On the surface, the Wizard of Oz is little more than a children's story. A little girl from Kansas is swept up in a cyclone with her little dog Toto and lands in the Land of Oz. A closer look however, tells the powerful metaphors and symbols pertaining to the politics of the period that drive the film forward. One of the most important factors of the movie is the poor migrant farmers of the south and the west, along with the manifestations of the farmer’s problems and solutions to these problems in the story.
As Dorothy, a good hearted, run-of-the-mill southern girl, follows the Yellow Brick road, she finds holes and broken-up sections of it. Being that the Yellow Brick road represents the gold standard, it can be interpreted that, the author wanted to point out the problems of the gold standard and how it affected the farmers. After all, the farmers had suffered through droughts, and watched as the prices of the foods that they produced fell in spite and probably because of over production. Banks, or witches, did nothing to make the farmer's situation, quite the opposite. They were ruthless, foreclosing farm after farm, and selling the newly gained land to railroads and massive farms that could ride out the recessions and more easily control prices.
Too make his point, Baum creates the Scarecrow, who represents the farmers. In the story, the Scarecrow doesn't have a brain, but still solves most of the group's problems. During the worst phases of the drought, farmers, pleading for help from the government and banks, found refuge only in themselves. They reasoned that since the prices of their goods were so low, all they need do to make up the extra income is produce more, and so they produced more. In fact, during the drought America saw one of its largest food-production increases in history. This is why Baum made the scarecrow without a brain.
The Wicked Witch of the East controlled the Munchkins, who Dorothy first had contact with in the Land of Oz. The witch met with bad accident when Dorothy's house landed on top of her crushing all except her feet. On them was Dorothy’s only hope at happiness, which would bring her home, the answer to all of her problems. The Silver/Red slippers! The Silver Slippers is a symbol for Free Silver. You see, in the years leading to the Free Silver Election, the farmers had been devastated by drought, robbed by the railroads, and kicked by the banks. Eventually, after growing tired of this, the farmers got back at them in the form of governmental programs.
The Wizard of Oz is filled with many more metaphors. For instance, in the title: "Wizard of Oz", Oz stands for ounce, referring to the gold standard. So the Wizard of ounce means the leader of the gold standard. The Quadlings, who only wear red, are a reference to the small communist movement in the south. The Tin man is the representation of industry who doesn't stop, and needs oil to survive. Emerald City represents cities in general and the Green Glasses that anyone in Emerald city must wear illustrates Baum's belief that the government allows a person to see only what government wants him to see.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
second bloggg
The end of the Civil War brought many changes to the United States. I believe that the United States was more successful in their reconstruction efforts. First of all, South Africa had
concerns mostly about how slow economic growth and factors such as crime and unemployment are. They also have unequal benefits for their people. The change from an impoverished country to a self-dependent nation will most likely not happen for a long time.
The economy of the United States is the largest national economy in the world. In 230 years the United States grew to a huge, integrated, industrialized economy that makes up over a quarter of the world economy. Throughout history, the United States has experienced steady growth in the labor force. The promise of high wages brings many skilled workers from around the world to the United States. So our unemployment rate is much lower than South Africa's. In 1999 36.2% of Africans were unemployed, 56% of the unemployed were women and 44% were men.
South Africa is struggling to overcome race, class and gender-based inequality, which come from the period of Apartheid. The majority of people still live in poverty and under living conditions that permanently threaten their well-being. And even though equal access to resources and opportunities are provided for them and protected by South Africa's constitution, it is still far from reality. The majority of black women continue to live under extremely poor conditions in very bad areas. Under Africa's Constitution they should be provided with more help and with social security and food stamps, but since the poverty rate is so high its too hard to give everyone what they need.
The United States on the other hand has many benefits for its people. For example, we have retirement founds, health care, life insurance, leave benefits, and more. The united states aims to accomplish a number of social targets, like safety-nets for the most needy and enhancing civil capacities. United States offers equal opportunities for a free education up until twelfth grade. A free and appropriate public education, meaning everyone can go to school as a right not a privilege. We have the right to speak our mind when we disagree with what the Government says and not every country has those rights.
Don't get me wrong the United States still needs work. There are many things the united states needs to work on. Our crime rate is very high in some parts on the country. Also, we need to look at things we can do to fix our economy considering that we are heading for a recession. The war in Iraq is also hurting our economy. Even though we our a country that always looks to help other people and we went into the war for all the right reasons, spending millions of dollars when we are facing such a crisis is something that we need to take another look at. Than decide if that's something we can do right now. United States need to keep jobs here in the United States instead of sending them overseas, so our people can make money and stay out of poverty.
In conclusion, the United States was more successful on its Reconstruction efforts. South Africa still has a lot of catching up to do and the United States still has work to do. Lets face it, this world will never be perfect. There will always be hatred towards one another. There will always be problems with the economy. There is no such thing as a perfect world. We can definitely work hard and bring change for the better. Its up to us as people of the United States to decide what our future is going to look like. Hopefully it will be one full of positive change and bring only good things. Our country isn't perfect but we can get it there.
concerns mostly about how slow economic growth and factors such as crime and unemployment are. They also have unequal benefits for their people. The change from an impoverished country to a self-dependent nation will most likely not happen for a long time.
The economy of the United States is the largest national economy in the world. In 230 years the United States grew to a huge, integrated, industrialized economy that makes up over a quarter of the world economy. Throughout history, the United States has experienced steady growth in the labor force. The promise of high wages brings many skilled workers from around the world to the United States. So our unemployment rate is much lower than South Africa's. In 1999 36.2% of Africans were unemployed, 56% of the unemployed were women and 44% were men.
