Julie Borrego

English 48a

Journal for Native American Contact and Conflicts

“I am your Maker of mankind; and because I love you, you must do my will. The land on which you live I have made for you, and not for others.”

Summary: This quote is from the “Speech at Detroit”, where Pontiac is speaking of his vision, of how they must fight to remove the whites off their lands.

My Ideas: I find Pontiac using their “God” to justify the war against the whites similar to the whites claiming that their “God” had given them the New Worlds land. However I do not blame the Ottawa Indian for wanting to join forces with other tribes to defend their land. They had no other choice. As I read the other accounts, the Natives did at first some, accepted the White people and tried to live with them peacefully, but I always ends up with the Whites demanding more land and more of the Natives, to the point that they are forcing the Natives off their own land.

I also find it sad that some of the speeches and stories may not be exactly true and may have been interpretation by the person who is writing the stories down wrong. It is sad that a whole culture had no real written documentation.

Another thing I find interesting is how the Natives who assimilated into the white culture took on white names. So there could be traceability, eventually to their tribe by their distant relatives.

As I read this I think of my Great Grandmother who was Choctaw, and the only reason why we know this is because of a distant uncle. We do not have any documentation; as for sure she wanted to keep it under wraps. But as you look at pictures she was Native American. We just do not have any connection to the tribe, because she had to keep it a secret and that make me sad.

Julie Borrego
English 48a
Journal for Iroquois Creation Story


“…he formed two images of the dust of the ground in his own likeness, male and female, and by his breathing into their nostrils he gave them the living souls, and named them…)

Summary: This is the how the “good mind” created humans.

My Ideas: I find this similarity to the Christian creation story very interesting, where there were two people, a man and women who were made in the image of their creator. Iroquois creation story has more detail about the land and animals as well as humans. Also the fact that the Iroquois believed in spirit world is another interesting fact to me.

I cannot help but think of how when they would tell this story to their children, how their people “created” looked as they do. And how disturbing to find people of different colors invading your homes. This would no less make you question your belief system.

Julie Borrego

English 48a

Journal for De Vaca

“They have a strange custom when acquaintances meet or occasionally visit, of weeping for half an hour before they speak.”

Summary: De Vaca is describing a custom of the Natives crying when they meet after sometime.

My Ideas: The above quote make me wonder if this custom is not what De Vaca, truly interpreted as considering he did not know their language. And that is how I feel regarding his whole interpretation, it is just that an interpretation of what he had experienced. It is hard for me to take his accounts for fact.

It is very confusing for me that in the end he would lead the Spanish to the Natives after he had lived with them for some long. They had befriended him it is very sad. But he may have been a situation where he had no choice. However some where along the way the Natives were not the only one’s betrayed…maybe the Spanish promised that they would not take, De Vaca’s group, as long as they provided food because they were starving. He could have been so naïve because he had been a way from Whites for so long.

Julie Borrego
English 48a
Journal for Christopher Columbus

"... by proclamation made and with royal standard unfurled, and no opposition was offered me."

"..found an infinity of small hamlets and people with out number, but nothing of importance."

Summary: Here Columbus is stating that he received no opposition to him and his armada taking position of the land.


My Ideas:

While I read Columbus’s account of taking over the natives and their land I was infuriated, with the audacity of Columbus thinking that he could take another human and own them.

Then I think that I have no Idea what they were thinking and really I have not right to judge. He may have thought he had to do something in order to keep his head. Not that it justifies his actions, but it might explain his need to show the crown that this land was of importance and that his voyage was not in vein.

I find it interesting that his own Gov. turned against him, when he was a celebrity of sorts. Its that old saying, that we love to see them fall.

I wonder, with the raping of the Native women and the abuse they endured, were all the European men some sort of sociopaths, were they all sick in the head? Why didn't they find their actions wrong at anytime. I know a few did stand up against the mistreatment of the Natives. When these were Men of God, how could they rape the women and abuse the Natives let alone, taking them as if they were animals and selling them.

I just can not wrap my head around it.

Julie Borrego
English 48a
Journal for William Bradford

"Thus it please God to Vanquish their enemies, and give them deliverance..."


"All this while the Indians came skulking about them"



Summary: In this quote Bradford state that they are superior therefore God protected them.


While reading Bradford, what I noticed is that they never once gave thanks to the fact that the Natives saved their lives. They were not grateful once. They only give thanks to God, and this further reinforces their belief that they are superior than others and they are the chosen people.

