Convictions--are they worth risking...everything?
The statement is this: When we believe something strongly, we should stand up for our belief no matter what the cost. Do you agree or disagree and why?Think about this statement in regards to history first. Who stood up for what they believed in? Use Google to search for some examples:
Search possibilities: people who stood up for what they believed in, famous people who stood up for what they believed in, people persecuted for what they believed, leaders who stood up for what they believed, people who died for their faith, people who died protecting others...
Today's assignment:
1. Open a word processing document
2. Research several people that stood up for their beliefs keeping track of the website you used for information. Copy and paste the link to your word document along with 1-3 sentences IN YOUR OWN WORDS explaining what the person believed in, why they had to stand up for their beliefs, and what was the outcome of doing so.
3. Write a topic sentence and a paragraph with specifics that answers: Can you stand up for your beliefs to the same extent that the person you researched did?
*** You may have researched someone who stood up for their faith and you might not, but you could imagine doing so for your family, country, team, etc.
Ex. topic sentences:
Despite my strong faith, I cannot imagine defending my beliefs like Cassie Bernall did at Columbine High School because of my own fear of death.
Like Cassie Bernall stating her love for God right before the Columbine shooter shot her dead, I too would defend my faith because of my deep rooted belief in the afterlife.
--->Notice I am stating my belief, stating the person I researched and what their belief was, and WHY I would or wouldn't do the same.
posted by Davis @ 11:15 AM
26 Comments:
At 11:18 AM ,
Davis said...
Student Example:
In my opinion it is very important to support your opinion no matter what. There is a man named Saint Thomas More who sacrificed his life for his religion. He was alive a long long time ago. King Henry VIII wanted to get appointed the head of the church so he could get a divorce, and St Thomas More and his good friend denied that. He was thrown in prison for many months until he was finally decapitated for it. I don't know if I could be able to do a thing like that for my church. To sacrifice one's life for their religion is a very brave thing, especially when you are doing it to the King of a country. If I was put in a position where I had to defend my believe I would hope that I could come through and do it. Decapitation is a very harsh way of punishment and if someone threatened me with that I would be under a real test. I admire the people that can do those things and if I were to be put in a situation like that I hope that I could be able to do such a thing.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=324
At 1:01 PM ,
william said...
In my opinion, people do stand to their beliefs because of there country, family tradition, or their religion. But sometimes standing up to your beliefs may have serious consequences.People either get segregated or worse, people get killed by standing up to their beliefs. For example, in 1920s people that are Jewish in Germany were killed because Adolf Hitler doesn't like Jews.
At 1:02 PM ,
Riley Banks said...
Even when what you believe in may not be the most popular thing but it can be the right thing. A person in American history that many people know about is Theodor Roosevelt and this man believed in one thing during his time and he really pushed for it. This is the use of the U.S. Army. he believed that they could be constantly used and improved all sorts of things with the army. The thing special about him was that he loved the army and warfare so much he was a part of it. He led an elite group of soldiers called the Rough Riders, A battle that they fought in was the Spanish-American war in Cuba. Roosevelt believed in the strength and pride of the U.S. when a lot of people didn't, Thats the reason i admire him because he pushed and drove so much for something that has helped America get to where it is today.
At 1:06 PM ,
Addie C. #22 said...
In my opinion people should always stand up for what they believe in no matter the cost. The things people believe if they believe them strongly enough become part of them; this means that if you do not stand up for what you believe you will lose a big part of yourself in the process. The person who I believe embodies this belief most is St. Joan of Arc. She was only eighteen she was burned at the stake for her beliefs. She was a child soldier who after many years of working to earn the right was given a small army to command. She was later captured by the Burgundians. After she was imprisoned for not renouncing her religion she was burned at the stake. She was strong enough to keep her beliefs and believe she is one of the braves women ever born. I believe that people should stand up for there faith, no matter the cost.
At 1:08 PM ,
Jeremy L said...
Mahatma Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in india during the first half of the 20th century. he died for what he belived in. he was assassinated in the 30th of January 1948 (aged 78)
At 1:09 PM ,
Ava Kalhoefer said...
Sometimes I think about the passion I can give my country, and I think about one of my role models: John McCain. Even though he did not win election of 2008, before he was a Commander in the Army, captured by the enemy and spent years in the prison, tortured and hurt but did not budge all for his country and men. I could never imagine myself doing such action, for I am not as brave, patient, and strong enough to survive. His beliefs showed that he could cross into enemy lines to support the escape of not one but many men in the war. How would I know if I would die, for if I did know I would save myself or try something else, to be honest. What would they do to me as prisoner? All the same, I would fear for myself. Once McCain was spending time in the prison, he was tortured and hurt and even had to face having his fingernails torn off every time they grew back. It was as if he knew his troops were coming for him or he was willing to die there for his land? I would not have the patience or trust for the same views. Finally, McCain was strong both physically and mentally, considering his battle scars and having loved ones back home. I would die for my family, but not like that and not without seeing them last... I would overall die of a broken heart. McCain pulled through it all, like a real miracle, which makes him my icon for American conviction.
At 1:09 PM ,
jake said...
i choose a war hero named Ross A McGinnis from a part of Pennsylvanian where my parents lived really close to and it was Knox. he was such a hero because when he and his second regiment where going to check out a place in Iraq a grenade was thrown into the their vehicle and he smothered it with his body on top of the grenade and was killed but all of his fellow soldiers ended up staying alive. Ross was only 19 years old and at his funeral he was awarded the medal of honor.
At 1:10 PM ,
Russell O 12 said...
