GSU 1010 Prompt #Grand Finale! December 3, 2008

What was the most important thing you learned about yourself during this semester? Why?

Oh wow, this is actually a hard question to answer. I think though, I would have to go with that I’m a lot more dependent on others than I seem. That, to me, is the most important thing because through that, I also learned depending on others for things isn’t always a bad. You should depend on others for love and support and encouragement, which I found with my sorority. My sisters are my rock and my foundation here are Georgia State, as much as I’d like to think I could do it on my own, I couldn’t. It may seem cheesy, and I know people who do not belong to a sorority or fraternity, really cannot grasp how important our organizations are to us. They are our family. So yes, I will endure the snide remarks from everyone, and the teasing about being a ditzy sorority girl or the fact I “joined a cult”. I would tolerate a lot more for my sisters because I know what kind of girls are really in Zeta Tau Alpha, and I know what kind of person I am. Thats all that really matters.

GSU 1010 Prompt #14 December 3, 2008

Is there such thing as ultimate truth? Prove it.

WELL to be quite honest with you, I’m not really sure what this question is asking. What is “ultimate truth” and why have I never heard about it before? If I take those words into literal context, I guess it means telling THE WHOLE TRUTH. If that is the case, then yes, there is such thing as ultimate truth. It is always possible to tell the whole truth, although it doesn’t happen very often. As to the other part of this question, proving that ultimate truth exists, I can think of a few horrible ways. But I must do it none the less, and tell you what I really think about these blog posts. These “blogs” we have to do are the most magnificent waste of time. Nine times out of ten, the topic is stupid, and I can barely write about it. I loathe blogging in general. I think it is ridiculous to write your emotions and ideas online, for everyone to see, not to mention a bad idea (creepers!), even though I’m doing it right now. I would much rather just write a paper and turn it in, or talk one on one with a person.

thats the ultimate truth.

GSU 1010 Prompt #13 December 3, 2008

Which pieces of literature have underscored material learned in the other FLC classes?

Many, if not all, of the stories and authors we have read about in American literature represent things about the American Dream, which I feel is the recurring theme throughout all our classes. Stories like “The Way To Wealth” by Benjamin Franklin all the way to “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman represent different facets and eras in the developing American Dream. They also have been mirrored by many of the things we talk about in Survey of U.S. History such as slavery and the Great Migration. Almost all of the stories we have read in American Literature have had something to with race, in one way or another. Douglass’s self narrative is a prime example of slavery and race issues in the south, as well as the north. Obviously since the FLC has a theme many of the classes and texts will have a common ground, which makes it easier to learn when going from subject to subject. =)

Charleston- Entire Trip November 18, 2008

Me at Drayton Hall

Charleston was definitely a great trip. I learned a lot about my fellow classmates, mostly things I never wanted to know. And the ridiculously long car rides were perfect conditions for classmate bonding. It was a beautiful city however, despite the smell, and I enjoyed all of the sights.

Drayton Hall was fun, but I seriously did not like the tour guide. Her bad attitude tainted my experience. Luckily, the Gullah tour guide made up for what she lacked. He made the tour fun, and I enjoyed all the little facts he had to offer, even if the sites no longer existed. The best part of that tour was when we made the pit stop to the crack house- I mean black smith shop- while it was historically significant, I felt excitingly unsafe. I wish we could have stopped to see the prison, however. The two forts were about as awesome as expected, but the fact that they were in such beautiful locations made them better. Fort Moultrie’s beach was THE BEST. I know thats not why we went to those sites, but you cannot pretend the nature they offered wasn’t lovely. I personally wouldn’t change any of the sites we visited, although, I might have added one more place to visit. I’m just a big sucker for historical sights. The only class that kept making an appearance during the trip seemed to be Professor Walker’s American Literature class. I definitely picked up on things we had discussed on the Gullah tour, the most. When the tour guide brought up mulattos and octaroons, I was excited I knew what he was talking about. Of course, a few things were linked back to Dr. Youngs’ class like when the tour guide at Drayton mentioned chattle.