I always knew that Thanks Giving was a hoax, but I never really had a chance to sit down and read how mistreated the Native Americans were.
The arrogance of the Whites to come to a country, that did belong to other people and claim it as their own is so very depressing and they too it over at times, very militantly

They were not humble in their invasion but believed that it was the Will of God. This is the good example of using religion to feel superior.

If God was a truly a loving God and loved all his children as it states in the Bible, why when two Football teams are praying for a win would he grant one team to win over the other.

Julie Borrego
English 48a
Journal for Anne Bradstreet


"I have had great experience of God's hearing my prayers and returning comfortable answers to me, either in granting the thing I prayed for, or else in satisfying my mind without."

"This was written in much sickness and weakness, and is very weakley and imperfectly done, but if you pick any benefit out of it, it is the mark which I aimed at."







Summary: I thought this line was so well written, that God does hot alway answer your prayers but he will help you realize that you didn't need them answered.

I found it interesting that in her letter to her children she did not, tell them how much she loved them just spoke of her religion and how to be a good christian. Her poetry was so much more filled with emotion than the letter she wrote her children on her death bed.


When I think of puritans I think of unhappy people not capable of smiling. They were afraid of all feelings and did not acknowledge them, but that is really all I knew of them or thought I knew.

Bradstreet opened my eyes to the puritans as people. Her poetry is beautiful and so very honest.

After I read Bradstreet, I was so surprised to read how much she loved her Husband and how honest she was regarding her fears of childbirth. I didn’t know that puritans even expressed their love.

Her poetry put a more of human perspective on puritan women for me. They had fears and hopes. Loved their children and husband.

But that is really all I can say, she wrote beautiful poetry. I have to say that it was not moving or filled me with emotion.

Julie Borrego
English 48a
Journal for Jonathan Edwards


"And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day where in Christ has thrown the door of mercy wide open, and stand in calling and crying with a loud vice to poor sinner;..." (Norton 435)

"But yet, it was not long after my recovery, befor I fell again into my old ways of sin." (Norton 387)



Summary: The quote from Sinner in the Hands of An Angrey God is almost like a light at the end of the tunnel. After Edwards describes that everyone is headed for hell, you can at least save your self through Christ.

Ideas: I think how awful it might have been to have such guilty feeling over basic natural thoughts and Ideas. That if you sinned you would burn for eternity in hell. Edwards word remind me of going to church and feeling guilty for liking music, or wearing certain clothes. The ideas that I would not be in heaven and see my Grandmother again scared me.

I think for some people during the 1700’s needed religion to help them make sense of all that they encountered and endured. That needed to find excuses for why things happened to people and excused for their actions as well, to place everything in a nice little package at state it is the way of God, can help people survive and keep on going.

Also to have hope that you would one day have no suffering in a world that is so unpredictable and full of pain, death and suffering. Would help people also endure and have hope for something.

So in someways I understand the need for religion, but then I don’t understand the need to make people feel bad for every little thing.

Julie Borrego
Eng 48A
Journal for Thomas Jefferson

"Determined to keep open a market where men should be bought and sold." (Jefferson)

"The appointment of a woman to office is an innovation for which the public is not prepared, nor I." (Jefferson)


Summary:

I found this quote to be interesting, because Jefferson was blaming Brittan for Americans insatiable appetite for slaves. As if they were the drug dealers providing drugs to junkies. It amused me that he by-passed American responsibility and placed in solely on Brittan.

My Ideas:

I feel that Jefferson admired Paine, but just really could not achieve the Enlightenment that Paine accomplished he missed the mark. Paine was like the older Brother, who accomplished bigger and better things.

It is interesting how twisted Jefferson was on slavery and how it is documented in his letters as well. He was honest about his confusion. He knew he was a hypocrite but could not find his way out and above slavery. I feel he truly aspired to live by his Ideals, but stopped short when it came to Native Americans, Women and Slaves.

And now I go back to the drug analogy, slavery was like heroin for Jefferson, he needed it, enjoyed it, but knew it was wrong. He continually needed to purchase more slaves to feed his habit (Taking care of his plantation). It was a tangled web that he wove, and just could not find his way out.

