SAU Honors College

landing

2012-01-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks for scanning our QR code and welcome to the Southern Arkansas University Honors College blog.

To apply to the SAU Honors College CLICK HERE

Our blog serves several purposes. One is to provide information about Honors College activities. Another is to publish essays written by honors students in their first honors course, Honors Seminar.

Here are some of the topics covered by this blog:

Thank you for visiting our blog.

For more information, contact the Director, Dr. Edward P. Kardas. Cell: (870) 904-8897 or e-mail at epkardas@saumag.edu

Honors Council Meets

2012-01-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

Here is the agenda for the recent Honors Council meeting. A more comprehensive report and pictures will be posted soon.

Honors Council Meeting/January 8, 2012

Welcome to SAU: Dr. David Rankin
Introduction of Dean of LPA: Dr.Trey Berry
Introduction of SAU Honors Committeefaculty: Karen Ferneding, Shawn Krosnick, Deborah Wilson, Tim Wise
Introduction of Honors staff: David Wingfield, Suraj Manandhar, Lilli Hollensworth, Inna Bagaeva
Introduction of SAU Honors College students: Courtney Phillips, Zachary Pinson

Spring 2012 Enrollment report (as of 01-05-2012):

Full honors: 47— ANTH 5, ENGL 20, PSYC 22

Contracts: 52—ACCT 2, ANTH 4, BIOL 22, CSCI 1, ENGL 3, HIST 3, MKTG 1, PSYC 10, SOC 4, SPAN 1,THEA 1

Fall 2011 Enrollment report

Full honors: 81—HC 60, PHIL 14 , US HIST 7

Contracts: 68—ACCT 3, BIOL 32, CSCI 4, ENGR 1, FIN 1, HIST 6, HUM 9, MGMT 2, MKTG 2, PSCI 2, PSYC 6

National Collegiate Honors Council meeting, Phoenix: Suraj Manandhar, Deborah Wilson, Ed Kardas

Using the Non-Cognitive Questionnaire in Honors College Admissions and Retention: A Two-year Study
An iPad2 for Every Student in Honors Seminar: A Pilot Program
NASA Research Infrastructure Grant: Courtney Phillips, Zachary Pinson, Ed Kardas ($10,000 grant)

Upcoming Events:

Honors Banquet—Saturday, April 28 @ 6 p.m.,
Honors Matriculation—Sunday, August 26 @ 2 p.m. (tentative)

Fall 2011 highlights: Full enrollment (60), Pool Party, iPads deployed, Dustin McDaniel speaks at matriculation, Chinese National Acrobats, Little Rock trip, NCHC meeting in Phoenix, Honors Research Database, faculty teaching meeting
See: peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/Courses/HonSem/honorsblogstoriesfall2010.html

Future plans: Trip to Cuba! Move into honors office and lounge in Nelson Hall. Begin honors programs at two-year schools. Name the Honors College.

Questions or Comments?

Group Picture and Lunch (Special Thanks to Ray Lindsey of Marlars)

Tour Nelson 200

Magnolia/Columbia County Literacy Council Needs Help

2012-01-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

Magnolia/Columbia Literacy Council’s Teen Tutoring Program is in dire need of additional funding. This program was formed in 2001 when the literacy council tested 60 teens (16-17 year olds) to see if they qualified for the GED program and only 3 made the scores necessary to enroll according to state law. The literacy council recognized that something needed to be done about this problem and initiated the teen tutoring program to tutor these teens until they could score the required 8.5 (eighth grade, fifth month). Since that time approximately 70 teens have graduated. These teens would never have graduated without the teen tutoring program.

This vital program exists on grants and donations only. THE LITERACY COUNCIL NEEDS HELP. No federal or state money goes toward its support. THEY are $15,000.00 short of what it will take to run a morning and an afternoon class this year.

Peoples Bank Community Enrichment Endowment through the Arkansas Community Foundation has chosen to match dollar for dollar every contribution UP TO $5,000 made to this program before February 28, 2012. Thanks to the generous donations of $1,500.00 from the Rotary Club of Magnolia and another anonymous donor giving $1,500.00 our funds for matching are NOW up to $3,600.00. YOU MAY HELP BY DONATING AND spreadING the word TO OTHERS about THE NEEDS OF THIS very worthy cause.

Checks (tax deductible) mail to: Magnolia/Columbia County Literacy Council, P.O. Box 1440 Magnolia, AR 71754-1440. For more information call 870-901-6028.

Help, there's a gorilla in my room

2012-01-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Took this recently. Wonder if he watches me while I sleep?

Drop in for a drink, snack, and a chat

2012-01-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

Our refrigerator is stocked. Drop in sometime soon and have a cold one with us.

Goff, Jacob: Beloit

2011-12-20T19:43:00.000-08:00

      We, as freshmen in college, have always heard the phrase "back in the day." I know that, personally, that is one of the most annoying things an older person could say to me. That is, until I stopped and thought about the radical changes that have taken place in the past sixty years. Many times, older professors compare us young students to how it was when they were our age. They went through high school looking through World Book instead of WebMd. They did math mentally or on paper instead of doing everything on a super calculator. But amongst all of the differences, there are many similarities.

Television has put quite a bit of distance between my generation and my professors. For example, if I were to ask one of my professors what he or she thinks about the current Kardashian situation, I would probably get a blank stare. When they were growing up, no one cared about the latest popular couples divorce or what celebrity was seen dating another. But in this day and age, this information is abundant and, at some times, seems like it is forced down our throats every time we turn on the television. In every store there are pop culture magazines by the checkout or in book sections. Of the professors I have discussed this with, most just do not see the point in getting caught up in the drama. Pop culture has always caused quite a divide between generations. But modern television and video streaming can also aid in narrowing that divide. I can watch almost any show that has been aired in the past forty years without much of a problem. This gives my generation a view into past culture and entertainment. People like Michael Jordan are still immortalized in our minds because we have seen documentaries or game footage from his heyday. And though these great pastimes will never change, some things cannot stop changing.

The times that we live in now are much different from forty years ago. Music was different, and so were the morals of this nation. When many of my older professors were young, rock and roll was considered evil by some. Topics like homosexuality were just not mentioned. Divorce rates were much lower because the parents felt a greater commitment to marriage. It seems like the morals instilled by parents were much higher in many. But only one or two decades later morals would drop off tremendously. The music scene was also going through big changes. Rock and roll was really growing and the sound was changing. Rock was the most popular genre. Concerts began using fire pillars and many different lights and other effects to make the visual aspect just as good as the music. But in modern times, pop music is king. Rap has also come onto the scene, replacing the disco of the earlier years. Profanity is much more common in modern music than it was thirty or forty years ago. The same thing happened to television. Earlier shows showed wholesome families and depicted the American dream. The shows were clean enough for the whole family. But now, reality tv has taken over. Many shows have crude language and other inappropriate content. But some stations, such as TV Land, have immortalized these early shows.

The differences between generations are many. But common ground can always be found. The things of the past should be remembered and cherished, but things will change and time will move on. The generational differences have been present since humans have been alive, and they will inevitably continue as long as we roam the earth.

iPad Preliminary Data

2011-12-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of analyzing the results of HC's iPad questionnaire. One question already analyzed is:

SAU Honors College should continue to supply iPads to incoming students.
             

                      Percent
Strongly Agree        24%                   
Agree                 54%            
No Opinion            19%                   

Disagree               2%
Strongly Disagree    2%

I have recommended that SAU continue to supply incoming students with iPads in 2012.

Oglesby, Nikki: Haiku

2011-12-11T19:37:00.001-08:00

Oh Honors College
Great Times And Lots Of Fun
How I Enjoyed Thee

Edmundson, Nevin: Diversity

2011-12-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

Until we, as people, learned to accept one another without first judging each other based on the color of ones skin, the tension between African-Americans and Caucasians were high due to the discrimination African-Americans had to endure.


White people were so determined to isolate the Blacks from their everyday life that they made race-based utilities such as: Segregated churches, bathrooms, schools, and many more aspects people of all colors used on a daily basis. For some reason, White people back then could not grasp the idea of an "equal world" and hated the Black people for wanting equality in their life and the generations to follow them. Had it not been for people like Martin Luther King, the United States might never had moved past where were back then and could quite possibly still be stuck in the same place we were 60 years ago.


Alas, the world today isn't as Black and White as people would like for it to be. Even though many people look down on discrimination today, there are still a small number of people who would prefer that we lived in a world that was segregated just as it was back then. It is sad, because the children they raise will have the same ideals that they do, causing tension again and stirring trouble which should have been dead long ago. Sadly, discrimination will never completely go away. There will always be a small percentage who believe in a "superior race", but what they do not seem to realize is that there will never be a perfect utopia they are trying to build. Discrimination has ways of finding new people to single out. There would be a new group of people within the utopia that would be singled out, therefore destroying the utopia they wanted to build so badly.


Without realizing it, we as students discriminate based on race all the time. When you observe groups that are hanging out together, very seldom do you see a group with mixed races. Most of the time, it is always all Blacks or all Whites or a group composed entirely of another race. Granted, segregation is more subconscious now rather than intentional, but this ideal perfect utopia that everyone wants to achieve will never come to be because we, as living, breathing humans, are by no means perfect.

Paul McLendon Visits Honors Seminar

2011-12-08T19:55:00.000-08:00

Paul McLendon, SAU's new Vice President for Finance, visited the Honors Seminar on November 30. He talked about his career. He began as an auditor for the state of Arkansas and later worked at SAU for nine years. After, he moved to the University of Central Arkansas. He returned to SAU this year to replace Darrell Morrison.

McLendon went over the SAU budget and discussed how state contributions to the full budget amount have been steadily dropping over the last 10 years. He also showed where SAU income came from and where it was spent.

