Reading Olaudah Equiano's Narrative of the Life gave me once again a whole new appreciation for the past of African Americans. It is so hard for me to really imagine a time and place where this was happening. I cringe at the thought that this treatment continues for all different races around the world today. The notion of mistreating people based on skin color is something I do not necessarily like to think about. I always feel really bad for the people and wish that there was a way I could time-travel and do something about it. Because that is not humanly possible (yet) the next best thing is to educate all people and to do our very best to avoid a repeat in history.
I was a little intimidated by the length of Equiano's story, but I was put at ease as soon as I began. It was a quick read and easy to focus on. I will admit, there are readings where I really have to work hard to stay focused and sometimes it is a lost cause. In this case, I enjoyed the reading so much that it flowed naturally.
The discussion in class really opened my eyes to some of the main ideas found in the text. One thing I did not pick up on initially was the drastic change in treatment after getting on the boat. I noticed that Equiano was having a significantly more difficult time, but when exactly that change occurred, I missed. His humanity was greatly decreased in the eyes of his captors. Both the brutality and severity greatly increased as well.
I am always impressed with someone who wants to learn to read and write and does so at their own hand. Equiano is no different. He had a goal, set his mind to it, and achieved it. If he was here today, I would give him a standing ovation. Equiano is very admirable as a person. Despite all that he went through, he proved himself to be smart, compassionate, determined, and faithful. In many more ways than one, Equiano is what people should strive to be like.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Snail Mail
Let me start off by saying how much I LOVED reading the letters sent between John and Abigail Adams. It brought be back to the "old days" when writing letters to people was the cool thing to do. It is actually somewhat depressing to think that in my lifetime, the means of communication has drastically changed. Maybe I am supposed to feel super old or something... Anyway, reading these letters made me miss the process of sending mail to a friend, grandparent, cousin, etc. I still enjoy sending a card or letter here and there, but I have definitely fallen into the world of technology. When I really think about it, snail mail is actually more personal. You may be asking yourself how that is possible, but let me explain......
How many times does a person email, text, post to FB, and use Twitter in a day? For me, too many to count. I assume that is the same for most of you. If not, then I apologize for making such assumptions. When we are using these different modes of communication, how often are we really putting thought into what we type/say? For me, hardly ever. Once again, I assume the same can be said for most people.
Now, think back to a time when you sat down and wrote a letter to someone. How much time did it take you to write it? My guess is that it took much longer than the 5 seconds it takes to do any of the above mentioned messaging. As a result, letters are usually have much more meaning behind them. When I write a letter to someone, I have to sit and think about the exact wording I want and what message I want to get across. If and when I do write a letter today, it is usually to tell a loved one how much I appreciate them. It becomes more personal because I have to sit down, think, and use my handwriting to communicate. It is weird, but somehow handwriting makes it more personal too. Think about it, when we type on FB or twitter or email or text, we all usually have the same font. How original, right! Being able to look at someones handwriting and know that they took the time to write something just has a whole different meaning.
Now that I have rambled, let me get back to John and Abigail Adams. I really enjoyed reading the letters sent between them. I almost felt guilty for reading them. Wouldn't it be weird to have people reading the letters you wrote to your loved one? Talk about a breach in privacy! It was refreshing to look at a different side of John Adams. There is something intriguing about reading the personal notes of any historical figure. It tends to make those people more "real" and relatable. I could feel the connection between the couple despite the fact that they were no where near each other. Their love was clearly strong. Reading the letters not only gave me a better understanding of them as people, but it also reminded me of the importance behind sending letters.
I encourage everyone (including myself) to write a letter, note, card, anything and stick it in the old fashion mail.
How many times does a person email, text, post to FB, and use Twitter in a day? For me, too many to count. I assume that is the same for most of you. If not, then I apologize for making such assumptions. When we are using these different modes of communication, how often are we really putting thought into what we type/say? For me, hardly ever. Once again, I assume the same can be said for most people.