It is hard for me to admire Jefferson now as the author of our Declaration of the United States of America, because he was a slave owner and with that knowledge I view the Declaration differently, it was not written for all men, just White landowners.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Paine

“The Reformation was preceded by the discovery of America: as if the Almighty graciously meant to open a sanctuary to the persecuted in future years when home should afford neither friendship nor safety.” (Norton 634)

"I have always regarded Paine as one of the greatest of all Americans. Never have we had a sounder intelligence in this republic . . ."(Thomas Edison)


Summary: This quote stood out to me, that America was a place where people cold escape to and not be persecuted for their beliefs. They ran away from the “Parent”so they could express their Religious beliefs.

My Idea: When I read Common Sense I think at times it slips people minds that this country first was a refuge for those who were being persecuted for their beliefs. That people were searching for tolerance and acceptance so they too could find a place to call home.

Also I was amazed with his use of words and how in less than 5 or 6 paragraphs, Paine was able to get his point across and appeal to all types of people; when he discussed, trade, religion and war. He also answered the question to the masses asking themselves, "why should I care about this?" He answered by explaining why one shouldn’t be complacent, lazy, hold out hope, or be a coward. This was written so passionately pulling at the emotions of the reader that I was ready to pick up my arms, for a revolution. This struck me as odd until I realized that his words are timeless and appeal to our politics of present day. The Message as it seems in its content is very political, but also, it is philosophical, standing up to injustice and righting the wrongs, a very Idealistic view…that I feel that America is very much based on.

Also I am a bit ashamed to admit this but, I was not aware of his influence on our country, and how he shaped our American political system today. It does sadden me because of his religious beliefs that he was shoved under the rug like a dirty secret, the irony when our country was to be a refuge for people searching for religious freedom.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Wheatley



"Some view our sable race with scornful eye.
"Their color is a diabolic dye."
Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,
May be refined, and join the angelic train."(Norton p 753)


"...she, in sixteen Months Time from her Arrival, attained the English Language, to which she was an utter Stranger before, to such a Degree, as to read any, the most difficult Parts of the Sacred Writings, to the great Astonishment of all who heard her. As to her WRITING, her own Curiosity led her to it; and this she learnt in so short a Time..." (A testimony by John Wheatley, regarding the authenticity of Phillis Wheatley's peoms.)

Summary:


This quote was taken from “On being brought from Africa To America”. In these particular lines you can see where Wheatley has stepped into another character, she is now the voice of white slave owners, uttering their thoughts on Africans, but in the last line she steps back into character, making sure to remind people that African Americans are God’s children also.


My Ideas:

Some critic’s feel that Wheatley had become so immersed by white culture that her poems do not reflect a true African slaves voice. However, I feel as you read her poetry and especially in “On being brought from Africa To America”, you can hear her protest as subtle as it may be. Wheatley was very aware of who her audience was and did not want to isolate herself from them. (Reminds me of Lincoln…how he was fist a politician and then second an abolitionist). I feel that Wheatley's poems and the lack of in your face protest was a result of her being a slave. She could not truly speak her mind in fear of loosing the only support system that she had ever known. So she wrote about religion something that most Europeans could agree on and find a connection within her poetry.

I loved her poems, although not being the most religious person her words painted a beautiful picture in my mind. Some people might think them fluff, but one can tell that she carefully chose each world to ignite certain emotions when reading.

The fact that she was so young, and this was her second language is inspirational.

I feel that regardless of her circumstances being better of then most slaves, having the opportunity to become educated, that she was still a slave and not truly given freedom to write what she may have wanted to. I wonder if she was not afraid of disturbing the status quo what she would write about, one thing I am sure of is that she would have written it eloquently.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for
Olaudah Equiano


"…I was quite over powered: neither of us could speak; but, for a considerable time, clung to each other in mutual embraces, unable to do any thing but weep"(680)

"Their money consisted of little white shells, the size of the finger nail. I was sold here for one hundred and seventy-two of them,..."(681)








Summary: Equiano is writing when he saw his sister for the last time. How they felt a sense of relief only to be torn apart again, never to see each other again.