The Honors Seminar is designed to acquaint students with all aspects of the college experience. Where the money comes from and how it is spent is a key aspect.

Gaddis, Connie: Haiku

2011-12-08T19:06:00.001-08:00

The Honors College
Accepted my scores and then
Gave me an iPad

Winchell, Raechel: Haiku

2011-12-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

Honors College rocks!
It reminds me of G/T.
Kardas is the best!

Ballard, Justin: Haiku

2011-12-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

In this semester

We had Honors Seminar

It was pretty cool.

Morris, Robert: Haiku

2011-12-07T06:16:00.001-08:00

Honors College Is
The best part of SAU
No not really but yeah

Hamilton, Josh: Haiku

2011-12-07T05:36:00.001-08:00

Being in Honors,

Led by brilliant instructors

Cut above the rest.

Chapman, Jordan: Haiku

2011-12-07T05:34:00.000-08:00

The Honors College

Rising the bar much higher

We strive for success

Haydel, Emily: Haiku

2011-12-07T05:32:00.001-08:00

This semester done
My friends and I had much fun
I'll miss everyone

Acharya, Prashant: Haiku

2011-12-07T05:31:00.001-08:00

cancelled Shreveport trip
was a huge disappointment
except that awesome

Morris, Robert: Diversity

2011-12-07T05:06:00.000-08:00

Despite the fact that there are some glaring differences in the two letters assigned to us, I found that the most important portion of the letters were their similarities. Anyone can note the fact that these letters were written by the two opposing sides of a very stressful situation. A Call to Unity was written by a group of clergymen who felt that they had nowhere else to go. They felt that they were backed into a corner which is certainly understandable. While I don't agree with their view I can emphasize with their feeling that they were losing what they felt like was just the culture of the land. I of course though empathize with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because his vision of a new America is the one I live in now. I was more affected though by the blatant racism present in A Call to Unity. As a child I heard the stories that my grandparents told me about growing up in the South during times of heightened racism, but it is always different to read a letter like this. It is almost like I can hear them say it directly to me and that is very creepy. I have never ignored the past but it feels strange to try and place myself in the position of the author or audience of any of the letters we were asked to read. I can hardly wrap my mind around the growth of our nation from that point. We have grown by leaps and bounds from a "negro" not getting to vote to a Black man as president. Thus in conclusion I feel that the letters serve as a sufficient window into the past, a time that few of the people of our generation could even come close to comprehending.

Sorsby, Taryn: Haiku

2011-12-07T04:48:00.001-08:00

the experience
honors college is the best
I couldn't want more.

Tan, Su-Ann: Haiku

2011-12-07T04:46:00.001-08:00

Do well, study hard
Play even harder, says I
Thus Honors College

Edmundson, Nevin: Haiku

2011-12-05T18:23:00.001-08:00

This is not for me

There is no “I” in Honors

It is about “us”

Edmundson, Nevin: Beloit List

2011-12-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

After reading the differences on the mindsets between incoming freshman and the professors, I now truly see how different, yet alike, we are. Many things professors would consider “controversial” or “absurd” are things we, as students, see as normal. Some of the past generation would look at our generation and frown upon us, but what about their generation? Did the generation before them not frown upon them just as they do us?

The simple fact is we are on in the same. Everything that our generation uses and says in everyday life is a fad. The generation our professors grew up in had fads of their own as well. Technology is just another fad. Soon another new thing will interest us and we will move on; it’s just how the world works. We use phrases such as: “Been there. Done that. Bought that T-shirt.” but did their generation not say: “You sound like a broken record?” The phrases have the same general meaning, but it’s the trend, the underlying urge to find new things that changed the wording behind it. I have never understood it when someone not of my generation told me things such as: “It’s your generation that’s driving this nation into the ground.” How are we destroying this nation, or going to destroy it? Is it because we rely on technology? Is it because we don’t pay as much attention to the news as we should? Or is it because they think life is just handed to us? Our generation has proven that even in a fast changing world, we will adapt. The simple fact that we have calculators that do the work for us or that we have phones that can offer us more information than our local library should not diminish the fact that we are more than capable of taking care of ourselves and not becoming lost in the innovations life has to offer us tomorrow.

On that same note, it is clearly apparent that there are things we have not had to grow up with that their generation has. We have not truly seen how harsh the world can be. Women and race have always been “accepted” in the work force, and as a matter of fact, discrimination is now a major law issue, whereas to their generation, this a fairly new concept. Our generation does tend to focus too much of our free time on useless information. There isn’t much use in knowing which “Jersey Shore” character most looks like a girl at your school. On the topic of television, I actually was stunned when I found out that at one point “Rocky Horror Picture Show” was not a common show aired around Halloween time when it first came out. When I first found out that it was not just banned from TV, but banned from being sold in this country, I was utterly blown away. It just goes to show how much television has changed in what it airs and what is now acceptable for our youth to freely see.

It must be difficult for professors to “click” with any student, considering how different our worlds are from the outside eye, but as previously stated, students and professors are not too different deep down. In fact, we are one in the same, and once we get past that, the bridge between students and professors will quickly be established and learning, on a deeper level, can truly begin.

Goecke, Colby: Haiku

2011-12-05T18:09:00.001-08:00

Wonderful Honors
Oh How I Do Love Thee So
Thou Hast Taught Me Well

Goecke, Colby: Diversity

2011-12-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

"A Call for Unity" and "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" are both well written letters. That said, there are a few very distinct differences in the two as well as in their respective writers.

"A Call for Unity" is written from the perspective of those who agree with the need for change, but aren't necessarily willing to put themselves out in order to achieve it. The clergymen prefer to watch from the sidelines and dictate how things should be done differently, rather than doing something themselves. These men talk of change and applaud those striving for it, yet they do nothing to further the cause. The second issue with the clergymen is the fact that they are making suggestions and accusations about the situation, all while being uninformed and/or willingly turning a blind eye/deaf ear to the facts of the matter. They call for an end to the demonstrations and ask for peaceful negotiations while anyone who knows anything realizes that any hope of that has been dashed by the other Whites in and around Birmingham. I believe the writers of "A Call to Unity" also sought to weaken the overall movement in Birmingham by talk of "outsiders". If the local clergymen could convince the local "negroes" that King and others were outsiders and not part of the local unit, then the "outsiders" power and effectiveness would be severely limited. This would isolate the Birmingham locals and make them much more vulnerable to attack and weaken their cause significantly.

Dr. King's response to "A Call to Unity" was a much better written letter. Dr. King's polite yet clear reprimand of the Birmingham clergymen was commendable indeed. He was careful to incite no furies or arguments with his writing, yet his points were very clear and direct. King saw the big picture and made certain that this fact was evident in his response. He covered the situation in Birmingham in no uncertain words, yet he did not stop there. His explanation of the issue expanded to cover the entire nation. It was obvious in Kings's writing that he was very familiar in dealing with opposition and knew how to handle it effectively and with as little damage as possible.

Brinkley, James: Haiku

2011-12-05T18:02:00.001-08:00

There is something great.
Its name is Honors College.
I’m glad I found it.

Lee, Terence: Haiku

2011-12-05T18:01:00.001-08:00

Everyone here
Party hard, study harder
That's the honors way

Johnson, Morgan: Haiku

2011-12-05T17:59:00.001-08:00

O magnanimous teacher
Lend me thine wise ears,
I dislike Haikus.

Morris, Robert: Beloit List

2011-12-05T17:52:00.000-08:00

There will forever be a generation gap, there’s no escaping it. The next generation will always move a little faster than the one before. There are some similarities as well because one generation instills certain things such as moral fiber upon the next.

Firstly, before one attempts to compare generations one must know why there is a gap in the first place. There are several different reasons for gaps between generations, but there is typically one major reason. For an example let us travel to the 1960s. This was a time of social change. The generation gap of this era was mainly sparked by a spiritual catalyst. The moral beliefs of the young generation were rapidly changing, continuously moving, and the older generation was content to stand still. This was the cause of the generation gap. For the cause of the current generation gap there is no need to dig so deep. The root cause is not spirituality but technology. Even basic knowledge of the Internet can create a gap so large that few dare to cross it. There are many parents who attempt to bridge the gap by learning the hip new “lingo,” and while that can be beneficial it would be much easier to simply add their child as a friend on Facebook.

Secondly, once adequate knowledge of the gap is obtained one can feel free to stare at the blatantly obvious thing that is the differences between the generations. There are several key differences between the generations the first being the obvious one, age. This is the thing that actually determines the generations, so it has to be one of the things that separate them. First of all, the older generation typically has more experience with this thing called life and has thus had more time to mess up than the younger generation. This being true, a member the older generation probably knows a lot more about life than a member of the younger generation. This incenses the younger generation because they believe that because they can work a laptop and their parents can’t then they shouldn’t have to listen to them. This leads to the younger generation towards making many of the same mistakes as the older generation. This contributes to the generation gap soon to come in the future and drives them closer to the older generation.

Lastly, once one notes the differences the only thing left is the similarities. While reading the Beloit articles it is simple to note the differences between the two generations, but they leave out the most important thing, and that’s the similarities, because at the end of the day it won’t matter if the younger generation thought that LBJ was LeBron James and not Lyndon B. Johnson, because the next generation won’t care who either of them are. This is the main similarity, the inevitable fall into the same hole as the previous generation, and the gaps will continually grow larger and larger. In 20 years it won’t matter that I typed this on a computer, because the next generation will just have to think and the words will come across the screen, no more spell check for them. At this point I will hate the new technology because I will feel left behind much like the older generation does now. This mutual feeling of hate toward the technology of the future is what binds the generations together.

In conclusion, gap or no gap we all end up in the same hole in the end, with the next generation racing to leave us all behind only to be knocked back into the same hole by the next and so on. It is such a grand and beautiful cycle.