The memories that I will remember most, however, are the times spent with everyone during our free time. Walking around Charleston at night proved to be the most interesting, like the night Erin, Ashley, Ben and I went to St. Philips cemetary.  That may have been the most terrifying moment of my life, and I loved it! Our ghetto hotel bathroom that was not only haunted but also infested with large cock roaches was also a highlight. And we cannot forget the food there is to be had in Charleston… MMMM Tommy Condon’s Bailey’s Cheesecake was the best! Overall, it was a very happy time and I know I’ll be laughing about the inside jokes for year to come.

Charleston November 9th- Day #2 November 15, 2008

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultriewere both very exciting. I had been looking forward to going to Fort Sumter the whole trip and I wasn’t disappointed. It was eary to be in a place that had withstood so much ammunition fire and explosions, and the canons there were huge! It almost seems hard to believe that people back then had such intense forms of weaponry. Both Forts, however, represented major periods in American history. Fort Sumter marked where the Civil War began when Confederate forces fired upon Union soldiers. Fort Moultrie represents the slave trade, since it was a major traffic area for the middle passage. Fort Moultrie served other purposes as well. It played a significant role in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and was even actively used in World War 2. Even though Fort Moultrie was important for a lot of reasons, I believe it wasn’t as publicized because it didn’t have one defining battle or event (like Fort Sumter did). That, and perhaps it is because it is a little out of the way. Either way, both Forts were fun to visit and explore!

Charleston November 8th- Day #1 November 15, 2008

Drayton Hall was an interesting experience to say the least. The idea of preservation over restoration was a different concept, and it really affects the way we view history. Most historical sights I’ve been to (and i’ve been to a lot) try to recreate what would have been there in an extremely grandiose way. They really leave nothing to the imagination. However, Drayton Hall was left almost entirely the way it was found. At first I was kind of disappointed that it was so… bare. But the more I thought about it, the more I liked the fact that no one had messed with the original architecture of the house. In choosing not to restore, Drayton Hall is truely an accurate depiction of how the people lived back then, but like it said, it was mildly disappointing that there wasn’t more. I don’t think this had anything to do with how much information I retained, I would blame all of that on the lovely tour guide. I’m very glad that such a beautiful place has been preserved(and Drayton Hall was very beautiful) and not torn down like many of the sights in the Gullah tour. When you knock down something that has been of historical significance, just because it is dilapidated, you are destroying American history, and the chance for people to appreciate those who came before them.

Drayton Hall

GSU 1010 Prompt #12 November 4, 2008

Does the Pledge of Allegiance have any worth? why or why not?

I definitely think the pledge of allegiance has worth. I mean thats like asking if apple pie is American. Or if Simon Cowel is really always right on American Idol. The pledge was obviously written for some specific reason, and you have to keep that in mind when you say it. What do these words really mean, and what did they mean to the people who first wrote them? They symbolize the ideals of what America is really all about. I look at the pledge as a promise to this country, that you’ll always fight for what is right. People so often disregard it because it refers to God, but if you can overlook that ONE word, then there is a profound, and truely wonderful meaning within the lines of the Pledge of Allegiance.

GSU 1010 Prompt #11 October 27, 2008

I personally have very strong ties to the South, since my family has lived here for a while, and my extended family has lived here even longer. My mom’s side of the family is primarily from Georgia/Alabama, and my father’s side of the family has a long history in North Carolina, all the way back when is was dominated by the Cherokee Indians. So it is easy to see how one could be proud of the South. Unfortunately, I can’t relate to being proud of African ancestry. I believe that wherever one’s family lives, or lived, gives you reason to have pride in that place. Especially if they did something significant, or were there for a significant amount of time. So it is easy to see how someone could have pride in the south and of their African American ancestry, regardless of slavery.

