Journal

2b. Word choice in King's speech connects with his audience. Everyone has a 'dream' while no one says they have a ' vision'. 'I Have a Dream' flows more than 'I Have a Vision'. The word 'dream' also alludes to the 'American Dream,' which is an ethical appeal. The American Dream is the freedom and opportunity to live a high standard of living. The American Dream may also allude to the Constitution 2c.I believe his dream has been fufilled in American, segregation is outlawed, and there are equal rights for all races, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr. Although, no matter what laws are passed, people can not change the way other people think, this is true since there are still hate groups such as the 'KKK.'

12/3/07 6a. Think of **ALL** the literature that we have covered this quarter, including the poetry, drama, non-fiction, and even your independent reading… Go back to your definition of civil disobedience, do you agree or disagree with your definition? Based on the readings the class completed for this unit, how would you modify your definition? Which author do you agree with the most? Why? My original concept of civil disobedience was the refusal to obey a law one feels 'unjust' through a collective nonviolent movement. I feel after this semester, that it doesn't necessarily need to be a group movement, as Thoreau demonstrated in his protest of the Mexican-American War. I agree with Thoreau the most because he proved to be the best example of civil disobiedience. Towards the end of paragraph 12 in Civil Disobedience, he claims that "If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible." This reveals his understanding of non-violent resolution and its effects.

6b. In evaluating these four figures, how do you feel **each one** would answer the question “What makes a life worth living?” Whose answer do you identify most with and why? A. Ralph Waldo Emerson - Emerson would believe that a man "who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude," and is self-reliant will find life worth living. B. Ayn Rand - Rand's philosophy of Objectivism essentially, was the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute. C. Martin Luther King Jr. - King would believe that the freedom to do want you want and to reach your full potential as a human being without being told that you cannot because of the color of your skin would make life worth living. D. Henry David Thoreau - Thoreau would be inclined to believe that one will find life worth living if he truly accepts himself and his morals and, as Emerson, a fellow Transcendentalist, is self-reliant. The individual is the spiritual center of the universe, as Transendentalism claims. E. Steve Biko - Biko would find worth living if you were to not feel inferior because of who you are, and to instead embrace yourself as an individual and as a member of your country. I identify with all of the figures because of the underlying idea in all of their philosophies and beliefs is that you must accept yourself and strongly believe in your ideas and not let other tell you otherwise. I identify with Rand the most though, because of her Liberatarian sensibilities.

6c. How do you judge whether someone is a strong leader? Select as your criteria three items you consider to be of a complete and significant measure of leadership. Then evaluate the individuals covered this thematic unit and choose one as a strong leader.

A strong and effective leader would need to connect with his audience, demonstrate courage, and sensibly do whatever necessary action to achieve his goal. I feel Dr. Martin Luthur King is a very powerful leader, that fits this description. His articulate speeches, with several allusions and metaphors to the government, religon, and the American Dream, allow him to relate to his audience. His willingness to go to jail, for a cause he believes, and his readiness to voice his opinion whenever he feels necassary displays the immeasurable courage he posses. And his nonviolent action and civil disobedience demonstrates his understanding of what it takes to achieve his aspiration, which he shares with his audience, of equality for all men.