ms. F, Ms. Kitzmiller was a breath of fresh air and an escape from the constant pressure as a freshman.  There wasn’t a single class where her students felt inferior or didn’t enjoy listening to what she had to say.  Ms. Kitzmiller was always sarcastic and telling us how it was going to be, never holding back.  While other teachers would seem cranky and dull, she could turn anyone’s day around.  Although not all of the students were fond of Ms. F, she brought life to the small town and gave students the sense of adventure.  Teachers like Ms. F and Ms. Kitzmiller have the greatest impact on their students with their character and the connections they make with their students that go beyond strictly academics.

Bub's Change of Heart

                Before his experience with Robert, Bub was depressed and unsocial.  Bub spent most nights smoking his life away with no intentions of opening up to anyone.  Friendship and true love seemed “pathetic” to Bub, who avoided emotional connections with everyone in his life, including his unhappy wife.  Bub was prejudiced against the blind and opposed Robert’s stay; however, as Bub searched for reasoning behind his opposition towards Robert, Bub began to find that Robert was an honorable, loving man.  Despite Robert’s disability, Bub found that he took similar interests and began to open up to him.  Robert’s open personality towards people, love and friendship encouraged Bub to begin trusting and connecting with other people.   Bub’s change in heart progressed as his connection with Robert strengthened.  Robert gave Bub perspective by having him close his eyes and draw with his hands what he thought a cathedral looked like.  This connection brought Bub to realize that his detachment from others was not the way he wished to live his life.

Sharecropping: The Downfall of Abner Snopes

Throughout the Civil War, plantations relied on slaves for cheap, affordable labor.  At the close of the war, the emancipation of slaves led the United States into the Reconstruction Era.  With the economy in ruins and a lack of labor, plantation owners were left in need of assistance while poor farmers were left with no money to support their families.  Sharecropping was one of the few options available for poor families, particularly in the Southern United States.  Through the system of sharecropping, a landowner distributes a portion of their land to a sharecropper.  In return, the landowner receives a share of the crop produced on the land that was assigned.  Although this opportunity appeared to be beneficial, its toll on families across the south often put more financial burden on the tenant than what had existed before.  Many families were bombarded with debts and costs that could only be paid through work.  While stuck in the cycle of sharecropping, Abner Snopes lost hope of escape.  As his debts increased, he lost himself in a maze of anger and frustration.  His hatred for the system could be seen through his outbursts and rebellion toward the landowners.  Although his actions were not honorable, his loss of hope and freedom influenced his decisions of fighting back.  Abner’s non-existant routes of escape left him willing to sacrifice anything to show his frustrations toward the corrosive system.

Moving Forward

                While serving his country, Lieutenant Cross’ heart kept him wishing he was home.  While other soldiers carried necessities for survival, Cross carried reminders of his love, Martha.  He clung to pictures, letters, and even a pebble she sent to him while he was away; despite the fact that he knew she did not love him in return.  Martha gave Lieutenant Cross hope and motivation and reminded him of the life he had before the war.  Cross constantly daydreamed about Martha, and found himself distracted from his position of leadership.  His daydreams finally took a toll on his conscience when one of his men, Ted Lavender, was killed.  Cross blamed himself for Lavender’s death and felt that he could have prevented it, had he not been daydreaming about Martha.  Cross, faced with guilt and devastation, decided to end his relations with Martha in order to be a better leader.  Although he was hard on himself, he hoped to improve not only himself, but the others around him as well.  Although Martha was his connection to home, Cross ultimately decided to pursue his duties in the war rather than clinging to his past life.

