Post by Jon Berman on Nov 11, 2007 23:39:02 GMT -5
Jonathan Berman
Period 2
463 words
To Seem or not to Seem: A Look at Conformity for the 1968 Salem and Modern American Consensuses
In The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, appearing to agree with the Puritan consensus is more important than expressing one’s true beliefs. The people of Salem believe that witchcraft has infiltrated their community, but Elizabeth Proctor disagrees. Rather, she believes that the influx of diabolism is just a hoax. Her husband, John also has different views than the majority. The Puritan consensus believes in going to church every Sunday and not plowing on the Sabbath, while he has a more secular mindset. However, he attempts to disguise his lack of interest for Puritan ideology by making excuses for not attending church regularly. The Proctors have their own beliefs, but try to seem to have other principles in order to please the consensus.
In the present, politicians attempt to appeal to the American consensus in order to win their votes. Presidential candidate Hilary Rodham Clinton adjusts her public opinions in order to win the vote of many different groups. When she was the First Lady in the White House, Clinton pushed for programs to help the poor. She was also on the board of the Children Defense Fund, a non-profit organization that lobbies with Congress for laws that help nutrition and health care for poor children. Therefore, she appears as a compassionate person, while people who know her personally label her as a “hawk” and “control freak.” She reaches out to right-wing Republicans by supporting the troops and war in Iraq. Last week, when New York Governor Eliot Spritzer proposed a plan giving the right of a driver’s license to undocumented workers, Clinton initially didn’t take a strong side on the issue. That indecision shows that she is trying not to commit herself to either of the two strong viewpoints on the plan in order to keep more voters.
Another example of a presidential candidate playing towards the consensus is Republican Guliani. He is a liberal republican, believing in the right for abortions and being pro-gay rights. Having such liberal views and being divorced three times, he is not the typical Republican. Recently, he courted fundamental Christian Pat Robertson into supporting his campaign. He tries to appeal to both democrats and republicans in order to garner the most votes possible.
Citizens of 1698 Salem and politicians of the 21st century both conform their beliefs to agree with the beliefs of the consensus. If Hilary Rodham Clinton spoke only to liberal voters, it would have the same effect on the public’s view of her as Proctor not attending church and not baptizing his children: a part of the American consensus would be against her presidential bid and she would lose valuable support. In gaining support of a group of people, seeming to have the same opinion is more effective than displaying one’s true beliefs.
Period 2
463 words
To Seem or not to Seem: A Look at Conformity for the 1968 Salem and Modern American Consensuses
In The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, appearing to agree with the Puritan consensus is more important than expressing one’s true beliefs. The people of Salem believe that witchcraft has infiltrated their community, but Elizabeth Proctor disagrees. Rather, she believes that the influx of diabolism is just a hoax. Her husband, John also has different views than the majority. The Puritan consensus believes in going to church every Sunday and not plowing on the Sabbath, while he has a more secular mindset. However, he attempts to disguise his lack of interest for Puritan ideology by making excuses for not attending church regularly. The Proctors have their own beliefs, but try to seem to have other principles in order to please the consensus.
In the present, politicians attempt to appeal to the American consensus in order to win their votes. Presidential candidate Hilary Rodham Clinton adjusts her public opinions in order to win the vote of many different groups. When she was the First Lady in the White House, Clinton pushed for programs to help the poor. She was also on the board of the Children Defense Fund, a non-profit organization that lobbies with Congress for laws that help nutrition and health care for poor children. Therefore, she appears as a compassionate person, while people who know her personally label her as a “hawk” and “control freak.” She reaches out to right-wing Republicans by supporting the troops and war in Iraq. Last week, when New York Governor Eliot Spritzer proposed a plan giving the right of a driver’s license to undocumented workers, Clinton initially didn’t take a strong side on the issue. That indecision shows that she is trying not to commit herself to either of the two strong viewpoints on the plan in order to keep more voters.
Another example of a presidential candidate playing towards the consensus is Republican Guliani. He is a liberal republican, believing in the right for abortions and being pro-gay rights. Having such liberal views and being divorced three times, he is not the typical Republican. Recently, he courted fundamental Christian Pat Robertson into supporting his campaign. He tries to appeal to both democrats and republicans in order to garner the most votes possible.
Citizens of 1698 Salem and politicians of the 21st century both conform their beliefs to agree with the beliefs of the consensus. If Hilary Rodham Clinton spoke only to liberal voters, it would have the same effect on the public’s view of her as Proctor not attending church and not baptizing his children: a part of the American consensus would be against her presidential bid and she would lose valuable support. In gaining support of a group of people, seeming to have the same opinion is more effective than displaying one’s true beliefs.