My Ideas:

This narrative is so strait forward. I was impressed with the writing style as if I was sitting down with him at the kitchen table and Equiano was telling me about his life story. The writing style is so down to earth but yet very thoughtful and intelligent. He made sure to write about his different experiences in slavery as a way to compare the two, letting the reader see the difference between, African Slavery and European Slavery. It may have just seemed like in the beginning that it was a run down of his life, but in fact he is building a case towards how European Slavery was one of the cruelest, with the life long indentured of the slaves children as well. He also is great detail describe the horrible conditions in which they imported slaves to the new world. I also could not get out of my head the thought of being suffocated by the stench of urine and feces, while they traveled in the haul of the boat. I couldn’t help but think that there is no way I could survived those circumstances and I would be one of those who tried to jump of the ship, because death would be better. The thought of being separated from your family at such a young age was painful for me to read. For children to be with out their mother or father is heartbreaking, for the children and the parent. To have returned to find your children are missing and you may never know where they have been sold. I do not feel that there is much of a difference between, African slavery and European, in the fact it is just cruel to take babies form their mothers.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for
William Apess

"Did you you ever hear or read of Christ Teaching his disciples that they ought to despise one because his skin was different then theirs?"(1055)

"I felt convinced that Christ died for all mankind—that age, sect, color, country, or situation make no difference. I felt an assurance that I was included in the plan of redemption with all my brethren." - A Son of the Forest

Summary:
Here we see Apess, pleading to fellow Christians to rethink their discrimination against people with different skin color.

My Ideas:

As I read Apess's "An Indian's Looking-Glass for the White Man, I was moved to really think about the Native Americans and how White settlers completely wiped tribes out. I was ashamed as well for not knowing more about Native Americans, they should be a bigger part of our history in school. Not just settlers came...yes their was fighting...but now their happy on their Reservations. We are taught about the trail of tears and the battle of Wounded Knee, but I have never read a piece of literature from a Native. While reading this, I couldn’t help but to think of my Great Grandmother, who was half Choctaw Indian from Arkansas. She had to keep the fact that she was Native American a secret, because it could have been a death sentence. But the sad thing is because of that we have no Idea for sure what our heritage and traditions are. It saddens me to think that she had to be in fear of the truth of who she really was. So even with this information in my Ancestry, I am even more ashamed to have not known the whole story.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for
Washington Irving

"At the foot of these fairy mountains, the voyager may have descried the light smoke curling up from a village, whose shingle roofs gleam among the trees, just where the blue tints of the upland melt away into fresh green of the nearer landscape."(p.954)
"Irving is much over-rated" (Edgar Allan Poe)

Irving in the quote above from "Rip Van Winkle", is describing the the quaint Dutch village where the story takes place.

















My Ideas:

As I read “Rip Van Winkle” as a child, I was not impressed with it. I did not identify with an old man who fell asleep for twenty years; in fact the old man was creepy to me. The imagery was not appealing to me at the time either. But as I read it again this time I appreciate so much more. First I read it as just a fairy story with great imagery. At this level I loved the idea of the old quaint Dutch village where everyone knows everyone and the beautiful mountains that they lived near. The idea of just sleeping away the hard times is appealing and waking up and life resumes business as usual. Rip Van Winkle reminds me of people who see life through rose-colored glasses. I admire these people who can go through life with out a care in the world, nothing gets them down and life just passes over them. The ghosts in the forest were creepy and intriguing. Then I read it again looking for the political imagery and discovering that this story is so much more than just a fairy story. Irving wrote a clever Allegory regarding American politics during the early 1800’s. I did not like that the only time that the American Indians were mentioned in the story they were portrayed as kidnappers, but Irving added this in his story definitely to prove that he was a loyal American. I feel the next time I read this story again it will have a different impact on me and I will take away something completely different than before.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A man must consider what a blindman's bluff is this game of conformity" (Norton 1167)

"Emerson has special talents unequalled. The divine in man has had no more easy, methodically distinct expression. His personal influence upon young persons greater than any man's. In his world every man would be a poet, Love would reign, Beauty would take place, Man and Nature would harmonize."(Henry David Thoreau, Journal, Undated 1845-47. )

Summary:
Emerson is speaking of following blindly to a religion that is rooted in old traditions.