"Everyday Use"

Throughout her life, Dee conformed herself to match the latest fashion trend or label while her little sister, Maggie, had little confidence in herself but saw importance in her family backgrounds and traditions.  Even as a little girl, Dee was embarrassed by her heritage and refused to embrace it.  She showed no pride towards her family’s home or even her own name that she eventually changed to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo.  While Dee defied her family’s historical background, Maggie took interest in the significance of her mother’s quilts and memorabilia that represented her family’s past.  As a college student, Dee was surprised to find that her family’s heritage had important meaning and began taking pictures to show off to her friends.  At one point, Dee claimed that she actually wanted the treasured family quilts crafted by her grandmother and aunt that she once rejected because she found them to be ‘old-fashioned’.  In reality, she only wanted the quilts to show off and saw no meaning in them.  Although Dee was her older sister, her actions offended Maggie.  Maggie, who took pride in her heritage, had dreamed of taking ownership of the quilts her grandmother and aunt had stitched to carry on her family traditions.  Dee, on the other hand, only had intended to use the quilts for meaningless everyday use.  Maggie and Dee’s mother chose to give the quilts to Maggie to acknowledge her appreciation of her family’s heritage when she realized Dee had false intentions.

My Dearest Daughter,

I hope you find the will in your heart to forgive me.  I never meant to hurt you; I only wished to push you to be your very best.  Your potential is astonishing.  I have always dreamed of giving you the life I never had, but in turn I brought you down.  You were never inferior to others; I only compared you to those who had succeeded because I have always known you could be even better.  I intended to inspire you.  As a mother, I can’t help but worry about your future.  All I ask is that you embrace your talents and intelligence, for this will take you far.  Take advantage of all opportunities that come your way, America is unlike any other place in the world.  All I ask is that you try.

As I have watched you grow and mature, I couldn’t be more proud.  I wish I would have spent more time telling you this rather than critiquing everything you ever put your mind to.  I thought my criticism would push you to be the best, but in reality it pushed you away from me.  I never meant to intentionally hurt you; instead, I hoped to instill discipline and responsibility that would lead your life in the right direction.  You had this all along, I was too blindsided with the fear of failure to notice.  I will never forgive myself for hurting you.

As you grow into a young woman and enter the world, I hope you follow your dreams and always put forth your best effort.  When you eventually have a family of your own, pass this down to your children.  Encourage them to always be their best-I hope you do the same.  I know you will go far if you push yourself to conquer the impossible.  No matter what your dreams may be, follow them, and stick to them.

Love,

Your Mother

Mom, I hope you understand...

Hey Mom!

I know my sudden decision to leave A&P might have seemed extreme, but I figured you would support me since I was standing for what I believe in.  He had no right to humiliate those girls.  I will admit, they were not in proper attire, but I just think it was wrong.  I understand that you are disappointed.  If anything I thought that I would get a little thank you from the girls, but instead they walked away.  To be honest, I truly felt that that was the only thing they did wrong.  As young girls, I doubt they were purposely looking for attention.  Although I believe the situation could have been handled differently, I do not regret my actions.  I do not expect you to agree with me, I only ask for your support while I learn from my mistakes.

Love Always,

Sammy

Advice I Hope You Will Take

Do not let anyone tell you something is impossible, follow your dreams; be no one other than yourself; listen to others, give others the respect that you expect in return; set priorities, they will lead you in the right direction; never do anything half-way, reach for success in everything you do; give everyone a chance; speak appropriately; give thanks, you should take nothing for granted; give love and it will be given in return; be sincere, there is no serenity in lies; reach out to others, you will be surprised what you find; take the initiative, you should want to help without being asked; find interests and hobbies, they develop you into the person you want to be; give others hope, do not shut people down; cherish family, they love you unconditionally, you should do the same; try something new; pay attention to your surroundings, always be aware; do not take everything literally, many things have hidden meaning; embrace criticism, it makes you stronger; no one is perfect, strive to be the best that you can be; create friendships that last; always give before you expect to receive; but what if I fail?; those who are unsuccessful learn from their mistakes, no one is perfect, why should we fear failure if it only makes us work harder?

Barbara Kingsolver's Path to Persuasion

               Barbara Kingsolver, the author of Lily’s Chickens and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, is widely known for her variety of published works.  In fact, she was even named one the most important writers of the 20th Century by Writers Digest.  Although Kingsolver addresses sensitive topics regarding the food industries across the world, she uses several rhetorical strategies including humor, logos and ethos to create a connection with the reader, in hopes that she can guide the food-buying public towards healthier choices.

