Elizabeth II (post 3)

The third section of Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II focuses on her growth from a child to a young adult. At the beginning of the section, her father has just been crowned George VI, making her next in line for the crown. Her education is begun under Sir Henry Marten, who taught her history and government most of all. Her textbooks contain notes in the margins on how to rule (even if her powers are mostly ceremonial) effectively. She wrote, "If the King had a strong will, and a good capacity for business, he ruled the witan [an early form of Parliament]; if not, the witan was the prevailing power in the State" (117). She also, however, recognized that the monarchs did not have much power in the modern world, and the era before elected ministers was noted as "The days before responsible government" (117). She chose to rule responsibly and sensibly, putting her people before herself. This was in contrast to her uncle's reign, which was dominated by a powerful and overdone sense of progress and a decision to abdicate for personal reasons. Elizabeth would argue that no personal reason is a good enough excuse.
Elizabeth continues to grow older, and she makes her debut as a public figure. Most of her work was charity- related, though she did take an Army class in auto mechanics to help the war effort. She met, and fell in love with at age 13, her third cousin Philip, whom she would marry. Another burst of character shows through the cloud of public facade in her response to her former governess, who wanted to publish a tell-all series of articles for the Ladies' HOme Journal. When Princess Elizabeth asked her not to give information to any journalists, she softened the blow by offering her former governess another job. She chooses gentle firmness over her sister Margaret's disdain. Elizabeth's first two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, are born. For all her public kindness, Elizabeth does not seem to have been a particularly maternal figure. She left her young son and newborn daughter with their grandparents for Christmas in 1950, as she had done to Charles in 1949. However, when her father died in 1952, she stayed in England to prepare for her new role as sovereign.

Traitor or Whistle-blower?

The difference between a treasonous act and an act that will benefit society does not have a textbook answer. The film On the Waterfront explores that divide. Terry, a character in the movie who does not work for the tyrannical mob but is friendly with them, must decide whether to testify against the mob for the death of a boy who was pushed off the roof. While he is trying to decide, many people give him advice on how to act. His brother Charlie is part of the mob and believes that Terry's first duty is to his friends. By friends, he means the mob. Charlie thinks that you are ratting on your friends when you testify against them. On the other hand, the local priest knows that what the mob does is wrong and encourages Terry to testify against them. He knows that silence will not help the workers who cannot earn decent wages because of the mob, and so the mob needs to be taken down. The priest thinks that you are not committing treason when you are acting against your friends and family for the greater good of the society. In the end, Terry decides that he must end the injustice even if he might have to sacrifice himself to do so.
I believe that a traitor is only someone who does something for selfish reasons. If they are doing it for the greater good of the society, then it is excusable. Even if you are selling out on your friends, if it will drastically improve the community's well-being then it is alright. For example, if you have a friend that you know has been stealing iPods, then it would be much better to turn them in and keep them from continuing t0 anger those who they have stolen from and progressing to worse thefts. You are genuinely helping society. However, if you simply want to see you friend get into trouble, then you are ratting your friend out.

Family or Society?

In the novel All My Sons by Arthur Miller, many characters are faced with the choice of putting family or society first. The most obvious example of a character who places family over society is Joe Keller, who ships out faulty airplane parts instead of losing his contract with the Air Force. He says to his son, "The paper, it was all over the front page, twenty-one went down, it was too late.... Chris, I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you" (70). Joe wants to pass his business down to his son, and he uses that as a justification for causing the deaths of 21 pilots flying in airplanes with his faulty parts in them. Joe feels like this is a reasonable excuse, because he simply wants his son to have a better life than he did what parent could be blamed for that? Chris, on the other hand, feels much differently. He resents his father's actions and does not want a business that came at the expense of 21 lives. Chris rages, "What is that, the world-- the business? What the hell do you mean, you did it for me? Don't you have a country? Don't you live in the world? What the hell are you? You're not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you?" (70). Chris fought in the war and he knows how devastating 21 deaths can be, so he feels like a better life for him is by no means a justification for the lives that ended.
Personally, I feel that there are very few instances when family can be placed before society. In little matters, it may be all right, such as choosing to open the door for your grandmother rather than the other little old lady. However, it is also important to remember that every statistic, every stranger, and every person in the world has someone who cares about them, just like you do. If a family member and a stranger were trapped on a sinking ship, and you only had room in the lifeboat for one, then the stranger's family would feel just as much grief for the loss of their loved one as you would for your relative. This conundrum also causes many debated issues in modern politics, with questions such as: Higher taxes or fewer programs for the poor? Should senior citizens have to pay taxes for the school system? and whether or not day care should be provided by the government. Even if it may prevent your family from going on your annual vacation, remember that someone who is in need would be grateful for the sacrifice you have made. I believe that society should be placed before family in most circumstances, and this will help everyone live a better life.

