Response to Question:

Considering the Language and Evidence used in the arguments of Susan B. Anthony's speech, 

"Women's Right to Vote," and The Black Panthers' "Ten Point Plan," which is the most persuasive and why?

Based on the language and evidence provided in the civil rights arguments of Susan B. Anthony 

and the Black Panthers, I believe Susan B. Anthony proves to be more persuasive. Anthony keeps her

audience in mind. Anticipating her audience's reaction, she preemptively backfires with solid evidence.

She takes the offense, choosing her opponent's own "sacred" documents to support her claim. Her

evidences include; the Declaration of Independence, the Bible, Slave laws, the Constitution, and even, the

very law she with which she was convicted.

Similar to Anthony, the Black Panthers incorporate their argument with the Declaration of Independence.

They also include tones of Marxism and reference Sherman's Restitution Act. Unlike Anthony, however,

they believe their argument to be self-evident. The readers of this document can feel their fuming

temper and bitter rage. Frustrated with the indifferent response to Martin Luther King Jr.'s civil

disobedience, the Black Panthers choose to fight rather aggressively. Their tone is emotive and

confrontational. I believe that while their argument may have spurred a short term response, their

aggressive tactics ultimately maintained the civil dissension. Thus, I believe Anthony's argument to be

more effective.

My Thoughts Last Night

Last night I read Ursula Le Guin's short story "The Ones Who Walk Away form Omelas."  I found it fantastically thought provoking.  Her literary language kept my mind rapt.  Le Guin's award winning piece questions the possibility of a utopian society with out the existence of suffering.  The terrible paradox Le Guin presents spurred my own thoughts.

A Brief Summary

The narrator presents a fairy-tale utopia: a place of bliss and perfection called Omela.  If the descriptions of gold and cheerfulness aren't enough, the reader is asked to imagine "it as your own fancy bids."  As if to perceive the reader's disbelief in such a fantastical land, the narrator requests the consideration of one more thing.  The narrator proceeds in depicting the horrific suffering of a child.  Neglected, malnourished, and physically abused, the child's suffering enables the happy utopia for all Omela.  The happiness, health, wisdom, etc. of the society "depends wholly on this child's abominable misery."

The final paragraph provides the purpose of the story's title.  Some people reject Omela.  "They walk ahead into the darkness, and they do not come back.  This darkness can not be described by the narrator.  It is too "unimaginable," even non-existing.  The ones that leave, however, seem to internally know where they  are going.  The reader is not given a particular reason for their departure; only that "they go on."

My Thoughts Last Night

While reading this story I saw the two different interpretations: suffering or sacrifice.  The first being the intent of the author, and the second being related to my personal convictions.  The author clearly uses the child to symbolize suffering.  The "ones who walk away" see this suffering and, out of repulsion, leave the city.  The chose not to place the cost of their happiness on an innocent victim.  They retreat into the darkness where no solution exists.

I see this paradox parallel to my word-view.  In my story, I see the child representing sacrifice.  Like the child of Omelas, this child's suffering provides the grounds for his people to live.  My child is different.  He suffers out of compassion for his people.  He was not forcefully imprisoned, he sacrificially gave himself to his people's happiness.  His radical compassion didn't just end with suffering.  He rose out this death victoriously.  This child no longer suffers, but he has conquered through his sacrificial act. He did all this to provide his people with hope, joy, purpose, and paradise.  In my story, the "one's who walk away" see this sacrificial suffering but are repulsed and full of doubt.  They reject this story and walk away into darkness.

Those were my thoughts last night.

Frozen

After a long summer and two full semesters without an English class, the composition compartment of my brain woke up from hibernation. Groggy and out of shape, I spent an entire week attempting to form cohesive thoughts together in a desperate effort to create a thesis. During my sleep I had, of course, written descriptive letters and journals; however, none of these activities maintained my high school conditioning. My experience this past week reminded me of an event that took place this summer.

My brother and his friends frequently take part in creative mischief. This summer they decided to use their man power to capture an innocent house fly in the name of science. John and his friend managed to hunt and successfully trap the fly. They then placed the creature in a Tupperware container and stowed it in the freezer. They hypothesized that the cold temperatures would greatly reduce the fly's energy levels; thus, leaving the fly in an incapacitated state. The fly then would be tied to a fishing line and given time to recuperate. Once stable the fly would be named and trained as a pet.

This past week I felt akin to the house fly. My writing skills had been stowed, persevered and frozen in the back of my mind. While compartmentalized, my legs were tied to a string. When I awoke, I not only suffered from and overwhelming brain freeze, but I soon discovered limitations to my writing ability. Mournful and distressed I belted out a mediocre essay. The good news is I am not a house fly but a student. A student, who with a good dose of coffee and effort, will break out of invisible bonds and write freely and gracefully.