The chapter, Interlopers in the Land of Sunshine, was about Chinatown in the 19th century. In the chapter, Chinatown is referred to as the “rotten spot” of Los Angeles. This chapter also contained information about the development of Los Angeles and information about health care in the city. It also contained information about the development of railroads.
The chapter, Caught Between Discourses of Disease, Health, and Nation, focused on immigration in America throughout the years. Most of the chapter contained information about Los Angeles in the early 20th century. This chapter contained information that mainly pertained to people’s reactions to immigration and the problems it supposedly caused. According to the chapter, people in Los Angeles thought immigrants were to blame for the spread of disease. The real problem was overpopulation and poor living conditions in the city. Living conditions in Los Angeles had to be improved. This chapter also contained information about the state of health care in the city. Both of these chapters were very interesting and informative. They were well written and contained plenty of useful information.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Article Response
Most of the stories that we read seem to be about equality of the need for equality in society. The story “Harrison Bergeron” seems to be the most interesting. I think the story raises a few questions about equality.
The story takes place in the future. The government could possibly be described as dystopian or communist. Everybody has been given certain handicaps in order to create an equal society. No one was stronger than another and no one was smarter than another.
I think the setting of the story suggests there could be a limit to how equal a society can be. Though equality is good, there could be such a thing as too much equality. There could be a point where a society has so much equality there’s limited freedom.
There could be a possibility that the society in Harrison Bergeron isn’t equal at all. For example, Hazel is somewhat envious of George’s handicap, a hearing aid that plays loud noises to block out the wearers thoughts. The text says “’I’d think it would be interesting, hearing all the different sounds,’ said Hazel a little envious.” This means if one person is envious of another in a supposedly equal society, there whole society could be flawed.
Another example of false equality could be the fact that the ballerina that is considered the most beautiful has to wear the ugliest mask. Shouldn’t all the ballet dancers be wearing the same mask? If the ugliness of their masks are determined by how beautiful they are, wouldn’t people be able to tell their beautiful anyway? Furthermore, the idea of beauty can be based entirely on one’s own opinion.
The story “Harrison Bergeron” raises the question, what is the definition of equality? There might not be one true definition of equality. It could be based entirely on opinion. Therefore, true equality in society cannot actually be achieved.
The story takes place in the future. The government could possibly be described as dystopian or communist. Everybody has been given certain handicaps in order to create an equal society. No one was stronger than another and no one was smarter than another.
I think the setting of the story suggests there could be a limit to how equal a society can be. Though equality is good, there could be such a thing as too much equality. There could be a point where a society has so much equality there’s limited freedom.
There could be a possibility that the society in Harrison Bergeron isn’t equal at all. For example, Hazel is somewhat envious of George’s handicap, a hearing aid that plays loud noises to block out the wearers thoughts. The text says “’I’d think it would be interesting, hearing all the different sounds,’ said Hazel a little envious.” This means if one person is envious of another in a supposedly equal society, there whole society could be flawed.
Another example of false equality could be the fact that the ballerina that is considered the most beautiful has to wear the ugliest mask. Shouldn’t all the ballet dancers be wearing the same mask? If the ugliness of their masks are determined by how beautiful they are, wouldn’t people be able to tell their beautiful anyway? Furthermore, the idea of beauty can be based entirely on one’s own opinion.
The story “Harrison Bergeron” raises the question, what is the definition of equality? There might not be one true definition of equality. It could be based entirely on opinion. Therefore, true equality in society cannot actually be achieved.
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