                In Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life, Kingsolver uses humor to get the reader to relax while reading about her ideas and experiences. Almost immediately, Kingsolver incorporates humor into Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life while describing her family’s slow adaptation to change. She jokes that,   “Naturally, our first stop was to buy junk food and fossil fuel.” Through this strategy, she shows that she is also subject to imperfection while working to change.  By comparing herself to the reader, Kingsolver is able to encourage the reader by showing that if she can change, others can change too.  In Lily’s Chicken she admits, “I am trying to learn about this complicated web as I go, and I’m in no position to judge anyone else’s personal habits, believe me.”  Had Kingsolver not addressed that she also had trouble adjusting, her points would be less valid and her ideas could be considered extreme and unrealistic.

                In addition to humor, Kingsolver employs logos to strike the reader’s logic and reasoning by using statistics concerning how far food travels from around the world.  In Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life she says, “Our average food item covers fifteen-hundred miles to reach us.  Because of industrial farming and food transport, we are now putting almost as much gasoline into our diets as into our cars.”  Through her use of logos, Kingsolver provides a shocking fact to both intrigue the reader and support her idea that we do not pay enough attention to where our food actually comes from.  Without facts, her statements would have no justification and would not be taken seriously by the reader.  She also incorporates logical suggestions that could benefit our nation as a whole.  Kingsolver suggests in Lily’s Chickens that, “We could make for ourselves a safer nation, overnight, simply by giving more support to our local food economies and learning ways of eating and living around a table that reflects the calendar.”  This logical assumption proves to the reader that not only our health would improve but our safety could be improved too.

                Lastly, Kingsolver uses ethos to appeal to the reader’s emotions.  In Lily’s Chickens, she expresses her love for her family and encourages the reader to change for the safety of not only themselves, but most importantly, their loved ones.  Kingsolver reminds the reader that, “Health is an issue, too: My growing girls don’t need the hormones and toxins that lace American food in regulated quantities (the allowable doses are more about economic feasibility that about proven safety).”  This fact is given to the reader to stir their protective instincts and to encourage them to create a better diet for their family’s health.

                Through her uses of rhetorical strategies including humor, logos and ethos, Kingsolver’s style intends to educate, inform, and persuade the reader to pursue a healthier lifestyle.  Despite the sensitivity that can be found within the topics of industrial food production, Kingsolver establishes a connection with the reader, in hopes that she can guide the food-buying public towards healthier choices.

What Most Consumers Tend to Overlook

                It is hard to believe that businesses are willing to sell their product with only profits on their mind, rather than taking the publics’ health into consideration.  As a young consumer, I have never personally focused on what I am putting my money toward and how it could be harming me.  Most human beings, including myself, avoid the unfortunate truth: most companies put their profits toward advertisement and marketing, rather than taking the initiative to improve the quality of their product.  As a teenager, my schedule usually distracts me from making healthy choices that could lead to better development and improvement in my overall health.  Although the foods may taste good and are readily available, the preservatives and artificial flavorings are destroying our bodies.  In addition, factory faming leads to our exposure to saturated fats, cholesterol, excessive protein and harmful hormone levels that can stunt development.  Why do we continue to invest in products that do little to improve our health?  Unfortunately, it’s because most consumers are unable to afford the high prices of organic, natural foods.  Learning more about these harmful contaminates has encouraged me take more consideration of where my food originates from and what it may contain.

Rhetorical Analysis of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an essayist and central figure in the transcendental movement during the 1800’s, was mostly known for his strong belief in individualism: a very uncommon topic during his time. In his essay “Self-Reliance,” written in 1841, Emerson emphasizes the importance of trust, confidence, and the acceptance of one’s self by suggesting to the reader that every human being acquires doubt in themselves.  Emerson achieves this by employing an intimate tone, affirmative diction, and a brief comparison to himself to build credibility. 

Initially, Emerson states, “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”  His application of the rhetorical strategy, logos, appeals to the readers reasoning by suggesting that every individual’s heart possesses the same hope of acceptance, when in reality we must learn to trust and accept ourselves first.  Emerson encourages the readers to develop themselves through trust; into the individual they are destined to be, without morphing themselves to please others.  If each individual embodies the hopes of finding self-acceptance and stability, he faithfully believes that we are capable of overcoming the doubts we hold against ourselves.

