What is ironic, or dramatically unexpected about the novel's ending?
As my group discussed what we thought about the story's ending, the most obvious aspect that we found interesting was how peacefully Paul seems to have died. By the last chapter, my group thought that Paul had come to terms with the war, while in fact I thought that he had been so broken by it that he was simply resigned to his position and fate. I don't necessarily believe that this is peace, it is a complete loss of hope. Something else that struck me during our conversation was how the day he died, the report said a single sentence, "All quiet on the western front." Through everything that Paul had been through, he died on a day that nothing happened; there was no great battle, no glorious fight. Paul dies calm and with a look of happiness. Perhaps this is because he just wanted the suffering to end
Friday, February 23, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Script. Draft One
Untitled
By Carolina Jimenez and Ally Cook
ELIZABETH 1
Dear Comrades, I want to congratulate each one of you, hard working women for the support of your British troops. As a woman in the United States, I see your hard work
ELIZABETH 1,2
and love for you country
ELIZABETH 1
as something to be admired and emulated in my country and others.
ELIZABETH 1,2
Every muscle, every brain, must be mobilized if the national aim is to be achieved.
ELIZABETH 1
I see how the work you have done has transformed you into capable bright-eyed women. Your fight against the wretched Prussian culture of men’s domination over women is worthy of praise.
ELIZABETH 1,2
Each one of you has shown the world the power that women hold.
(Elizabeth trails off)
ELIZABETH 1
Harriet Stanton Blatch. United States of America.…… Its never really struck me how much I am a part of this war. All our men are going away, getting killed, and I am here helping to kill someone else’s husband, someone’s son, someone’s brother.
ELIZABETH 2
But this is all worthwhile. To work for this war is working towards women’s freedom. You’ll see.
ELIZABETH 1,2
But what about today.
ELIZABETH 1
Today the war is my job. I work to make the shells that our soldiers use. To make a living this is what I must do. But at what cost? Am I supposed to sit here, making these weapons, knowing that no good will come of it.
ELIZABETH 2
No good? But we are showing the world how valuable we are. This is our chance to show what we believe in. Our voices need to be heard, this is the opportunity we have been
ELIZABETH 1,2
Waiting for,
ELIZABETH 1
for what? We will be liberated, and then have our freedom taken away once the soldiers return. This is not how it should be done. Our families should not have to live in a state of disorder and chaos. I wish things could go
ELIZABETH 1,2
Back to how they were.
ELIZABETH 2
All things take time and work. Imagine how the women in the future will thank us. We will have the freedoms that all people deserve, and the choice is in our hands. We must take action because our sacrifice is for the women of tomorrow.
By Carolina Jimenez and Ally Cook
ELIZABETH 1
Dear Comrades, I want to congratulate each one of you, hard working women for the support of your British troops. As a woman in the United States, I see your hard work
ELIZABETH 1,2
and love for you country
ELIZABETH 1
as something to be admired and emulated in my country and others.
ELIZABETH 1,2
Every muscle, every brain, must be mobilized if the national aim is to be achieved.
ELIZABETH 1
I see how the work you have done has transformed you into capable bright-eyed women. Your fight against the wretched Prussian culture of men’s domination over women is worthy of praise.
ELIZABETH 1,2
Each one of you has shown the world the power that women hold.
(Elizabeth trails off)
ELIZABETH 1
Harriet Stanton Blatch. United States of America.…… Its never really struck me how much I am a part of this war. All our men are going away, getting killed, and I am here helping to kill someone else’s husband, someone’s son, someone’s brother.
ELIZABETH 2
But this is all worthwhile. To work for this war is working towards women’s freedom. You’ll see.
ELIZABETH 1,2
But what about today.
ELIZABETH 1
Today the war is my job. I work to make the shells that our soldiers use. To make a living this is what I must do. But at what cost? Am I supposed to sit here, making these weapons, knowing that no good will come of it.
ELIZABETH 2
No good? But we are showing the world how valuable we are. This is our chance to show what we believe in. Our voices need to be heard, this is the opportunity we have been
ELIZABETH 1,2
Waiting for,
ELIZABETH 1
for what? We will be liberated, and then have our freedom taken away once the soldiers return. This is not how it should be done. Our families should not have to live in a state of disorder and chaos. I wish things could go
ELIZABETH 1,2
Back to how they were.
ELIZABETH 2
All things take time and work. Imagine how the women in the future will thank us. We will have the freedoms that all people deserve, and the choice is in our hands. We must take action because our sacrifice is for the women of tomorrow.
