Back in the old days, when The Crucible took place, religion was a huge part of life. Everyone in the Puritan community was strictly religious to the Puritan religion. Now a days however, I feel that things are much different when you're talking about religion. The country that we live in has freedom of religion. Anyone can be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or any other. There is no law against it. Many people are not religious however, they celebrate the holidays associated with their religion, but they hardly know anything about the religion, and rarely, if ever go to church. When asked what religion they are, they tell people, but are they really that religion, or are they actually atheist? I think that if you aren't religious that would make you atheist, but i don't know, and i bet most people have that same problem, so they just say the name of a religion that they have some roots to.
I am one of these people. I was baptized when I was 2 years old, and that is the last time I have stepped foot in a church for religious reasons. No one in my immediate family ever goes to church, I doubt we even own a bible. I know little about Christian beliefs, and I don't really want to to be perfectly honest. All I do in the way of Christianity, is celebrate Christmas, and Easter, and even then, I dont pray or go to church. some people think that they need religion in their lives. I am fine with that, if you are faithful to a religion, and believe in god, thats fine, but I don't want to be forced to believe in something that i really don't find to be the truth.
I have a problem with people who come to your door and hand out pamphlets in particular. I think that it is wrong to force religion on people, and so whenever someone comes to my door to "Spread the word of the lord," I am usually not very nice to them. I respect that they feel so strongly about something, but forcing religion is wrong in my opinion. A lot of people disagree with what I think, that religion is pointless, but they shouldn't judge me for that, because I do not judge them for thinking that it is necessary.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Truth About Reading
Today in class, we discussed the book "The Crucible." I don't really like reading books like this, meaning play type books. I really dislike reading plays, because its not natural. In my opinion plays are supposed to be performed, not read like you would a novel. I know that this book relates to what we are learning in class, but i would much rather read some other book on the salem witch trials, one that is historically acurate, and not in the form of a play, because I do think that it is an interesting topic.
I think that English class sometimes even discourages students from wanting to read. I dont understand why we read novels such as "Great expectations" or "Oedipus" because they do not speak about topics that are significant to modern society, and I found neither of them to be very entertaining. I think that we need to read more books that students will like, and not books that are read soley to show different forms of plot structure. In all the years I have been in school, I have only read a few books that i enjoyed enough to even remember reading them. These include "Th Catcher in the Rye", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "And Then There Were None", and going back to fifth grade "Number the Stars." There were deffinately more books that I didn't mind reading, but I can't remember what exactly they were about, beacause I didnt enjoy them enough to give them that pleasure.
The best of the books was "The Catcher in the Rye." I don't even know what it was about it, but I remember that throughout the whole entire book, there were almost no points where I grew bored of the story. The writing style of that book is extremely well done. I like the first person narration, but its not just that, its the way that Holden Caulfield speaks. It is very informal. that is the type of book that i like to read, it is very relatable, he talks like a normal person would, and not like hes trying to be an English professor.
If we read more books like that in school, and less long novels from the 1800s, and Shakespeare plays, I know I personally would enjoy reading alot more. I bet alot of students would. However, as it stands, I feel like I am forced to read books that I don't want to read, instead of being allowed to read books that I do want to read.
I think that English class sometimes even discourages students from wanting to read. I dont understand why we read novels such as "Great expectations" or "Oedipus" because they do not speak about topics that are significant to modern society, and I found neither of them to be very entertaining. I think that we need to read more books that students will like, and not books that are read soley to show different forms of plot structure. In all the years I have been in school, I have only read a few books that i enjoyed enough to even remember reading them. These include "Th Catcher in the Rye", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "And Then There Were None", and going back to fifth grade "Number the Stars." There were deffinately more books that I didn't mind reading, but I can't remember what exactly they were about, beacause I didnt enjoy them enough to give them that pleasure.
The best of the books was "The Catcher in the Rye." I don't even know what it was about it, but I remember that throughout the whole entire book, there were almost no points where I grew bored of the story. The writing style of that book is extremely well done. I like the first person narration, but its not just that, its the way that Holden Caulfield speaks. It is very informal. that is the type of book that i like to read, it is very relatable, he talks like a normal person would, and not like hes trying to be an English professor.
If we read more books like that in school, and less long novels from the 1800s, and Shakespeare plays, I know I personally would enjoy reading alot more. I bet alot of students would. However, as it stands, I feel like I am forced to read books that I don't want to read, instead of being allowed to read books that I do want to read.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
the American Dream
I dont think that i personally have been affected by the idea of the american dream. my interpretation of the idea, is that one has to work their way to where they want to be in life, and that there is always room for improvement. in my life however, i haven't ever really had to work my way towards anything substantial. i have always gotten what i needed.
i guess the reason that i have always had what i need, goes back to my grandfather, who worked his way up from a poor family during the great depression, to living a normal life and having a fairly normal family of his own. he started his pursuit of the american dream, when he joined the navy on his 19th birthday. a year later, on December 7 1941, he woke up to the sound of bombs, as Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed, was attacked. he then drove a small boat through the harbour, while the attack was going on, picking survivors out of the water.
after the attack, he was stationed in phillidelphia, where he met my grandmother. after his 4 years of service were up, they moved to Wellesly, where my grandfather started his own auto shop. when my dad got old enough, he started working for my grandfather, and after working there for a few years, my dad bought his own shop in Natick, where he worked hard for years, until he acheived his goal, which was to own a second house for his family in NewHampshire. My father and grandfather having been living the american dream, by working for what they want for themselves and their family, which they have both done, and will continue to do.
i guess the reason that i have always had what i need, goes back to my grandfather, who worked his way up from a poor family during the great depression, to living a normal life and having a fairly normal family of his own. he started his pursuit of the american dream, when he joined the navy on his 19th birthday. a year later, on December 7 1941, he woke up to the sound of bombs, as Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed, was attacked. he then drove a small boat through the harbour, while the attack was going on, picking survivors out of the water.
after the attack, he was stationed in phillidelphia, where he met my grandmother. after his 4 years of service were up, they moved to Wellesly, where my grandfather started his own auto shop. when my dad got old enough, he started working for my grandfather, and after working there for a few years, my dad bought his own shop in Natick, where he worked hard for years, until he acheived his goal, which was to own a second house for his family in NewHampshire. My father and grandfather having been living the american dream, by working for what they want for themselves and their family, which they have both done, and will continue to do.
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