Kontan’s Place

Republicanism
- the view that allowing the government to govern with the consent of the governed is best.
- sometimes refers to anything in opposition to monarchy.
- can also refer to any government with a system of law protecting individual liberty.

The goal is to further the common interest of society. (Majority rules.)
- must have a constitution
- must be representative of the people- selected
- must have limits, periodic elections
- rule by law and consistency
- division of power
- checks and balances
- active citizenry willing to make changes when they see necessity

It is a theory of freedom and a theory of government, a theory of non-domination. Choices are restricted but only in a manner of keeping with civil society.

Federalism
A system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent political units (states). The levels are interdependent and share sovereignty.

There are two necessities: a closely connected area, desiring to unify

Distribution of power is necessary. Liberty can be restricted and government limited by process to create means of checks and balances.

Federalism was a movement to change the Articles of Confederation and also refers to the Federalist party.

1780s Federalists:
They wanted to change the Articles of Confederation because they believed them to be too weak and advocated a stronger Federal government witht the ability to protect, collect debts, and sustain a military.

Shay’s Rebellion played a role in the push for change.

Shay’s Rebellion was an uprising of small farmers in Massachusetts (1786-87). The American Revolutionary War had created a debt problem. Debts were being called in and small farmers were experiencing a trickle down effect. They were forced to sell land to meet debts and were not getting market value. They first began to protest in the political realm which escalated to full rebellion.

The Federalist Papers:
These were a series of 85 articles, written under the pseudonym Plubius, by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. They were intended to explain the Constitution to residents in NY in an attempt to secure ratification.

They serve as primary source for interpreting the Constitution and outline the philosophy and motivations of the proposed system of government. Author’s influenced ratification as well as future interpretations. Most influential are #10 and #51.

#10 advocates large strong republic
#51 explains the need for separation of powers

Federalist #10
Argues for strong, large republic, which would better guard against the dangers of factions. (political parties)

Hamilton addresses dangers of factions breaking up the republic in #9. Madison in #10 discusses how to eliminate the negative aspect of factions. One way is to remove causes that provoke faction development by either eliminating liberty, which is unacceptable, or creating a homogenous society, which is not practical.

Madison concludes that we can’t remove the causes of factions but can control effects. Popular sovereignty is key. To solve the problem of overpowering majority, Madison believes a larger republic will elect better delegates with greater diversity of interest. These interests will compete allowing for difficult development of a large majority, leaving checks and balances within government to be effective. However, too large of a republic will leave representatives out of touch. It is necessary to leave some issues to states.

The Anti-Federalists did not believe diverse republic would survive. They believed a republic the size of the states could survive, but not one the size of the union. This beliefed developed from economic concerns. Most states were focused on one industry. This disparity would lead to controversy.

here’s a goo update…remember i said there is a fine line between perfectly hardened caramel and chunk the pan? well, i think i crossed it. in an attempt to actually use the yummy goo i heated a little to poor over ice cream. in the process of heating it cooked just long enough to harden. didn’t work with the ice cream, but it was perfectly hardened caramel. sooo…(you know where this is going don’t you)…i decided to “fix” the rest of the caramel by sticking it in the microwave. it worked! it hardened! and it ain’t coming out of that glass bowl. oopsie. what you can scrape off tastes great. but…well…mmmm, uh. djembe, i need a new glass bowl…

Some historians have argued that there is no “early American history” because everything that happened in North America before 1763 was essentially an extension or variation of European history. To what extent do you agree?

It was an extension of European history, but it was also “early American history”. There is an overlap. As the colonists arrived they held to their native land/culture. Over time they developed an American identity, a colonial identity. Despite being answerable to the monarchy, they were pretty much on their own to operate as they saw beneficial to colonial life.

To have a democracy it is necessary to have a group with a “say” in the activities of government. My students would argue that they are not free, and they are correct. They do have freedoms that non-democratic nations do not have. I think that Americans are born free and democratic, but must earn the right to participate in the free and democratic process. It is arguable about the point of freedom. However, with maturity comes freedom. Some would still argue there is no freedom. But, I am not discussing freedom. I am discussing democracy. Citizens have the ability to lobby for change, and have representatives speaking on their behalf. These same representatives represent even those who have not yet reached the age of participation. Therefore, yes, one in America is born into a free and democratic society.