Emerson’s transcendental beliefs led him to urge individuals to, “Accept the place the divine providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events.”  His use of pathos motivates the reader to search for their divine purpose, rather than focusing on acceptance from others.  His ideas encourage the reader to follow the path created by the higher power, rather than attempting to seek their destiny with no guidance. Emerson employs logos to appeal to the readers reasoning of equality by referring to others as “contemporaries.”  This reminds the reader that although the ideal of individuality is important, we all possess a similar inner being.

To establish credibility, Emerson explains that, “Great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being.”  His rhetorical use of ethos implies that those who take his advice are the individuals who succeed.  Emerson suggests that those who accept the ideas of transcendentalism will find the acceptance they are longing for, and will no longer feel inferior because the higher power will overtake their struggles.  He stresses that the trust and acceptance of ourselves that we seek can only be found individually within our heart, rather than created with our mind, and that it is crucial that individuals do not confide themselves, “childlike to the genius of their age.”  If we proceed to do so, we will lose our true inner self that can be found within our heart.

With Emerson’s use of an intimate, personal tone, he establishes a connection to the reader.  Emerson concludes with, “And we are now men, and must accept in the highest mind the same transcendent destiny; and not minors and invalids in a protected corner, not cowards fleeing before a revolution, but guides, redeemers, and benefactors, obeying the Almighty effort, and advancing on Chaos and the Dark.”  With the connection to himself, Emerson builds credibility by establishing his understanding.  His reference to “transcendent destiny” alludes to his strong belief in individualism and self-determination.  In addition, his style shifts from short and to the point to lengthy and descriptive.  This shift shows the importance of the ideals of transcendentalists he hopes to spread and justifies his idea of the role of the individual. Additionally, Emerson states that our role is to fulfill our destiny.  He insists that if we are able to find peace with ourselves, we will be capable of advancing to a better society as a whole, or capable of eliminating “Chaos and the Dark.”

Throughout his essay “Self-Reliance,” Emerson emphasizes the importance of trust, confidence, and the acceptance of one’s self by employing an intimate tone, affirmative diction, and a brief comparison to himself to build credibility.  His use of rhetorical strategies including ethos, pathos and logos contribute to his informative expression of ideals by providing structural support and appealing to the readers reason, logic and emotions.  Emerson successfully provided insight to what we must do to find our true self and justified that we must never consider ourselves inferior; we are all longing to find ourselves and acquire the same goals of acceptance. 

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Emerson's Mutual Idea of a Hero

                Throughout history, Ralph Waldo Emerson has been defined as a man who valued individualism and freedom.  After examining some of his most widely-known works, I have come to realize that Emerson was also simply a man of words.  Emerson once said that, “a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer.”  When searching for a hero, we tend to overlook the common man, or even ourselves.  Throughout my life, like Emerson, I have come to believe that we should always be open to expecting the unexpected.

                As a little girl, I loved to go swimming with my friend Laura.  While we swam and enjoyed each other’s company, our moms, who were best friends, would do the same.  On July 18, 2000, Laura’s mom, Kaylynn, invited my mom, sister and I to their new home to swim and cool off from the Texas summer heat.  That afternoon, we explored their new home and ordered pizzas for lunch.  Laura and I were told that we were not allowed to swim until the pizza had arrived and our moms were able to watch us.  As our anticipation built, Laura and I decided that it would be funny to sneak into the backyard just a few minutes early so that we could finally swim; ignoring the fact that we did not have permission.  Before jumping off of the diving board, I slipped a diving mask on to cover my eyes; little did I know that it would come close to killing me.  After running down the diving board, I plunged into the deep water.  While swimming up to the bright surface, the mask slid down my face, covering my mouth and nose.  The more I swam, the tighter the mask would suction to my face.  Once I reached the surface, I gasped for air that didn’t exist.  I attempted to rip off the mask to release the pressure that had built up.  As the mask suffocated me, I ran out of air and strength, sinking to the bottom of the pool.  After only a few seconds, I lost consciousness.  Once Laura realized that I needed help, she sprinted into the house and screamed, “Mom! Mrs. Kim! Something is wrong with Becca, she needs your help! Hurry!”  Our mom’s panicked, realizing that we had not listened, and fled to the backyard to see what we had gotten ourselves into.  When they reached the backyard, they saw Laura yelling and pointing to the bottom of the pool and found that she was pointing to me.  Kaylynn immediately dove to the bottom of the pool and pulled me out onto the hot concrete while my mom called 911 for help.  As she tried to rip the mask off of my face, Kaylynn could not get the mask to come off of my face, and realized she was running out of time.  I had already turned blue.  After cutting the mask off of my face, Kaylynn did all that she could to save my life by giving me CPR until the ambulance arrived.  Once the ambulance reached the house, I had slowly began gaining consciousness. I was immediately taken to the hospital.  At first, I was not showing signs of recovery and the doctors feared that I would lose my memory; however, after several hours in the hospital, I began to return to full consciousness. 

