Freedom Through The Press :: essays research papers

Freedom Through The Press Tears streamed down a broken face That stared to the ground where his father lay At lexington was he dying this day For a battle lost, and a war begun. In a young boys hand, A father lifted his head To look at a son, so confused and afraid Who understood not, for what his father bled Why he would fight, What reason for death. And so as they looked eye to eye The boys innocent lips formed the question, why? Then With inhuman strength, A father lifts dying fingers to sky Pointing to a cloth, flying on high His heart burns like fire, beats like a drum As with his last breath he whispers FREEDOM! 56 men signed a Declaration of Independence, risking their lives. 1000's of men and boys died in the Revolutionary war, And 100's of 1000's more fought and died in wars to come. 56 men created and signed a document of government so perfect it has endured the test of time for over 200 years. Millions of people have given precious support in the fight for equality and against racism. For what reason did many people risk their lives and sacrifice so much? democracy: n. gov. by the people... Their hearts burned brightly with the fires of freedom. We have been handed a Democracy, handed freedom. And now we must either throw this heritage away, by taking it for granted or we must fight our own battle, a battle without bullets or threats, a battle for democracy. For Freedom isn't Free. We must rule ourselves. It is an almost an obvious fact that in order for us to rule, we need information. If the ruling body does not have information than it can do nothing but act blindly, without direction. This information comes from the media but, in order for the media accomplish this informative purpose, so that we the people can rule ourselves, can have a democracy, and can be free, we must do three things: Redefine democracy, Listen to the press, and control our press. Our first problem is to redefine democracy. Imagine, a young polish factory worker reads daily in papers that tell him he is free, because the communistic government allows elections. The Press tells him his government has the economy under control. Yet he finds himself spending his time and money standing in line to buy over-priced bread so his babies can live another day. Among the graffiti that began to appear in Poland was an especially significant complaint, Prasa klamie ("The press lies"). However, free media from countries like the U.

