Thursday, May 31, 2007

William Godwin (1756-1836)

I am writing my thoughts on this author because he is the husband of Mary Wollstonecraft (that I enjoyed reading) and because he raised an intriguing point about marriage. William Godwin “placed faith in the capacity of men to be guided by private judgment, arguing that rational men pursuing common good would cease to need government, law and religion.” (P1379) My understanding of this sentence is that rational men will always need government; law and religion, which I agree with since the government represents the people.

Just like Mary Wollstonecraft and Thomas Paine, Godwin believed that people are born equally and should treat each other with respect and equally. He believed that a man should do everything in his power for the production of general goods for the society as a whole; that he should only stop when he dies. I am not sure of where Godwin stand when it comes to French Revolution, he said that a man can only revolt when he is absolutely sure that the constitution is bad for the whole nation otherwise he become a madman. William Godwin believed the best way to change an individual’s opinion is by argument, writing and conversation. For me this will be only possible if like he said everyone does what they believe is right for the nation as a whole.

According to this author cohabitation and marriage are evil as it slows the independent progress of the mind; for him two human beings should not be obligated to live together for a long period of time, as they find themselves deceived. “Marriage is law, the worst of laws” said Godwin. For this author keeping a partner to yourself by prohibiting your neighbor to have him or her, makes you selfish and guilty of monopoly. He also said that when relationship are changed as we please, we then would not be able to know who the father of a child is; human will not be differentiated by who their father is, how wealthy he is. One measure of democracy will be the abolition of surname. I do not think the abolition of marriage will be ethical, or accepted by the religion…

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Thomas Paine a fervent supporter of the revolution in Britain and America was already famous for common sense, therefore when Edmund Burke published his ideas about the Revolution in France he directly responded back. The two authors wrote for different people, Burke was more focused on reaching the rich audience while Mr. Paine wrote for the poor and uneducated people, which made him sell a lot more books.

Thomas Paine believed that, it could not be any men or generation that controlled the life of their precedents. Contrary to Edmund Burke, this author thought that the idea of controlling the life of others beyond the grave is a tyranny and abuse. Mr. Paine had nothing against having a king over a nation if he was chosen by the people, but he could not accept the fact that a king could choose his successor. (P1373) Mr. Paine pointed that the author Burke was unaware of the reasons of the Revolution of France. He said: “It was not against Louis XVI, but against the despotic principles of the government, that the Nation revolted.” (P1374) Based on my reading on 18th century France, I agree with the writer when he said that there was an ongoing hereditary despotism that had to be stopped by the revolution. Paine emphasized the causes of the revolution: the declaration of the right of the man and the difference between persons and principles. (1376). Just like Mary Wollstonecraft, Paine urged Burke to stop letting his imagination play tricks on him, that he must tell the truth to his readers, that he is writing about history not a play.

Paine wrote that all men are born equal and remain equal, that only the gender differentiated man, that this declaration of human equality being born in the modern world is the oldest doctrine of all since it came from God. Mary Wollstonecraft and Paine both agreed that people should help and treat each other with respect, they also agreed that because of the impoverishment by taxes and the abuse, the Revolution and the construction of a new government were necessary. Paine conclude by saying: “What we now see in the world, form the Revolutions of America and France, are a renovation of the natural order of things, a system of principles as universal as truth and the existence of man, and combining moral with political happiness and national prosperity.” (P1379)
This is another statement that he had in common with Wollstonecraft, and for me living in the USA make me agree with them 100%. They saw the future ahead of time !!!!

Monday, May 28, 2007

The French Revolution_ Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)

I must say that I was very impressed when reading about Mary Wollstonecratf thoughs of the French Revolution and Burke’s opinion. It is hard to believe that she was only 38 when she died after accomplishing all the work she did and the clear view (future) on the modern world. She disagreed with Burke’s arguments for the hereditary succession of the crown, the alliance of the church and government, the blindness following of the tradition.