My Ideas:
While I read Emerson's biography regarding his sudden change in faith. How because of the loss of his wife made him rethink and question the church altogether. I understand that notion completely. As a young adult I had always questions religion. I was not raised in a religious family, but I was baptized Catholic. When my Grandmother died unexpectedly, whom I was closer to than my own mother I started searching for answers, so I thought I would find them in religion. I researched all types of religions with no real concrete explanations. They said that if I was a good Christian I would be able to see my Grandmother in the end. But I wanted proof, I wanted a something a sign because if I’m going to church on Sunday and dealing with the hypocrisy of the church, by god I wanted truth that I was going to see my Grandmother again.
But my life changed the day my brother Died of AIDS. Watching my brother who no longer looked like himself, take his last breath was one of the most life altering experiences of my life. I asked myself that day how could this happen, why did he suffer so much, where was God now. Now I was on the fence I started even questioning if there was a god altogether instead of just questioning religion. Then most recently, my Husband I have experience something in the last month that has sealed the deal for me. I have asked myself, why have Jehovah, Heavenly Father, and God etc, allowed this to happen. Reading “Self-Reliance” is appropriate for the time in my life now. What I took away from Emerson was that he was spiritual, just not religious and I relate to that theology so much more than having the obligation of going to church every Sunday and feeling like you’re a bad Christian if you miss a day. That putting your faith in something that will let you down is a waste of time. Trust yourself and your own Ideas as the truth. Do not allow an institution to dictate if your thought and ideas are correct.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Frederick Douglass

" I have seen Colonel Lloyd make old Barney, a man between fifty and sixty years of age, uncover his bald head, knee down upon the cold damp ground, and receive upon his naked and toile-worn shoulders more than thirty lashes at the time."(Douglass, Norton pg. 2079).

"America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. " (Douglass, Brainyquote.com)

Summary:
Douglass is writing about two slaves, Barney and his son who took care of Colonel Lloyd's horses. How depending on his mood would find fault in the care of his animals, just so he could beat the father and son.

My Ideas:

Because Douglass wrote with a very honest tone, it was hard at times to finish "Narrative of the Life". I was moved to tears when he spoke of the poor slave girl who was asked to watch her masters child and because she was so tired did not wake when the baby did, provoking the Mother of the child to pick up a oak stick and beat the young girl, breaking the the girls breast bone and nose. The young girl died slowly and most likely in excruciating pain.
It is very eye opening as well as to how cruel the Wives of the slave owners were and at time more cruel as Douglass put it.

As for the the beating of Barney, I again was moved to tears again, all I could think about was my own father being beat and having to watch that on a daily bases, or having to watch your own child be beat, and you can not any do any thing but stand by and watch.

I wanted to put the book down many times, but I knew that I needed to read his story. Just like going to the Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. . You know its going to be the most depressing thing you see, but as a human being sharing this earth with other people, you need to see it.

However depressing his story it is an inspirational story as well and humbling. He was a brave soul who was determined to learn how to read and write(reminds me of Lincoln) and against all odds did learn, not only learned but wrote books and became a activist and public speaker. I was also humbled learning about the their conditions how the children only received one item of clothing and it was to last them the whole year. Because of this many of them had to be naked in the winter or summer. Douglass aslo points out they these were not just infants who had to go naked but children from ages 8-12, this was another form of demoralization by the slave owners.

Reading about other people stories(Or listening to my fathers about being a Migrant Farm Work and how poor he was before they moved to the Bay Area and received an education) always reminds me to be thankful for what I have. What a gift I have been given to be able to go to school and learn, vote etc. I have a warm house over my head with food in my stomach.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Poe

"A cadaverousness of complexion; an eye large, liquid and luminous beyon comparison; lips somewhat thin and very pallid,..." "Poe, The Fall of The House of Usher"

“All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry" (Poe)







Summary:

The quote taken from Poe's, The Fall of the House of Usher, has such incredible imagery that it lures you in further into his story. Even though you find you are frightened or even wanting to put the book down, you find yourself wanting to find out why this man is so sickly looking.

My Ideas:

This story is so well written that it does not linger on the edge of campy in anyway, however it is very romanticized with a lot of over the top imagery and a hint of melodrama. However the complexity of the writing makes this a very sophisticated story, with the analogy between Ushers character, his house and society burdens or sins make this story very sophisticated.

I love Poe, the ability to me to make something beautiful out something that is considered taboo is amazing. I I think that is why I am drawn to Poe and other "Gothic" genres such as music and movies. Understandable Poe brought a lot of his own problems on himself with the drinking and opium use, but he was a tortured soul through out his life only finding relief in death.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Hawthorne

"Such were the terrors of the black, veil, even when death had bared his visage!" (Hawthorne, "The Minister's Black Veil)


“Our most intimate friend is not he to whom we
show the worst, but the best of our nature.” (Hawthorne)

Summary:

Only in death a person truly understands why the Minister wears his Black Veil, but knowledge does not make the fear subside in fact in intensifies it.