Khadka, Shubashree: Haiku

2011-12-05T17:45:00.001-08:00

This college
Has taught me well
How to swell

Goff, Jacob: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:52:00.001-08:00

Two classes a week
Great topics we learn about
It's the honors life

Franklin, Trey: Diversity

2011-12-05T07:50:00.000-08:00

Over the years, there has always been a diversity issue. The time when this issue was strongest was during Martin Luther King Jr.’s “nonviolent campaign.” During his time in Birmingham, Alabama, King was placed under arrest for his nonviolent civil protests. Multiple White clergymen from Birmingham, Alabama published in a local newspaper a letter titled, “A Call for Unity.” After reading this, King responded with his “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” To reflect back on the issue of the diversity and racial tension of this time in American history is important in understanding the diversity of America today.

In “A Call for Unity,” eight clergymen detailed the need to end the “demonstrations,” which were led by Martin Luther King Jr. It also entailed that “Negroes [should] engage in local negotiations and use the courts if rights are being denied” (Wikipedia). Noticing that the clergymen were attempting civility about the situation, I can tell that only after King had entered Birmingham did the clergymen want to do anything about the racial tension between Whites and Blacks. Although that could possibly be false, the only evidence that anyone was doing much of anything noticeable in Birmingham was the letters “A Call for Unity” and “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Within “A Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” King opposes “A Call for Unity” by claiming that if the White community had done something about the issue before; the black community would not have resorted to “demonstrations.” To reflect upon these issues, King had responded to the looking away from ‘unity’ by marching into Birmingham and nonviolently campaigning demonstrations against the discrimination of the Black community.

King's nonviolent campaigns and marches showed America that the strong racial tension between Blacks and Whites was in favor of the discrimination of Black people. The Black communities of America, mostly in the South, were no longer going to take that discrimination. So, in an attempt to end or at least lessen the racial tension between Whites and Blacks, King campaigned around the South to show that the Black community was being discriminated against. His campaigns led to the lessening of the racial tension between the Black and White communities and reinforced the ‘unity’ of the two.

Franklin, Trey: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:45:00.001-08:00

The Honors College

Forwards my education.

I am glad I joined.

Falkoff, Brian: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:39:00.001-08:00

A last minute chance
Accepted me, Honors did
Oh, very thankful

Owens, Landon: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:37:00.000-08:00

My name is Landon

SAU Honors College

Is the best there is.

Jeon, Heekyung: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Honors College students go one step further
toward their clear, apparent goals
with good company and outstanding academic achievement

Marsh, Daly: Diversity

2011-12-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

Honors College rules
I made quite a few good friends
Amazingly fun

Plunk, Allen: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:15:00.003-08:00

The class taught by that
man in the Hawaiian shirt
was my favorite.

2011-12-05T07:15:00.001-08:00

Bowling, Emily: Haiku

2011-12-05T07:13:00.001-08:00

SAU Honors

Using great minds to present

The peoples’ voices.

Guy, Lacey: Haiku

2011-12-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

Six hundred dollars
Spent on a lovely iPad
Only to play games

White, Zowie: Diversity

2011-12-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

I feel that the clergymen who wrote "A Call for Unity" are turning a blind eye to the social and civil injustices in Birmingham. Without the outside influences, the Black community would not have the courage to stand up for their rights. Yes, they do not explicitly promote violence and hatred in their religious and political activities, but the clergymen do not promote equality among all races. Jesus has love for everyone. As men of God and as leaders in their community, they should teach this to their followers. The clergymen suggest using the court system and negotiating with local leaders in the community. How can they suggest this when the Black community has tried this countless times and have been denied their rights? One can always suggest a solution when he or she doesn't live with the issue or predicament. They claim that the demonstrations occurred at the wrong time. There is no such thing as a right time to fight for what one thinks is right.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. responded to "A Call for Unity" with "A Letter from Birmingham Jail." The response was necessary, because it voiced the purpose and motivation behind the demonstrations in Birmingham. As a fellow clergyman, he includes appropriate allusions to the Bible, in order to illustrate his points. I agree with his points, I feel that he needed to edit himself. Yes, the eight clergymen needed to be enlightened, but it does not warrant countless allusions and explanations. The passion is appreciated, but the phrase, "Less is more," should be applied. I believe that Dr. King was a brave man for voicing his opinion. Many forget that he was only a leader who could convey the views of the Black community. This is shown in his appeals to the clergymen. He describes the everyday life and experiences of the Black citizen. His intelligence is displayed, when he mentions Hitler's regime to counter the clergymen's view of blacks' involvement in politics.

Yang Zichao: Haiku

2011-12-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

Honors college, you and I

Friendly staff, good study environment, elites come here to get wise

Stay here, make me shine

Hawron, Annette: Haiku

2011-12-04T18:20:00.001-08:00

Why must I write this?
Maintain Scholarships I must
Honors Sem taught much

Wall, Adam: Haiku

2011-12-04T15:27:00.001-08:00

Tall pillars standing
The pressure of excellence
iPads all around

Zigler, Jessica: Haiku

2011-12-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

It helps you succeed.
If you're willing to work hard,
you'll get an iPad.

Beavers, Michelle: Haiku

2011-12-04T14:42:00.000-08:00

Best class is at 9.
Kardas and iPads galore.
Yay! Honors College!

Meyer, Cheyenne: Haiku

2011-12-04T14:37:00.001-08:00

With Honors College,
I have opportunities.
I owe it to you.

Duke, Taylor: Haiku

2011-12-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

Bow chicka wow wow

Honor’s is in session now

Come on, let’s begin!

Wetherington, Rachel: Haiku

2011-12-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

Being in honors
We strive to challenge ourselves
To succeed in life

Campbell, David: Haiku

2011-12-04T10:05:00.001-08:00

Five, seven, and five.
Add them and get seventeen.
Soon, I'll be eighteen.

Mahelona, Ryan: Haiku

2011-12-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

ipads rain from sky
into the laps of students
Praise Steve Wozniak

Campbell, David: Diversity

2011-12-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

Action or complacency. In the case of the racial equality movement of the '60s, this was the primary choice in question. When diversity is suppressed or looked down upon in any way, especially in a legal sense, those affected have an obligation to do something about it. And when it is, in fact, in a legal sense, there is nobody that remains unaffected. A violation of human rights, no matter who it targets, is an ethical offense to each and every individual who is indeed a human.

The Alabama clergymen have respectable intentions in "A Call for Unity," advocating a peaceful, law-abiding resolution. However, their ideals for diffusing the conflict and its racial tensions are impractical at best. In a nation or state where the government itself is complacent and suppresses meaningful change, any strictly law-abiding movement can be put down with only the slightest bit of effort. Also, it is ironic that the government put so much emphasis on suppressing non-violent protest actions when it is obvious that in a stark majority of cases the violence during this time period can be attributed to the police force opposing the equal rights movement. Thus the suggestions, if not subtle demands, of the clergy are contradictory and at cross purposes to the cause of equality among all human beings.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s response to his fellow clergymen is calm, collected, while also firm and resolute. Whereas the clergy's intentions are respectable, King's are noble and morally driven. Just as there is a difference between fleeting happiness and internal joy, King points out there is a difference between merely having order and having real peace. In lieu of condoning civil obedience at the expense of justice, King advocates an ideal that, as far as American government goes, was conceptualized as long ago as the writing of the United States Constitution - when the government is unjust, the citizens are morally obligated to overthrow the government in favor of a new one. While in practice, this concept is more figurative, as the federal government was not literally overthrown, the equal rights movement seeks to accomplish just this.

O'Neal, Kara: Haiku

2011-12-04T09:14:00.001-08:00

A door wide open
A future so bright Honors
Will provide the way

Sorsby, Amy: Haiku

2011-12-03T12:33:00.001-08:00

Oh, Honors College
How you make me get things done-
My Motivation

Cobb, Lacey: Haiku

2011-12-02T14:36:00.001-08:00

The Honors College,
Where the smart people study,
And make really good grades.

Hill, Lillee: Haiku

2011-12-02T14:34:00.001-08:00

Honors College rocks
You gave me the best present
Thanks for the iPad

Walton, Arain: Diversity

2011-12-02T14:25:00.000-08:00

I believe everyone should have the same rights and so when I read these two articles I was filled with emotion.

I grew up in an all white home with almost no contact with black people and yet I was raised to respect people as humans, I wasn't taught to look down on people because of there skin tone. Because of this upbringing I was angry at the tone of the clergy writing " A Call to Unity". They where lying right through there teeth. They acted like they cared and wanted to do right by the people when really they just wanted the embarrassing protests to stop. Also wight the protests going on businesses lost money. What town wants to have a bad economy?

When I read "Letter from Birmingham Jail" I was filled with passion and agreed wholeheartedly. King was right about so much. The Whites where making everything unfair but saying they would work with the Black community. The Black community tried to be polite, to talk, to negotiate, it just had no effect. So they decided to start protesting nonviolently. Even then they were being respectful. I know so far it seems I'm sticking up for the Black side so I'm going to pause and try to see it from the perspective of a White person then...

I can see why White people were upset because all their lives they grew up seeing Blacks as inferior. But, I believe I'd start seeing them as equal people when they stood up for themselves. If someone is going to fight for something that bad they deserve to get it.

Castleberry, Jesse: Haiku

2011-12-02T14:20:00.001-08:00

In Honors College
It's a great experience
with awesome iPads!

Phillips, Courtney: Haiku

2011-12-02T14:15:00.001-08:00

Pushing us further
To unknown heights of knowledge
SAU Honors.

Curbelo, Isabella: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:42:00.001-08:00

Honors brings new life

New experiences blossom

Honors transforms us

Parks, Caleb: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:38:00.001-08:00

The bird leaves the nest.
The bird soars to extreme heights.
The bird hatches her eggs.