Now, think back to a time when you sat down and wrote a letter to someone. How much time did it take you to write it? My guess is that it took much longer than the 5 seconds it takes to do any of the above mentioned messaging. As a result, letters are usually have much more meaning behind them. When I write a letter to someone, I have to sit and think about the exact wording I want and what message I want to get across. If and when I do write a letter today, it is usually to tell a loved one how much I appreciate them. It becomes more personal because I have to sit down, think, and use my handwriting to communicate. It is weird, but somehow handwriting makes it more personal too. Think about it, when we type on FB or twitter or email or text, we all usually have the same font. How original, right! Being able to look at someones handwriting and know that they took the time to write something just has a whole different meaning.
Now that I have rambled, let me get back to John and Abigail Adams. I really enjoyed reading the letters sent between them. I almost felt guilty for reading them. Wouldn't it be weird to have people reading the letters you wrote to your loved one? Talk about a breach in privacy! It was refreshing to look at a different side of John Adams. There is something intriguing about reading the personal notes of any historical figure. It tends to make those people more "real" and relatable. I could feel the connection between the couple despite the fact that they were no where near each other. Their love was clearly strong. Reading the letters not only gave me a better understanding of them as people, but it also reminded me of the importance behind sending letters.
I encourage everyone (including myself) to write a letter, note, card, anything and stick it in the old fashion mail.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
A New Side to Benjamin Franklin...
Let me just start off by saying that Franklin did much better than I could have ever done running away at the age of 17. If that was me, I would have been royally screwed. Franklin however, did not seem to be phased by the limitless obstacles standing in his way. I'm not saying he had it easy, but I can't say that I would have been able to do as he did even at my age now.
Reading "The Autobiography" gave me a new insight into the person I have learned about with the name Benjamin Franklin. Maybe I didn't pay that close attention in my history classes, or maybe this part of his life never came up. Either way, I definitely learned something new with this reading.
Franklin was without a doubt a "self-made man." He epitomizes "The American Dream." Seeing how he went from having nothing to making a great life for himself gave me a bigger appreciation for him as a man.
I got a pretty big kick out of looking at his two charts. The fact that he took the time to keep track of his sins is quite unique. Most people make a conscious effort to live better, but Franklin took it a whole step up. Maybe even two. I like the idea of using a chart as he did, but it isn't exactly realistic. Franklin was focused on being perfect, but I truly believe in imperfection. I don't think anyone should want to be perfect because then what does a person have to strive for. What's left? Franklin's schedule is unimaginable to me. I tend to think that I have a busy schedule, but I don't think I would be able to survive a day in his shoes. Franklin definitely had his hands full.
Although I don't think it is necessarily healthy to strive for being absolutely perfect, I do think that a lot can be taken from what Franklin was doing for himself.
Reading "The Autobiography" gave me a new insight into the person I have learned about with the name Benjamin Franklin. Maybe I didn't pay that close attention in my history classes, or maybe this part of his life never came up. Either way, I definitely learned something new with this reading.
Franklin was without a doubt a "self-made man." He epitomizes "The American Dream." Seeing how he went from having nothing to making a great life for himself gave me a bigger appreciation for him as a man.
I got a pretty big kick out of looking at his two charts. The fact that he took the time to keep track of his sins is quite unique. Most people make a conscious effort to live better, but Franklin took it a whole step up. Maybe even two. I like the idea of using a chart as he did, but it isn't exactly realistic. Franklin was focused on being perfect, but I truly believe in imperfection. I don't think anyone should want to be perfect because then what does a person have to strive for. What's left? Franklin's schedule is unimaginable to me. I tend to think that I have a busy schedule, but I don't think I would be able to survive a day in his shoes. Franklin definitely had his hands full.
Although I don't think it is necessarily healthy to strive for being absolutely perfect, I do think that a lot can be taken from what Franklin was doing for himself.
An Angry God?
I really enjoyed Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." When I first started reading it, I was taken aback by the overwhelming tone of Edwards. I resisted his approach in the beginning. It wasn't long before Edwards reeled me in. His sermon is unlike any other that I have ever heard before.
