Students worked on their rhetorical analysis essays about the propaganda poster "Chairman Mao is Our Reddest Sun."
Core
Bellwrite #27: Marx indicates a communist government will be democratic. What do you learn about this kind of democracy from Red Scarf Girl?
We discussed the ways in which communism is actually democratic (rule by the people): it is initiated by the people (in the Proletarian Revolution), the people set up the government (temporarily dictatorial of course, but in the name of and for the people), and ultimately in the communist utopia the people will share equally in the bounty of the communist world-state. However, in Red Scarf Girl we see that democracy often takes the form of mob rule. We asked what difference, if any, there is between democracy and mob rule. Is there a difference between mob rule and anarchy? Why did the Founding Fathers fear democracy? Democracy is sometimes rule by the majority, but often it is simply rule by the people who have the loudest voice or the most money or the biggest guns. Sometimes a tyrant rules in the name of democracy. One student noted that those who do this often tell their version of the story of their history to the people. We considered the statement that those who control the stories control the people. It seems Marx told a compelling story about class struggle and the utopic destiny of the Earth.
We considered the traditional left-right political spectrum and noted that the far left and right extremes actually resemble each other. Mao (far left) is quite similar to Hitler (far right). I suggested that perhaps the linear spectrum really could be considered a loop. This loop has two opposites: liberty in moral law and captivity in the name of liberty.
Students had time to read and work during class.
Homework (Please note due date changes):
- Rhetorical analysis essay (on propaganda) due Wednesday (tomorrow!)
- Final draft of spelling/vocabulary proposal due Wednesday (tomorrow!)
- Memorization of Jacob 5 parts 1&2 due Thursday
- Finish reading Red Scarf Girl by Thursday
- First spelling/vocabulary check on Thursday
- Red Scarf Girl essay due next Wednesday (Nov. 12)
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