Wollstonecraft started by sending rhetoric messages to Burke, which I found very amusing. She said that sensibility is the elevation of feeling over rationality, that when sensibility and compassion are applied the truth may never be uncover. She believed that liberty is a fair idea that had not been in place in the European government, that the having of property and self-interest had bridged the rights of men. She wrote that hereditary property and hereditary honors have had a bad influence on the European civilization. She raised some very good points about the rights of men, the penalties imposed for the life of men, death when the property of the rich was touched, she wondered if those laws are natural to love. (P1366) I agree with Wollstonecraft when she said that it is unethical and a return to barbarism to sell your child as slave, not to teach him to differentiate good from evil, that you must work hard to earn your bread. She denounced the fact that only the property of the rich is secure, that the poor man who lived by the sweat of his brow has no mercy from oppression, that murderers (rich) found refuge in church. For her it is unacceptable for a man to fight for his country's well being and not receive any liberty or property; that prostitution and marriage of convenience be legal. Wollstonecraft made sure to tell Burke that he was supposed to be more sympathetic to fair ladies, that littleness and weakness are not the very essence of beauty. (P1370)

Mary Wollstonecraft showed all the unfairness that was happening in Europe at that time, she said that there is only so much pain that human being can take before revolting. I agree with her when she said “ such misery demands more than tears” (P1373)-The revolution had to happen for changes to occur. She said that poor and rich could live close by while respecting and supporting each other, which is what is happening for the most part in the modern world that we live in right now.

Eng 264 The French Revolution_ Edmund Burke (1729-1797)

France before the revolution was a country of hierarch, aristocracy and monarchy; people were overwhelmed by the social inequalities and oppressions. Aristocrats taxed the lower class population higher and higher. A revolution happened to save the population from this unfairness, the declaration of human rights happened “Humans are born free and remain equal in right”. England being so close to France had a concerned government because of the way things were going: The killing of the king and his families, the invasion of countries in Europe by the emperor Napoleon of France (P 1347). Edmund Burke, a political writer published his horrors in the revolution in France, even though he supported the revolution in America, urged the emancipation of Irish trade, argued for better treatment and greater autonomy for the American colonies, sided for the abolition of the slave trade. (P1356)

Mr. Burke believes that the French revolution is the most chaotic, ridicule and absurd event that happened in the history of the world. For Burke, the freedom of the people of France, the declaration of the human right did not deserve to take place at the cost of the brutality that happened. Burke is a fervent supporter of government and tradition, he does not like changes. He thinks “ the succession of the crown has always been what it is now, an hereditary succession by law.” (P1358) I wish Burke could have been here now and see how unlivable those countries in Africa who followed his suggestions are. He is against competing and democratic movement “those who attempt to level, never equalize.” (P1358) He believed that wealth and power should stay in the family and it should be the same for governing. That people should do everything in their power to grow their industry and become wealthier without trespassing upon others. However, Mr. Burke, I believe that those aristocrats were tress passing upon the people of France, since they were taking what was not rightfully theirs (unexplainable taxes) from others in order to be richer. If Burke was here he will see today that rich people (Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki and others) in USA are educating lower and middle class people to be rich like them. Burke is astonished by the atrocity by which the ‘generous and great’ king, his wife and children were taken then killed; he questioned the celebration (thanksgiving) of this event and called it homicide. (P1359) I think that they king has killed and oppressed enough people to deserve what came to him. The people of France wanted to end this family who made them suffer so much. Also the execution of the king was supposed to serve as an example so when another king or president comes he will not dare act like that ever again; some countries in Africa should follow that lead I suggest.

In my opinion Burke was a confused writer, was full of emotion when writing about the French revolution. He said that when ancient opinions and rules of life are changed there is a big loss, that we will not have any base, (to some extent I agree with him there), he pointed that Europe depended for ages on the sprit of a gentleman and the spirit of the religion. Then he said, “We must presume that on the whole their operation was beneficial”(P1362): Is he saying that the revolution of France was beneficial?

Monday, May 21, 2007

Introduction Of Myself

Hello All,

My name is Kassia Barry. I am from Guinea, a small country in West Africa. My first language is French, I finished my ESL (Engilsh as a second language) classes in 2001 from Mercer University. I am a junior form the Douglas campus and my major is Business Administration.
I am married and I have two girls of 34 months and 18 months old. I love spending time with my family, reading and watching movies.
This is my first time taking an online class and I am looking forward to the challenge.

Kassia Barry