My Ideas:


What I take away from this unexplained and dark story is that the Minister wore his Black veil to make a point that we all wear veils daily. We hide our inner darkest thoughts and sins from others and ourselves. The irony is that the Minister by wearing his veil; he was being the most honest to himself and others revealing actually who he was. By doing this it feared those who should have loved him unconditionally leaving him alone. His veil made people fear looking at him because they saw who they truly were with their phony persona stripped away, all they were left with is their inner most thoughts and sins. Evan though he was a minister and his veil was to be a type of religious symbol, I do not feel that the message was religious. I feel that he refused to remove his veil because he insited on being honest about who he truely was to himself, first and others second.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Davis

" "Do you know boy, you have it in you to be a great sculptor, a great man?-do you understand?" (talking down to the capacity of his hearer: it is a way people have with children, and men like Wolfe)...) (Rebecca Harding Davis, Life in the Iron-Mills)

“North and South were equally confident that God was on their side, and appealed incessantly to Him.”


Summary:

This quote from Life in the Iron-Mills is when Dr. John May is speaking to Hugh Wolf and trying to inspire him to become something better than he is. To transcend out of the steel mill and his current lot in life. That with his talent he was capable of being a better person, because of his ability to create.

Response:


My personal feeling is that when the doctor is talking to Hugh it is not so much for Hugh's benefit, but for his own. It was his form of charity and good deed for the day. He could walk away feeling good about himself.

This story was very eye opening. The movies that I have seen have always romanticized the 1800's, but with Davis's words she has made the life of the poor steel worker so real and depressing. What a horrible life to live from working in deplorable conditions and home is no different. The ironey is in the end that Hugh would rather be living his deplorable life than to be locked up. How much sweeter his life seemed from the barred window of a prison cell.

I have some first hand knowledge of factory life, because for 5 years I worked in-side sale for two Printed Circuit Board Companies(You know those green things that go into everything from your computer to your Ipods) The factory or "shop" as we call it is always next door. The last company I worked for was very small, and the "shop" was not in the best conditions. The workers worked hard and long for very little money in very toxic environment. Of course if an order was not done correctly if there was mistakes, they heard about, always being threatened with the the ideas that they might loose their jobs. So people must open their eyes, yes the conditions of factory workers has improved, but they are still being worked to the bone for little money for our Ipods.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Stowe


"Then you will feel for me. I have lost two, one after another, -left'em buried there when I cam away; and I had only this one left. I never slept a night without him; he was all I had." (Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin)

"There is more done with pens than swords" (Stowe)

Summary:

Eliza is speaking in the quote from Uncle Tom's Cabin. She is explaining to Mr. and Mrs. Bird why she had left her master. Her one and only living child is the only thing she has left to live for in this world and she was not going to let them sell him to a slave trader.

As for Stowe's personal quote regarding, how literature and books are so much more powerful than violence is.

My Ideas:

I feel that Stowe was such a brave and powerful woman to have written such a controversial book. While reading you can tell that each word was carefully chosen to evoke a certain feeling. Especially as woman, I felt the the struggle of a mother trying to save her child from the unknown. Very powerful and very smart to play on emotions when you want people to side with your way of thinking. And to make such an impact on people as a woman, during the 1800's was amazing. I believe that Stowe was so successful, because her father encouraged his children regardless of being a women to become educated.

Julie Borrego
English 48A
Journal for Lincoln

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as god gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation;s wounds; to care fro him who shall have borne the battle, and for the widow, and the orphan-to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among our selves, and with all nations." (Lincoln, 1865, Second Inaugural Address)

"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it." The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume III, "Letter To Henry L. Pierce and Others" (April 6, 1859), p. 376.

Summary:

Lincoln knew that the nation had just experience a bloody civil war. In this quote from his Second Inaugural Address, he was stating that the people now should not take sides but to come together as a nation and help each other because both sides have lost so much.

My Ideas:

I feel that Lincoln was faced with a great challenge. He was first the President and then abolishionist. Lincoln had to keep in mind as always who he was speaking to. If he was speaking to pro-slavery people he knew just what to say to gain their support without offending them with his true ideas and beliefs on slavery.

I also admire Lincoln, because he did not have any formal schooling. He received all his knowledge from reading and a pure determination. He became a lawyer not by going to a law school but by studying law books on his own and then passing the Bar.