Miller, Arthur. All My Sons. New York: Penguin, 2000.

Elizabeth II (post 2)

The rest of Part 1 of the book Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II has actually disappointingly little to do with the Queen herself. Mainly, it highlights the generations leading up to Elizabeth: King Edward VII and King George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather. The second part of the book continues with the generations more closely related to the current Queen, with her Uncle David who would become King Edward VIII and her father who would be King George VI. Elizabeth is not introduced until chapeter 5. She is described as the perfect little child, always well behaved and more like an adult than a kid. However, she does manage to blend some youthful spirit into an upbringing that groomed her for royal etiquette. It is said she replied, as a nine-year-old, to the Archbishop of Canterbury's request that she take a walk with him: "Yes, very much... But please do not tell me anything more about God. I know all about him already" (94). Other accounts show that the young Princess Elizabeth loved to be the center of attention and was "'almost as pleased' to see her mother as if the duchess had been 'quite a large crowd'" (83). I think that it is very interesting that someone who grew up always being revered and cherished did not become a snobbish, spoiled little girl. In fact, she has done the opposite and learned from her Uncle David's self-centered abdication. A family friend said, "'Her Uncle let the side down, he put personal pleasure before his duties. She has deliberately done the reverse'" (104). This highlights her decision to become not a celebrity, but a servant of her country.

Lacey, Robert. Monarch:The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II. New York: The Free Press, 2002.

Elizabeth II

The prologue and first chapter of the book Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II does not begin with her childhood. Rather, it focuses on two on the most marked events of the royal family in the last 200 years: Queen Victoria's reign and the death of Princess Diana. The book uses the Queen's reaction to the Princess's death to highlight Elizabeth the II's character: she posses a great deal of common sense, has an unbreakable determination and is brutally honest. The book uses not her quotes, which could be biased by humility, but the quotes of those close to her. A private secretary of the Queen's told Lacey that "'The Queen has ruthless common sense... If you can explain clearly why something has to be done, and she agrees, that's the end of the matter'" (8). This was particularly referring to her decision to fly a flag at half mast above Buckingham Palace, something that had not been done for anyone ever before and which the Queen was against. This reminded me of John Grady's preference for an older, simpler, and quiter life. She does not believe in saying things that she does not believe. Lacey writes of an incident where the Queen displayed her overwhelming honesty. Lacey writes, "' I am very pleased to be in Kingston today,' the draft [of the speach] confidentely started. The young queen crossed out the word 'very.' 'I will be pleased to be in Kingston,' she explained. 'But I will not be very pleased" (9). The Queen refuses to say anything she does not mean from her heart. This refusal to be someone else's puppet, even in small matters like the word very, reminds me of Blevin's refusal to show off to impress John Grady an Rawlins. Queen Elizabeth is also compared to Queen Victoria, in her will, strength and reign.

Lacey, Robert. Monarch:The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II. New York: The Free Press, 2002.

Peppers

Un-Pretty Pictures

This article is about an upcoming photography exhibit that focuses on the lives of the homeless in Houston, Texas. Ben Tecumseh DeSoto has worked as a photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle and now works as a photographer. Two people, Judy Pruitt and Ben White, are the main subjects of the exhibit. The exhibit tells their stories, as well as pointing out problems that homeless people have in getting government assistance. The curator of the exhibit explains that it is difficult to get healthcare if you are homeless, and one of the photographer's aims was to point out failures of the institutions that are supposed to provide aid. DeSoto says that his goal was to point out that homelessness is not a problem, but merely a symptom of a deeper problem. This article reminds us that photographs are one of the most expressive mediums for inspiring sympathy and encouraging people to take action to end a problem. Pictures are not always of flowers and pretty things that we want to see. They also show us the flaws and sadness that we need to see in order to make the world a better place for everyone. This idea reminded me of the photograph of the three WWII soldiers lying dead on a beach. They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, and that is certianly true.

Britt, Douglas. "A Photographer's View of the Homeless." Cron.com. 22 Oct 2008. *

*Not sure why the link won't show up.

The Seafarer

The Seafarer is an ancient English poem. It is told from the voice of a lonely sailor, suffering the hardships and trails of the sea. However, he willingly suffers, knowing that a blessed eternal life is a much better existence than a happy, material life on earth. The poem tells about the uselessness of material goods, because you cannot take them with you into the afterlife. The author thinks that it is much better to live a frugal and humble life on earth to ensure a peaceful afterlife than to live a gluttonous life and be doomed to hell. This reminded me of Siddhartha's journey. Siddhartha amasses great wealth, but is unhappy with himself. He feels shallow and finds his new habits disgusting, so much that he almost commits suicide. Instead, he decides to give up his possessions and focus on gaining spiritual comfort rather than living in material luxury. The idea of a humble life seems to parallel many religious ideals, from Buddhism to Christianity.

