Jonny's Final Eng 101 essay

On October 25, 1992, I, Jonny Blount was born to Jimmy and Jill Blount in the cypress swamps of

Mississippi. Being a southern man, I have adopted somewhat of a

traditionalist and conservative belief system. Many people may think

differently than I do, and I respect them nonetheless. I think the fact

that, as Americans, we have the right to believe whatever we want

makes this nation so great. We are diverse in race, religion, beliefs

and ethnicity just to name a few. I have enjoyed my English class this

fall. In class, we have read and discussed all of these

topics and more. When we first began in August, I thought to myself

that I wouldn’t like reading so many works and having to write my

opinions regarding the work. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It turned out that the subject matter we

covered was very intriguing and thought provoking. I have never liked to read, yet I thoroughly enjoyed

works from Carnegie, Emerson, and Thoreau etc. Though I may not have always necessarily agreed with

everything the writers were proclaiming, I respect and admire each one of these renowned men and women

for their abilities and bold character. We can learn much about government, wealth, poverty, justice, ethics,

morality and individualism from reading the works from the men and women in the

World of Ideas.  

        

Government:

            Thomas Jefferson believed that all men were created equal. I share this opinion with

Jefferson, along with a few other topics of government that are listed in the following sentences.

Every person has the right to freedom from oppressive rule. Citizens should be involved with the

nominating process that determines who is put into office to govern them.  More importantly, if

ever the citizens feel that the government has become corrupt it is their right and their

duty to over throw it and set up a new governing system. Thomas Jefferson thought good

government was to be derived from the people, and I couldn’t agree more with his theory. He

meant that no single person should possess all power in decision and law making for the land.

Jefferson had seen the effects of corrupt government in England from the tyrannical actions of

King George. As Americans, we should elect figures that feel the same way that we do on

political matters for it is our right and duty to do so. The power should be divided up among

numerous leaders to ensure checks and balances of power. Jefferson and his fellow leaders of

early America, understood that a democracy was the only way to properly run a country.

Jefferson and the other legislators proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, “But when a

long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to

reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such

government, and provide new Guards for their future security.” (Jefferson 81). They were

alluding to all suppressing England and the severity of the monarchy’s actions. The founding

fathers of America wanted to insure that if ever the government started to turn sour, something

could be done about it. Jefferson’s concept is crucial to America’s success in my opinion. I think

we can learn from Thomas Jefferson’s actions just like he learned from the positives and

negatives of England’s government. For example, if we have something or someone in our lives

that absolutely needs rebuking, then simply muster up the courage and confront the problem with

gusto.

Wealth and Poverty:

In today’s society, it is obvious that we have a major problem on our hands regarding the

gap between the poor and the rich. Poverty is growing and spreading like wildfire through the

lower classes and slums in this beautiful land. However, I do believe this problem can be solved.

The most efficient way that I can come up with is one of simplicity and elementary principle. We

have to share with one another. Now wait, you’re probably reading and saying the soviets tried

that with communism and it failed miserably. However, if this is done in the right way, with the

right motives, it can be very success in my mind. If the most wealthy people in America, that

literally have more money than they can count, would donate more money to charity and give to

families in need then we could all but solve this poverty epidemic. I, like Andrew Carnegie, try

to make my money go as far as possible. Being good stewards of the funds we have been

entrusted with is a very wise habit to practice. Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland, but he

found success in the railroad and steel industries in America. Carnegie is said to be one of the

richest men ever to have walked this green earth. Carnegie writes about these thoughts and

opinions in his work The Gospel of Wealth. Carnegie’s opening statements in The Gospel of

Wealth sum up his opinion on the problem of the enormous gap between the rich and the poor in

society. He says that the administration of wealth is where the problem lies. Carnegie believed

that rich, powerful people should generously give to those who were less fortunate. Carnegie

wrote, “There are but three modes in which surplus wealth can be disposed of. It can be left to

the families of the descendants; or it can be bequeathed for public purposes; or, finally, it can be

administered during the lives of by its possessors.” (Carnegie 395) Carnegie believed that

administering wealth before you die was most effective because you can strategically place your

money in places that you think it will be most beneficial others and prosper the economy. I

believe that a noble person will direct his wealth in ways that benefit those who are less fortunate

than he. Carnegie also exemplified this trait. For example, Carnegie Hall in New York was

funded by Carnegie. In this facility many young musicians have found success. The success and

spotlight for the less fortunate, young musicians would have never been possible if it weren’t for

the generous spirit of Andrew Carnegie. He understood possibilities of the great things that could

take place by carefully sharing his wealth with others. Wealthy men and women in today’s

society need to exercise the giving spirit of Carnegie in order to bridge the gap between the rich

and poor in our society.

