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Author Archives: melissa.german
Posts: 11 (archived below)
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“Prosecutor Says Clemens Obsessed Over Legacy”
“Prosecutor Says Clemens Obsessed Over Legacy” is an article in the NYT about baseball player Roger Clemens who is being charged for using performance-enhancement drugs. Roger Clemens also “is charged with obstruction of Congress, making fase statements and perjury in connection with his testimony to a House committee in 2008” Clemens according to his prosecutor did so to maintain his status as one of the greatest pitchers to play the sport of baseball.
Clemens like most people is worried about how he is perceived by those who acknowledge him as a great baseball player and did whatever he could to maintain his high status, which unfortunately for him, led him to lose respect of many after admitting that he had used performance-enhancing drugs.
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Women and Inequality
An article in the NYT paper titled “A Test on Equal Pay” about Mitt Romney and his opinion on equal pay for women shows how women are to this day still facing inequality. Mitt Romney has to address an issue that continues to be brought up as an issue that many women feel is important to them as they feel that inequality continues to effect woman in the United States. ‘Mr. Romney says he supports equal pay for women and has “no intention” o repeal the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.’ “Mr. Romney’s commitment to fair pay will soon be tested.” Romney is now being watched closely as women in the country wait to see if Romney will in fact keep his promise in support of women.
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Economic status vs social status
“As Chinese Official’s Power Increased, His Family’s Wealth Grew” is an article in the NYT which how “Mr. Bo was suspended from his leadership of Chongqing, a large metropolis with province status.” His dealings have effected his family greatly. As the s investigation continues on his family, members of his family continue to lose businesses. Bo’s family is known to have power due to Bo, “But it has become increasingly clear that the relatives of high ranking leaders are in demand. ‘they are sought after because they are considered conduits of power.’
Bo and his family are quickly dropping in social status after losing their business. Bo’s family would not be dropping in social status if they were still economically powerful. Losing so much makes it difficult for them to gain it again once more.
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Topics for final paper
Is the achievement of freedom necessary to a successful slave narrative?
What factors lead slaves to believe that freedom may bring happiness?
In what light do the freed characters portray those that are slaves?
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“Not Quite a Teen, Yet Sold for Sex.”
Nicholas Kristof’s article, “Not Quite a Teen, Yet Sold for Sex.” and Harriet Jacobs’ Incidents in The Life of a Slave Girl are similar in that both girls are desperate to escape.
The young girl in the article is not a slave and once out of the home of the man who kidnaps her will be free and legally protected. The slave girl in Harriet Jacobs cannot escape her owner. Escaping her slave master would cause more punishment for her. Unlike the girl from the article, the slave girl is not protected by law, her only hope is to have someone purchase her that will allow her to live her life as she pleases without having to serve someone else.
Harriet Jacobs and Notes from Underground
Notes from Underground and Harriet Jacobs are two different examples of two individuals who are desperate for freedom. Harriet Jacobs is a slave who in order to be free must be purchased from her slave owner while the underground man is free to do what he pleases without having to be purchased.
Harriet Jacobs is purchased by someone who promises she will be freed, yet is made to serve them after being purchased from her slave owner. We never learn if Harriet Jacobs continues her struggle to be freed or if the underground man is ever freed from his mental state of anguish. We are only left with the last passage of, ‘The notes of this paradoxalist do not end here, however. He could not resist and continued them. But it also seems to me that we may stop here.
Both Harriet Jacobs and Notes from the Underground leave us wondering what the outcomes may be.
Posted in 5. Comparison of two of the texts we've read since the midterm
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Notes from underground (Part 1)
This story starts off with a man who is admitting to be sick. Although he only discusses his physical sickness, his handling of the issue along with his issue with dealing with others and opinion about life leads us to believe that he may also have a mental issue as well. He refuses to get any help with his ailment although he knows it is possible to receive some medical attention which may in turn may possibly make him better.
An article in The New York Times paper titled “Mayor of Ailing Detroit Resists Outside Takeover” is similar to that of the “Underground Man”. Detroit is suffering financially, yet Mayor Dave Bing refuses to receive any outside help and insists Detroit will somehow rebuild itself on it’s own.
Posted in 7. Notes from Underground linked to an article in the New York Times, Uncategorized
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possible midterm questions
After reading Candide and The Taming of the Shrew what do you feel was reason for the writers for using satire and was there a meaning behind the stories other than an entertaining read?
Which character from the stories read in this semester so far do you feel a closer connection to? Use specific examples from the character to prove your relation to this character's personality as well as examples from your own personal life.
In Candide we see how Candide grows as a person while Condegon remains the same. In The taming of The Shrew we see how Katherine matures while Bianca does not. Why in your opinion was it important for the writers to include this?
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The Taming of The Shrew by Shakespeare and Oroonoko by Aphra Behn show similarities of the use of power. In The Taming of The Shrew we see how Baptista uses his power to wed his daughters and have wealthy men bid for the opportunity to marry into the family while in Oroonoko we see how the prince Oroonoko along with others who have power mistreat those without.
We learn how Katherine is left with the choice of marrying or staying at home under her father’s control while in Oroonoko, although not in full detail, we learn about the abuse of slaves. Oroonoko who fights to prevent his child from becoming a slave takes part in the slave trade market himself.
The use and the misuse of power allows for individuals to be corrupt in order to get what they want.
Posted in Shrew and Oroonoko
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Armed with violins
Early in play The Taming of The Shrew by William Shakespeare, we learn that Katherine and Bianca are to be married off by a suitor chosen by their father. The father of the two is trying to make his daughters more appealing to men who may possibly be interested in marrying either Katherine or Bianca. One way in which he tries to help is by having the girls home schooled. This at the time was only something that was available to the wealthy class.
In Act 1. Sc. 2 line 135 which reads, “Well seen in music, to instruct Bianca” we learn of how Bianca will be learning about music which at the time was important to teach to have a well rounded education which included knowledge of the arts. We also see the importance of music in an article of The New York Times titled Armed With Violins, El Sistema Fights Poverty in Venezuela written by Daniel J. Walkin which shows the importance of teaching underprivileged children how to read, play and understand the history of music. According to the article this is a way of keeping children wanting to learn more and distracted from their surroundings of drugs and poverty. Daniel describes the school’s aim as a means to “address a depressingly universal problem.”
The importance of well rounded education goes a lot further than using your skills acquired to find a job in your field, as we learn from The Taming of The Shrew and Fighting Poverty, Armed With Violins. It also provides more opportunities in life
Posted in Shrew, Act 1
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