It's about families, it's not about borders

When dealing with immigration we should remember that it’s about families, not borders.  It’s so easy for us to get so concerned with nationalism, patriotism and technicalities that we forget that people are people and deserve our respect.  Over the course of this semester I’ve done a thorough investigation of why so many Americans rage and are overly concerned with immigrants.  I took a Latin American culture and history class to better understand why this happens and what we must understand to overcome it. 

It's up to you now

Pictured is the treaty with the Delaware Indians

Chief Seattle gives his address shortly before the purchase of his tribe’s lands and territory by the United States of America.  He reminds his people of the overwhelming tide of the ‘palefaces’ sweeping over their lands with powerful imagery.  His most commonly used tool in his rhetoric is imagery and simile.  He connects the powerful struggles in nature with his own people’s trial as they are overcome by the invading white men.  With these natural and even elemental comparisons, it is easy to relate with the native tribe as they are overpowered by these forces. 

Live Free or Die

The years preceding Camille Desmoulins were filled with increasing levels of public angst.  France had just gone through a financial crisis and their congress was convened to try and procure emergency funds.  The people were represented with the great exception of the third estate which represented the most populous lower class.  Their representatives were actually locked out of the meeting.  This was gasoline on the already smoldering rage against the centuries old class system.  Later pamphlets came out trying to unify the third estate and they began to identify themselves as the ‘real France.’  It was in this setting that Desmoulins wrote his treatise “live free or die.”

Cut the Chauvinism

I'm all for patriotism, but when it turns into chauvinism I believe we need to cut it out.  Our excessive pride in country needs to be tempered so that we can accept the new people and their ideas.

Haters gonna hate

This assignment has been quite the ride.  Originally I started out with some general, warm and fuzzy ideas about how we should be more accepting of people coming to our country in search of a better life.  I thought the dogma I was attacking was racial haughtiness mixed with overzealous nationalism.  Since racism is talked about a lot I wanted to discuss something fresh and dug a little deeper.

Illegal immigration has opinions ranging from intolerant to permissive to hateful to accepting to you name it.  After getting to see a personal side of the issue by getting to know people in Mexico, the “illegals” crossed that way because the legal process is out of their monetary reach.  I saw that the majority crossing were seeking prosperity, safety, and new life.  That’s noble right?  It sounds to me a lot like the “pursuit of happiness.”  If that’s not “American” I don’t know what is. 

What is an American really?

The majority of people look at illegal immigration as something bad.  The negativity isn’t just reserved to those who are actually illegal immigrants however.  Some even go so far to generalize all Hispanic people as illegal immigrants, flagrant disrespecters of the law, and all class of criminals.  This discrimination has had its affect on many laws and general practices respecting people of Hispanic descent.  I’ve lived in Mexico and I’ve learned that many of the people there regard western United States as still part of Mexico since it was wrongfully ‘taken’ from them by the U.S. as part of the ‘booty of war’.  All these negative feelings are broiled into one big general dislike of each other’s culture and lawfulness. 

Lord of the 99

Once upon a true story, my parents went to the temple two hours away from our home.  The sad tale started much like any other:  there were some goodbyes, some hugs, and kisses.  However, as the wheels of my parent’s car turned out of the driveway, the glint in my sister’s eye made my blood turn cold.  It was as if a switch had been flipped in her mind.   Gone were the warm smiles, gone were the sweet promises to be nice, and appeared the horrifying terror of the abyss. 

Is it good or evil?

“What matters is what you do with what you know.” – Susan

I feel that statement has many applications in our lives, whether we be preparing for our careers or future families.  In this class and our analysis of rhetoric, it seems that we can effectively incorporate this ancient knowledge into virtually every aspect of our lives.  Whether we are giving speeches, reports, writing to our employees or bosses, the principle of ad fontes appears in the adoption of the ancient thinkers' works and their incorporation into our modern communication. 

Meekness and Boldness - a fitting combination

John Colet faced a peculiar situation when he addressed the clergy in 1512.  The famous 95 theses of Martin Luther had not yet been nailed to the church door and thoughts of ‘reforming the churches practices were still ‘somewhat’ tolerated.  However, if Colet had tried to give this same address after Luther posted his theses he would probably have been burned at the stake.  Luckily for Colet he found himself in more tolerant circumstances. 

Civil but Keen Debate

It seems to me that many of us are noticing a parallel between Erasmus and Martin Luther and modern day politics.  While there is a healthy debate between the two, I notice a bit more cordiality and respect than in our modern political debates.  That increased respect of the other’s free will seems to me a lot more in tune with the humanistic respect of other’s will.  I would say that they were much more humanistic than our modern politicians in that regard.  With such lines like, “My reading of Martin Luther’s Assertion was quite unprejudiced, except that I felt towards him a favor such as a lawyer feels towards a hard pressed defendant,” it's hard to feel that they are ‘mud-slinging’ their opponent.  Perhaps I idealize their debate with old fashioned chivalry, but I sincerely do not feel that they had a burning hatred of one another, rather a civilized yet keen disagreement. 

Of Expression and Meditation

“So we see in the gift of eloquence, wherein some have such a facility and promptness, and that which we call a present wit, so easy, that they are ever ready upon all occasions, and never to be surprised; and others more heavy and slow, never venture to utter anything but what they have long premeditated, and taken great care and pains to fit and prepare.” Montaigne

The Wheels That Forge

My journey was inspired by my good Boy Scout and young men’s leaders.  It was the epic journey that would turn little “squeakin’ deacons,” teachers and priests into men.  The expedition was preceded by many days and months of training rides; rides that made us question if we really were going to be able to complete the high adventure when that fateful week arrived.  When it did arrive, we were shipped off to northern California and placed ourselves in the hands of a higher power. 

Be Bold

Christopher Columbus had a very significant impact on the history of the world because he was willing to try what no one else had done before.  The consequences of his boldness are apparent in virtually every society today as we have new goods and foods introduced from the New World, completely different countries, and cultures.  His voyage wasn't without difficulty; because even for him to begin he had to go to a couple royal families for funding.  When he was rejected, he did not give up either - he continued.  We can take a leaf from Columbus’ book and be bold.

Brothers We, No Matter Where, No Matter When

My family has a very interesting tie to the biggest war in history.  However, their greatness wasn't always shown in the battlefield, although many times it was, rather it was shown in their everyday acts as everyday latter-day saints in a war-torn country.