Monday, February 19, 2007
All Quiet on the Western Front: Dialectic Journal, Two
"Our life alternates between billets and the front. We have almost grown accustomed to it; war is the cause of death like cancer and tuberculosis, like influenza and dysentery. The deaths are merely more frequent, more varied, and terrible."
Within the text, this quote displays the Paul's view on the war. Its something that has become almost a part of life. At the same time, there is a realization that war is extremely destructive. Also, this quote explains the instability during wartime. There is no way for soldiers to have a reliable and safe lifestyle because they are constantly being put into new environments. This quote was interesting because I was struck by the lack of concern that Paul displays at the deaths of his comrades. It is also serves to show that the effects of war can be directly connected to a persons emotions and can change a person drastically.
Within the text, this quote displays the Paul's view on the war. Its something that has become almost a part of life. At the same time, there is a realization that war is extremely destructive. Also, this quote explains the instability during wartime. There is no way for soldiers to have a reliable and safe lifestyle because they are constantly being put into new environments. This quote was interesting because I was struck by the lack of concern that Paul displays at the deaths of his comrades. It is also serves to show that the effects of war can be directly connected to a persons emotions and can change a person drastically.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
All Quiet on the Western Front: Dialectic Journal, One
"Through the years our first business has been killing;-it was our first calling in life. Our knowledge of life is limited to death. What will happen afterwards? And what shall come out of us?"
This quotation in regards to the text is very important because it tells of the Paul's view on the war. He feels as though the war has alienated him from the rest of the world, he has nothing to go back to, nothing to remind him of how things were before. It is as though he has not been able to develop normally, to live the life that he may feel he is entitled to- a life without the overwhelming presence of death. I chose this quote from the story because I felt that it is very descriptive of the way war has the power to distance people from their families, not only physically but emotionally as well. I would imagine it is very difficult to connect with someone who has not been through the same sort of experiences that you have, especially ones that have shaped you at a somewhat young age. I was also drawn to this section of the text because it has a sense of confrontation about the war. It also seems as though Paul was not prepared for this type of lasting effect when he enlisted for the war.
This quotation in regards to the text is very important because it tells of the Paul's view on the war. He feels as though the war has alienated him from the rest of the world, he has nothing to go back to, nothing to remind him of how things were before. It is as though he has not been able to develop normally, to live the life that he may feel he is entitled to- a life without the overwhelming presence of death. I chose this quote from the story because I felt that it is very descriptive of the way war has the power to distance people from their families, not only physically but emotionally as well. I would imagine it is very difficult to connect with someone who has not been through the same sort of experiences that you have, especially ones that have shaped you at a somewhat young age. I was also drawn to this section of the text because it has a sense of confrontation about the war. It also seems as though Paul was not prepared for this type of lasting effect when he enlisted for the war.
Immigration Voting Rights
Centuries have past since the cry, “No Taxation without Representation” echoed in the streets during the American and French Revolutions, but the fundamental ideals are still debated today. More specifically the complicated question regarding immigrant’s voting rights. There are many strong arguments for both sides of the controversy, but it is much more difficult to discern than telling apart black from white.
People who discourage giving non-citizens voting rights feel strongly that citizenship should precede voting because if you do not their loyalty is questionable. They state that immigrants may vote on issues in a way that favors their home country or other immigrants. Another matter that is raised is that a non-citizen may not be completely up to the date on important issues or the candidates that could appear on the ballots. This could perhaps stand in the way of them not making the most informed decision (Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention). In addition, their stance is that Voting is the essence of citizenship so therefore it should not be granted beforehand (Common Misconceptions About Immigrant Voting).
Those that endorse immigrant’s voting rights believe that each person who belongs to a community, which includes paying for taxes, should have the right to decide where their money goes. They also say that most aliens are planning to become citizens, and that by allowing them to vote promotes interest in civic affairs. It is important to remember, they warn, that non-citizens do not all have the same interests and it is important to represent them as you would native born Americans (Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention).
Personally, I believe that it is important to accept that there are various groups that need representation in our local decisions. However I think there should be some restrictions on voting rights for non-citizens. For instance, I believe there should minimum time that legal residents need to have been legal residents in order for them to receive voting rights.
Work Cited
Hayduk, Ron, and Michele Wucker. "Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention." Migration Information Source. 1 Nov. 2004. Migration Policy Institute. 31 Jan. 2007.
