Welcome to our online English 3 class. This is where you can ask your peers to clarification on assignments, talk about the readings, and post connections. I will also TRY to post copies of your homework assignments and reminders here. There are, of course, a few rules:
1) Be professional (no text language, LOL, ROFL, etc,)
2) Be respectful (no put downs)
3) Remember that your parents have access to this page :)
There will be times when your assignment will be to post to our blog or to respond to a question I post here. These will be graded, but I think you will find these assignments more enjoyable than the traditional paper and book homework.
Here is your first assignment:
Read the Article at the link below:
http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-ferraraprint092501.html
Respond to the article in a paragraph that answers one of the following questions:
1. Notice the date of the article. How does the date influence the emotion of this article. What is the context of the article?
2. Do you agree with the author's statements that America recognizes the "God-given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness"? Why or why not?
3. Are Americans the "embodiment of the human spirit of freedom" as the author states? Does being "free" equal being an American? Why or why not.
Good luck. Please have your posts written by Friday, August 26th, at 3:30.
Mrs. H
This is a great article that was obviously written with emotion and passion because the writer is TRULY proud to be an American. This article was written 2 weeks after the attack on our country and that is a reason why he wrote the article in such a responsive manner. I definitely agree with the statements about the pursuit of happiness because any American is free to strive for happiness. In other countries women may have very little rights and are not allowed to do what they particularly want to do. Although Americans are "free" that doesn't make someone who is free an American. Some people may be "free" but commit acts that do not reflecttnose of a true American
ReplyDeleteAmericans are not the embodiment of freedom, being free certainly doesnt equal being an American, due to the fact that theres plenty of free people with happy lives that arent American, we cannot call ourselves the embodiment of freedom, as we are not truly free and never will be, there will always be something restricting you, and i consider the definition of Freedom to be >Free< of all chains and restrictions, which is theoretically impossible. A few examples of restrictions im talking about would be things such as Air, Gravity, and the need for sustenance.
ReplyDeleteIt shows how people just don't listen.People just do what ever they want.The context of the article is what is American.It show how little changed over the years.Yes,everybody should pursue their happiness.It is what makes you human.America is the only free place.Anywhere else you're like a slave.Doing anything by someone control.America is the only place to be free.
ReplyDeleteThe date of this article is right after 9-11 happened, and the emotion from the writer is very patriotic. The writer is proud to be an American and love his country. The context of this article is saying that an American is a mixture of different people and cultures, and live not only in America, but all over the world.
ReplyDeleteAs one of our "rights" we are suppose to have the unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness. However i disagree with that statement. I believe the Gov. claims we have that right but when in reality we do not. The Government gives us the right to "chase" our happiness but we never truly have it. At any time that happiness you devoted your life to can be taken away with nothing to show for it but poverty.
ReplyDeleteThis article was written about 2 weeks after the attacks on 9-11 happened. The writer is over-patriotic. He talks about how free, and great America is. He states "So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo and Stalin and Mao Tse-Tung, and every bloodthirsty tyrant in the history of the world.
ReplyDeleteBut in doing so you would just be killing yourself", but didn't we lose the Vietnam war..? I think America is over hyped and isn't as great as everyone makes it out to be.
This was well written and emotional article. the article was written 2 weeks after 9-11. The Arther was not mad and looking for revenge, He showed a sense of pride to be an American. many people after 9-11 wanted revenge and to kill all those responsible for attacking us. this Arther made a strong statement to not lose control and stick to the principles that made this nation great.
ReplyDeleteThe american spirit is freedom...sure theres been slavery, racism, prejudic, etc...but this nation has offered the right to make a living as u please.You have the right to make as much money as you'd like. People from around the world have flawked here and have been the most succesful people in the world...if you look at a least of the richest people ever to live 8 out of 10 of them are american..(Warren Buffet 63 billion and growing, Sam Walton "wal-mart 62.1 billion, Bill Gates 124 billion and growing, John D.Rockefeller 323.4 Billion!!!!) so america has afforded the right to be as succeful and as free as you want...just gotta work for it... :)
ReplyDeleteFirst time actually reading seriously , and I have to say I wanted to know more about the article , I completely agree with the author he kind of made his point. America is a "FREE" country & everybody do have their [ rights ] !