Walton, Arain: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:37:00.000-08:00

Educational.

They gave us awesome IPad's.

Honors is extraordinary.

Emerson, Sarah: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:36:00.000-08:00

I began a quest...
SAU Honors College
The end is unknown.

Shakya, Subir: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:34:00.001-08:00

Stipend or ipad

Bring students into honors

to stay for one term

Lu, Siye: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:33:00.001-08:00

Walk in the Honors,
I see Dr. Kardas
Who is really nice.

Nunn, Florence: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:29:00.000-08:00

Honors is real fun.

I've learned lots of cool new things.

I'm glad I got in (:

White, Zowie: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:27:00.001-08:00

Six hundred dollars

Went to a brand new IPad

Could have went to books

Walker, Garrett: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:17:00.001-08:00

Writing a haiku
For honors seminar class
A very good class

Francis, Engelica: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:04:00.001-08:00

Attention smart kids:
iPad 2's at SAU!
Honors College Rules!!!

Anderson, Courtne: Haiku

2011-12-02T04:01:00.001-08:00

Fun and challenging
And free iPads included!
Where? Honors college!

Pinson, Hali: Haiku

2011-12-02T03:51:00.001-08:00

Over achiever
Always have to be the best
Honors College Girl

Hao, Jiayin: Haiku

2011-12-02T03:50:00.001-08:00

What is Honors College?
It is the place where we can realize our dreams.
Never miss this amazing place!

Mahelona, Ryan: Diversity

2011-11-30T05:05:00.000-08:00

During the civil rights movement, the Black and White communities had many violent confrontations. Within this sea of violence, a nonviolent protestor named Martin Luther King, Jr. is the most well remembered figure of the times. After reading and comparing the letter presented to Dr. King and his response it is apparent that both letters carried strong emotions and addressed serious issues. The clergy who wrote the letter “A Call for Unity” were very clever and careful when putting together their words.

These men of the cloth wrote a short, to-the-point letter asking that Dr. King to not condone the resistance that the Black community was engaged in, no matter how nonviolent it was. The letter, when read the first time, seemed very respectable with little mention of racism. The letter asks him to take proper steps to appeal the things he thinks to be wrong and even applauds the police for being so calm and collected. The thing that stood out most to me was that they asked the “Negro” community to take action through courts and state representatives when they were not allowed to vote! Reading this now, it seems very belittling and racist but for the day it was written it seemed very calm and even a bit friendly.

After receiving the letter, it is apparent in his writings that Dr. King felt much disrespected. I like the strong use of biblical comparison and quoting. I also really liked how he addressed them in a similar respectful fashion but also was not hesitant to deliver punches. He tells the clergy that his nonviolent protest methods are nowhere near as radical as their words suggest. I can assume that writing those words during that era was something that was considered very disrespectful and abnormal. My favorite line from his letter was near the end. “If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having a patience that allows me to settle for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to forgive me.”

Honors College Report: November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T04:00:00.001-08:00

Honors College Report

November 30, 2011

Activities and News:

Deborah Wilson, Suraj Manandhar, and Edward Kardas attended the annual meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council in Phoenix, AZ where we led two panel discussions, one on admissions research the other on iPad deployment and use.
The SAU Honors College will create an online database of research in honors. That project is now underway.
Honors College will sponsor student travel to present research to either the Southern Regional Honors Council (Tampa) or the Great Plains Honors Council (Kansas City) meetings this spring.
The Honors College took two trips, one to Perot Theatre in Texarkana on Tuesday, October 11 to see the National Chinese acrobats, the other on Saturday, November 12 to Little Rock where we visited the Clinton Library, Heifer International, and the Zoo.
Edward Kardas gave a talk titled "Love Learning" on October 26 to the Magnolia High School National Honors Society members.
The Honors Seminar has hosted the following visitors: David Rankin, Trey Berry, Scott McKay, Abdel Bachri, and Paul McLendon.
Admissions applications have begun to arrive. Honors College will begin admitting students in the next 30 days.
Honors College will submit an undergraduate research proposal to the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium soon. Several honors students have applied to participate in that project.
On December 2, 2011 Honors Seminar students will evaluate their experiences with the iPad Pilot Project.

Pinson, Hali: Diversity

2011-11-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most important people in American history. He was a peaceful, nonviolent civil rights activist who stood for the rights of every citizen and worked for equality for African Americans. Eight clergy from white churches wrote “A Call for Unity,” saying that Dr. King’s actions were “unwise and untimely;” to which he replied with his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” He explained that just because something was a law did not make it fair to all people. The timing of his actions was very justified. The situation in Birmingham was reaching a boiling point and needed a single push to either help or hurt civil rights. Instead of rioting, molesting officials, or defacing public or private properties, the demonstrators simply refused to follow the laws that oppressed and abused them as African Americans. Furthermore, they accepted the consequences of their actions and peacefully submitted to the officials: Dr. King did not fight his jail sentence since he knew that he had broken the law, just or not. Dr. King used the example of Hitler’s law stating that any man caught helping the Jews would be put to death as an unjust law that men ignored out of a moral sense of right and wrong. The Hungarian Freedom Fighters ignored Hitler’s biased law because they knew that it was unjust and therefore not upholding it was the right thing to do. Dr. Martin Luther King was just in his actions, as well as in his moral integrity, and using his leadership and charisma was what kept the Civil Rights movement moving forward. If Dr. King had attempted to use violence or force, nothing that he accomplished would have been possible.

Hao, Jiayin: Diversity

2011-11-28T23:07:00.000-08:00

After reading the two letters, it's easy to see that they take opposite positions, arguing about a problem which has bothered the world for such a long time--the racial problem. The argument over what is fair and free seems never have an answer.

The writers of " A Call for Unity" are eight clergymen who wish to treat some “negroes” as outsiders in order to preserve the status quo. They argued that the demonstrators had disrupted the social order. Like most White people at that time they believed they equal rights would eventually be granted to Blacks.

On the other side, the "Letter from a Brimingham Jail" was written by Martin Luther King, Jr., who led the Black people to fight for their rights. In this long letter, which was written in the jail, he noted that all people live in the same world and they deserve the same rights. Also, he wrote about how the existing laws treated Black people unfairly. King believed that the United States needed to give Black people their entitlements in order to let them live the America Dream. At the end of the letter, he expressed his desire about changing and improving the United States.

As far as I am concerned, the racial problem has been argued for too long time. Society has given us a good answer: we are all equal. There is no reason for anyone to deprive other people of their rights. I believe that although we can't achieve 100% fairness for all, we still can aspire to a country and a world that is a big family. Every person living in this big family would be sisters or brothers instead of masters and maids. However, compared to the past, society has improved much and the United States elected a Black president. If King were alive live today he would see that his dream has come true.

Wall, Adam: Diversity

2011-11-28T04:54:00.000-08:00

What did Martin Luther King Jr. want? Equality, nothing more. He didn’t want special rights for the Blacks that had been mistreated throughout the years. He didn’t want compensation for what the White community had done to his race since colonial times. He just wanted the same rights as any other man or woman in America. He wanted his children to be able to have a good education and to not be judged because of the color of their skin but for the character of their being. He wanted a nation where the thing that defined you were the actions you made in life. But Dr. King was not the only person in America that wanted something. The eight ministers and rabbis of Birmingham also wanted something. Or, better yet, they didn’t want something. They didn’t want change, not during their lifetimes. They knew that the treatment of the Black community had to change but they didn’t want to have anything to do with the change. And, if there had to be change they did not want this change to cause ripples in the social fabric. The ministers seemed to sympathize with the Black community but they were not willing to help them down the road to their freedom and ending their oppression.

Dr. King knew that the only way to freedom was through peaceful protests. Violent protests would only incite even more violence and worsen the conditions for the African-American community and those who were helping them. This was the main point Dr. King was trying to make in his letter. He never incited violence in his followers. But as has always been the case, when people see violence that is the only thing they will associate with protests and revolutions. But Dr. King weathered all the criticism with the one thing that people cannot argue against: reason. Through patient reasoning King strived to inform the people of America that his intentions were noble and his methods were noble as well. In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” Dr. King showed that all he wanted was equality for every man, woman, and child in America and he showed that he had no intentions of inciting violence in his marches. He wanted peace and equality.

Wall, Adam: Beloit List

2011-11-28T04:41:00.000-08:00

What has always been the one major difference between older faculty and incoming freshmen? Technology. Advances in technology will always set generations apart. The same holds true with political strife. Politics always change. Among with these differences only a few similarities are worth mentioning. Prominent among these is that throughout all of history generations have always been interested in higher education.

Technology is the ruling force in the world today. However, technology was not so prominent or advanced 40 years ago. There were no iPhones or iPods, no laptops or personal computers either. People weren’t constantly checking their phones for text messages or updating Facebook to let everyone know what they were doing at the moment. Because of this faculty don’t understand how and why the new ‘Internet Class’ is so obsessed with technology and their need to always be connected with people and be up to date on everything that’s going on. The new generation has grown up in a time where technology rules everybody’s lives. You can’t look around a room these days without seeing some new piece of technology that affects day-to-day life: smartphones, iPods, iPads, computers, the list could go on and on. Technology used to be used mainly for medicine and communication but now it is primarily for entertainment, music, and even social life. When you ask a roomful of the ‘Internet Class’ who has a Facebook account, 99% of the time every hand will shoot into the air. Today if you want to learn about somebody all you have to do is simply click a button. Technology has changed and with it so has humanity. This is why it will always be the biggest difference between the generations in the world.