"Common Misconceptions About Immigrant Voting." Immigrant Voting Project. Moving Ideas. 31 Jan. 2007..
People who discourage giving non-citizens voting rights feel strongly that citizenship should precede voting because if you do not their loyalty is questionable. They state that immigrants may vote on issues in a way that favors their home country or other immigrants. Another matter that is raised is that a non-citizen may not be completely up to the date on important issues or the candidates that could appear on the ballots. This could perhaps stand in the way of them not making the most informed decision (Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention). In addition, their stance is that Voting is the essence of citizenship so therefore it should not be granted beforehand (Common Misconceptions About Immigrant Voting).
Those that endorse immigrant’s voting rights believe that each person who belongs to a community, which includes paying for taxes, should have the right to decide where their money goes. They also say that most aliens are planning to become citizens, and that by allowing them to vote promotes interest in civic affairs. It is important to remember, they warn, that non-citizens do not all have the same interests and it is important to represent them as you would native born Americans (Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention).
Personally, I believe that it is important to accept that there are various groups that need representation in our local decisions. However I think there should be some restrictions on voting rights for non-citizens. For instance, I believe there should minimum time that legal residents need to have been legal residents in order for them to receive voting rights.
Work Cited
Hayduk, Ron, and Michele Wucker. "Immigrant Voting Rights Receive More Attention." Migration Information Source. 1 Nov. 2004. Migration Policy Institute. 31 Jan. 2007
"Common Misconceptions About Immigrant Voting." Immigrant Voting Project. Moving Ideas. 31 Jan. 2007.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Scene Abstract
Fall of 1916, Britain. Factory, where Elizabeth lives
Beginning: Elizabeth Catt receives a letter in the mail at her home in Britain. It is from an American woman named Harriet Stanton Blatch, who is a supporter of women having strong roles in war.
Rising Action/Climax: Receiving this letter spurs a discussion within herself...portrayed by two people. One side sees that women are happy doing men’s work for their country. She sees women that are empowered and feel a belonging towards their country when they are working. It is also important for her to support her young son. The side other sees the destruction that their work is facilitating, and is unsure whether the death of enemy soldiers is her responsibility. She wonders whether the deaths are worth her suffrage. Once she reads the letter it becomes apparent that she has conflicting view points that she is trying to resolve. To portray this inner conflict, we will have two people representing her opposing views. During the script we are going to incorporate a weave monologue. At times opposing ideas will be said at different times, while concrete beliefs will be stated together.
Resolution: She decideds that her priority should be to focus on womens rights and the well-being of her child. It hurts her to see the men dying, but she realizes that this is something that must be done.
Beginning: Elizabeth Catt receives a letter in the mail at her home in Britain. It is from an American woman named Harriet Stanton Blatch, who is a supporter of women having strong roles in war.
Rising Action/Climax: Receiving this letter spurs a discussion within herself...portrayed by two people. One side sees that women are happy doing men’s work for their country. She sees women that are empowered and feel a belonging towards their country when they are working. It is also important for her to support her young son. The side other sees the destruction that their work is facilitating, and is unsure whether the death of enemy soldiers is her responsibility. She wonders whether the deaths are worth her suffrage. Once she reads the letter it becomes apparent that she has conflicting view points that she is trying to resolve. To portray this inner conflict, we will have two people representing her opposing views. During the script we are going to incorporate a weave monologue. At times opposing ideas will be said at different times, while concrete beliefs will be stated together.
Resolution: She decideds that her priority should be to focus on womens rights and the well-being of her child. It hurts her to see the men dying, but she realizes that this is something that must be done.
Character Bio
Elizabeth Catt
Sheis a British feminist who believes that “war falls on the women heavily, and now more so than ever before.” She is a factory worker who helped in a munition, which helped make shells for guns. She is not very wealthy; her main goal is to earn a living, not necessarily patriotic. She is directly connected to the war, since her work provides ammunition that kills the enemy soldiers. She thought her work would be an escape from hard labor, but it was a ploy to get women to work for the war. However she sees destruction that their work is facilitating, and is unsure whether the death of enemy soldiers is her responsibility. She wonders whether the deaths are worth her suffrage.
Anne Burmington
Anne is also a British feminist, and works with Elizabeth in the munition. She sees that women are happy doing men’s work for their country. She sees women that are empowered and feel a belonging towards their country when they are working. Along with Catt, she recieves a letter from US' Harriet Stanton Blatch, and she agrees that her work is important for the progression towards women's rights.