South Africa is struggling to overcome race, class and gender-based inequality, which come from the period of Apartheid. The majority of people still live in poverty and under living conditions that permanently threaten their well-being. And even though equal access to resources and opportunities are provided for them and protected by South Africa's constitution, it is still far from reality. The majority of black women continue to live under extremely poor conditions in very bad areas. Under Africa's Constitution they should be provided with more help and with social security and food stamps, but since the poverty rate is so high its too hard to give everyone what they need.
The United States on the other hand has many benefits for its people. For example, we have retirement founds, health care, life insurance, leave benefits, and more. The united states aims to accomplish a number of social targets, like safety-nets for the most needy and enhancing civil capacities. United States offers equal opportunities for a free education up until twelfth grade. A free and appropriate public education, meaning everyone can go to school as a right not a privilege. We have the right to speak our mind when we disagree with what the Government says and not every country has those rights.
Don't get me wrong the United States still needs work. There are many things the united states needs to work on. Our crime rate is very high in some parts on the country. Also, we need to look at things we can do to fix our economy considering that we are heading for a recession. The war in Iraq is also hurting our economy. Even though we our a country that always looks to help other people and we went into the war for all the right reasons, spending millions of dollars when we are facing such a crisis is something that we need to take another look at. Than decide if that's something we can do right now. United States need to keep jobs here in the United States instead of sending them overseas, so our people can make money and stay out of poverty.
In conclusion, the United States was more successful on its Reconstruction efforts. South Africa still has a lot of catching up to do and the United States still has work to do. Lets face it, this world will never be perfect. There will always be hatred towards one another. There will always be problems with the economy. There is no such thing as a perfect world. We can definitely work hard and bring change for the better. Its up to us as people of the United States to decide what our future is going to look like. Hopefully it will be one full of positive change and bring only good things. Our country isn't perfect but we can get it there.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
In 1862 the U.S. Congress passed the Confiscation Act. After this act was passed, thousands of Southern slaves became "freedmen." Though they had eagerly awaited their liberators, freedom was accompanied by frightening uncertainties. Not all freedmen trusted white people professing friendship. Abuses of slavery was still fresh in their minds, and many suffered injustices from white soldiers. Knowing the war was not over and not sure of what to believe, many preferred to stay with their masters, who would have power over them until the Union forces moved on. Others joined the Federal army after 1863 because they didn't know what else to do.
In the summer of 1866, Congress passed two bills over the president's veto. One of the bills was the Freed men's Bureau Bill, and it extended the powers of a government agency that had been established in 1865 for the purpose of providing medical, educational, and financial assistance for the millions of impoverished southern blacks. Congress also passed the Civil Rights Bill, which gave full citizenship to blacks, along with all the rights of other Americans. President Johnson's supporters, Democrats and conservative Republicans, got together in the summer of 1866 to stop the movement for black rights. In June 1866, Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment, which was to ensure that rights guaranteed earlier to blacks under the Civil Rights Bill were protected by the Constitution.
Black voters came out strongly for the Republicans in the 1868 elections. This definitely helped Grant win the presidency. When Grant came into office, the Fifteenth Amendment was passed through Congress and was submitted to the states for ratification. The state ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment was passed on March 30, 1870. President Grant declared that the amendment had been adopted. Blacks also won seats in Congress, with Hiram Revels of Mississippi becoming the first black senator and Joseph Rainey of South Carolina being the first black to enter the House of Representatives.
There are still a lot of racial problems in the world today, though they might not be as talked about or as bad as they used to be they are still here. For example, in our presidential election going on right now. We have a black man running to be our President and a lot of our Southern states, that were once part of the confederacy aren't going to be voting for him. In most states Obama has pulled ahead, but in the Southern states McCain is winning by a landslide. The racial issues may not be seen as clearly today, but they are still slightly there.
In my opinion everyone is the same, and I don't feel as if anyone should get treated different. I have plenty black friends, and family members and life would be very different without them. The issues are still here, not as strong, but hopefully over time they will slowly disappear. Its disappointing to me that slaves endured all those hardships and still people don't appreciate what they have. My hope is over time racial issues will really not exist.
In the summer of 1866, Congress passed two bills over the president's veto. One of the bills was the Freed men's Bureau Bill, and it extended the powers of a government agency that had been established in 1865 for the purpose of providing medical, educational, and financial assistance for the millions of impoverished southern blacks. Congress also passed the Civil Rights Bill, which gave full citizenship to blacks, along with all the rights of other Americans. President Johnson's supporters, Democrats and conservative Republicans, got together in the summer of 1866 to stop the movement for black rights. In June 1866, Congress passed the Fourteenth Amendment, which was to ensure that rights guaranteed earlier to blacks under the Civil Rights Bill were protected by the Constitution.
Black voters came out strongly for the Republicans in the 1868 elections. This definitely helped Grant win the presidency. When Grant came into office, the Fifteenth Amendment was passed through Congress and was submitted to the states for ratification. The state ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment was passed on March 30, 1870. President Grant declared that the amendment had been adopted. Blacks also won seats in Congress, with Hiram Revels of Mississippi becoming the first black senator and Joseph Rainey of South Carolina being the first black to enter the House of Representatives.
There are still a lot of racial problems in the world today, though they might not be as talked about or as bad as they used to be they are still here. For example, in our presidential election going on right now. We have a black man running to be our President and a lot of our Southern states, that were once part of the confederacy aren't going to be voting for him. In most states Obama has pulled ahead, but in the Southern states McCain is winning by a landslide. The racial issues may not be seen as clearly today, but they are still slightly there.
In my opinion everyone is the same, and I don't feel as if anyone should get treated different. I have plenty black friends, and family members and life would be very different without them. The issues are still here, not as strong, but hopefully over time they will slowly disappear. Its disappointing to me that slaves endured all those hardships and still people don't appreciate what they have. My hope is over time racial issues will really not exist.
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