Back in the 1950s the main conflict in the world was Communism, the Red Scare, and McCarthyism. Everywhere you looked someone was being accused of being a Communist. But Communism faded and so did the Red Scare. Then came was the Cuban Missile crisis, followed by President Kennedy being assassinated and a country in mourning. Political strife is as old as time itself. The older generations look back to times when this or that was happening and said those were the days and that was the worst moment in America’s history. Older generations try to tell the newer ones about these times but, mostly, the full picture and meaning escapes them. But what does stick with them is what happens throughout their lifetimes: 9/11, the Iraqi War, or the killing of Osama Bin Laden. These are the events the ‘Internet Class’ will always remember, the events they will look back and say that was the day America was attacked. But we came together and then later got our revenge. The political times and strife will always be different and will always set the generations apart.

Higher education is the one thing all generations have been most concerned about. The older generation and the new generation have the goal to expand their minds and to experience new things and to always learn new things. The only difference in this field is the emphasis that the government and people in general put on education. In earlier times the push on education was still strong but the expectations were not as high. Now, students must pass all these new tests and requirements just to get out of a certain class. The expectations are much higher and students are pushed to higher limits. Even though the emphasis has changed the push on education has stayed the same.

On some things the older generation and the ‘Internet Class’ will never be able to understand each other or come to terms. Older generations will never be able to understand why students of today are so entranced by their cell phones and the new devices that seem to come out daily. Likewise, the students of today can’t understand why their older professors and grandparents are so annoyed and exasperated by the new gadgets and how students can’t seem to put them down. One thing is clear though, there will always be differences between generations, that is the main similarity all generations have shared. They are different and have never completely understood each other.

Goff, Jacob: Diversity

2011-11-27T13:15:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King was a man of eloquent words and a great passion for equality. His Letter from Birmingham Jail written in response to the Call to Unity was a response to clergymen who were trying to slow the progress of African-Americans towards equality. King believed that he was similar to the eighth-century prophets who went out to spread God's word. He needed to go to the aid of people who needed his wisdom and experience. His goal was to unite the Christian leaders, Black and White, under one common goal.  

King had a very smart approach. He did everything he could peacefully and within the law in spite of what White segregationists were doing. He urged his fellow freedom seekers to do the same and most did. When a tactic did not work, King asked that his people to use another nonviolent tactic. This was usually hard because the people were getting inpatient. They were impatient because the freedom they wanted was coming so slowly. Of course, one cannot blame them for their impatience because other countries who were trying to achieve the same goal were getting there much faster.  

The fight for freedom was long and many suffered violence and death, but with the help of great men like Martin Luther King Jr., it was a fight won. If it were not for determined men like him who knows where our country would be today.

Wetherington, Rachel: Diversity

2011-11-23T19:07:00.000-08:00

During the 1960s, America was in the midst of two different wars: one overseas in Vietnam and one on the home front known as the Civil Rights Movement. Diversity was far from many people's minds, save for a select few, because of what was happening in Vietnam. However, one man in particular, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was especially focused on diversity and trying to achieve acceptance of it. Segregation was universally practiced in the South during this time, and it was the main goal of Dr. King to help bring an end to it. Many people opposed his attempts in doing this, which resulted in a letter entitled "A Call For Unity" by eight white Birmingham clergymen that was published in a local newspaper. Dr. King's response to this letter was written while he was in jail, fittingly called "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." Both of these letters played a role in the eventual acceptance of diversity.

"A Call For Unity" was written on April 12, 1963. The letter urged "Negroes" to stop their demonstrations. These demonstrations were "directed and led in part by outsiders," according to the letter, referring to Dr. King. The clergymen make a weak attempt to try to be understanding in the Black's situation, but the arguments are not in any way convincing. The letter says that they "agree with certain local Negro leadership which has called for honest and open negotiation" about the racial issues but also states that the demonstrations were "unwise and untimely." The clergymen were merely trying to do what almost all the other whites did: promise change in the future and give Blacks false hope so they would discontinue their demonstrations. The veiled message is one that Dr. King picked up on, and as a result he wrote his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." Without the clergymen's "A Call For Unity," Dr. King would not have had the opportunity to write one of his most famous and influential works that would play a large role in the Civil Rights Movement, in turn allowing for a more universal acceptance of diversity.

Dr. King's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" was written just four days after "A Call For Unity," on April 16, 1963. Dr. King was in jail for a petty charge of demonstrating without a permit, that in itself highlighting the prejudices evident during this time. Although he was in jail, Dr. King did not give up or sit and wait to get out while injustices were still being done. He was not from Birmingham, but came because of an invitation from the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights to curb the injustices. In his letter, Dr. King compared his aid to the Biblical stories of prophets and the Apostle Paul, saying he was "compelled to bring the gospel of freedom beyond [his] hometown." Dr. King was committed to nonviolent protest and became a symbol for any committed to spread acceptance of diversity and eliminate injustices due to prejudices.

Although Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had to face countless oppositions such as in "A Call For Unity," he was able to maintain a nonviolent defense, as seen in his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail," to expose the injustices done as a result of prejudices and the Whites' refusal to accept diversity. In turn, he was able to lead one of the most important movements in America's history; that is, the acceptance of others' differences, or in other words, diversity.

Hamilton, Josh: Diversity

2011-11-23T19:00:00.000-08:00

After reading “A Call for Unity” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” I must express that my feelings align with Dr. Martin Luther King’s ideology. In a perfect world the wishes of the eight clergymen that wrote “A Call for Unity” could most definitely be met. They wish for the desegregation through negotiation, which of itself is a noble cause. What they do not realize though is what MLK points out. Negotiation won’t simply just happen, it must be forced. The oppressor will never fully understand the plight of the oppressed. Though, in a perfect world segregation wouldn’t exist and reform would not be necessary.

The claims that are made by the White clergymen are for the most part false. Though their wishes are noble at the surface level, they turn a blind eye to what is reality. For an example, they claim that the marches and other demonstrations that are put on by members of the "Negro" community are “unwise and untimely” stating that there are better alternatives to achieve the goals that the Black community wishes to achieve. This is not true, seeing as negotiations were called for and ignored previously, thus proving that the demonstrations were necessary for proper reform. They also claim that the actions taken by “outsiders” have “not contributed to the resolution of our local problems” and even claimed that they incite hate and violence. This is flat out untrue. Obviously, seeing as segregation has now ended for the most part the actions that were taken did contribute to the resolution of the local problems. Also the goal of the reformers was to end the hatred and violence that was currently ensuing, which was achieved.

The clergymen commended the local police force for their attempts to remain nonviolent. This angers me. I fully agree with Dr. Martin Luther King when he states that their nonviolence only helps to preserve the system of segregation. They are similar to the lukewarm church of Laodicea. They are not performing outright evil acts of violence, but nor are they performing acts of justice by aiding the call for desegregation. Their restraint actually partially promotes evil, because it creates a rallying point for those who want to continue the system of segregation. They can look at it and say that their slate is clean and nothing has been done wrong because they are nonviolent, which in the end hurts the desegregation movement.

Though their motives are indeed pure and sincere I believe the eight clergymen who wrote “A Call for Unity” are actually a thorn in the side to the desegregation movement, and I am personally glad that MLK decided to respond to that particular letter. He said what needed to be said to make a point that is not common sense.

Guy, Lacey: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:56:00.000-08:00

While reading A Call for Unity, many feelings swelled up inside me. Most of those   feelings had to do with disgust and confusion. It's hard to grasp the fact that people are   treated differently than others when I've grown up in such a diverse world, but reading   this made me realize how strongly i feel about people being mistreated.   

On April 12, 1963, the Alabama clergymen wrote A Call for Unity to address the   peaceful protests, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Birmingham Alabama. The clergy   described Dr. King's protests as "unwise" and "untimely". Those words irritated me.   How could someone judge a protest as unwise when so many people were being   treated unfairly? It seems as if the wise thing to do in that situation would be stand up. I   do not see anything wrong with groups coming together to fight for a cause, especially   when they do it in a peaceful manner. Also, I believe it is never the wrong time to stand   up for your rights when you're being treated unfairly. Things needed to be changed as   soon as possible in hopes that the future would be brighter. The fact that the clergymen   wanted to move the protests to the courts made it seem as if they saw the protestors as   doing something wrong. When did acting on you rights, from The Bill of Rights, become   a crime? If all they wanted to do was push "problems" aside and persecute innocent   people, i feel as if they were not ready to deal with the changed that was needed. It's as   if they were delaying the inevitable. 

On April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King wrote a letter in response to A Call for   Unity titled Letter from a Birmingham Jail. In this letter, King described the protests   through his own perspective and told the clergymen that he was not willing to give up   until the injustice was fixed. He addressed the clergymen's misuse of the word   "outsiders" and went on the state "Anyone who lives inside the United States can never   be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." I support this statement fully.   The country needed to come together as a whole to stand against the injustice, because   we all should be equal. The rest of the letter entailed King's hopes for the future. I   believe Martin Luther King's letter was inspirational. Not only did he calmly express his   opinions, he did it with such poise. He didn't necessarily try to talk down to or condemn   the clergymen; he only tried to open their eyes to change. In the end, he even   apologized, hoping no hard feelings were exchanged. If more people focused on the   issues instead of lashing out, i believe this country would be more open to change.  

King's words calmed me after being so frustrated from reading A Call for Unity.   His letter gave me hope that there are people in this world who are willing to stand up   for diversity, just like Dr. King, and that diversity is something that still needs to be   worked on today, because it would be horrifying to ever have such racial prejudice   again.

Bowling, Emily: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

In 1963 Blacks in the South began to stand up for themselves. They had seen their fellows tortured and killed for way too long. They wanted justice and wouldn’t settle until they received it. They began to demonstrate, sit-in, and march to bring attention to this problem.