Sheis a British feminist who believes that “war falls on the women heavily, and now more so than ever before.” She is a factory worker who helped in a munition, which helped make shells for guns. She is not very wealthy; her main goal is to earn a living, not necessarily patriotic. She is directly connected to the war, since her work provides ammunition that kills the enemy soldiers. She thought her work would be an escape from hard labor, but it was a ploy to get women to work for the war. However she sees destruction that their work is facilitating, and is unsure whether the death of enemy soldiers is her responsibility. She wonders whether the deaths are worth her suffrage.
Anne Burmington
Anne is also a British feminist, and works with Elizabeth in the munition. She sees that women are happy doing men’s work for their country. She sees women that are empowered and feel a belonging towards their country when they are working. Along with Catt, she recieves a letter from US' Harriet Stanton Blatch, and she agrees that her work is important for the progression towards women's rights.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Monologue
Paul is in his room, quietly contemplating his temporary return home from the war. He is still, but his face is thoughtful and bothered. It is nighttime, and he is sitting in the darkness.
Taking a leave from this war was like trying to go back to sleep after realizing the dream you thought was real was just an illusion. You can't go back to that dream again, its gone. (snaps ) Just like that. How can you describe that to someone who is still sleeping, who doesn't know how precious silence is. I can't wake them up. When your out there you finally realize it. Its the constant muffled sound of bullets whizzing by, of shouts and airplanes. Sitting here is like trying to pick up right where I left off. But I'm not the same Paul, (laughs) and it seems so ridiculous to think all I had cared about before were my books and the words. Those MEANINGLESS words. How can I care about desires and love when I'm busy trying to avoid death?
Taking a leave from this war was like trying to go back to sleep after realizing the dream you thought was real was just an illusion. You can't go back to that dream again, its gone. (snaps ) Just like that. How can you describe that to someone who is still sleeping, who doesn't know how precious silence is. I can't wake them up. When your out there you finally realize it. Its the constant muffled sound of bullets whizzing by, of shouts and airplanes. Sitting here is like trying to pick up right where I left off. But I'm not the same Paul, (laughs) and it seems so ridiculous to think all I had cared about before were my books and the words. Those MEANINGLESS words. How can I care about desires and love when I'm busy trying to avoid death?
Friday, February 9, 2007
Reflection: Class Discussion
Who should assume blame for wars? Some of my classmates said that the responsibility lies with the leaders in charge, while I along with others thought that it is a community's burden. As we discussed this, I was struck with the thought, "Can a person be at fault if they were not aware of what they are doing?" Conversely, "Who should make the effort to stop a war or genocide?" Are we not each partially responsible for not actively pursuing a way to to end the killings? When we talked about this, Mariah said that the level of concern for the genocide in Darfur is the same as it would if the same thing were occurring close to home, that the only difference was her capacity for helping the situation. Personally, I disagree because I think we each enjoy seeing the effects of our actions...(thank you society and our need for instant gratification) and it is is this that hinders our involvement. It is the fact that it is much more difficult to engage and fight for what one believes in when you feel like you have made no difference that stops up. There are lots of ways we can make a difference, but its hard to stay committed when we don't see the direct effects. For example, when "danger is imminent," we see the need to make changes and are in a position to see how our actions support others. Otherwise, when we are removed from the situation, the critical need for change seems less important. However, it still remains. I ask myself and my peers then, shouldn't we all be doing something about say Darfur? Hmm? Lets not lie to ourselves, there is a great amount of things we could be doing. We can start by simply spreading the word.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
All Quiet on the Western Front #1
In this chapter Paul states:"At the sound of the first droning of the shells we rush back, in one part of our being, a thousand years. By the animal instinct that is awakened in us we are led and protected. It is not conscious; it is far quicker, much more sure, less fallible, than consciousness. . . . It is this other, this second sight in us, that has thrown us to the ground and saved us, without our knowing how. . . . We march up, moody or good-tempered soldiers—we reach the zone where the front begins and become on the instant human animals.
"Why would Paul characterize himself and his comrades as "human animals"?
Your task: Discuss the meaning of this quotation and the experiences the boys are enduring internally. In addition to your posting, comment on one other student's post.
Perhaps what Erich Remarque meant to portray by this quote is that the main focus of the soldiers when they reach the front line is no longer those things that many times set us apart from animals. The most important thing at this moment is not the their moral decisions or the repercussions of their actions rather it is their need for survival. Whether this is a conscious or subconscious process is unknown to me. This connects to some Enlightenment Philosophies from Hobbes which say that a human's state of nature is to be selfish and greedy. In other words, to look out for one's best interest.
