Assignments

I must admit the reading is true in some degrees. There were two differing viewpoints between Mr. Paine, a sympathizer of the French Revolution, and Mr. Burke, a critic of the French Revolution. I have agreements and disagreements to both of their positions:

1.) In regard to Mr. Paine, the sympathizer, I must agree with him that despotism is the driving force for the revolution, and the storming of Bastille is the equivalent of overthrowing the symbolic image of authority, where these citizens would be sentenced if they to oppose the aristocrats. However, I would have to disagree with him that despotism and the desire for freedom from it are the sole purpose for their revolt. My sense is that the revolution is an opportunity for the opportunists to seize on the momentum to overthrow the past regime and reign in a newly oppressive and brutal regime (Committee of Public Safety). My viewpoint is supported by the fact stated in the reading, something I won’t quote but you may find on page 5 at top of second column, where the sympathizer found refuge in France after supporting their activity only to be imprisoned for not being extreme enough and considered for a beheading. It would be an interesting story on tough love, but then again it wasn’t the lesson from this reading.

2.) In regard to Mr. Burke, the critic, I must agree with him that the tradition of having monarchy and nobility provides for a safe and calm society for its people to function their everyday lives (because I don’t think we are accustomed to seeing rioting every few hours). On the other hand, I must disagree with him that the calm society is because England provides its citizens with the basis of freedom and rights through the Magna Carta and Declaration of Right. One of these documents, I am assuming Declaration of Right, declares that man’s rights are inherited from his ancestors. If we play around with definitions, because that’s what most lawyers do unfortunately, 95% of us would all be happy because we will inherit rights, but 5% of us who were born into slavery, where our ancestors before them were also slaves, would not inherit the same luxury. Again, I have to admit I REALLY ADMIRE the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence because they endow us with the same rights as the Magna Carta and Declaration of Right, except the rights are derived from OUR CREATOR, not our ancestors. The difference in wording is huge because there is only one creator, no matter what your belief is, and your rights are given you from the moment you are born! Think about the amazing part of that!

I thought I might add that I have never been to England and my image of a typical Englishman is someone who has tea and mini biscuits and he debates the theory of evolution every noon time, I thought I’d add that humor to lighten up the seriousness above. I will probably get a good introductory experience to the English literary after this, and possibly be convinced that the Magna Carta and Declaration of Right are on par with the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence.

-Nhan