After realizing that I was going to be ok, my parents couldn’t thank Kaylynn enough.  She had saved my life.  We used to see Kaylynn as a family friend; however, now we see her as nothing short of a hero.  Without her, I would not be here today.  While looking into Emerson’s idea of a hero, the first person that comes to my mind is Kaylynn.  Although she may appear to be an ordinary human being, to me she is the selfless, loving, brave woman that forever changed my life. 

Emerson's Belief of Individualism

                Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, once wrote that, “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius.”  In his essay, Self Reliance, Emerson suggests that mankind often shares common desires and beliefs.  He felt that those who opened their common beliefs to benefit and involve society as a whole were true geniuses.  Emerson valued individualism and stressed the importance of each person’s God-given task to benefit all of mankind, rather than only one man selfishly serving himself.  No society can function without stability provided thorough defined roles and tasks among the people.  Emerson’s accredited career supported his legitimacy in relation to social interaction, which helped spread his ideas of serving others.  Although he was not the only person who desired to serve the society as a whole, Emerson’s support of the idea contributed to its acceptance and success.

Jefferson’s False Ideal of Freedom

Many influential leaders throughout history are remembered for both their positive and negative contributions to society; however, Thomas Jefferson seems to be the exception.  A new exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History has been built to exhibit Thomas Jefferson’s life-long contradiction of freedom ideals and slavery, as opposed to his many achievements.  As the author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson stated that, “all men are created equal,” yet he owned hundreds of slaves himself, and was even rumored to have enslaved his own children.  Jefferson’s hypocritical, inconsistent actions toward the principles of freedom and slavery prove that in reality, he was a racist.

How could the author of, “all men are created equal” continue to enslave hundreds of innocent people?  Jefferson saw slaves as no more than dependent children.  He believed that slaves needed to be cared for, and could not rely on themselves to live independently.  Jefferson’s degrading beliefs kept him from questioning whether slavery was immoral and instead, led him to justify himself that slaves were not entitled to the freedom given to white Americans.  Though he is considered immoral, Jefferson was fortunately never known to be abusive toward his slaves.  In fact, Jefferson’s slaves did not want to leave Monticello, Jefferson’s home, because they knew that no one would treat them as well as he did.  As an iconic figure in American history, Jefferson should have encouraged equality by practicing it himself.  If Jefferson would have freed his slaves, those who admired him would have been more inspired to spread equality as well.  Jefferson’s choice to focus less on ending slavery is disappointing to many that admire Jefferson’s work.

As Jefferson spoke out against slavery, many were unaware of the relationships he held with his slaves.  Jefferson was even believed to have had children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemmings.  Although it would be expected for Jefferson to free Sally and start a family after his wife’s death, he chose to enslave the children instead.  Despite the fact that they were his own children, Jefferson saw them as nothing but slaves and chose to never acknowledge them as his own.  How could Jefferson truly believe in equality if he was not even willing to free his own children because of their race?  Jefferson’s inability to break racial barriers held the United States from progressing out of the horrible concept of enslavement.  As a leader, Jefferson should have been the first to follow his word of eliminating the cruel practice of owning innocent human beings.  Sally and their children lived as slaves until the day Jefferson died.  She and the children were the only slaves he freed; the others were sold off to pay his debts.  Families were torn and many children were sold to abusive households across the country.  The families had little hope of ever seeing each other again.

