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In "A Modest Proposal," by Jonathan Swift, many prejudices are revealed. Jonathan Swift is a devout Protestant living in a predominantly Catholic Ireland. Swift openly shares his prejudice of Catholics by blaming them for many of society's problems. Calling Catholics 'papists' (an anti-catholic slur), Swift blames Ireland's overpopulation, famine, and poverty on large catholic families. "...Papist, with whom we are yearly overrun, being the principal breeders of the nation as well as our most dangerous enemies.." (Swift 1117). Swift insults Catholic mothers who cannot work because they must take care of their many children. "These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all of their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants." (Swift 1114). By insulting mothers for not working, he is directly comparing them to paupers who live off the charity of their husbands or neighbors.

This image of a beggar is probably close to what Swift imagined all poor people to be like in the quote below.... "[There is great concern] about that vast number of poor people who are aged, diseased, or maimed, and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an encumbrance." (Swift 1117). Swift always brings back the recurring theme of how Catholic Mothers are caught in a paradox due to their religion's poor planning. Because the mothers have large families, they cannot work. Therefore, they cannot afford proper food or clothes for their family. To fix this problem Jonathan Swift makes a "Modest Proposal."

In great countries, such as the United States, the constitutional amendments cannot be altered. Our way of life is shaped by the principles and ideals set forth by the founders of the nation. The Second Amendment states that every American citizen is entitled to the right to bear firearms. Changing the constitution of our country would be undermining democracy and giving in to terrorist factions. Would you want to live in a land where the founding documents can be rewritten on a politician's whim? This sounds like the actions of some dictators named Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin. What other freedoms will be taken away after this? The right to vote? The freedom of speech or the right to assemble? None of these self-evident rights that we are guaranteed as American citizens would be in danger if Americans are able to retain their right to bear firearms. There is no reason a entire country should suffer from the actions of sick, sadistic individuals: the ones from the colleges, those liberals who are preaching anti-gun sentiments. Guns can not be deemed a terrible weapon because a couple insane individuals have used them incorrectly. Knife attacks occur almost as frequently as firearm attacks, but there are hardly any restrictions on knives. Knives are important to people and their lifestyles and therefore cannot be outlawed. Guns should be the same way. The disgusting fact about the situations in Virginia Tech and Columbine is that the other students were not armed. If every student was armed then the students could have easily ended the massacre. The victims of these cruel attacks should have had a right to fight back and resist the attacks. However current gun laws do not permit students to carry guns. Laws towards the bearing of arms have to be less restrictive, because the people who have malicious intentions are still able to buy the firearms even if the they are illegal. Only the people who actually need the guns to defend themselves and others are affected by the anti-gun laws. If someone wants to commit a violent act, they will not stop to consider if it is legal or it is not. No more lives need to be taken to prove that people are helpless in situations such as Virginia Tech. Anybody who believes he or she needs a gun should have the opportunity to own one and possess it at his or her digression. Ownership of guns should be promoted, not restricted or banned altogether. Another way that the gun problem could be solved is to revert to the use of antique, single action revolvers. These guns reload and fire slower than modern guns. If all semi-automatic and automatic firearms were banned, it would be certain if the revolvers were used, they would be less destructive, but at the same time they would be effective for defending oneself. In present times, only semi-automatic and automatic guns are used for destructive attacks. Banning these particular guns would be a good step towards keeping violent attacks under control in the United States. A final way that weapons could be managed would be to equip all authoritative figures in public places such as schools, stores, and restaurants with weapons. Nothing would intimidate a potential terrorist more than seeing a teacher with an AK-47 stashed behind his or her desk. People would be able to live in peace, and with the presence of firearms within the hands of authoritative figures, people would be able to be at ease, knowing that they would be protected if something would happen. The firearms would not need to be displayed aggressively or even shown, but people would know that people of authority have the ability to decrease the chance of an attack just through the fact that they had a gun. It would also be guaranteed that all public places would have a first line of defense this way.
 * Our Own Modest Proposal**

"NOTICE! Everyone in this building has been disarmed by the LIBERALS. The men, women and children inside are powerless to defend their lives. You may kill or injure anyone without resistance." [|http://epsdraub.wikispaces.com/page/diff/Group+9+-+4/20324181#|Next] [|http://epsdraub.wikispaces.com/page/diff/Group+9+-+4/20324181#|Last]

In Alexander Pope’s __Rape of the Lock,__ the character of Belinda gives a lot of supporting evidence that Pope believed English society was too materialistic. This character shows Pope’s belief that society was not conscious enough of being heroic, and uncaring of old virtues. This view is even more ironic because it is modeled after an epic. The values demonstrated in epics are nearly opposite of the values Pope believes society had. Pope most likely used this form to make the satire funnier and more interesting to the reader. Throughout the mock epic, Pope demonstrates his disdain for the materiality of society. Belinda exhibits most of these characteristics. She lives the aristocratic lifestyle. Belinda's life is centered around materialistic wants. As soon as she wakes up, she makes herself pretty demonstrating the importance of outer appearance to Belinda. When the sylphs are assigned to protect Belinda, they all are assigned a material item to protect such as a watch, hair, or the dog. This shows what Belinda holds important to her. When the count attempts to cut the hair, a sylph jumps in between the scissors and the hair and is at once cut. This contrasts Belinda's utter concern with her material items and the sylphs bravery. Pope uses this event to contrast the materialistic society at the time with the bravery valued in ancient epics. After the Baron succeeds in getting the hair, Belinda is at once utterly depressed. This demonstrates her vanity and connects the idea that society is too concerned with beauty. Under the influence of others, Belinda decides to get revenge. Clarissa attempts to dissuade her but fails. Clarissa argues the exact same thought as many of the readers, "why be so concerned about a little hair?" Clarissa reflects Pope's own beliefs. she is his direct commentary on the situation and parallels the story to society. The very fact that Belinda refuses to listen reflects society's ignorance of old values presented in epics.