One thing I have always struggled with when it comes to faith, is the fact that people tend to "sugar coat" everything. For me, that is obnoxious. My personality is much different in the sense that I would rather have someone be brutally honest than try and make me feel better. Edwards did this for me. There are some statements he made that I am sure readers/listeners would not appreciate, but I found them to be rather refreshing. One idea I really connected with was the idea of God not owing us anything and having the ability to do whatever He pleases. This means if God doesn't want to keep his promises and send us all to hell, He could do just that.
We talked some in class about what Edwards may have been trying to relay without saying it. I definitely think someone could focus on the negative attitude that seems to be present in this sermon, but I personally believe that Edwards was doing something greater than stating the fact that God could be unfaithful to us if He so desired. Edwards was implying the greatness of God and the love He clearly has for us. That is what pushed me closer to examining my faith and closer to understanding the goodness of the Lord. That is what I loved about Edwards.
Is God Angry? Maybe. Am I a sinner at the hands of God? Absolutely.
One thing I have always struggled with when it comes to faith, is the fact that people tend to "sugar coat" everything. For me, that is obnoxious. My personality is much different in the sense that I would rather have someone be brutally honest than try and make me feel better. Edwards did this for me. There are some statements he made that I am sure readers/listeners would not appreciate, but I found them to be rather refreshing. One idea I really connected with was the idea of God not owing us anything and having the ability to do whatever He pleases. This means if God doesn't want to keep his promises and send us all to hell, He could do just that.
We talked some in class about what Edwards may have been trying to relay without saying it. I definitely think someone could focus on the negative attitude that seems to be present in this sermon, but I personally believe that Edwards was doing something greater than stating the fact that God could be unfaithful to us if He so desired. Edwards was implying the greatness of God and the love He clearly has for us. That is what pushed me closer to examining my faith and closer to understanding the goodness of the Lord. That is what I loved about Edwards.
Is God Angry? Maybe. Am I a sinner at the hands of God? Absolutely.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
A little mix....
Going back to Bradstreet for literature circles was helpful in understanding her as an author. I found the article interesting and revealing. It exposed the two worlds of Bradstreet: historian and "secret" writer. Just imagining a time when women writers were not embraced is difficult. My group talked a little bit about how Bradstreet was feeling in regards to her self-doubt. She was so critical of herself and appeared to have little faith that her writing was worth reading. It's kind of funny now to think that her writing is being studied in classrooms....
As a group, we also talked about how different her two types of writing was. She was uncensored in her personal writings. It would be interesting to see how she may have changed what she wrote if she knew people would be reading what she wrote. We also found it interesting that she basically gave up on her role as a historian because of the house fire. I could picture someone in bed head throwing a book down and saying, "the hell with it."
Edward Taylor wasn't exactly my favorite. I didn't find myself drawn into the reading, but I was able to appreciate his choice in words. I also like his distinction between body and soul in "Meditation 8." Choosing to relate communion and the body of Christ to sugar cake was a smart choice on Taylor's part. He was able to capture the sweetness of God by doing this. In all honesty, it even made me a bit hungry for some cake. :)
Cotton Mather was another one of the authors I have enjoyed. The Wonders of the Invisible World was no short of interesting. The fact that he claimed to be telling the story as a historian, yet give harsh opinions of the woman at the end was quite humorous to me. For some reason, I have always found it to be funny when someone claims to have no opinion on a subject when they clearly are expressing one to others. For that reason alone, I loved Mather.
As a group, we also talked about how different her two types of writing was. She was uncensored in her personal writings. It would be interesting to see how she may have changed what she wrote if she knew people would be reading what she wrote. We also found it interesting that she basically gave up on her role as a historian because of the house fire. I could picture someone in bed head throwing a book down and saying, "the hell with it."
