The Presidency

"So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free."

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin." (Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy Washington, D.C. 

January 20, 1961)

In this snippet from John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech he preached peace. He pleaded with the country - with the world - to set aside their differences and unite. Kennedy's presidency took place during the Cold War so this call for peace was much needed. He wanted to move forward, not linger in problems that were holding them back.

I chose this paragraph because there were many issues Kennedy could have spoken about, but instead he chose to speak about peace. He was very aware that achieving peace would not be easy, that it would not something that could be achieved overnight, but instead would be a long, tedious process that needed to begin immediately. It begins with one person; it begins with one good deed. 

Congress

"In contrast to North Carolina's Republicans, Indiana's did a remarkably good job of drawing sensible district boundaries. The same holds true for Nevada's Democrats, although with only four districts, the district boundaries in Nevada are dictated to a large degree by the state's borders." (America’s most gerrymandered congressional districts, Christopher Ingraham)

We know that gerrymandering works best in small, oddly-shaped, non-compacted congressional districts, and although Indiana's congressional districts are oddly-shaped, they are still large enough to prevent gerrymandering from occurring. Nevada on the other hand, has one the largest and most "normal" shaped congressional districts in the country, which would explain why gerrymandering is not an issue in that state.

I chose this passage because it illustrated the extent to which a congressional districts size, shape, and compactness can affect the probability of gerrymandering occurring. Seeing the Gerrymander index scores, 113th congress map really put into perspective how much gerrymandering is actually occurring around the country. 

Equal Rights

"Oppression makes a wise man mad. Your fathers were wise men, and if they did not go mad, they became restive under this treatment. They felt themselves the victims of grievous wrongs, wholly incurable in their colonial capacity. With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression. Just here, the idea of a total separation of the colonies from the crown was born! It was a startling idea, much more so than we, at this distance of time, regard it. The timid and the prudent (as has been intimated) of that day were, of course, shocked and alarmed by it." (The Meaning of Fourth of July for the Negro,  Frederick Douglass)

History happens when change happens; change happens when people make them happen. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is a very popular saying, a saying that applies to history. Throughout history people saw many "broken" issues and took it upon themselves to fix it, they sacrificed themselves and their family for a better tomorrow. Douglass was right when he said "oppression makes a wise man mad," many - if not all - revolutions happened in the name of change.

I chose this passage because change is happening right now. There are many wars going on in the middle east right now, wars that will bring on change regardless who wins. Even though we may not be experiencing it first hand, it is happening. There will always be something in life that needs to be improved, and it is up to us to make sure that happens.