"The Seafarer." Beowulf and Other Old English Poems. Trans. Constance B. Hieatt. 2nd Ed. New York: Bantam Books, 1988. 117-20.

A Journey to Recovery

Three weeks after hurricane Ike stormed over the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas, at least 34 people are unaccounted for, and many are presumed dead. Relatives of those missing have been calling shelters and hospitals, frantically trying to locate their loved ones. Some of those relatives received calls from victims who were trapped by the floods, saying goodbye. As horrible as it must be to receive a call from a relative who knows they are going to die, there are also miraculous stories of survival. People survived by floating on coolers, debris or anything else they could find. However, the journey to recovery will be long and difficult, both physically and emotionally. Physically, people have lost homes and valued property. Emotionally, the scars are much deeper. Some relatives listened as victims called to tell them they were going to drown, and others were expecting evacuees who never arrived. A grandson listened to his grandmother describe how the floods had washed the neighbors' houses away, then experienced the silence when his grandmother's cell phone went dead. A boyfriend watched as his girlfriend was swept out to sea. These traumatic experiences will take years and much pain to heal. Much like Odysseus, who struggles to get home, these people will take a long time to return to normal. Likewise, those whose relatives are still missing may never find out their loved one's fate, like Penelope has no idea when or if Odysseus will return home. The journey back to normalcy will be long and difficult, and some might never achieve it.

"Three Weeks After Storm, a Grim Task of Recovery." The New York Times 5 Oct. 2008: A20.

*Does anyone know how to get an underline? I have tried both ctrl u and copying it from Word, but neither seems to work.

Homer: Feminist or Sexist?

The women in Homer's The Odyssey, like women today, are as different from each other as a rose is from a corpse flower. However, in Greek society as Homer depicts it, most of the women seem to be undervalued. There are women with strong characters; however they are not always shown in the best light. Calypso, through her beauty and power, traps Odysseus on her island though he longs to sail home. By keeping Odysseus on her island, she shows that she is a powerful and capable woman. Yet, Homer casts her as the hated jail warden when she does not release him. Circe is another woman who is called evil by Homer. In fact, evil is the very word Homer uses when he describes the meeting between Odysseus and Circe. Circe is a sorceress, so she is not incapable, but she too is shown as devious. In The Odyssey, many women who are independent and intelligent are portrayed as deceitful.
If strong women are, in Homer's mind, evil, then meek and obedient women must be good. Penelope, Odysseus' wife, stays at home and remains faithful to Odysseus. She takes care of running the palace and cries her heart out for her lost husband. When Telemachus returns from his journey, she tells him of the pain she feels for missing Odysseus and her disgust at the suitors. She is often described as loyal, good, and faithful, showing that Homer thought of her as a good wife and proper woman. When Telemachus arrives in Sparta to see Menelaus, Helen is shown doing normal household chores: spinning and greeting guests. Homer grants her the gifts of beauty and great standing. Homer's commending of weak women and less than flattering depiction of strong ones show that his view of women was traditional and sexist.

The world of Homer's The Iliad is greatly different from ours today. Technology, attitudes, and society have changed vastly in the thousand plus years between today and the Trojan War. However, the need for wise, sane leaders has always and will always remain constant. In The Iliad, there are two types of leaders. Commanders of armies, such as Agamemnon and Hector, need to be fierce in battle and be able to rouse troops; they need to know as much as they can about the opposing armies. Others provide wisdom and advice, such as Nestor and Priam. Their fighting days are past, and their job is to advise the new commanders by drawing from their experience.
The crisis of the Trojan war seems insignificant when compared with the problems our world faces today. Multiple wars, climate change, a crashing economy and extreme poverty are all problems that should be dealt with. An article in Newsweek magazine offers insight on the kind of leader the US needs to elect in the upcoming election. The author writes that the US needs a leader who has a defined view of the world and will learn from the mistakes and triumphs of history. In other words, leaders should be judged on whether they use the past to solve current problems rather than how much the know about the world. The US needs a Nestor, rather than an Agamemnon, to deal with the problems that America faces.
On the whole, this article presents a unique and interesting view of the presidential election. While it does neglect to talk about those problems that are simply too new to have a precedent, such as the ethical issue of electronic spying or improved weapons, it does a fairly good job of outlining what can be learned from history and why the current administration has failed to correct or alleviate some of these problems. Overall, it was a worthwhile read.

Works Cited

Haass, Richard N. "Who Cares Where Spain Is?" Newsweek 29 Sept. 2008: 39.

Hello!

This is Emily's EE10 reading blog for quarter 1. First quarter posts will be on newspaper & magazine articles, short stories, essays or websites. Assuming I don't forget my passward, I should be able to post all year.