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the artice was written only two weeks after 9-11 occurred is shocking. You would think that at a time like this a person would lose all hope and constatnly fear that something similar might happen the next day, but this person simply wrote that being an American is the best that anyone can be, a person who longs for freedom and their own rights as a human being. I fully agree that America recognizes the God given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness, because every U.S. citizen can achieve whatever goal they want to achieve and there are no limits to what someone wants in life. Reading this makes me feel that ANYONE who would want to kill an American, after reading this themselves, would change their mind and even claim the title, "American".
ReplyDeleteyes i do think the date of article influence the emotion of this article.In this article the author talk about september 11 and he wrote it on september 25 so only 2 weeks later.So yes wile reading this I felt a little sad when he brought it up.It was such a big tragedy in the USA so many innocent people die that day for no reason. And to think that in two weeks you go and write an article about it and think that it will not affect the emotion just to think about it for a minute makes me sad.You go and write an article about it. I will be sad for the rust of the night.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very strong and good article. The date of this article influences the emotion a lot because what the article said was “Americans are not particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit everywhere is an American.” On 9-11 when the airplanes hit the twin towers, they were killing their self. The date brought high emotions for everyone because of knowing that someone would think its okay to kill their own kind. In the article it talks about Americans working in the twin towers on 9-11 to make money for their families. The context of the article is trying to prove a point that no matter what country you’re from, where you live or what you believe, we are all Americans. Each country may have different laws and different freedoms but that doesn’t change who you are. Americans live in America but they live in other countries also.
ReplyDeleteAre Americans the "embodiment of the human spirit of freedom" as the author states? Does being "free" equal being an American? Why or why not.
ReplyDeleteThis article has me annoyed. How can you say that we are the "embodiment of the human spirit of freedom" when we aren't free to begin with. America has so many laws from not being able to go out at certain times of the night to not being able to have a freedom of speech. If we are free then why don't we know exactly what's going on in our government? Freedom of speech entitles us to state our opinions through news papers, broadcasts, novels, anything really. If we have freedom of speech then explain to me why WikiLeaks was shut down. To openly broadcast something of that nature is to have freedom of speech but the man who created the site is now in jail. His rights were taken from him because he exposed the truth of the government and what really was going on. Sounds a bit like the government is trying to hide something to me. Most people get their information through the news, however you honestly cannot say that the news is our way of knowing what's really going on. The government will only let us see what they choose to show. Point in case, we are no more than mindless individuals being fed lies from the government to keep us happy. That doesn't sound like freedom to me. To be free is to have the access to know anything and everything. To be free is to not be subject to government regulation. To be free is to not be fastened down on the railroad tracks for the government to run us over. Being free does not make you an American, being used and manipulated makes you an American.
The article was great and very powerful in the patriotic sense. Since the author wrote this just weeks after the 9-11 incident its clear that he was very emotional and trying to be strong and proud. Not for him, but for his country. Why? Because of the love he had for his country. So why does he love this country enough to publish such a powerful blow to anyone who hates America? Its because of the freedom and democracy of the U.S. If you give a man freedom, he'll become grateful that he's not controlled. So in the authur's gratitidue to the way America has and still is treating him, he has the strength to stand up for his nation and say back off to other countries.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Americans are the "embodiment of the human spirit of freedom" because that is exactly what our country was built on. The United States of America is one of the few countries where it's people are free to choose religion, the clothes they wear, and what they want to do at any point in their lives. The United States was founded on principles of freedom in attempt to escape the restrictions of the British government, and that freedom is the single greatest right Americans are entitled to. If an American citizen were to be described in only one word, I would choose "free" because it defines what being an American is about. Other countries that do not have the freedoms that each American embodies try to bring down the well-being of our nation with attacks such as 9-11 terrorism, but as seen in the author's attitude of this article, freedom cannot be taken away from Americans. It remains in our spirit and America will continue to embody freedom regardless of adversity.
