"If you're not with us, you're against us."

The Crucible ~ a play by Arthur Miller

We will be starting to read The Crucible this week in class.  It's a great play that I think you'll really enjoy about the Salem Witch Trials -- it also carries a lot of relevant themes, one of which is intolerance. So, here you go . . . let's begin!

Be sure to create your response on a Word doc, then copy and paste to the blog.  ~ just in case!  Also, the blog works best using Chrome as your browser!

Intolerance is a universal theme that is exemplified not only in Beauty and the Beast but also in The Crucible.  No where in the play is this theme demonstrated more than in the following quote by Danforth:

"But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there is no road between."  The Crucible


Click on the link below to get an idea of how prevalent this theme is not only in fictional works, but also in our society at large.  


Wikipedia: With us or against us


After you are through perusing, find an article of your own that exemplifies Danforth's and Gaston's sentiment.  Once you have found an article:

1. Summarize your article -- give the title and author in your summary
2. State clearly how the article connects to Danforth's and Gaston's message
3. Include the link to your article in your response

Be sure to use one of the following sources to find your article:

• The New York Times
• The New Yorker
• Forbes
• Smart Money
• The Washington Post
• Rolling Stone
• CNN
• USA Today
• BBC
• Fox News
• Newsday
• The Associated Press

Possible current polarizing issues that you may want to read about:

• NRA
• Cable networks (monopoliesi)
• Isis (terrorists/jihadists)
• Boka Horan
• Abortion
• Equal Rights for LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender i.e. the story of Kim Davis, County Clerk in Kentucky )
• Measles (Vaccines)
• Immigration
• Police Corruption
• Sports Corruption (i.e. Boston-New York rivalry, Mets-Yankees, Jets-Giants, cheating scandals, etc.)

Foxconn -- Modern Day Dystopia

Read the article that is linked below and answer the questions that follow.

Foxconn workers during typical day

In response to suicides, Foxconn installed protective nets to catch jumpers

After Foxconn Suicides, Scrutiny of China's Grim Factories

1. What are some of the conditions that exist in Chinese factories that lead workers to commit suicide?  Quote from the article. 
2. What specifically do sociologists and academics say about the suicides?
3. What specific problems did his sister say Mr. Ma had at Foxconn that led to his suicide?
4. Do you think the American companies such as Apple, Dell, and Hewlett Packard have any moral obligation to insure that basic human rights and dignity are adhered to in the factories that manufacture their products?  Discuss your opinion.

All through?  Google Foxconn and the iPhone 6 to see what they're up to today!  It's unbelievable!