Edward Taylor wasn't exactly my favorite. I didn't find myself drawn into the reading, but I was able to appreciate his choice in words. I also like his distinction between body and soul in "Meditation 8." Choosing to relate communion and the body of Christ to sugar cake was a smart choice on Taylor's part. He was able to capture the sweetness of God by doing this. In all honesty, it even made me a bit hungry for some cake. :)
Cotton Mather was another one of the authors I have enjoyed. The Wonders of the Invisible World was no short of interesting. The fact that he claimed to be telling the story as a historian, yet give harsh opinions of the woman at the end was quite humorous to me. For some reason, I have always found it to be funny when someone claims to have no opinion on a subject when they clearly are expressing one to others. For that reason alone, I loved Mather.
Held Captive
I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Rowlandson's A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration. For me, this was the first time reading something from the point of view of someone held captive by Native Americans. I usually hear of the opposite. I am currently in a class about Native Americans, so it is interesting to hear of an instance when they were the ones conflicting harm/fear upon someone of the white community. From my experience, it is more common to hear of what Rowlandson described being done to a Native American.
Because of this new perspective, I took interest in her writing right away. Like Bradstreet, I found Rowlandson to be very relatable. She made an experience that she had realistic and relatable even to me, a person who has never been held captive and forced to leave my family.
In class, we talked about how Rowlandson described the Native Americans. At first I could hear her anger as she basically dehumanized them. Towards the end, her expressions of them occurred less and were softened. I think this happened because Rowlandson's "normal" became different. When she was first taken, she was new to the situation. After a while, she got used to her surroundings. This is not to say that she enjoyed her circumstance, but I think her anger and fear diminished.
Rowlandson's account of her captivity opened my eyes to a different side of the tensions between Native Americans and Caucasians.
Because of this new perspective, I took interest in her writing right away. Like Bradstreet, I found Rowlandson to be very relatable. She made an experience that she had realistic and relatable even to me, a person who has never been held captive and forced to leave my family.
In class, we talked about how Rowlandson described the Native Americans. At first I could hear her anger as she basically dehumanized them. Towards the end, her expressions of them occurred less and were softened. I think this happened because Rowlandson's "normal" became different. When she was first taken, she was new to the situation. After a while, she got used to her surroundings. This is not to say that she enjoyed her circumstance, but I think her anger and fear diminished.
Rowlandson's account of her captivity opened my eyes to a different side of the tensions between Native Americans and Caucasians.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
In Love....
I am absolutely in LOVE with Anne Bradstreet. The entire time I was reading, I kept telling myself how good she is. Bradstreet did an amazing thing when she took the image of a Puritan and made it human. She brought forward a real person with real struggles.
The letter written to her children was one of my ultimate favorites. Just the idea of taking the time to write something that is intended to be read after one's death is remarkable. I thought it was something that served two purposes. One was to leave her children with something to remember, and the other was to let readers see her as a real person and as a Christian. I found her story to be inspiring. Bradstreet's honesty took over and shed light on the struggles one can have in their faith.
Bradstreet endured a lot in her life. She had ups and downs just as any person does. Hearing about her faith and the challenges that arose within it gave me a better idea of what type of person she truly was. I think all people can connect with what she went through in some way. I know part of the reason I enjoyed her work so much was the fact that I could relate to some of the feelings and experiences she had. Her life experiences gave her writing a powerful boost that results in her being timeless.
There is no question that she was a remarkable woman and author.
The letter written to her children was one of my ultimate favorites. Just the idea of taking the time to write something that is intended to be read after one's death is remarkable. I thought it was something that served two purposes. One was to leave her children with something to remember, and the other was to let readers see her as a real person and as a Christian. I found her story to be inspiring. Bradstreet's honesty took over and shed light on the struggles one can have in their faith.
Bradstreet endured a lot in her life. She had ups and downs just as any person does. Hearing about her faith and the challenges that arose within it gave me a better idea of what type of person she truly was. I think all people can connect with what she went through in some way. I know part of the reason I enjoyed her work so much was the fact that I could relate to some of the feelings and experiences she had. Her life experiences gave her writing a powerful boost that results in her being timeless.
There is no question that she was a remarkable woman and author.
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