                Jefferson was a master of inconsistency and hypocrisy.  Jefferson stressed the importance of equality, yet he chose to ignore the importance of a large portion of the population.  Jefferson said himself that, “the policy of the American government is to leave their citizens free, neither restraining nor aiding them in their pursuits,” while at the same time taking the basic human rights from his slaves and restraining them from entering or progressing into society. Jefferson is glorified for his accomplishments while his choices regarding slavery are always overlooked.  He is most commonly known as founder of the University of Virginia and author of the Declaration of Independence, yet he spent a substantial amount of his lifetime acting against his words.  Jefferson’s brilliance took the United States one step forward; however, his prejudices led the country several steps back.   If Jefferson had used his respectable position in society to inspire people to change, perhaps the issues of segregation and racism would have been less traumatic and more of a welcoming change in American history.

                The introduction of the exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum will provide a new insight to the life of Thomas Jefferson.   For many Americans, this will be an entirely new concept of the third president’s contradiction of freedom ideals and slavery, and for others, a reminder of how far the country has progressed over time.  The goal of the exhibit is not to overshadow Jefferson’s many achievements, but to provide insight to what he considered freedom and who he believed it was entitled to.  The exhibit will not highlight his achievements, but will instead focus on his controversial racial views and positions.

Works Cited:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/history/american/8612-new-smithsonian-qraceq-exhibit-smears-columbus-thomas-jefferson
http://jpetrie.myweb.uga.edu/TJ.html
http://www.virginia-beach-family-fun.com/sally-hemmings.html
http://sc94.ameslab.gov/tour/tjefferson.html

Thomas Jefferson's Tattoo

               Thomas Jefferson was a man that enjoyed simplicity and symmetry.  Jefferson valued time and space- cherishing every moment of the day that he could and putting as much space to use as possible.  Considering his conservative lifestyle, it is very unlikely that he would get a tattoo in his lifetime; however, if he were to get a tattoo, it would most likely be hidden or unnoticeable.  I assume that Jefferson would have preferred a symbolic, personal representation rather than a public statement.

                  I believe Jefferson would use a hexagon to enclose a message, representing his priority of using all available space.  In his home, Jefferson designed rooms to maximize their use by removing corners and using space between walls.  Jefferson made every room as efficient as possible.  Jefferson felt that corners wasted space and took away visual appeal from the room.

                  One of Jefferson’s quotes would fill the empty space inside the hexagon.  Jefferson cherished time.  The tattoo would read, “But whether I retire to bed early or late, I rise with the sun.”  Jefferson spent most of his time, from dawn until dusk, writing letters, taking records or studying books from is library.  Jefferson was believed to rise at five in the morning and would not return to bed until midnight.  Jefferson was never willing to put time to waste.

                  Jefferson loved classic, graceful designs.  I believe that Jefferson would have been discreet by avoiding colors and patterns and placing the tattoo in an unnoticeable area to avoid drawing attention to it.  I would expect that the tattoo would be intended as a personalized symbol of his values rather than a public display of art. 

Peter Onuf's "The Mind of Thomas Jefferson"

                Thomas Jefferson, a timeless, intellectual figure of American history is praised for his political contributions throughout his lifetime.  Although he influenced the idea of equality, many people tried to find flaws in his political career by questioning his religion, which he refused to reveal.  Throughout *The Mind of Thomas Jefferson*, Peter S. Onuf, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History at the University of Virginia, analyzes Jefferson’s mysterious religious beliefs by examining quotes and actions of Jefferson throughout his lifetime.  Onuf found that Jefferson, “reinforced his faith in reason and his hostility to the rule of ‘kings, nobles, or priests’ the ‘abandoned confederacy’ that waged perpetual war ‘against the happiness of the mass of the people.”  Jefferson felt that priests were not equipped to stand between man and his God.  He strongly believed that a person’s personal relation with God was the most important. 