Local Paper..finally October 21, 2008

Atlanta is not only an ethnically diverse city, but it is racially, religiously and economically different than most typical southern towns. This town is also home to many gay and lesbian people, making Atlanta have the third largest population of homosexuals, according to the Advocate.com. With just such a population, Atlanta is also an inevitable hot-spot for the growing ideals of equality for homosexuals as well as many anti-gay sentiments. In a place that was caught in the middle of a civil rights movement nearly fifty years ago, we find that Atlanta is once again on the verge of a new kind of movement.

While new ideas on civil rights are presented today, we will also find that some familiar names are being once again associated with a rights movement. If you had visited Atlanta in 1967, you might have witnessed Martin Luther King Jr. giving a speech or leading a peace march (nobelprize.org). And if you had visited Atlanta just four years ago, you might have witnessed another King leading a similar march, but for completely different reasons. In 2004, Martin Luther King Jr.’s youngest daughter, the Reverend Bernice King, participated in a controversial march to protest same-sex marriage. She, along with many other prominent Atlanta pastors, took part in this protest that began at the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change and wound throughout Atlanta (Barry 1). Thousands of residents participated in this religiously fueled march, but it was the Reverend Bernice King who received the most heat about it. The Reverend’s mother, and MLK’s widow, Coretta Scott King, was a supporter for gay marriage (Barry 1), which is why such harsh criticism has fallen upon Reverend King.  Leading Gay and Lesbian communities have spoken out against King, mentioning that she is damaging the work her father did to promote equality for all. (Barry 2)

Bishop Eddie Long, of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, joined King in the march on December 11^th with the hopes to “establish an authoritative voice for the black church on a range of issues—including protection of marriage.” (Barry 1) In the San Francisco Chronicle, Long was quoted as saying that he did not join the march to protest but rather to ‘present a unified version of righteousness and justice’. Long, as well as King, is part of a new movement in Atlanta that is trying to re-establish the church’s standing in the community, more specifically African American Church.

When the vote came up in Georgia Congress, to pass the same-sex marriage ban, the black community was split, pitting pastors and reverends on one side and an age-old political caucus on the other. Bernice King commented on the rift that had been created by saying, ‘The question is how you overcome that pain? It may be the wedge that stays with us for a long time.”(Barry 2) Meanwhile, King and Long will continue to protest gay-marriage as a moral issue, perhaps the most difficult way debate any subject.

This is a prime example of why gay marriage and other gay rights are still greatly uncertain, not only in Atlanta, but in all of America. Even though constitutionally there is a separation of church and state, many political figure-heads have their own set of morals that guides their decisions, and many religious leaders have great political influence. It is very difficult to separate the two all the time, and it seems that this debate may go on for quite sometime in a never ending civil rights tug-of-war.

 

Works Cited

1.                          Barry, Ellen. “Atlanta ‘legacy’ march troubles rights leaders, King’s daughter in anti-gay marriage protest”. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/12/11/MNGPDAAEJ01.DTL  11 December 2004.

2.                          “Study: San Francisco, Seattle, Atlanta top list of cities with highest percentage of gays”. http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid39474.asp  17 November 2006.

3.                          “Martin Luther King Jr. The Nobel Peace Prize 1964”. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-bio.html

 

GSU 1010 Prompt #10 October 18, 2008

What idea about being an American have you had to break? What stereotypes still prevail?

When I first read this question, I immediately thought of a story my English friend told me once. She came to America about 4 years ago, and you have to keep in mind, she is not religious, AT ALL. She told me that she cried when she found out her family was going to move here because she thought that we (Americans) would force her to go to church. I know that seems really ridiculous, but she honestly thougth that. 

That kind of makes me laugh, but on the other hand it makes me question how other people view America. I mean, aren’t we the land of the free? Wasn’t this country founded on freedom of religion?? Why would she think that? Sure many Americans are religious, but I don’t think we would ever try to force people to go church, or at least I wouldn’t.

My friend doesn’t think that anymore, now that she lives here, but when she goes back to visit friends and family in England, they all condescendingly say she’s been Americanized. I really think that most countries DON’T think of Americans very well, and picture us loud, fat and pushy. But then again, i’ve never been to another country and asked the natives what they thought of Americans, so who can really say?