           

Justice:

I believe justice is the upholding of the universal moral standards in society. There is a

difference between right and wrong whether people like to admit it or not, thus when people do

participate in a wrong action there must be a consequence to prevent this behavior from

repeating which is where justice comes in. Justice compiles the attributes of righteousness,

agreeableness and moral rightness. Laws are often placed into society to ensure that justice is

upheld. However, laws can be, and have been unjust in history. For example, Hitler, Stalin and

Castro were all elected officials in their home countries of Germany, Russia and Cuba

respectively, and they all instituted laws that were unjust and were meant to harm human beings.

Hitler and Stalin both oversaw millions of innocent people slaughtered over simple prejudice and

discrimination. Murder, we all can agree, is a morally wrong thing to do, thus injustice most

definitely exists in this world along with it existing in those who are in power over large groups

of people, aka government. Therefore, while laws are a wonderful tool to provide and ensure

safety for the general public, not all laws are just. Another example of unjust laws would be Jim

Crow laws in the American 1950’s. Out of this era arose Martin Luther King Jr. along with his

fight against discrimination towards the African American race. White and African American

people had different laws pertaining to what they could and could not do in this time period. The

laws were meant to undermine the African American man in all aspects of daily life. King knew

something drastic had to be done to stop this prejudice mind set, and insure that justice and

equality would be shown to all. King encouraged African American citizens to break these unjust

laws. I my mind, King encouraged them to do the right thing. I would have indeed broken the

law in order to have insured justice be served to me and my people. King said that African

Americans should boycott the bus system that made them sit in the back of the bus because all

people should treated equal. I believe King was right on with this opinion, all men were indeed

created equal. Also, King would lead peaceful protests against white oppression. King knew that

the key to his protests was that they had to be peaceful because at the slightest inclination that

they would be violent meant that they would be subject to arrest. King was actually arrested in

Birmingham, Alabama because he held a protest there that involved sit-ins in local restaurants.

While in jail, King wrote a letter that explained his reasoning for acting the way he did and his

definitions of justice. King’s work is referred to as Letter From Birmingham Jail. King’s

frustration can be read in his quote about unjust laws. King wrote, “A law is unjust if it is

inflicted on a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself.” (King 219) King

knew that he must do that he knew was right. I agree that if ever an unjust law is placed over

you, then it is your God given right to disobey that law in order to uphold true justice. King

broke these laws in order to do what he knew was right for the best interest of his people, and

was therefore justified in his actions. If ever I was in a situation to stop injustice I would most

certainly do all that I could to stop it. As a 19 year old male, I do not know how much I would be

capable of doing for the cause, yet I would try nonetheless.

Ethics and Morality:

According to our readings, we can define ethics and morality as a right behavior or doing

the right thing. Ethics is one’s belief regarding something is right or wrong. In today’s society,

an issue that has brought about much scrutiny in politics as well as in people’s everyday lives is

the topic of abortion. Abortion is the legal option that allows mothers of their unborn children to

terminate their pregnancies. Abortion has been legal since the Roe v. Wade decision made by the

Supreme Court, ruled in favor of legalizing abortion in 1973. Many people feel differently about

this subject; however I feel that abortion is immoral and unethical thing to do with an unwanted

child. I believe that the baby is a living human being from the time of conception and should

have the same rights to life as you or I have. It is a shame that in the same hospital buildings one

doctor can end a baby’s life simply because it is unwanted. While in another room in that

hospital, a doctor can be struggling to keep a baby alive that has had a complication in birth. Life

is something that our society needs to take more seriously and hold with a higher regard. I also

believe that we cannot have ethical or moral behavior without religion. God defines what is holy

and pure, right and wrong whether people want to admit it or not. My beliefs are contrary that

that or Aristotle. In Aristotle’s Aim of Man he proclaims, “Every art and “scientific

investigation,” as well as every action and “purpose Choice,” appears to aim at some good;

hence the good has rightly been declared to be that which all things aim.” (Aristotle 694)