Another viewpoint from which this quite could be written is that the war that Paul is fighting has stripped him of his humanity so much so that he has become desensitized by the violence and death. His feelings toward these events have transformed from what a human being should feel to something that is so dismissive it is grotesque. Being so close to death has clouded his thinking. It is only when the death he is surrounded by reaches past the war and into his previous life (as we could call it, since he has changed dramatically since he enlisted) that he feels sorrow or grief. Such is the case with the death of his friend Kemmerich, who Paul has known since childhood. For instance, on page 28 Paul says, "He is not the first I have seen thus; but we grew up together so that always makes it a bit different." Already we have read some insightful ideas about wars and we have not even made it halfway through the book...
"Why would Paul characterize himself and his comrades as "human animals"?
Your task: Discuss the meaning of this quotation and the experiences the boys are enduring internally. In addition to your posting, comment on one other student's post.
Perhaps what Erich Remarque meant to portray by this quote is that the main focus of the soldiers when they reach the front line is no longer those things that many times set us apart from animals. The most important thing at this moment is not the their moral decisions or the repercussions of their actions rather it is their need for survival. Whether this is a conscious or subconscious process is unknown to me. This connects to some Enlightenment Philosophies from Hobbes which say that a human's state of nature is to be selfish and greedy. In other words, to look out for one's best interest.
Another viewpoint from which this quite could be written is that the war that Paul is fighting has stripped him of his humanity so much so that he has become desensitized by the violence and death. His feelings toward these events have transformed from what a human being should feel to something that is so dismissive it is grotesque. Being so close to death has clouded his thinking. It is only when the death he is surrounded by reaches past the war and into his previous life (as we could call it, since he has changed dramatically since he enlisted) that he feels sorrow or grief. Such is the case with the death of his friend Kemmerich, who Paul has known since childhood. For instance, on page 28 Paul says, "He is not the first I have seen thus; but we grew up together so that always makes it a bit different." Already we have read some insightful ideas about wars and we have not even made it halfway through the book...
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Napoleon: Success or Failure
After Napoleon abdicates in 1814, the revolution is officially over, and Louis XVIII is crowned King of France. Can you believe it? The monarchy returns!!! In light of our investigation of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era, evaluate the legacy of the French Revolution. Do you believe it was a success or a failure? Your response should be at least 150 words.
In regards to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era, I believe that the events that occurred were extremely valuable in order for the people of France to realize their main goals and develop ideals for their country. One of the positive effects of the Revolution was the gaining of rights for the third estate, and the empowerment of individuals to speak their minds and fight for what they believe in. They also promoted equality for all people. In some ways, Napoleon was able to make improvements for the general populous. For example, he kept the cost of food low, and built up the educated community. However there are various things that Napoleon did that hindered France's progression towards a democratic country. One outstanding example is that he did not deal with the issues inside France before launching wars against other states. A possible reason for these actions could be that it was easier to keep control over citizens in the time of war because they were in fear. This leads me to believe that Napoleon did not have the best interests of the people when he was in power. I, in no way, am placing all the responsibility on Napoleon, there were other leaders such as Robespierre who did not put there main focus on the well-being of the community. The events that hurt the people of France made their yearning for democracy stronger, but at the same time, I wish that an identical outcome could have been facilitated without all of the burdens that were suffered.
In regards to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era, I believe that the events that occurred were extremely valuable in order for the people of France to realize their main goals and develop ideals for their country. One of the positive effects of the Revolution was the gaining of rights for the third estate, and the empowerment of individuals to speak their minds and fight for what they believe in. They also promoted equality for all people. In some ways, Napoleon was able to make improvements for the general populous. For example, he kept the cost of food low, and built up the educated community. However there are various things that Napoleon did that hindered France's progression towards a democratic country. One outstanding example is that he did not deal with the issues inside France before launching wars against other states. A possible reason for these actions could be that it was easier to keep control over citizens in the time of war because they were in fear. This leads me to believe that Napoleon did not have the best interests of the people when he was in power. I, in no way, am placing all the responsibility on Napoleon, there were other leaders such as Robespierre who did not put there main focus on the well-being of the community. The events that hurt the people of France made their yearning for democracy stronger, but at the same time, I wish that an identical outcome could have been facilitated without all of the burdens that were suffered.
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