Social Darwinism and Class Politics-William Graham Sumner, “What Social Classes Owe to Each Other (1884

“…The classes are who are respectively endowed with the rights and duties of posing and solving social problems, they are as follows:  Those who are bound to solve the problems are the rich, comfortable, prosperous, virtuous, respectable, educated, and healthy; those whose right it is to set the problems are those who have been less fortunate or less successful in the struggle for existence.  The problem itself seems to be, How shall the latter be made as comfortable as the former?”

I love this quote because it is the truth.  It is the class that has more than the lower class that should not have any problems and should be the ones contributing to solving some of the social problems that exist among the less fortunate.  In doing so the question, “how shall the latter be made as comfortable as the former,” would be answered.

Abraham Lincoln-The Gettysburg Address (1863)

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

            This quote is so historical and important almost everyone young and old can recognize it just by hearing the first two words.  Lincoln at this time makes it clear to the country that we Americans was born as a new nation and born into liberty and through that determination and dedication for equality is necessary by all means. He addressed the fact that both the dead and living fought for the freedom that they have accomplished and they shall always be commended.  I liked how Lincoln expressed his speech that as you read it even today it is as if you were there. 

I chose this quote because as a citizen, the meaning of this quote gives you a sense of nationality. Just being an American and knowing this is who you are, where you came from and how hard and long the fight for freedom has been. 

Henry David Thoreau- Civil Disobedience (1848)

“Law never mad men a whit more just, and, by means of their respect of it, even the well disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.”

            Through this quote I think Henry David Thoreau wanted to make it clear that laws do not make a person just.  It is by the fear of punishment or repercussions of their unlawful action they choose to follow the law thus making it appear that they are just.  He also says that even those that do the best they can to follow the law are still made up of unfair or wrong actions through fear of punishment rather than respect the law.

            I chose this quote because in a simple statement it explains the meaning of civil disobedience and how strongly Henry David Thoreau believed in it.  I honestly agree with this statement.  I truly believe that people do not have a belief to respect the law but just to obey it so they can prevent punishment and sustain their freedom.

Abraham Lincoln-The Gettysburg Address (1863)

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

Hamilton and Jefferson-Report on Credit

“To justify and preserve their confidence; to promote the increasing respectability of the American name; to answer the calls of justice; to restore landed property to it due value; to furnish new resources both to agriculture and commerce; to cement more closely the union of the states; to add to their security against foreign attack; to establish public order on the basis of an upright and liberal policy.  These are the great and invaluable ends to be secured, by a proper and adequate provision, at the present period, for the support of public credit…”

            In order to maintain liberty and preserve the “American name” it is necessary to protect the citizens of America in every way possible.  Alexander Hamilton had a vision for the future life of America.  He wanted to create a sense of “national community.”  He wanted the citizens to give the loyalty they had for their local states to the national government.  To have this vision carried out; Hamilton needed the national government to be strong and therefore decided to come up with a way to “fund” debt.  Through new taxes on items such as alcohol, this idea would take over the debt of individual states thus having the citizens gain the confidence needed to create the “national community.”

            I chose this quote because it gives reason to Alexander’s view to support public credit by raising taxes on certain items.  H believed strongly in the life and perseverance of American and the United States. 

Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America (1776)

"We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

            Thomas Jefferson as the principal drafter of the Declaration of Independence wanted to express his beliefs of natural rights.  Through this famous quote, Jefferson wanted every citizen of America to understand that as human beings we are equal.  No one is better than the other.  From the time we are born we possess natural rights that cannot be taken from us.  Among these are Life, the ability to be alive and live in the world freely; Liberty, the ability to have freedom to make their own choices suitable to what we as individuals want for ourselves; and the pursuit of Happiness, the ability to obtain those things that make us happy.

            I chose this quote because it is a part of who I am.  A part of the world I was born into and the day my son was born.  It is a famous quote from an important and historical doctrine that protects American citizens of their natural born human rights under the government and law.

The Federalists

"Liberty is to faction what air is to fair, an ailment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction, than it would be to wish the annihilation of air, which is essential to animal life, because it imparts to fire it's destructive agency."

  This quote to me means that liberty is a necessity to human beings in the same way that air is necessary for a fire to grow larger. Without our liberty we are as good as a fatal illness that would soon expire. Not only is liberty important to human beings but it is also extremely important for political life or status. Liberty is the nucleus to which politicians are viewed as being obliged to maintain or preserve. The same way air is essential to animal life and fire. If air was removed than it would destroy everything just as if liberty was destroyed so would we.
I chose this quote because it was challenging to understand reading the first time.  After breaking it down by sentences I was able to make sense of it. It makes important sense and the analogy used was great.  It illustrates the importance of liberty.

Reflection Paper 2

"This liberty i smaintained and exercised in a way of subjection to authority; it is of the same kind of liberty where with Christ hath made us free.  The women's own choice makes such a man her husband; yet, being so chosen. he is her lord, and she is to be subject to him, yet in a way of liberty, not of bondage; and a true wife accounts her subjection her honor and freedom and would not think her condition safe and free, but in her subjection to her husband's authority."

This quote is an illustration of civil liberty in the view of John Winthrop.  He beilieves the difference between natural liberty and civil liberty has restrictions.  Civil liberty has an authority figure such as a wife to her husband.  Natural liberty has no boundaries and one may act out corruptly or like an animal using their natural instincts.  Civil liberty allows us to be moral and have freedom to choose moral acts to follow guidelines, rules, and therefore follow an authority.  As people today we follow the laws of the government to prevent punishmnt and preserve our freedom.

I chose this quote because it stood out to me as I read the passage.  It clearly painted the image of the point Johnn Winthrop was making on liberty.  As a female in 2011 I would feel insulted by such a statement he made that through a woman's own choice of husband, she makes that man her lord and is subjected to him.  However, I liked how he metaphorically clarified the statement by saying the wife is to be subjected to her husband but not as bondage but by honor and freedom for her safety being the wofe of the authortity figure being the husband.  As a human being having liberty we are preserved our honor and freedom through the authority of the government because if not we would just have natural liberty and not be safe.

Reflection Paper 1

"We do not have any of that nonsense in England because we have never attempted to have any of that philosophy in England. And, above all, because we have the enormous advantage of feeling it natural to be national, because there is nothing else to be. England in these days is not well governed; England is not well educated; England suffers from wealth and poverty that are not well distributed. But England is English; esto perpetua. England is English as France is French or Ireland Irish; the great mass of men taking certain national traditions for granted. Now this gives us a totally different and a very much easier task. We have not got an inquisition, because we have not got a creed; but it is arguable that we do not need a creed, because we have got a character. In any of the old nations the national unity is preserved by the national type. Because we have a type we do not need to have a test."

This passage means that as an English man or French man living in their native country it is not necessary to have a creed because they are brought up on tradition and character.  Their natural way of living is based upon their culture, society, how they carry themselves, even the kind of food they eat are all things when put together make up a sense of good character.  It is the norm of that particular country and as a society they have nothing else to be because every other individual in that country are living the same culture and tradition. 

I chose this passage because the author compares the old world to the new world.  He says, " In any of the old nations the national unity is preserved by the national type."  By having a tradition or national type carried out by generation to generation it unifies that nation through preservation of the "normal/traditional" character whereas in the new world where there are so many traditions being mixed together some national traditions are taken for granted.  I personally love culture and tradition.  I also don't agree with some other culture's traditions therefore being a part of a society where a creed or belief isn't necessary for their people it shows that as a society their culture is preserved through their people collectively having and sustaining good character.