Onuf explains Jefferson’s constant push for the right of religious freedom and the separation of church and state for the better of the country.  Jefferson’s disapproval of priesthood stemmed from his personal belief that priests wanted people to follow them only for the sake of profit.  As the priests acquired more power, their income rapidly increased.  Jefferson wished to restore Christianity, “to the original purity and simplicity of its benevolent institutor,” trusting that if the common man is free to think clearly and freely, he will make the right choices.  Jefferson was confident in the fact that people would feel better choosing their path rather than being forced through set rules.  Jefferson’s fear of religious power ruining the foundation of the country gradually increased as he observed the downfall of the Spanish Empire.  He realized that, “the power of the church was so deeply entrenched in the Spanish Empire…however much Revolutionaries there followed the North American lead, they would in the end ‘bow the neck to their priests, and persevere in intolerantism.”  Refusing to follow in the Spanish footsteps, Jefferson pushed to separate church and state. 

As Jefferson pushed for freedom of religion, speculation about his own beliefs arose.  Onuf reveals that, “Jefferson believed that the theological differences that divided Americans in his lifetime ultimately would disappear;” however, he refused to reveal his religion until people began to think openly and logically.  Jefferson felt that the matter of his religious beliefs was not worth shedding blood over.  Most importantly, he wished for a ‘union of sentiments’ and to be remembered, unlike other politicians, for his accomplishments and actions, not his religion.  Onuf admires that Jefferson was not afraid to challenge the priests attempting to take power.  Onuf expresses that people should no longer judge a politician by their religion, but instead by what they have done for their country.  With this in mind, Jefferson upheld his decision and chose to never reveal his beliefs.  Onuf found his self-imposed silence on controversial issues “striking.”  Jefferson’s choice of keeping silent led to his later successes and redirected the focus of his career from religious judgment to the glorification of his great accomplishments. 

Onuf, Peter S.  “The Mind of Thomas Jefferson.”

Jefferson's Debated Religious Beliefs

               Although Thomas Jefferson was raised as an Anglican, his true religious beliefs were never exposed during his lifetime.  Perhaps he was unsure?  Studies of Jefferson suggest that he was a Unitarian.   Jefferson was known to contribute financially, in fair proportions, to every denomination in his town.   As a political and social leader, he felt it was best to keep his religious beliefs separate from his accomplishments.  He wished to only be known for, “authorship of the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom and the founding of the University of Virginia”.  Jefferson felt that if he were to reveal his beliefs, they would be people’s only concerns. 

Influenced by the Enlightenment and his interest in theology, Jefferson felt that Christianity was, "outlines of a system of the most sublime morality which has ever fallen from the lips of man”.  Though he was not officially Christian, Jefferson supported the idea of a creator; however, he seemed uncertain of what exactly he wanted to believe was true.  Jefferson valued morality and equality encouraged by religion.  He consistently supported everyone’s right to freedom of religion but felt it should be held separate from government.  Throughout his lifetime, “Jefferson left a considerable amount of writing on political and philosophical issues, as well as writing about religion, including the ‘Jefferson Bible’".  The ‘Jefferson Bible’, if anything, revealed most of what anyone knows about Jefferson’s beliefs.  Jefferson expressed clear interest in Unitarian theory.  Jefferson removed everything he considered a ‘miracle’ from the Bible, leaving only scripture for guidance.  Many historians debate Jefferson’s religious denomination; however, he was clearly closely associated with Unitarian beliefs. 

"The Religious Affiliation of Third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson". 30 Nov. 2005. <http://www.adherents.com/people/pj/Thomas_Jefferson.html>

Belote, Thom. "Thomas Jefferson." 11 Sept. 2011 http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/thomasjefferson.html

Dear Mr. Jefferson...

http://lcweb4.loc.gov/master/ipo/qcdata/qcdata5/jefferson%27s_library/tj_video/jpegs/tjv0028a.jpg

Dear Mr. Jefferson,

                I have always taken fascination in the culinary arts and I happen to adore French cuisine.  I have heard countless reviews of your astonishing collection of books; In fact, I was hoping to have the privilege of borrowing one.  I am interested in “Le Parfait Boulanger” or “The Perfect Baker” by Antoine Augustin Parmentier.  Although the book would require a large amount of translation, I have been told that it would teach me to cook breads and French pastries to perfection.