Now taking a different stance, were Americans, the Colonials, born free and democratic in a modern sense? No. Despite maybe being born in the colonies they were born into a monarchy, subject to the King. In a democracy people are independent. Although the people of the colonies did their own thing, they were not independent of the monarchy.

Your Career Type: Artistic

You are expressive, original, and independent. Your talents lie in your artistic abilities: creative writing, drama, crafts, music, or art. You would make an excellent: Actor - Art Teacher - Book Editor Clothes Designer - Comedian - Composer Dancer - DJ - Graphic Designer Illustrator - Musician - Sculptor The worst career options for your are conventional careers, like bank teller or secretary.

but i liked secretarial stuff in college. well…part of it. i do love music and art. but that is more of a hobby. i have no patience for teaching such. when i subbed some schools found out that i was band oriented…oops. they loved putting me with the band kids so that they could continue rehearsal. argh!!! THAT was tough. i could do the job, but dealing with that many kids!!! band kids…team kids of any kind…tend to respect one person and one person only, their leader. i stopped letting my music ability be known!

i have really been into the music of pat metheny lately. it just sort of happened and then went from there. here’s a small sampler:
Song X Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman

metheny is so varied in his music that if you don’t like one, choose another. i ilike just about anything in music so it works for me. although i’m not a huge sax fan at all, the song x collection is a lot of fun, i prefer “the good life” track over the first on the sample, more guitar.

Some of the best readings and resources for this program were done last summer in our Civil War study. Marszalek was a great prof and his writing is interesting as well. Sherman’s Other War was the first book of the program that I read cover to cover and really enjoyed. The most interesting research paper was done in this class as well, a historiography review of Civil War prisons.

The first two works are from James McPherson, preeminent Civil War historian. I had the pleasure of interviewing him for historiography. Very interesting. He writes in such a way that is appealing to both the historian and history buff.

McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era McPherson argues that the issue of slavery drove the country into war. His book analyzes the issue over the spread of slavery into the western territories following the Mexican War and how this issue was never resolved and ultimately ended with war. His ideal of freedom comes into question, because the end of slavery did not yield, freedom.

McPherson, James M. Ordeal by Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction
The general theme of this book is the rise of a consolidated, industrial America, hastened by the war, and unobtrusive and unmistakable for the moral earnestness of righteous Yankees. Three things: The war and its aftermath were a product of modernization, this modernization emerged in New England, and the Republicans became the voice of the modernization expression.

Marszalek, John. Sherman’s Other War
Marszalek presents Sherman and his battle over the issue of First Amendment freedoms during war time. Sherman blamed the media for his personal defeats earlier in life as a businessperson. Sherman feared that the media would relate strategic information to the enemy and that criticism of military leaders would hurt soldier war. He is portrayed as sympathetic to the South and carried racism toward free blacks. It is referred to as a psychobiography. Sherman’s peace treaty with Johnson is examined and again puts Sherman in the aim of the negative press as being too lenient to Southerners and guilty of treason. Depicts his “total war” was due to him wanting a quick end to the war by breaking the spirit and support of those in the south.

Marvel, William. Andersonville: The Last Depot
Portrays the reality of the Civil War prison camps. Marvel argues Henry Wirz and the Confederate captors did not intentionally contribute to the brutal life Union prisoners faced at Andersonville. Wirz, who Marvel considers the scapegoat for Andersonville atrocities, was in reality the victim of indifferent commanders, as well as the failing Confederate economy.

Ripple, Ezra Hoyt (ed Mark Snell). Dancing Along the Deadline: The Andersonville Memoirs of a Prisoner of the Confederacy
Divided into two parts, the first section describes Ripple’s imprisonment at Andersonville and the second describes experiences at Florence. Ripple describes his experiences within the gates of Andersonville as well as out.

Stampp, Kenneth. The Era of Reconstruction
Viewed Lincoln as a politician that hoped to unite moderate northern Republicans and Southern Whigs into a national moderate political faction. Johnson is presented as weak, and the Radical Republicans are the last of the romantic reformers.

