Okay, so this is one of those times I really dislike online teaching. Giving it a 'go':
1. So, I assume as Americans or informed global citizens, you're at least aware of the Salem Witch Trials.
If not:
Really, REALLY thin Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-brief-history-of-the-salem-witch-trials-175162489/?no-ist
Much more academic site:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm
Watered-down version:
http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/education/
For serious students:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/salem.htm
2. Plus, you were probably made to read The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
Taking the back-door entry to the Salem Witch Trials (very unconventional way of teaching, you're welcome), I'd like to introduce you to The West Memphis Three:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/memphis/index_1.html
What's pertinent here for this class is that the prisoners traded freedom for a (false) confession. That is a very modern thing to do.
Back to the Crucible.
Watch this scene. Notice how John Procter choses to die rather than lie. What does that mean about who we are today in the modern age and our relationship to personal integrity?
(skip ahead to 2 minutes 50 seconds)
http://youtu.be/8Eel02K-WPo
I had to read the crucible in high school and watch the movie. I will never forget the scene when they hang him. I was trying to think about what that means on whom we are today and I feel that it differs between people. There are greedy billionaires out there who would sell their soul to the devil in order to be rich. I know kids in high school who were super religious and wore celibate ring. They lost their integrity when they had sex due to peer pressure. They go against their beliefs, so I think many of today’s society is selfish. It is rare you find someone willing to sacrifice their lives for what they hold true. I bet if you did a survey to text this somehow you would find that integrity today has sadly gone down and I think that is another reason our country is failing as a whole. Read up on this topic and let me know if you agree.
ReplyDelete