Division and Discovery

The Civil War broke out; lives were changed. Wives were widowed, sisters lost brothers, daughters and sons lost fathers, and families were torn apart by the Civil War. Some believed the devastating war would be concluded quickly by some decisive victory, but instead they had to endure 4 long years of that terrible war. After the conclusion of the war the era that followed was one of healing, technological advances, as well as literary change.

The North and the South had reconstruction to do in their regions. The South had a lot more to reconstruct. Fields that were destroyed needed to be retilled and replanted. The cities that had been razed needed to be rebuilt. Whereas in the North little needed to be repaired.

There were some technological advances as well, after the Civil War. Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone had been invented. This brought on instant, as well as instantaneous voice over line. Also the invention or the discovery of alternating current allowed broader use of electricity. It allowed light bulbs to be used in rural areas as well as in urban areas.

Literary change occurred after the Civil War because of people’s realization that the potential possibilities of human nature is not true. The writing of truth and realism began. Walk Whitman, a man who lived during and after that war used realism in his writings; he celebrated the advancements of the age and put down the materialism and democratic corruption.

Another change occurred in literature. This change is called regionalism. Regionalism is a type of writing which produces the effect of the region. For example: if one was writing in the south, one would use writing to record their type of dialect with their accent. Local color was also brought in along with regionalism because not only was its effect to write accents but also the social customs were also needed for effect. Brett Harte was one who wrote in this type of style, and he is famous for his depictions of the western towns. Sidney Lanier and Henry Timrod both used this effect as well.

These literary forms bring to our tables and desks a real feeling. One that is true and very heart felt. As culture changed the writings changed with the eras.

Death Penalty Abolished?

The Supreme Court struck down the 1989 Stanford v. Kentucky ruling on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 in its ruling Roper v. Simmons.  The court said that its ruling in this circumstance was largely influenced by the Supreme Court’s desire to end the U.S. International Isolation on the issue.

Kennedy said, “Our determination finds confirmation in the stark reality that the United States is the only country in the world that continues to give official sanction to the juvenile death penalty.”  I don’t remember the Constitution of the United States giving any mandate to listen to International Law.  Since when does our Sovereign Nation listen to the ideology of the Europeans?  Our nation did not listen to the Europeans during the Iraq controversy, and our President held his own decisions strongly with Britain and Australia.  The fact that the President did this is a mandate for the country to follow.  The President’s Foreign Policy should be listened to, and our sovereignty should not be hindered by the “all-powerful” Supreme Court.

I am appalled that Kennedy used the words “from a moral standpoint”.  What gall!  This man is hearing a case which involves the capital punishment of guilty individuals, and he says that from a moral standpoint it is not right to take their life?  On what ground, one may ask?  Kennedy says, “today our society views juveniles as categorically less culpable than the average criminal.”  What determines the average criminal?  Is anyone average when in a fit of rage they murder an innocent victim? Is any person average when they blatantly disregard human life? Kennedy believes so.

Another thing, Kennedy said “a greater possibility exists that a minor’s character deficiencies will be reformed.”  Murder is now equated with deficiency?  Since when was this the standard?  Murder is an act of rage, and the person who commits this act, immediately realizes what they have done.  Taking a person’s life is not and should never be a deficiency in a character of a person.  A character deficiency is known as sin, and everyone is born with it.  It cannot be fixed by rehabilitation clinics, reformation programs, or money.  The desire to commit sin, no matter how heinous, is in each individual’s heart.  The only way one may change his ways is receiving Jesus Christ into his or her heart, then and only then one may change his way through the grace which God has given to us freely.

Capital punishment should be reinstated for, all who kill and are found guilty should forfeit their life.