“A Call for Unity” was written by eight white clergymen in Birmingham, Alabama in April of that year. It was such a big controversy that it ended up being published in a local Birmingham newspaper. The eight clergymen urged Blacks to end their demonstrations, because they were being led by outsiders. The clergymen thought it would be better for Blacks to use the courts to negotiate the rights that they were being denied. It was not long after this letter was published that Martin Luther King Jr. responded with “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. Martin Luther King Jr. responded in a very mature fashion, he did not lash out at the clergymen he just simply stated that the demonstrations were the only way that Blacks could get through to people. He stated that going to the courts would have been a good idea, but he knew good and well that the White men who ran the courts would never open their ears to what Blacks had to say. Martin Luther was a Christian man who came to Birmingham to change the hearts of people and make things right for the people in Birmingham.

I agree with Martin Luther King Jr., he knew Whites would not listen to his people. The loud demonstrations were the only way to get through to them. It saddens me to think that the demonstrations were their last resort. I do not understand how Whites could be so deaf to change. They would intentionally hurt Blacks just to avoid integration. I respect King for the way he addressed the clergymen. I believe the sit-ins and demonstrations that Blacks resorted to in 1963, paved the way for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the rest of the African-American community to eventually integrate the town of Birmingham.

Beavers, Michelle: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

After Martin Luther King and his followers took action to gain rights and freedom, Doctor King was thrown in the Birmingham jail. While he was serving his time in jail, the letter "A Call for Unity" was printed in the local newspaper. This letter called King's efforts "unwise and untimely" and says that simple negotiation would have worked just fine. After Doctor King read this letter, he responded with the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," which explains to the clergymen why Blacks were taking action and the reasoning behind the actions taken. Reading King's response, I believe King was very respectful, talking to the clergymen as equals, and stated the reasoning for his actions very well.

Doctor King believes there are four steps to a nonviolent campaign: collecting facts, negotiation, self-purification, and direct action. Everyone knew and can see that racial injustice existed in Birmingham, especially in the courts. So the facts were plain in sight. Then, Doctor King states that Blacks tried negotiating with the merchants kindly, asking the merchants to take down racial signs. However, as King pointed out to the clergymen, "A few signs, briefly removed, returned; others remained." Negotiation efforts were simply ignored and pushed to the side. King was always for nonviolence, so the next step taken was self-purification. This was when Blacks gathered for workshops and asked themselves, "Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?" and "Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?" Doctor King knew how he wanted the protesting to go, and he did not want violence to be a apart of it. Lastly, direct action was taken to start tension. Tension was not made, tension that already existed was merely brought out into the open for everyone to acknowledge. With this tension, the ignored issue of blacks bing treated unfairly could not be ignored much longer.

Doctor King did not believe that any kind of direct action could be called timely or wise, at least not to the oppressor. King states, "freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." King is right in this aspect. The oppressed will eventually come out; they can not remain oppressed forever. Any privileged person or group will never think to voluntarily give up privileges to someone less fortunate. So any time an unprivileged person or group asks to be put on or looked at on the same level, it is considered untimely and unwise.

In the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Doctor King was very respectful in everything he said. He addressed the clergymen as equals at the beginning and end of the letter, saying "fellow clergymen," and "Christian brother." King is not sour or mad at any mistreatment done to him or his people in the letter. He simply wants changes to be made. He wants racial prejudice done with. He says "our great nation," pointing out that we are all from the same place and are all Americans. King wants these clergymen to understand that he is not against them; King simply wants his "Christian brothers" to help him and his people gain their rights.

Sorsby, Amy: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King was one of the few men in this ‘free’ country who stood up for what he believed in, but his only problem was he was in the 1960s and also – a Black man. African Americans were being pushed to their limit by the government by not being able to vote and being slaves to White Americans. It took a few African-American leaders to stand up and defend them all. Even some children stood up because King inspired them. That’s what he did by writing “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

MLK uses more than one example and supports each statement with appropriate use of his own knowledge. They said that his strike was “unwise and untimely” and he begins the letter with sarcasm stating that he knows they are good, genuine men. Then he argued that human rights must come before unjust laws. He defended the impatience of civil rights protestors, as well as their use of civil disobedience in order to force the community to acknowledge and to respond to serious problems that were happening in Birmingham. He stated, "Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension, that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue."

MLK also argued that the laws were unjust. He said that they were morally unjust because the Bible talks about unjust acts and segregation is definitely unjust. After, he argued that segregation was unjust because unjust laws do not follow democratic process and Blacks couldn’t vote therefore it was not a democracy. He stands between two extremes of Black action. He isn’t sitting there and letting it all happen, but he does not hate the White man. He warns that without his nonviolent movement, the extreme of Blacks hating Whites will win out and cause more violence.

He expresses his disappointment with the church because they are not even trying to do anything about the situation. The church altogether had no impact on society anymore, but he had faith in some of the members of the churches because they had come to him individually.

African Americans were pushed to the limit. They all were either fed up and striking against the White man or too scared to say what they felt. America should never make someone feel like they should be too scared to state their opinion. That’s the background on why he wrote his letter to the council; he could not resist any longer without saying anything and he thought that everyone else should too.

Owens, Landon: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:25:00.000-08:00

A nation founded by immigrants. This is how America began and it is how it has continued to grow and change. Diversity has shaped America throughout its existence. It has brought racism, prejudice, and turmoil as well as created a unique culture found nowhere else on earth. It was what makes America the nation that it is. Now more than ever, our culture is becoming even more diverse. If it weren’t for a series of important events however, our country’s unique diversity would not exist in the same way.

The essays, A Call for Unity and A Letter from Birmingham Jail, show the racial tensions in the U.S. during the Sixties. Ideas on diversity were much different in those times than they are now. That was a time when there was a much larger gap between Blacks and Whites. The two letters show both sides presented in an educated way without showing hatred. It is important that both sides are presented in such a way so that they can meet on common ground. Both essays were sincere attempts to somehow come to some type of peaceful resolution. This was during one of the most important times in history for our nation to become a diverse but unified country. Through this time period, as well as others, diversity became a key part of American culture.

There has always been diversity in America, but not always cooperation and understanding. These two letters show an important time in history when diversity was not accepted as it is today. In my life, I have seen a large increase in diversity since coming to college. I came from a small town with a limited diversity. However, in college, there is more diversity in every class than there was back home. The diversity of America has been an essential point to changing it. It will continue to change over the years and shape our world each and every day.

Meyer, Cheyenne: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:19:00.000-08:00

Anyone who hears the name “Martin Luther King Jr.” automatically thinks about how much of an American hero and martyr, as well as an advocate for social justice and equality he truly was. Through countless demonstrations and peaceful protests, King led a movement unlike any this nation had ever seen before. After reading and analyzing King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” and a response from white ministers “A Call for Unity,” I was allowed insight into King’s true thoughts and feelings, and the obstacles he had to overcome to fight for justice in America.

Although “A Call for Unity” was an important document expressing the “white point of view,” I was fascinated by King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Within the letter, I discovered many profound thoughts and ideas that truly made me step back and examine our society. Many phrases contained in the letter prompted me to reflect upon where we’ve been, where we are, and in what direction we are going in the future in America.

The first phrase that really caught my attention read “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” To me, this phrase can be applied to almost any situation where one tries to justify his cruel actions by saying “Everyone is doing it.” There is definitely strength in numbers. If an injustice is accepted in one area, others in different areas will be more likely to commit the same act (such as racial discrimination, in King’s case) because they believe it is widely acceptable to do so. Justice can be threatened nation-wide, or even universally, if it is undermined in one place.

Another prominent idea I noticed in the letter involved the word “Wait!” King mentioned that for years, African Americans were told to “wait” for things to change. It seemed, however, that “wait” almost always meant “never.” They say good things come to those who wait, but it must have been unrealistic and discouraging to those who were constantly asked to wait on something that should have been available the entire time.

A final idea that caught my attention was “An unjust law is no law at all.” This idea, which originally was coined by St. Augustine, is deeply discussed in the letter as King explains the difference between just and unjust laws. Like St. Thomas Aquinas said, “Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.” Restrictions that were placed on African Americans during King’s time were most certainly degrading and unjust, so it was absolutely appropriate to bring up this idea.

Although only three ideas were discussed, King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail” contained many great concepts and profound thoughts that brought to surface exactly what injustices African Americans were forced to face. Reading this letter, as well as “A Call For Unity”, provided me with much insight into the thoughts of many very important leaders during the time of racial oppression in America.

Jeon, Heekyung: Diversity

2011-11-23T18:12:00.000-08:00

Until we were able to peacefully live in the nation of diversity all together, there had been lots of struggles of African-American people against race discrimination and the injustices of society.

In the past, there were White churches in which African-Americans were not allowed to join for services. Black people were despised and treated with disdain by White people. White churches just kept silent when Black people appealed for justice and true freedom. However, after constant movements BY people such as Martin Luther King Jr. who desperately desired for human equality, African-Americans eventually achieved their deserved human rights. Nowadays, the United States is obviously well-known as one of the nations which racial discrimination barely exists.

Sadly, despite all Americans’ efforts to get rid of the racial injustice, racial discrimination is still deeply ingrained. For example, there are still many “historically black” colleges in which more than 90% of the students are Black. Also, this year a Black mother who was sentenced to 10 days in prison because she sent her daughter to a school in a White district. Furthermore, Black defendants with White victims are more likely to get stronger punishments than White defendants with Black victims when they commit the same crime. Some kids are taught that different races are not supposed to be married and grow up with racism.

Before I came to the United States, I expected lots of mixed-race couples walking in the street and Black and White college students talking and giggling to one another in a group on the campus because America is multicultural. Instead, I have observed Black-White racial segregation and stereotypes about other races. Through my experiences while studying in the United States, I realized that the racial issues have not completely been solved even 57 years after the African-American Civil Rights Movement. I hope the day comes soon when all races realize the true meaning of human rights, practice on equality, and mingle well with other races without any stereotype.

