Emerson's Idea

A person defines his/her place in society by being an individual. He says that society can not conform you if you stay ture to yourself. Emerson says "Society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members." (21) This means that society wants to change who you are and make you who they want you to be, but you need to stand strong and be who you are. Don't change just so people can like you, you have to like yourself for others to like you. He also says "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist." (21) This means that in order to be who you are, you must be yourself. That means that you can't become someone else just so others can accept you (not to be repetative or anything). I know from personal experience that you really have to be comfortable with yourself and accepting of other people. I tried to be like the people I thought that everyone wanted to be like. I realized that I was trying to be like the people who make fun of me everyday. I decided to be myslef and I found that I love myself, eventhough I still get made fun of by the same people, I try not to care becasue I am a strong person. I am who I am and if you don't like it, then that's your problem not mine!!!

September 11th Quran-burning threat (on again, off again)

This article was about the Quran-burning threat in Florida. The pastor who threatened to do the burning said he wouldn't follow through with his treat if he could meet with the people who were planning to build a Mosque at the Ground Zero sight. He said that if he could meet with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf than he wouldn't burn the Quran, but it was unclear if he meant totally stop the threat or just for tomorrow. This pastor is sending mixed signals to America. He is but isn't going to follow through with his plan, and its making Americans worry about what the outcome is going to be. If he follows through with this threat (although some may think it's patriotic) it will send a bad message about America to other countries. Its going to add to the HORRIBLE stereotypes that other countries have about us. Its not fair to stereotype all Americans by the STUPID, IGNORANT ideas and actions of some Americans.