English, yummy goo, and yet AGAIN…that’s what i’m back to! woohoo, i can read my blogger settings again. apparently i somehow managed to change the language settings at the bottom of the page. on the upside, i understood a good bit of it. on the down, not all of it.

now let’s talk about goo. first, i am not domestic and never shall claim to be. i do like to cook and am not horrible at it. lately i haven’t taken much time for it. i had the day from hell today. love to rant about it, but that’s probably illegal. so let me just say GRRR! so came home and decided to make something happy…caramel! i haven’t made it in years! but went from memory anyway. started out just fine and no real issues…but dished it up to harden and now i have goo. yummy goo, but still goo. there’s a fine line here between perfectly hardened, delicious, caramel and having to throw the pan away because you can’t scrape the hardened sugar off. well, i guess i stopped 30 seconds too soon because i have goo. it’s pretty, but it’s goo. it’s tasty, but goo. i think i will get ice cream and make the best of it.

now to top of this dfh, i am currently supposed to be in the middle of a long drive to Waco, TX for a hot air balloon extravaganza. i was looking forward to great pics! why do i say yet again? there are a few who actually stop here regularly and are probably laughing by now, for the rest…we were supposed to be in New Orleans for labor day. plans had to be changed to avoid Hurricane Katrina. well, now we are avoiding the remnants of Hurricane Rita. had to inform the girls’ teachers that there was no need to send work home b/c our plans had to be cancelled and got the reply that the national weather service should check with us to determine where the next hurricane would head. hmph. oh well, way it goes. guess that is a message for us to stay at home and for me to study.

heard another report about comps…eeeeeeeeeeek.

gonna get to it.

kontan jou!

hey djembe…. *~

Berberoglu, Berch. Turmoil in the Middle East: Imperialism, War, and Political Instability

Berch Berberoglu examines Middle East conflict from the perspective of social forces driving the continuing strife, presenting the origins, nature, and contradictions of regional conflict, as well as the impact of western involvement. Berberoglu first addresses the impact of Western imperialism on the Middle East beginning in the late nineteenth century and names oil as the driving force of continued interest. He then highlights the political and social impact of continuous coups and revolutions. In his evaluation of Middle Eastern affairs Berberoglu covers the influence of external forces such as Europe and the United States

Brands, H.W. Into the Labyrinth

According to Brands the three factors promoting American involvement in the Middle East included oil, the Soviet Union, and Israel. Brands clarifies that these were merely influences on America and did not entirely determine American actions.

Gerges, Fawaz. America and Political Islam

Gerges examines the preservation of American foreign policy development through changing administrations, from Carter to Clinton, and America’s interaction within the Middle East, while focusing on elitist thinking regarding Islamist states and movements. He outlines the development of policy as it relates to the culture and historical developments in the Middle East. Influenced by public opinion, media, private interviews, policy oriented academic programs, think tanks, Congress, and institutional sources, Gerges analyzes perceptions of religious Islam as related to terrorism.

Hadar, Leon. Quagmire; America and the Middle East

Hadar examines the political divergence of the region and the reaction of the United States to it. According to Hadar, Mid East instability is derived from the lack of legitimacy of political institutions. Ethnic and religious groups compete for power and achieve victory status by gaining control of media outlets. Outside interventions have continually failed. Hadar compares external influence to the “Butterfly Effect”, in that it achieves variable and unpredictable outcomes in a society lacking liberal or democratic traditions. He concludes such legitimacy can not be achieved as external powers foster dependency on military and economic aid and assumes the wrong lessons have been taken from U.S. actions in the 1990 Gulf War. In Hadar’s opinion, involvement in the Middle East entails unpredictable and immense costs which are assumed by those involved, mainly the United States.

Kaufman, Burton. The Arab Middle East

Kaufman offers a general introduction to Arab/U.S. relations since World War II. According to Kaufman, the distinguishing factor of The Arab Middle East is his attention to the Arab side of U.S./Arab relations. Understanding such a relationship is dependent upon the proper understanding of the nature of Arab states, their rivalries, history, confrontations, ethnic and religious differences. Kaufman thematically examines such internal divisions, as well as the impact of the Cold War. He refers to the U.S. concern with communist expansion and influence as a malignancy on the nation’s relations with Arab states.

McAlister, Melanie. Epic Encounters

McAlister describes America’s involvement in the Middle East as literal and metaphorical. She explains America is involved in physical conflicts in the region, while also encountering Middle East issues in television and media, discussions of ancient history, and religious debate.