Brinkley, James: Diversity

2011-11-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

Diversity is an issue that’s controversial in quite a few societies. A Call for Unity and Letter from a Birmingham Jail reveal opposing views about how to approach a resolution for segregation in the city of Birmingham. A Call for Unity calls for negotiation and less tense tactics to resolve the harsh treatment of colored people and blames Martin Luther King for inciting an aura of hostility in Birmingham. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail is a rebuttal, in which he justifies his involvement and relays the problems with the opposing view.

In A Call for Unity, eight white clergymen of Birmingham, Alabama express views that originate from an oppressive mentality. Martin Luther King correctly identifies the flaws of their mindset, in which they sympathize with the ultimate goal of freedom, but discourage the use of any activities that cause commotion. The clergymen advise the use of negotiation and blame the interference of Martin Luther King as the source of Birmingham’s tension. In actuality, Birmingham’s tension is due to the peaceful and lawful demonstrations led by Martin Luther King, but they are completely necessary. The oppressed are left with no alternative methods for obtaining freedom other than by demand. Tension is a necessary component in convincing an oppressive majority to change for the better of an oppressed minority.

Without the support of an outside source, the Blacks of Birmingham are unable to argue against segregation on fair terms. Particular laws of Birmingham regarding them are unjust and the issue is addressed by Martin Luther King. He states that people are obligated to obey just laws and inclined to change unjust laws. The laws of Birmingham are developed to bring only a few rights to Blacks and King merely casts his support because such laws are difficult for a minority to change by themselves. For example, King comments on the “devious methods” being used to prevent Blacks from voting. It’s very difficult for a people’s voice to be heard when they aren’t even allowed to submit their opinion. King himself is ridiculously arrested because he lacked the proper permit for a public demonstration.

In conclusion, King’s influence is very necessary for the cause of the Blacks of Birmingham. The requests of the clergymen may be justifiable, but not under the circumstances of the situation. When considering diversity, people must realize it’s absolutely everywhere. Unfortunately, the people of Birmingham make the least of their diversity, but there are always other people that try to mold diversity into a positive and beneficial aspect of society.

Chapman, Jordan: Diversity

2011-11-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

When I compared “A Call for Unity” and “Letter from Birmingham Jail” I came to the conclusion that Martin Luther King Jr was more morally correct than were the other seven clergymen. What the clergymen wanted was to stop all of the demonstrations and have negotiations instead. What they did not understand is what King explained to them in his letter. He basically told them that without the demonstrations there would be no negotiations. This is where I agree with him. The clergymen did not factor in that there was still racial discrimination. Although the White community had been doing well by being nonviolent, the courts wouldn’t give the Black community the time of day. Therefore the only way to achieve change was by the demonstrations.

King was in Birmingham for a purpose, and that purpose was for all of the injustice in the city. As he said, “Birmingham is probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. Its ugly record of brutality is widely known. Negroes have experienced grossly unjust treatment in the courts.” He was there to bring justice to the city. The Blacks of Birmingham had gone through rough times, and the clergymen who wrote “A Call for Unity” commended the white community for their good behavior.

The reasons that Blacks living in the city supported the demonstrations was because of the manner they were treated prior to these demonstrations. The clergymen wanted negotiations, and so did the Blacks. The reason for their “direct-action” was to finally be able to negotiate. By simply keeping the peace they knew that the arrangements and promises necessary would not be met. “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” said King.

Martin Luther King Jr was not disagreeing with his fellow clergymen but agreed with them. Although he did argue that without direct-action there would be no negotiations. He was simply showing them the injustices that the community of Birmingham had allowed to fester. The clergymen were blind to these facts, and King hoped to open their eyes with his letter.

Haydel, Emily: Diversity

2011-11-23T17:33:00.000-08:00

In A Letter From Birmingham Jail Martin Luther King Jr. wrote about nonviolent protest as opposed to violent protest in response to another letter, A Call for Unity. I agree with Martin Luther King Jr. in that I believe nonviolent protest is far superior to violent protest. If violent protest is used then violence will be used to battle the protestors which will cause more violence back from the protesters. This will cause a ladder of growing violence. Also, there may be many unnecessary deaths and injuries caused by the violence.

I believe that non-violent protest is more successful too. If violence is used against nonviolent protesters then most onlookers will feel either guilty or angered. This will, in effect, create more supporters of the cause that is being protested. In this case the controversy is racism. Racism still exists unfortunately, but thanks to the many nonviolent protests in the past, minorities of all cultures are protected by law and given the same rights as the White majority. Thanks to the protests, minorities such as Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians, have the same rights as Whites. They no longer have to be separated because of their color or their culture. No more will they have to suffer the embarrassment of having to drink from separate fountains, work certain jobs while being denied others, or be forced to go to separate schools or churches.

I believe that the rights minorities of all races have today is all thanks to the nonviolent protesters of the Black culture and the White people who protested alongside them. Thanks to them, minorities today are legally protected from acts of hatred and racism. They are also protected from racial prejudice. Lastly they are protected from racial discrimination and from embarrassment due to being forced to be separate from the White American majority.

Acharya, Prashant: Diversity

2011-11-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

The two letters: "A Call for Unity" and "Letters from Birmingham Jail" offer two   distinct solutions to a pressing problem of that time, 1963 to be specific. These two   letters written at the height of the racial tensions and civil rights movement divided   people roughly into two groups. One group believed that the civil disobedience   campaign of Dr. Martin Luther King was legitimate and was the right thing to do, whereas   other group strongly disagreed with this notion and thought it was morally and legally   inappropriate.

          For me, Dr. King's letter was inspiring on all levels. From his choice of words to   the reasoning he provided in the letter; they were all simply astounding. The letter   overflowed with his vast knowledge and ideas. Take for an example: "justice too long   delayed is justice denied." Dr. King has explained his ideas in a very elaborate way with   many perfectly fitting examples. The letter is of the highest quality and I think it should be   read by everyone to lead them to the righteous path by separating just and unjust laws   and standing against the moral wrong doings in the society. 

          Now talking about "A Call for Unity," I can see where these clergymen are coming   from and kind of understand their points of view. But I cannot in any way agree with their   opinions or support them. These clergymen, in a way, wanted peace and harmony in   the society but their stance on this artificial peace would have only ignited a fire of   disgust and hatred leading to a violent retaliation against the status quo.  

          It's ethically acceptable to stand against morally unjust laws. When certain   segments of the population are suppressed on the basis of the color of their skin and   there are people who oppose such notions for equality, then it's a moral obligation of   every citizen to join in the protest. Even if it means crossing few legal boundaries. In their   letter, these clergymen talked about going to courts and using negotiations to resolve the   issue at hand. But that was ridiculous because the legal system back then still saw   Black people as second-class citizens and those negotiations never resulted in anything   conclusive enough to not require those street demonstrations.  

          These kind of issues are never solved by waiting and hoping for time to bring the   winds of change along. When people are deprived of their rights, it's their obligation to   demand them. These two letters clashed. Just by reading them, I could   vividly envision those days of struggle. Overall, these letters were definitely significant in   1963 and even today they have not lost their place.

Sorsby, Taryn: Diversity

2011-11-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

The purpose of "A Call For Unity" was to explain to the Black population that Whites (who supposedly agreed with their idea that segregation was wrong) believed that "outsiders" should not be the leaders of public protest, but that individuals needed to react locally. The writers felt that the demonstrations were unwise, and that though the people's plight was understandable, it was necessary for the process to slow down and be redirected.

In Martin Luther King's "Letters from Birmingham Jail," he argued that though the "outsider" comment was directed at him, being a member of our country made him local anywhere he deemed fit to be on the continent. "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever," King reminded. He also held that while there was a need to go to authority when morals were challenged, other actions must be taken when that authority has been corrupted. To the idea that the process of desegregation needed to be tamed, Dr. King explained that there was no way that could possibly happen without negative consequences.

While in some places, racism can still be an issue, I'm glad that for the most part it has disappeared. If I'd been alive during segregation, it would've seemed wrong to me. I would have hated it, and probably spoken against it. To see in history books and documentaries the struggles that Black people went through, it almost makes me despise Whites (forgetting that I am one.) To see the first letter, and then Dr. King's reply, I have solace in the fact that Dr. King stood up for his race, and even lost his life in pursuit of that one thing that they so desperately wished for.

Freedom is a concept that we as human beings often take for granted, because we can never appreciate it the way our ancestors did. It is through struggle that freedom is achieved.

Cobb, Lacey: Diversity

2011-11-23T15:31:00.000-08:00

In the mid-1900s, the many of the Southern states experienced segregation between the White and Black races. The towns were segregated and most public places were too, including schools and restaurants. Black people, often referred to as "Negroes," weren't allowed the right to vote or to take part of any political campaign. The Blacks then began to fight for their rights, which caused many problems between them and the White people. As a result, eight clergymen wrote a letter, A Call For Unity, expressing their ideas as to why these Black people should not march up and down the streets, but instead settle their problems in the court. However, Martin Luther King Jr. strongly disagreed with their ideas as he explained in his Letter From A Birmingham Jail.


A Call For Unity, written by eight clergymen, was a letter that addressed the need for African Americans to end their public demonstrations and engage in local negotiations. The clergymen strongly urged Blacks to go to the courts to deal with their rights that were being denied. What sparked King's response, however, was not that these men had written this letter, but the fact that they referred to the demonstrations as unwise and untimely, directed by and led by outsider agitators.


