Beloved: Chapter 9 Response

In chapter 9 issues of memory, rememory, and the past are brought up. Memories of Sethe are positive in this chapter and remind her of those whom she loved, "In the Clearing, Sethe found Baby's old preaching rock and remembered the smell of leaves simmering in the sun, thunderous feet and the shouts that ripped pods off the limbs of the chesnuts. With Baby Suggs' heart in charge, the people let go" (111). Sethe is reminded of Baby Suggs powerful impact on the community back when people used to come around to 124. She recalled Baby's days of preaching and many people gathered around for the same reason, to share their beliefs and just "let go" of their troubles. Because of the community feeling that Baby Suggs created, Sethe "...got through the waiting for Halle" (111). This memory reminded Sethe that whatever was presently having a negative impact on her life, she could get through it, just how she got through missing Halle. Rememories are brought up in Sethe's life as well, "She knew Paul D was adding something to her life-- something she wanted to count on but was scared to. Now he had added more: new pictures and old rememories that broke her heart" (112). Even though Sethe had gotten over Halle before, deep down she was scared to move on. Sethe needed the support that her husband could have offered but since he disappeared, Paul D stepped in as Sethe's support. The question on her mind was whether she would be able to move on or not. Sethe was "scared" because she didn't want what happened to Halle to happen to Paul D. She looked at the past in order to make decisions about the future. In her heart, ..."Sethe wanted Paul D. No matter what he told and knew, she wanted him in her life. More than commemorating Halle, that is what she had come to the Clearing to figure out, and now it was figured." (116). Sethe went to the Clearing in order to live her past, but while she was there she experienced memories that could determine her future. She knew Paul D was the one for her, however because of her memories of Halle, she did not know if she could fully depend that Paul D could carry her through just like the community carried her through the waiting for Halle before. "It was figured" meaning that Sethe embraced her decision to move on. She knew that she could because she had before when Baby Suggs was around to bring the community in, therefore she had hope she could do it again.

Self-Reliance Response: Society

Emerson thinks, "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members. Society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater" (21). He is saying that life is a company. People treat life just like work. In order to get ahead in work, you must make connections and agree with people even if you don't truly agree. Because society forces man to do this, man cannot form his own opinions. The society is pressured by the beliefs and opinions of others so cannot create its own. One has to give up his own liberties and culture to the "boss" in order to be promoted. You have to sacrafice your own opinions and agree with the "boss" so that you can be on friendly terms and recieve a raise or a promotion. This is how life is. People, without realizing it, agree with others so that they can build relationships and get ahead. Peope have gotten ahead in life so keep living this way. They are used to the same "bosses". They do not want to step up and be a leader because they want to rely on the "boss" to get ahead. In other words, they rely on society to get ahead. Instead of following others to get ahead, members of a society should, as Emerson suggests , "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string" (20). Members of a society should rely on themselves and build self confidence so that one day they will have the courage to lead and be their own boss. They should follow their heart to get ahead in life, not follow the opinions of others.

Quran Burning/ Remembering 9-11

I agree with Rauf in that peace needs to be met. In the country we live in, people should respect freedom of religion. By burning the Quran that Muslims use in prayer, Americans are showing disrespect not only for Muslims but for the Constitution as well. Iraq's top Shiite cleric described burning the Quran as an "expression of hatred". On 9-11 we as Americans should not be looked at as expressing hatred on such a significant day in history. We should be mourning those lost in 9-11and acknowledging those who risked their lives in order to save others. Just because Muslim terrorists destroyed the twin towers in New York, is not a reason to fill all other Muslims with hatred. We cannot just focus on the terrorists, we must focus on how this event may impact others. By burning the Quran, we are initiating more tension. Why would we do this when 9-11 has already brought enough tension into our country? We should not go along with the plan to build a mosque either in place of where 9-11 took place. This could potentially bring up more tensions and misunderstandings. Instead we should honor the fire fighters, policemen, and officers who risked their lives to save those captured in the event on that day. A monument for them should be placed there, not a mosque.

The American Crisis

Thomas Paine writes that "...God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupportedly to perish..." (AR 52). Under Great Britain's Laws, colonists were unsure if they should fight or if they should just expect mercy from the British and that everything would work out. I believe that Paine was saying it all came down to your religious beliefs. If you believed that God would save you, you probably would not concentrate on force. However if you did not believe or rely on your religion, you would count on conquering the British and building up force. No matter what your rank in society, your actions were a result of your religious beliefs in God. Even the emotions of the colonists at this time were completely dependent on their beliefs. If they believed that God would step in, they did not completely live in terror. On the other hand, if they did not have this belief, the colonists would constantly be living in fear and hoping that the British would act merciful towards them. I feel that Paine might be trying to get across the idea of equality with his speech. By bringing attention to God, colonists may think deeper into their values and beliefs. Therefore they may come across the idea that in God's eyes we are all equal. Paine connects slavery to British Laws in this same literature about God and I believe that this was to bring to attention the topic that we are all equal and should come together in this time of harship. African Americans, men, and women are all under the same boat. They were all under Great Britain, and in times of trouble people are more likely of coming togther as one.