September 21, 2007

10 am Avillo

Christen Hittie

Class began at 10:02

• Attendance sheet was passed around.

• Dr. Avillo expressed his concern about getting older. He noted that the life span of the American male is rising to catch up with that of the American female. The average life expectancy of men in America is now 77 years of age. Professionally, he feels this course (American History) to the most important of all the classes he teaches. Avillo feels the class is not up to par with the expectations he set for himself or the class. He feels he has a responsibility to create excitement of not only history, but of the mind; which can be joyful in its rewards. He stated that he can’t stand people having fun, and that the life of the mind is fun. He wants the class to grasp the concepts he is trying to convey.

• Dr. Avillo handed out a form, to be answered thoughtfully, to each member of the class. The form is his way of coming to some resolution to his concerns. The form had two questions:

  1. What would you like to take away from this course in term of personal and intellectual growth?

  2. How do you think we can best do that?

He will look over forms over the weekend.

• At 10:15, he collected the forms.

• Dr. Avillo noted an Op-Ed in the Wednesday Evening edition of the Baltimore Sun, titled: Population vs. Politics. The commentary was on the vote of a bill which would have given Washing, D.C.’s representative the right to vote in Congress. The measure didn’t pass, and it is the aritcle’s claim that now is the time for D.C. to be represented in the House and Senate. (Refers to discussion on 9/19 about “taxation without representation.”)

• Professor Avillo continued with the proper way to read a newspaper, stating that his wife isn’t even courteous enough to fold her paper properly at the breakfast table. *Below is how to fold a newspaper, called the “subway fold.”*

Cornerstone of a Revolution- The Declaration of Independence

♦ Was signed and made public July 4, 1776-hence our date for celebration of independence in America.

♦ However, the actual fighting between the British and the Colonists began 14 months earlier on April 4, 1775…a significant gap of time. Most believe these two events happened simultaneously.

♦ In the beginning, the fight wasn’t really about revolution, but about reaching a resolution with King George. Although there were some, like Samuel Adams, who really were anxious for independence at the onset of the war.

♦ The signing of the Declaration of Independence signaled the creation and exsistence of a new nation: the United States of America.

♦ When the Declaration of Independence was written, it was (and still is) a truly radical document. The question was purposed : Would people in this day and age sign such a radical document?~ Professor Avillo feels that most would not.

♦ On page A35 of Foner’s book, Dr. Avillo reads:

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”

• If you have a group of people as a part of an entity (such as Great Britian) and should they decide to separate and have equality-granted by the Laws of Nature and laws of God, -these people are entitled to dissolve their bands with such entity.

• When it was decided, the writers felt they had an obligation to mankind and the world to explain WHY they were dissolving those bands.

♦ To set the tone, Avillo continues to read:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

• “Men” is referred here as a generic term that includes all people. Creates a conceptual application making it timeless and enduring.

• “All men are created equal…” was very radical. Even today, some countries do not hold to this.

• ‘Unalienable’ means fully granted and not to be taken away.

  1. Life/Liberty- there was no controversy at that time as to what this meant. Hence the emphasis of Foner’s book on liberty.

  2. Pursuit of Happiness- one should be able to pursue, but may not actual attain.

Freud said: “ Psychoanalysis is designed to turn uncommon misery into ordinary unhappiness.”

♦ Avillo continues,

“That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

• Governments were accountable since the time of the Magna Carta (in 1215) where is what decided that even the King of England had to answer to the aristocracy.

• Also acknowledges participation in government.

• Principles cannot be fulfilled with the full consent of a government and that the government must do what is best for those it governs.

♦ Reading on…

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing it powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

• When governments stop the protection of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, they become destructive.

• Once this occurs, it is the right of the people to overthrow, alter or modify said government.

• Until this point in time, revolution was never thought of as an absolute right.

• Further, it is the job of a government to protect the rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

♦ Continuing on with the reading…

“Pudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; ”

• The new government must exercise prudent. That is, revolution should not be considered for arbitrary or transient (temporary) reasons. Common sense must be used when establishing the reasons for revolution. Minor inconveniences are not excuses for separations from long-standing government relationships.

• During WWII, rationing took place.

They were certain limits on resources for the greater war efforts. Things such as coffee, sugar and chocolate were rationed. Minor inconveniences, but not excuses for revolution.

• Dr. Avillo ordered a “regular” coffee in NYC and received a coffee with milk and sugar, and not just plain coffee. (A minor inconvenience.)

**How to order coffe in NYC below.**

♦ Again, reading…

“…and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are insufferable, that to right themselves by abolishing forms to which they are accustomed.”

• The writers were saying they were willing to tolerate a lot; and will tolerate for a long period of time before driven to some kind of action.

• Impatience is not a consideration for revolution.

• Professor Avillo relays the story of how he was followed by a “terrorist” on the road this morning. While on Rathton Road, a person in the vehicle behind him was so impatient, that he passed him on the left to gain the space in front of Avillo’s car.

• Dr. Avillo also told the class that in the 1970’s the speed limit was changed to 55 mph.

♦ He ends his reading with:

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariabley the same

Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and provide new Guards for their future security.”

• The abuse and taking away of rights by the British convinced the writers of the Declaration of Indepepndence that this is considered tyranny and dictatorship.

• When these conditions occurs, we have a right and a duty (obligation) to get rid of such a government.

♦ The Declaration goes on to list the abuses by Britain.

♦ On page 169, Foner emphasises the radical nature of the Declaration of Independence. However, it was not the cause of the revolution, but the result of the revolution and created a new way of looking at the world.

♦ The Declaration of Independence produced a purpose beyond rebellion; it is an enduring and everlasting definition of freedom.

• Liberty went beyond the heritage of the “freeborn Englishman.” Liberty became a universal entitlement.

• The Declaration of Independence became the springboard to Liberty around the world.

  1. An example: 1946-HoChi Minh wrote a Declaration of Independence (almost verbatim to ours) for Vietnam. Vietnam had been ruled by France and later by Japan. Vietnam was able to break free from these countries and Ho Chi Minh anticipated Vietnam’s independence. ( The United States, however doesn’t recognize Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence.)

♦ Most countries that establish independence usually fall back on this document.

Class ended at 10:49 am.

*Subway Fold

1. Fold longitudinally,

then, horizontally. **Coffee in NYC:

~Regular: with milk and sugar

~Black: nothing but coffee

~Sweet: coffee and sugar

~Light: coffee and milk