Interesting Tidbits

Salem, Massachusetts was where the "witches" were at. Obviously, the witch trials were the most historical event that had taken place. Did you know that some of America’s first millionaires lived in Salem, Massachusetts? Most people earned their money from overseas trade. The trade brought much cargo and money. Salem’s wealth is also expressed through their different types of architecture and museums. Salem’s industries consisted of trade, shipbuilding, and fishing.  

Puritans were strong believers of demonic forces in the time period of the witchcraft trials. Many Puritan pastors had performed exorcisms in very high-profiled situations. They performed exorcisms on people who were possessed by the devil or displayed any demon-like actions. Puritan roots still influence present-day society in America by the use of exorcisms. For example, many horror movies are based on exorcisms. And in these types of movies a pastor is usually the ones getting rid of the devil.

The House of the Seven Gables was built in the year 1668. The mansion is the oldest standing 17^th century wooden structure in England. The House of the Seven Gables was the inspiration for author Nathaniel Hawthorne famous book. The book was named after the mansion itself. The house that Hawthorne was born was moved to The House of the Seven Gables and is a few feet away from the historical mansion.    

Realization of an American

I knew I was an American when I couldn’t speak Tagalog. That is the language my family speaks besides English because we are Filipino. When I was younger, my parents tried speaking to me in Tagalog but I just didn’t want to learn. My maternal grandmother rarely spoke to me in Tagalog because she wanted to learn English. She would only teach me simple words and games. It is always easier to learn other languages when you’re younger. That is one enormous mistake I have made. I regret it, a lot.

Another obvious reason is I am an American citizen. I was born in Chicago, Illinois. And I have lived here all my life. I have never been to the Philippines. Kind of sad, isn’t it? Oh well, I’ll go someday. Anyways, back to the point. My mother told me that I’m lucky to be born as an American. Unlike her, I am automatically a citizen of the United States. It took my parents and elder brother five years to get their citizenship.

It sucks not being able to understand my family’s conversations. I’m jealous that my cousins can eavesdrop on the adults to get some family gossip or drama. So I always have to ask them for some juicy news. But I can understand simple Tagalog. My brother only taught me the bad words when I was little. No swear words though. If only I can pick up a language quickly. That’s all up to me. I am Filipino-American.   

A Drive to Death

What drives a conflict with no solution that leads to death? I think that all depends on the scenario taking place. If a problem is completely unsolvable, you have to end it immediately. In my opinion, if I was stuck with a conflicting person or problem, I would want to get rid of it. I consider myself to be very impatient and easily annoyed. For example, in The Crucible Danforth got so fed up with the whole witchcraft hysteria that killed innocent people. Danforth hung people for the sake of “resolution”.

Another reason for death is those who are in authority. But this way of ending conflicts isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, doctors are people with authority. Say a patient’s life is on the verge of death, the doctor might think putting them to sleep would be better. In doing this, the patient won’t suffer with anymore pain. The family and friends would probably think that’s the right decision to make. The police are also an example of authority. In dangerous situations where someone is loaded with weapons and harming bystanders, the police have no choice but to take action. If things get out of hand, the police might have to shoot the person down. They are doing so for safety reasons.