William Bradstreet

Thesis:
In an excerpt from William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, although the puritans experience hardship in their voyage to America, in their initial arrival and in their dealings with the Indians, they still maintain their reverence to God and to one another [their `initial reason for fleeing England]


Paragraph One, Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
September 6 [1620]. These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet, according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with seasickness. And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would always be contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey’s end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he Were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.


I choose this paragraph because of the use of irony. In this short exterpt from Of Plymouth Plantation the young man is basically belittling each of the passengers for becoming seasick, however in the end the young man is the one who catches a diease and dies. This may be the first paragraph, but it is the one that caught my attention.

What is was an American? An American was once not like this man in the passage, an American once never would belittle someone when they are already down. An once American would not laugh at those in pain. An American once helped, and encouraged those who are weak to keep going, to never give up. Now an American cares only for themselves, they will do whatever it takes to win. Americans do not care who gets hurt, as long as they surrive thats all they worry about. As it has been said many times before, only the strong surrive.




What was an American?

It was once said that Americans are honest, trust worthy and giving. Well welcome to the twenty first century. Now days most Americans don't care about others, their main concern is making money and spending money, and if your going to spend money your going to spend the least amount possible.

The American people have become so horrid, so now it appears as if no americans care for others.
In the political cartoon, shown states "I pledge my alliegience to the flag, of the people's republic of China. And to the slave labor for which it stands--One dollar per hour -insignificant- with benefits and tariffs toward none." This clearly means that this particular American only cares about money, as if the Chinese are worthless scum, who should do nothing besides work. And work cheaply at that. Oviously proving that Americans are not the same as we once were known. Nowdays Americans are known as rude, arrogant, snobby people.