Samuel Johnson
Etymology: Comes from the word ownage, which denotes the action of one person having "control" or dominating another. The 'O' has been replaced by the 'P' because of a mis-type that has been widely circularized throughout the web. Example: Oh my God, he just pwned him through the wall!
 * To Pwn** - verb. To dominate a person in any activity, usually in video games or sports.

Etymology: Shortened form of proper respect Example: The nerd received major props for asking the hottest Junior out to Prom.
 * Props** - noun. Respect, recognition, usually meant as admiration for a talent.

Etymology: Comes from computer geeks who use numbers in place of letters. Eliminates the first 'E' to sound better. Example: I can take all five of you on at once because I am 1337.
 * 1337** (Numerical form of Leet) - adj. Shortened form of elite, that is mainly typed. Uses numbers instead of letters to look more impressive.

Etymology: Comes from the root word 'new' denoting a beginner. Ex. Newbie: Can anyone here please help me? This is my first time playing this game. Ex. Noob: OMG, th1s g4m3 is s0 h4rd. a11 y0u guys ch34t!!111!!1oneone1!!
 * Newbie** - noun. Beginner who has the ability to listen and acknowledge and fix his or her mistakes. Newbies should not be confused with noobs, who are annoying, ignorant, spew unintelligent nonsense, and waste everyone's time.

Etymology: One of the meanings of "flaming" on the Internet is to put another's self-esteem down. Example: Flame Wars are like playing poker for no money, one can win, but still not win anything.
 * Flame Wars** - noun. Conversations that occur on forums that are arguments between two users that do not solve anything. Usually resolves into both participants making personal attacks instead of

Etymology: Comes from people too lazy to say the full word of "broken." Example: “Yo that stereo is bunk, it sounds bad.”
 * Bunk** - adj. Broken; unsatisfactory

Etymology: Comes from lazy girls who say the letters OMG instead of actually saying "Oh my gosh." Example: “OMG like totally OMG you wouldn’t believe what he said to me today. OMG.”
 * OMG** - (Phrase) Oh my gosh(or God). Acronym used to express shock.

Etymology: Comes from surfers who wish to refer to their friends as if they were family and too lazy to fully pronounce the O in bro. Example: “Brah the surf is totally killer today!”
 * Brah** - noun. Short form of brother; slang for bro

Etymology: Comes from 'verbing' the noun "thief". Example: “Yo I was at this party, and I thiefed a box of crackers.”
 * Thiefed** - verb. Stole; took without permission

Etymology: Comes from flipping a switch, in this case, in one's brain Example: Did you see the coach flip out after Kyle ran across the track?
 * to Flip Out** - verb. To lose control; to get extremely angry

**Addison and Steele**

 * "The Political Upholster"**

This article is about an upholster who is so obsessed with news that he ignores everything and everyone else around him. His family and job are neglected while he squanders all of his time reading newspaper articles about worldly events. During his obsession, the upholster became very poor and still is only concerned with world events. One day, his neighbor is walking with him when they see a group of politicians. They sit down and chat about foreign events. When they leave, the upholster asks his neighbor for some money, which he receives.

The article informs everyone when a government, individual person, or a "coffee house" concentrates on its allies, or foreign affairs, it forgets about its own citizens, family, or "customers". Addison is trying to show people that it is more important to concentrate on things directly related to a country or person than far away things because it is more important to take care of oneself before worrying about anything else.

The Age of Reason is exemplified in this article by showing how past governments were taking more of an interest in the affairs of their allies than their own country. It also shows the shift from the importance of the individual in the Renaissance to the importance of both the individual and the whole in the Age of Reason.

This is still a concern today. The U.S. government spends billions upon billions of dollars on foreign aid and trying to help other third-world countries, while its own citizens go without national health care, live in poverty, and are falling further into debt.


 * Laetitia and Daphne No. 33**

This article is about twin sisters who are complete opposites. Laetitia is very beautiful on the outside, while insolent and incredibly vain on the inside. Daphne has no good physical features, and must learn talents and receive some accomplishments in order to compete with her sister. Laetitia is said to be sullen and melancholy, while Daphne is cheerful and open. One day, a young man saw Laetitia at a play, and instantly fell under her physical charms. He came to the sisters' house and was able to live with them for some time. While living in the house, the young man saw what Laetitia really was on the inside, and started to like Daphne more. At the end of the article, the young man asks for Daphne's hand in marriage, and they marry.

The Age of Reason in shown in this article through the contrast of the Age of Reason and the Renaissance. Laetitia represents the Renaissance with her beauty being the art of the time period. Daphne represents the Age of Reason with her talents. Laetitia shows the beauty of all the art and visual accomplishments the Renaissance had created, while Daphne's physical appearance shows the cold, hard facts of the scientific method. It may not be pretty, but it is practical.

There are some connections in this article that can be linked to today. School, in present times, has become a place for physical appearance and one's standing in the school. Emphasis on school work has been pushed aside so all the students will soon face a dilemma when they reach the real world. Laetitia's good looks helped her through childhood due to all of the adults doting on her, but as soon as she had to find a husband, she was in trouble. Daphne's talents and good personality traits were hard to acquire during her early years, but now she got married before Laetitia did.