Compare and contrast this poem to “A Letter From Birmingham Jail.” How is the message similar / different? How is the tone similar / different? (5-7 sentences) “If We Must Die”
by Claude McKay If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursèd lot. If we must die, O let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe! Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! What though before us lies the open grave? Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back! It is 2018. How much of MLK’s Dream has been reached? How much more work is there to do?
(5-7 sentences) Consider the idea of justice vs. mercy. Creon could show mercy towards Antigone because death seems like a harsh penalty for her crime, but at the same time, Creon should uphold the law that he himself set. Furthermore, Antigone knew what the punishment was and committed the crime anyway. Given the circumstances, in your opinion, does the punishment fit the crime?
Is it important to be informed of what is going on in the world? In a world that is pretty divided, what brings people together?
How could we as individuals or a group of people make a difference for what we believe in without our message being taken to extremes? Have you ever been a part of community service or humanity work? What does it say about us as humans when a tragedy or a disaster is the one thing that brings humans together? Do you feel that it usually takes or has to take a difficult situation to bring people together? Reflect on MLK’s message on nonviolence. How does this relate to Antigone? How does this relate to current events?
(5-7 sentences) The time is 2036. You are a prominent, top security physician working for the government. Your job is to research in order to learn the cause and cure of a terrible, deadly disease which only affects children under the age of four. The disease causes considerable pain for the children made even worse by their inability to understand what is happening to them, before it slowly and agonizingly kills them. This fatal disease has reached epidemic proportions, and threatens to wipe out over one half of the population of children under the age of four. A new drug has just been developed in your lab, which will affect a total cure. Its future side effects are not yet known, and the correct dosage is variable--some children need more than others. However, the process used to make the drug is so costly that only a very small amount has been made, and it is kept under strict and constant guard. Theft of this drug is absolutely illegal, punishable by long jail terms and heavy fines. Because you have top security clearance, you have ready access to the chemical. Three weeks ago, your six month old baby died of the disease. This morning, you learned that your two-year-old child has the disease. The next thing you do is . . . . . (5-7 sentences)
Define loyalty.
Why is it important? What happens when loyalty is a one-way concept? Can you think of a clash of loyalty from history or modern life? |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2018
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