Aristotle is alluding to the theory of  a universal good which means that all men generally do

good things. I happen to believe that all men are born with a sinful nature; therefore we are all in

need of a Savior. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not going around damning people to hell, but I

am not afraid to give my opinion on the matter that is so important to me. My happiness comes

from the fact that I know when I die I will be with my savior and creator for all of eternity. I do

good and moral things because it is reflection of His character and personality. The fact that I am

pleasing my God, and that I am following his plan for my life makes me happy. Other things in

life like sports and friends can cause us to be happy for a moment, yet that happiness will

eventually fade and become insufficient. The happiness that comes from God is eternal, and it

will never grow weak. 

 

Individual:

            I have come to the conclusion based off of what we have read this semester that to be an

individual means to be fully capable of supporting oneself as well as being able to make clear

conscience decisions. Erich Fromm explains how a person is truly an individual when he or she

can secure a job or support themselves. Fromm writes, “The goal is security, to be part of the big

powerful machine, to be protected by it, and to feel strong in the symbiotic connection with it.”

(Fromm 331) Fromm is referring to people’s role in society. Once a person is secure and self-

reliant, then they become an individual. An individual possesses the responsibility to contribute

to society. They are to work and make something worthwhile of themselves. I am currently

equipping myself to contribute to the insurance field by getting my education here at Eastern

Kentucky. Also, I have been contributing to society for the last seven years through my lawn

care business. My entrepreneurial skills, embedded in me by my father, have enabled me to

provide my fellow neighbors with sufficient lawn care, and it has provided a steady flow of

income for me. An individual’s character and personality is shaped and molded by influential

figures in one’s life. For example children tend to pick up on the traits of their parents or other

family members. Society can mold an individual to a certain extent. However, each individual’s

reaction to society influence will vary with different people. I want to contribute as much as I can

to society. I want to develop to my full potential.

As the semester and English 101 come to an end, I am left with a few thoughts regarding

the way the class was conducted. I was very pleased with the fact that Mrs. Benningfield

understood that busy work and tests were unnecessary. We were expected to do quality work in

our writing and reflecting, therefore there was no need for exams in my mind. I feel like I learned

more in this English class about current and important issues of the world and life than any of the

English classes in my life. She conducted her class in a very professional manner, and was

always quick to respond to my questions via email. Also, she granted her students grace if they

forgot to bring an assignment to class or something of that nature. More teachers need to

understand that when students are treated like this they will be much more responsive and

respectful of the instructor. Actions such as these earned my respect very quickly. I am not trying

to “brown nose” or “sugar coat”. I am simply stating the positive facts that I have observed over

the semester. I would recommend Mrs. Benningfield’s course to any of my friends or

acquaintances.  

Works Cited:

Aristotle. Aim of Man. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. Boston: Bedford St. Martins 2010.

694. Print.

Carnegie, Andrew. The Gospel of Wealth. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus. Boston: Bedford

St. Martins 2010. 395. Print.

Fromm, Erich. The Individual in the Chains of Illusion. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus.

Boston: Bedford St. Martins 2010. 331. Print.

Jefferson, Thomas. The Declaration of Independence. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus.

Boston: Bedford St. Martins 2010. 81. Print.

 King, Martin Luther Jr. Letter from Birmingham Jail. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee Jacobus.

Boston: Bedford St. Martins 2010. 218-219. Print.

Pictures:

http://noprop16.org/. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.

http://interaction.dundee.ac.uk/~dflynn/wordpress/?attachment_id=77/. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.

http://cleverjustice.com/criminal-justice-system-knowing-their-roles/. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.

http://madmikesamerica.com/2011/06/in-my-america-mr-weiner-morals-matter/. Web. 9 Nov.

2011.

http://yourhomewizards.com/2011/10/lawn-care-tips-for-a-healthy-landscape/. Web. 9 Nov.

2011.