Olive Senior Essay

Olive Senior is a Jamaican poet of high repute and is the author of Gardening in the Tropics. In this poetry volume Senior seeks to tackle history, moral issues, travel and environmental crises. Senior’s poems are pervaded with irony, humour and sarcasm and her tone is conversational and calm. Senior’s style of writing aids in creating a diacritic voice which is evident in the poems â€Å"Seeing the Light†, â€Å"Meditation on Yellow† and â€Å"Stowaway†. Senior in an interview with Kwame Dawes entitled â€Å"Talk Yuh Talk† admits that she has been haunted by the absence of the Tainos and was always unsatisfied with the image of the Tainos being a simplistic group of people that existed before Columbus’ arrival and then they suddenly became extinct. Her interest in the Tainos is evident in her poems â€Å"Meditation on Yellow† and â€Å"Seeing the Light† where she sows seeds of discourse to the colonial notions that the Europeans achieved anything positive in their conquest. The poem â€Å"Seeing the Light speaks to the destruction of the Caribbean by the Europeans. Their conquest to the â€Å"New World†/Caribbean was aimed at introducing civilization to the Taino society and Christianity through evangelism. Au contraire, their conquest terminated the lives of the Tainos and resulted in severe deforestation. Senior employs a bracketed aside to express counter discourse to the productivity of the European systems. â€Å"(Though in their chronicles they may have recorded it by another name: Conquista? Evangelismo? Civilizacion? )† Senior manipulates Spanish diction which is the tongue of the European colonizers to embellish her argument of counter discourse by mocking and criticizing them. The question marks are utilized to interrogate the Europeans. Additionally, Senior skilfully exploits rhetorical questions to challenge and cast on doubt on the religion of the Europeans and supplement the counter discourse. The speaker proceeds to ask â€Å"Why did those who speak of Light wear black, the colour mourning? Why was their countenance so grave? Why on a dead tree did they nail the bringer of Light, One Cristo, torture and kill him and then ask us to come, bow down and worship him? † These questions subtly enhance the cynical tone of the speaker. The third question is the most crucial as it is a direct counter discourse to the Europeans’ religion and beliefs. The speaker wants to know why the Europeans would kill Jesus Christ, who they worship and then ask the Tainos to bow down and worship him. Furthermore, â€Å"Meditation on Yellow† centers around the theme of exploitation and this relates to the Tainos, Africans and contemporary worker, for example in the tourism industry. Senior deploys a bracketed aside â€Å"(for heat engenders gold and fires the brain)† this creates an extremely sarcastic and critical tone that interrogates the colonial narratives and seeks to question the motives of the Europeans and reveal their lust and desire for gold and their resultant insanity. Senior puts to use appropriate lineation which separates the innocent and peaceful nature of the Tainos from the lustful and insane Europeans. The break makes the distinction between the two groups and adds performativity. In addition, there is usage of pun and humour in the lines â€Å"a bit continent despite your vast holdings† the tone is sarcastic and it emphasizes that despite the Europeans’ immense possessions they cannot hold it in like waste. Moreover, the bracketed aside â€Å"(though I was gratified to note that despite the difference in our skins our piss was exactly the same shade of yellow,† is used to symbolize equality through urine and the diction; â€Å"piss† is extremely crude. In the lines â€Å"I wished for you a sudden enlightenment that† is ironic because the Europeans thought that they had brought or were bringing enlightenment to the Tainos, however it was the Tainos this â€Å"barbaric group of people who wanted to remind them of their location. The voice is again critical and sarcastic as there is counter discourse to the notion that the Europeans were more enlightened and knowledgeable than the Tainos. In these two poems Olive Senior is the vox populi. She has given a voice to the Tainos and Africans whose thoughts have been suppressed and effectively offers a afro -centric perspective to the historical events involving the Europeans and natives. In addition, â€Å"Stowaway† explores the journey of a man who decides to â€Å"stowaway† on a ship to a foreign country for a better life. The diction in this poem mimics a monologue as the reader feels like they are being spoken to. A double entendre appears in the first line, â€Å"there’s this much space between me and discovery† this pun makes the reader aware that the traveller has no space around him and that he will soon be discovered. This pun brings to light the terrifying condition aboard the ship and the uncertainty of the travel time. The repetition of â€Å"I† creates a distinctive voice and adds an element of performativity to the poem. One day light will enter this grave† is another double entendre conveying the idea that the man will soon be caught or he will soon discover this new land/territory. Grave is a metaphor for the ship and is a symbol of darkness and hence there is a biblical allusion to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The tone created is one of isolation, fear and anxiety which accompanies the theme of travel especially in this case as an â€Å"undeclared passeng er† a â€Å"stowaway†. When the speaker decides to just settle down and wait for the ship to dock his tone becomes calm and relaxed, the tempo is slowed down in contrast to the erratic and frenzied rhythm before. Olive Senior employs various poetic devices namely bracketed aside, metaphor, irony and double entendre to skilfully create distinctive voice in her poems with the aid of her effective and stylistic diction and lineation to create counter discourse. She blends these devices and techniques to create tones which contribute to her distinctive voice.