                As a little girl, I couldn’t help but smile when I was told I would get to visit my grandmother.  Although we rarely saw each other, we maintained our long distance relationship as well as we could.  On holidays, I would visit her home and bake with her for the entire family.  My grandmother was very talented, whether she admitted it or not, and was known for her recipes that were “to die for”.  As I have grown older, I have been searching for a new recipe that we could bake together.  We have both always wanted to try baking something of the French origin.  My grandmother always told me that, “nothing can ever be truly perfect...you can always make it better,” but I am determined to prove her wrong! 

It will be a challenge to surpass my grandmother’s cooking; however, I know that with this book, we could create something truly amazing together.  I would be ever so grateful if you would allow me to obtain this book to continue creating lasting memories with her.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Rebecca Cardwell

Jefferson's Take On Slavery- Was It Just An Act?

As many people say, “actions speak louder than words”.  Thomas Jefferson had an incredible impact in the United States as he promoted equality among all people.  Jefferson felt that regardless of their religion, ethnicity or beliefs, every human being was entitled to basic rights; however, he did not always stand behind his words.  Jefferson criticized slavery as a violation to personal liberty, while at the same time owning over two-hundred slaves himself.  Even after his death, Jefferson only freed a small number of select slaves; the others were left trapped in the cruel world of enslavement.  His excuse?  Dependency.  Although this excuse satisfied some historians, others still debate whether his actions involving slavery were controversial to his apparent principles.  For further information regarding Jefferson’s controversial abolition policies, visit: http://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-slavery.

Thomas Jefferson: I didn’t realize . . .

Throughout many students’ educational careers, the name Thomas Jefferson becomes very familiar.  Before class, I identified Jefferson as a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, the third president of the United States, founder of the University of Virginia, and the man behind the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 that doubled the size of our country.  As I began writing what I thought I had known about him, I realized I truly knew very little.  As my class explored Jefferson’s long list of incredible achievements, I was surprised to learn about how much he shaped our country into what it is today.  I learned about his multiple interests outside of politics, such as architecture, geography, horticulture, and even meteorology.  I was also unaware of Jefferson’s profound belief in expanding education and freedom of religion to all people, despite their place in society to better the future of our country.  I was even more amazed to find that Jefferson died on July 4, 1826: the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

If You Must Do It, Do It Well

Many students enrolled in a Freshman Composition class believe they are taking the class just to 'cross it off of their list'.  In reality, they are learning skills that can apply to any profession they plan to pursue.  When entering the professional world, employers hope to hire an employee that has obtained skills in several areas.  The more well-rounded an applicant appears, the more successful they will be. 

                Whether you are a hopeful psychologist, business representative, or even a coach, you will always need to possess writing skills to do your job well.  In psychology, communication is key.  A psychologist should be capable of writing numerous reports, case studies, and research reports with skills acquired throughout their educational career.  A business representative should always have clear, professional communication with their coworkers.  Improper communication could lead to the fall of your business.  Although most people would assume coaches have a less demanding writing aspect in their career, it is critical for coaches to be able to communicate professionally with their students’ parents and their boss.  No matter what profession a student decides to pursue, their writing skills will always be critical.

Cardwell, Kim. Personal Interview. 28 Aug. 2011.

Cardwell, Chris. Personal Interview. 28 Aug. 2011.

 Cherry, Kendra. Writing Psychology Papers. About.com. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2011.

Texting Turbulence

Although most people communicate through text, many do not know how to text well.  Misused punctuation, misspelled words and unnecessary abbreviations can often frustrate the reader by overshadowing the original intentions of the message.  It is important to use appropriate punctuation to effectively communicate the tone of a text message.  Before sending a message, it is best to check for careless errors that are easily overlooked to prevent confusion and miscommunication.  When errors throughout your message are revised, communication is made clear and confusion is avoided.