John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address

The negative impact President Kennedy believes science has had on the world is that it brings destruction among people. In Kennedy's speech, he says, "....we offer not a pledge but a request....before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf humanity in planned or accidental destruction...Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors." What he means here is that science brings destruction with weapons that are created by scientists; it divides people rather than unite them, by using science's terrors to compare or to annihilate others. Two ways that Kennedy believed science could help the world was by eradicating diseases and exploring stars. In the speech he says, ".... seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce." What he means is that science can be used differently and friendlier towards humankind. It is just like in like in the World Wars, especially World War II. In this war, science was used to create weaponry that killed many innocent lives.

Kennedy believed nations could make a difference in the world by making serious proposals for control of arms (firearms) and to bring "absolute power" to raze other countries/nations that are under this control of other nations. In Kennedy's speech when he speaks of the union of the nations he says, "....Let both sides explore what problems unite us....Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations." What he means here is that instead of fighting each other (as nations in war), all nations should figure out ways to control problems of each individual country. He says especially the control of firearms and absolute power in other nations, nations that are in the shadows and need help. Just like in this speech, in many places throughout the world there are countries that suffer because of lack of attention and because of war. This is because no one is truly helping and the countries are all fighting, plunging innocent citizens of that country into darkness and "poverty."

St. Patrick's Day.....Awesome, Right?

The history of St. Patrick's day is of Irish origin. It has to do with a saint and it falls in this exciting season of not spring, but Lent. Lent is a season of Catholic belief, the period before Jesus Christ was crucified. There are customs or prohibitions of Lent, such as the consumption of meat. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and he lived in the 5th century. He was born in Roman Britain and at the age of 16, was a slave and transported to Ireland. He escaped imprisonment and slavery, but returned to bring Christianity to Ireland. It is believed he died around March 17, 461. It is said that he explained the Holy Trinity with an Irish Clover, the Shamrock. The Holy Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; the Shamrock has three leaves. This was not celebrated in Ireland at first. Surprisingly it was celebrated in the USA because of British/Irishmen soldiers and the parade celebration of their Irish roots on March 17, 1762. But Ireland celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Patrick.

He was an example of a person who spread Christianity and was faithful to it by returning to the land of his slavery.

Why wouldn't St. Patrick's Day be awesome?!

Thinking Different Part Deux

DO YOU THINK DIFFERENT?

There are people who react differently, than we expect them to, when others step outside the box and do something unconventional. These people do not accept those who behave or make "unacceptable choices." In the video, Don Haskins says to Bobby Jo that, "...I see quick, I see skill...... And that is what I am going to put out there in the court." What this means is that despite the fact that Bobby Jo is black that he will make sure he plays. Don was not going to let him sit out the games and waste his skills. It was important for Don Haskins to think different because with him thinking different, it led to one of the first high school basketball team to be interracial. In the video when Don Haskins says, "..I don't see colored, I see quick, I see skill. That's what you have," he ignores the whole "colored thing" many people saw in African American (or "blacks").This demonstrates, even during this time of racism, that he did not judge a player by the color of his skin but rather his skills; this shows that someone needed to think differently for these "Colored" players to play. It is just like Chris "Alex" McCandless in "Into The Wild," he chose to live differently and left everything behind, to prove to everyone else that society was wrong.