The Case Against The Fugitive Slave Law - 2396 Words

Since the spoken word, hundreds of philosophers have defined law in different ways. Philosophy allows people to study the nature of people’s beliefs which can differ over time. Not even laws are exempt from the opinions of philosophers. Seeing law in different ways allows people to come to different conclusions about legal cases. The Fugitive Slave Law was a controversial law in American history which allowed slave-owners to capture their slaves who have fled north to free states. Once, a group of emancipators in Boston were tried for helping an escaped slave flee to Canada. These emancipators challenged the Fugitive Slave Law in United States v Morris. According to the Fugitive Slave Law, helping an escaped slave is in violation of the law. In this case, the jurors let the emancipators free for helping a slave escape slavery to Canada. This leads to the question â€Å"Did the jurors in Morris do the right thing?† Philosophy gives us the tools to analyze the legality o f the juror s actions and answer this question. Natural Law theory, Positivism, Legal Realism, Neo-natural law theory, and Paul Butler’s theory of law all provide different outlooks to answering this question. Despite having differing beliefs about the role of morality and law, these philosophies all conclude that the jurors in Morris did the right thing. Thomas Aquinas’ Natural Law theory proves the jurors in Morris did make the right decision. The Natural Law theory discusses our ability to distinguishShow MoreRelatedThe Nature Of People s Beliefs1660 Words   |  7 Pageseven the ideas of the law are exempt from this occurrence. Since the spoken word, hundreds of philosophers have defined law in different ways. Seeing law in different ways people can come to different conclusions about specific cases. The Fugitive Slave Law was a controversial law in American history. The Fugitive Slave Law allowed slave-owners to capture their slaves who have fled North to free st ates. In United States v Morris, the emancipators challenged the Fugitive Slave Law in Boston. A groupRead MoreTo What Extent Did The Fugitive Slaves Acts Impacted Slavery?866 Words   |  4 Pageswhat extent did the Fugitive Slaves Acts have an effect on slavery in the United States of America? Table of Contents A) Plan of Investigation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg.1 B) Summary of Evidence†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Pg.2-4 C) Evaluation of Sources†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. D) Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. E) Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Plan of Investigation This investigation will assess to what extent did the Fugitive Slaves Acts impacted slaveryRead MoreFugitive Slave Act1626 Words   |  7 PagesHistory of Business Fugitive Slave Act The westward expansion of slavery was one of the most dynamic economic and social processes going on in this country. The Industrial Revolution had changed every aspect of American life and the country’s borders spread westward with the addition of the Mexican Cession—opening new cotton fields. To maintain the original Constitutional balance of lawmaking power, Congress continued to play the compromise game in 1820 and 1850 to maintain an equal number ofRead MoreWhat Was The And The Underground Railroad?1678 Words   |  7 Pagesbetween the Union and Confederates in the nineteenth century. Becoming what many slaves saw as their ticket to freedom, Philadelphia helped spark the ambition of the fugitive slaves to escape from their owners and venture through the unknown landscapes of the Northern regions in order to become free black citizens. The Underground Railroad, separating the contradicting ideas of the North and South, pushed the slave and non-slave states to even tually have a civil war between themselves. Pennsylvania s contributionRead MoreA Slave Mothers Fury1148 Words   |  5 PagesA Slave Mother’s Fury: The Story of Margaret Garner In 1793, The United States government issued The Fugitive Slave Act which mandated the return of runaway slaves back to their original slave owners if they were caught. Modified in 1850 with even stricter punishments and consequences even for those who hid runaways, these laws shined a light on an ambiguous plan that the government devised to keep African Americans enslaved without any mere hope of ever becoming free. While in effect, a multitudeRead MoreThe Civil War Was A Long Term Issue1622 Words   |  7 PagesWar was caused. Historians have looked into the years before the Civil War to discover that slavery was a long term issue that caused many disputes and compromises. From how to give power to slave holders in the House of Representatives to how to get the northern states to comply with the southern slave laws, slavery was the issue that tore the two regions apart. President Abraham Lincoln had to use all of his power to try and preserve the Union, even if that meant ending slavery for good. SlaveryRead MoreMoral Conflict Within The United States Constitution1499 Words   |  6 Pagesbefore has a legal case caused me so much moral conflict within; a runaway slave in the state of Indiana so close to freedom yet faced with the impending possibility of being returned back to servitude stands before me in the Court. As a moral human being, I want nothing more than to ignore the law and allow the runaway to live out his days as a free man. But as a judge dedicated to serving my country through the Court, I cannot ignore that the law is binding and that the Fugitive Slave clause of theRead MoreThe Escape Of William And Ellen Craft Essay1630 Words   |  7 Pagesincrease in the phenomenon of runaway slaves proportional to the increase in slavery at the time. To accommodate slaves, the Underground Railroad and several committees dedicated to the aid of fugitive slaves were developed. Free blacks and whites collaborated with the intent of assisting slaves in their journey to the north and in maintaining their freedom while living in northern states. Abolitionist societies also worked to document the experiences of runaway slaves and expose to the public the atrocitiesRead MoreThe Treaty Of Guadalupe Hidalgo1654 Words   |  7 Pagesthe American Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia was formed by William Lloyd Garrison, Arthur and Lewis Tappan (and others). The goal of the Abolitionist Movement was to end racial discrimination and segregation and emancipate all slaves. 1847-1863, an escaped slave and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, published the ‘North Star.† The paper was published in Rochester, New York. His goals were to abolish slavery, advocate universal emancipation, and promote the moral and intellectual improvementRead MoreUnderground Railroad Essay726 Words   |  3 PagesThe Undergorund Railroad served as a gateway to heaven for slaves of the southern United States. It provided slaves a way to get north to the freeland, where they would not be forced into slavery. It was the best way for slaves to get away. The Underground Railroad was a network of people that helped fugitive slaves get to the freeland (northern U.S. and Canada). It was not ran/maintained by one person or organization, instead it was made up of lots of individuals. Some of these people were