ReplyDeleteThe Author showed alot of a emtoion about 9/11. He showed how much he believed in the country and had very many beliefs that we are all equal and free. Heres the this not one of us are free nor equal. In todays society everything is based on money and religion. You are not just based on your personality or your beliefs. Plus we wanna talk about all being free? We are not free whats so ever. No matter who you are there is always someone above you telling you what to do.. the "Boss", but you never just get to decide for you self. The only this in this world that is free is America.
ReplyDeletethe date has a lot of influence. this was just 2 weeks after 911 and as you know the emotions in most of the people affected were still raw with emotion. the author made a good point and i would like to read more about this.
ReplyDeletei agree with the author because, by reading the article it makes since it is a free country and everyone has their rights, and he stands up for his beliefs. everyone should take avantage of their rights when its given to them,even when things arent going right still have faith in yourself and be thankful that your free.
ReplyDeleteThe date infulences this article by being writtendays after the tradgedy on 9-11. Petter Ferrara, is proud to be an American. He writes about whats its like to be an american. There are many different people in the world not only in america its self.
ReplyDeleteThe date had to have infuenced the the article becuase it wasen't but around two week's after 9/11. The auther belived that an amarican could be anybody of any religon and color and it shouldn't be discrimanated agaienst beucase of anything.
ReplyDeleteThis date influences the article becuase it was written after the september 11th incedent. Yes I agree with the author becuase if you live in america you are free and you can do what makes you happy. American are free, that is true, but not only should americans be free, every one should. There are some people out there that are free and are not american, so I disagree with that statement.
ReplyDeleteThis article was alright. when I saw the date. I said "Wow,this article was written two weeks ago after 9-11." I believe the aurthor is trying to get readers attention and sayign "Hey the Pakistan are mean the want to take our country or our president.It is redicolusy what the Pakistans are doing to us.
ReplyDeleteNo , ethnic labels dont matter becausee "people is people" that's how i look at it. Basically , that is ; our beliefs are different , we come from different nation , we shared our different culture with different people who seems to have different believes from us , so we end up being just being ONE big "America" . I dont feel anything about the Native American & American Indians .
ReplyDeleteThis was an amazing article. The author is truly proud to be an American. The date definitely has a big part to do with this article because they wrote the article shortly after 9/11. I think that being free is all about the American lifestyle. I agree with the statement about the pursuit of happiness. I think that every person on earth should have the right to the pursuit of happiness. We are the only country that is truly FREE
ReplyDeleteThe date of the article is September 25, 2001. I think the date infleunce the emotion of the writer because the 911 attack was 14 days ago and people were still upset and shocked about the terriost attack. The context of this article is explaining what an American is. An American is based on many religions, different races, etc... and that Americans are in many countries and how America helped Afghans when they needed help.
ReplyDeleteThe artical was written soon after 9/11. Which would automatically cause more emotion to be put into it because after that day, the American meaning has been changed so much and truly let out it's real meaing.
ReplyDeleteIn this article Peter means that everyone is equal no need to treat others differently because they are Americans. Being free is not such as to be free is amercano anyone can be free be free but the auhor He referred that Americans have more freedom.
ReplyDeleteI for one agree with the authors statement that America does recognize the "God-given right of each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness," because if we didn't we wouldn't all be considered equal. America gives us the chance to all live how we wish, whether its believing in one religion or non.
ReplyDeletei belive that the government of america belives in our persute of happienss and some of our God given rights because, yes we can belive in what we want, we are our own person and we can express our love and greatfullness for what ever God we belive in and even if we dont belive in a God no one is forcing us too. But however i dont belive that we recive all of our God given rights and happiness such as we cant engage in same sex marrage and the government lets you join the service when your eighteen but you cant drink alchol untill your 21 if you can make the decision put your life on the line for our country you should be able to make the decion of having a drink. Yes i do think this artical was very beautiful but a little over the top yes America the country welcomes all people from around the world but not the majority of the people in it.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
ReplyDeletesorry ms H thats selina hayess