While sitting in his jail cell, King replied to these men about their letter. Though he seldom replied to criticism, he thought that the clergymen were very genuine and sincere. While they thought that his actions were very unwise and untimely, King felt quite the opposite about them. The only way to solve that the problems Blacks were facing was to have direct action. He explained that although it may have seemed as though Blacks were being impatient with their hopes slow in being realized, if the same thing were to happen to White people they would want to take direct action too. He also points out that while the clergymen referred to him as an outsider, the truth was, in fact, that anyone living in the United States cannot be considered an outsider.

Like King, I too believe that his actions were all but unwise and untimely. When it comes to the unjust, someone has to take a stand and fight for what is right. King did just that, and if he had waited any longer, nothing would have happened to improve the situation affecting every Black person. Segregation is unjust; God created every man equal and therefore those black people had then right to fight for their equality.

Segregation was a big problem back in the mid-1900's and is still a problem today, although it is not nearly as bad. When reflecting on these two letters, it is obvious how simple-minded the clergymen are about the situation between the Whites and the Blacks. They see it from only their perspective and not once think about what it would be like if they were African Americans; only if they saw it from the eyes of Black people would they then realize just how wise and timely King's actions were.

Curbelo, Isabella: Diversity

2011-11-23T15:01:00.000-08:00

After reading two opposing articles, A Call for Unity and Martin Luther King Jr's A Letter From Birmingham Jail, it's clear that two completely different ideas, cultures, groups of people had opinions and saw no reason to back down from them. These oppositions were results of different regions of the United States, different backgrounds, and different moral standards. When one reads into each side, it's easy to realize why people act the way they do.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was right when he talked about the different kinds of people there are. Some people didn't want to deal with the consequences of the civil rights movement, others didn't care enough to get involved, and others actually benefited by the segregation taking place. Of course the latter group would rather continue benefiting than not.

I believe that during those hard times people had to have an altruistic perspective on life to care enough to look past themselves and onto the much greater realms of society. Those that didn't have this innate characteristic were the ones that created resistance to the movement. Even though in retrospect most feel that Martin Luther King Jr.'s words were true, at the time it's quite easy to see why most didn't. People, since the beginning of time, have been scared of change--scared of its possible outcomes on life. This time was no different. Even though some like King had a clear vision into the future and could see how humanity would benefit from this kind of change, most had a mindset that nothing good could come of treating everyone equal.

It's safe to say that society hasn't changed much. Though there are still issues of segregation in the United States, other issues have taken a greater role of importance and people still act much in the same old way. There's a sense of morality in all the issues we face as Americans today; some choose to take bold stands and change the world, while others resist because they might not benefit the way they think they should. Still, things take place and just like the segregation issues in the 50s and 60s, things are inevitably changing due to people's action and lack thereof.

Emerson, Sarah: Diversity

2011-11-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Although the eight white clergy men's criticisms were "sincerely set forth," their inability to experience the African Americans' struggle during 1963, ultimately caused their ignorance to why the nonviolent demonstrations were needed.

The eight clergymen were natives to Birmingham, Alabama, one of the prime locations in America where Black citizens were denied their rights due to racism. I understand the point of view the clergymen had; to seek justice through the legal system instead of creating tension with demonstrations. Nevertheless, the clergymen were unaware of how deeply embedded racism was in the legal system. The court system was not going to bring change. Martin Luther King Jr. illustrates for the reader how African Americans became agonized with the legal system because they put off racial issues instead of confronting them. "Wait" became a very painful word, because after generations of patience, the word "wait" became "never." The white politicians in Birmingham ultimately didn't want the Black race to be able to exercise their rights, which resulted in their procrastination: "Justice too long delayed is justice denied." Constant rejection in the legal system called for a more direct offense to gain civil rights.

Martin Luther King Jr. was referred as an "outsider looking in" by the clergymen. Despite Luther's organization being located in Atlanta, Georgia his message was universal. I agree with his statement about how location is irrelevant: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." If these human rights organizations had not gotten involved, Birmingham's injustice would've threatened African Americans' citizenship across America. What the clergymen failed to recognize is how the generations of hardship caused the Black race to take any threat very seriously. The clergymen never had to endure the "stinging darts of segregation." Their children never had a "cloud of inferiority" fill their minds. The clergy men never had witnessed their loved ones being lynched or hurt by an angry White mob. The clergymen should not judge the organizations' tactics, because the White clergymens' opinion will always be biased. They were unable to take a walk in a black man's shoes, and cannot understand how it feels to have your freedom threatened.

The nonviolent demonstration is a effective option, and I admire whoever decided to use it. Creating a circumstance that legal action must be taken, all while maintaining one's dignity, creates a losing situation for the opponent. "The process of self purification" humbles the direct action. Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists underwent a workshop on nonviolence. They asked themselves questions like: "Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?" and "Are you able to deal the ordeal of jail?" Upholding high standards, while the white mobs responded with violence proved to the community and the nation who was in the wrong. The white clergymen may not like the tension the demonstrations caused between races in Birmingham, but they cannot argue that it is unmoral or unethical.

In conclusion, the actions of Martin Luther King Jr. were done for specific reasons. The intentions of the eight White clergymen may have been to maintain peace, but their lack of experience and knowledge about the movement caused their biased opinion.

Yang, Zichao: Diversity

2011-11-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

As an international student, I am not very familiar with American history. After I read “A call for unity” and “ Aletter from Birmingham jail”, I did some background research about those articles. I know that the voice of the African-American community was muted for many years. Segregation suppressed the voice as it oppressed the community and stripped it of freedoms. But when the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. rolled around, and when African Americans gained a new sense of dignity, they decided to stand up, or, in many cases, sit down, for their right to freedom. He is more than assured of what he is arguing about. His tone is assertive. His letter projects an intransigent attitude. King was calling people to rise up from passivity and take a stand in a nonviolent manner. Compared to King, the tone of “A call for unity”, written by the eight white clergymen is much softer than King. The rationale of their article was trying to get peace and calm negotiations. Doing so might make African American people wait longer to get their rights.

Compared to the White community, the Black community was given fewer opportunities, privileges, and respect. Their voices and opinions were not heard and if they were heard, they were still ignored. However I believe everyone in this world should have equal rights, no matter whether a person is white or black or yellow. The real owners of this land are the Indians, not White people or Black people. Black people deserve same rights as what White people have. We should not divide people by color or race. Everybody has the right to live the way they want. No one wants to be treated differently from others. I believe racism is the last thing people should do while they are alive.

O'Neal, Kara: Diversity

2011-11-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

"A Call for Unity", written by eight White clergymen native to Alabama, addressed the peaceful protests led by Martin Luther King in Birmingham. In their letter, the clergymen expressed their disagreement with King's nonviolent protests. They said the protests, both 'untimely and unwise,' would gain the "Negro" community nothing. They would only lead to more violence. The clergymen implored the African-American community to take their case of denied rights to the courts rather than protest for their rights in the streets.

I do not understand or agree with the clergymen's argument. How could they, the clergymen, expect the African-American community to go to the courts to argue for their rights, to argue for justice when there was injustice towards the them in the courts at the time? Any Black who went to court would not have been dealt with fairly. Protesting in the streets was their only hope for gaining their rights.

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail" was Martin Luther King's response to the clergymen's "A Call for Unity". In his letter, King pointed out how long the African-American community had been suffering from discrimination and injustice. He also pointed out that the they had been willing to negotiate, to wait. But the time for waiting had passed and it was time for action. King poignantly got his point across about the harsh reality faced by African Americans at the time by using several examples of discrimination that took place daily. King explained in great depth and detail the true meaning of justice. He used several prominent biblical and historical figures as examples of justice. King also criticized the White church and its leadership for not helping the Black community gain the justice they rightfully deserved.

I completely agree with King's words. Law and order cannot exist without justice. The Black community had tolerated injustice long enough and it was time for them to take a stand. King didn't call for violence he merely asked the White community to understand where he and his fellow African Americans were coming from.

Both letters are from opposite ends of the spectrum. "A Call for Unity" is a poor excuse for attempting to reach out to the African-American community and to tell them how they can gain justice. "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" is a powerful call for true justice and equal rights among all people.

Marsh, Daly: Diversity

2011-11-23T14:16:00.000-08:00

After reading A Call For Unity, written by eight clergymen from Birmingham, Alabama, and A Letter From Birmingham Jail, written in return by Martin Luther king Jr, I Acknowledge the struggles between Blacks and Whites. The conflicts between two completely opposite communities living in the city.

In the two letters, there are two completely different stories being told. The clergymen claim that African Americans should stop protesting. The letter says that the protesting is not helping anyone, but only causing more trouble to the society. Also, the letter states that African Americans are not protesting because they need to, but because outside opinions are influencing them to respond.

In my opinion, this is an untrue and unfair statement to make against African Americans. If they would not have protested, there would not be any tension between the two races. Tension, is what makes people change or notice what is wrong. Without the community standing up for themselves, nothing would have happened. Clergymen argued that the fight doesn't need to be fought through demonstrations, but handled in court if they thought something was unfair. In contrast, the society was not completely 'equal.' Even churches were segregated, even though in the eyes of God everyome is created equal. Discrimination was supported because no one stood up against it.

Martin Luther King Jr. and his well written response, A Letter From Birmingham Jail, stood up for the wrongs in discrimination. The demonstrations that Mr. king and his community conducted are what changed the way discrimination is depicted. Every time someone stood up, they were told to 'wait' by higher powers. Mr. King announced that he was tired of waiting. The 'wait' turned into 'never,' and something had to be done. He created tension with his nonviolent demonstrations that forced a bigger community to notice what needed to be changed.

In conclusion, discrimination is wrong, and should not be practiced. Racism is still a problem today, but because of Mr. King and his demonstrations racism is decreasing every generation. Without someone standing up for what they believe in, nothing would be as it is today.