One person I learned about and I thought was inspiring was a man named JJohn Bent. John Bent was born at Stowmarket on 18th March, 1891. His father, Spencer Bent, was serving with the Royal Horse Artillery, and was later to be killed in the Boer War. At the age of fourteen Bent enlisted with the East Lancashire Regiment. After spending four years in Ireland he was based in Woking and Colchester. I thought it was crazy how he enlisted at age 14. If I was in that same position I would not join at that age because I am not that patriotic but John Bent was. I can't belive he even wanted to go let alone at age 14.He was a very inspiring young man in one war he got many medals for saving a mans life. He drugg him out of no mans land and stopped the bleading. In my opinion he was very brave but I wouldn't like this type of life.
At 1:11 PM ,
Davis said...
Jesus was convicted for his belief in the Father God he was convicted by the Jews that it was blastfamy that he was the lord that he was the all being God. I believe that he was not a blastfemer that he was correctin his teachings for the Lord and to his chosen people
At 1:12 PM ,
Michael M. said...
It is important to support what you believe in even if it means to die for those beliefs. One individual who died for this was Anne Frank who died in the holocaust just because she believed in the Jewish faith. She stood up for what she believed and hid from the ones out to get her.This worked until the Nazis found her and the other family that she was hiding with. She still stood up for what she believed even when she died and thanks to her diary she told the world her story of the time in hiding. Anne Frank believed in the fact that everyone is equal and died believing that and someday the world might realize what she died for.
At 1:13 PM ,
Jenni M #2 said...
If it came down to life or death, I would stand up for what i believed in any circumstance just like Joseph Smith. A long time ago there was a man named Joseph Smith. When he was only 14 he didn't know what church to join. He prayed to seek for the answer. He received the answer of "None of them are true." He found out what church is true, and how to restore it. He started working. He had to translate the bible into English. This whole time he was being mocked, threatened. But none of this stopped him. He even went to jail for speaking up for what he believed. After a long time he had finally got members to participate in the church. Later on it his life he was tar and feathered. People killed his baby and would not leave him alone. He kept standing up for what he believed, and people but him in jail again. Carthage jail was not a good place to be. After being there for awhile, a mob came and shot him. Since this day, Joseph Smith is known through out the whole Mormon church which now have over 7 million members. I am so very grateful towards Joseph for standing up for himself and not letting anyone interfere with his work. I would stand up for my beliefs because I know that I will be blessed if I do. If it wasn't for Joesph, I wouldn't be apart of the Mormon church. Clearly, standing up for what you believe is very important, and I would do that just like Joesph Smith did.
At 1:54 PM ,
AveryL said...
In a situation where standing up for what you believe in, i would have to agree with many, that i would be the one to stand up and say my thoughts. Rosa Parks demonstrated this bravery when refusing to get out of her seat when asked to make room for a white passenger. She became known as the first lady of civil rights. She stood up for what she believed in, that all people shall be created equal, even if it later meant being arrested and fined for her actions. A true hero she was to America when her beliefs of freedom stared a movement to change legal segregation. So, clearly standing up for what you believe in could possibly change others and yourself forever, even if it does mean paying the consequences.
At 3:55 PM ,
mckennab16 said...
In my opinion it is very important to support your beliefs no matter what....just like Rosa Parks did on a segregated bus, when a white man asked for her to give her seat up, she refused! i Rosa Parks was soon known as the first lady of civil rights, believing that everyone should be created equally no matter what color, shape or size! She would rather have shared her thoughts and beliefs even if it meant going to jail. She just wanted to get her message out and that to me is the most important.
At 7:51 PM ,
Anonymous said...
In my opinion Susan B. Anthony was strong mined because she stood up for what she believed in which was granting women the right to vote and to been seen equity with man. She stood up for what she believed in to fought until the day that she died for her cause. Although she didn't die as a result of her aspirations she still died campaigning to let women vote. She died in 1906 of heart disease so she didn't see her dream become a reality, this amendment was agree by president Wilson in 1918 then later ratified in 1920. I believe that I would be able to stan up for something that I believed in so much that would dramatic alter other citizens lives as well as my own because if there was something that I felt so compassionate about it that I would risk my life for the great well being of others I would risk my life in order to make that hope happen.
At 9:15 PM ,
KameronnG29 said...
I believe that all people have something to stand up for. Like Martin Luther King Jr.He believed that all people should be treated equally no matter what color skin. Martin fought the rest of his life until he was assassinated. He would face death head on. I believe I would face death for something that I believed in. I would make a stand and make a difference.
At 8:02 AM ,
brandon said...
I believe that if you want something and are willing to rist everything for that then you can easily deside to devote your whole life to that belief. And in some cases you could be will to die for it. In my opinion its completely fine to do so, but if you have a family friends then you need to think how it would effect their lives too and not just your own if you were suddenly to disapear or die. Anyway Anthony, Susan B. is a great example of conviction. When Susan B. was young she wans reading at the age of three years old. Young Susan was crushed when her teacher said girls didnt need to know long devision and refused to teach her. Ever since then she had been fighting for what she belived in the equal rights between a man and a women. I thought this was a great example of the detication you can have from one experience.
At 10:08 AM ,
StevenG24 said...
I belive that you should always stand up for what you belive in, even in a life or death situation (depending on the cause). Just like Beauford T. Anderson did at okinawa japan. As a large japanise counterattack was about to attack Beuford and his unit's flank, he told his unit to hide in a tunnel as he risked his life taking on the counterattack with a carbine alone. He found a mortar dud and threw it at the japanise, the found a box and threw them killing several japanise soldiers forcing them to withdraw. Saving his company and seizing several mortars, machine guns and killing 25 soldiers single handedly. He recived a congressional medal of honor. Though i would join the army and defend my country, I do not think that i would go as far as having my unit hide so i can take on 30 soldiers on my own. In my opinion this was very brave in standing up against something.
At 10:16 AM ,
megan j said...
I think that when you are passionate about something like religion or your country, you should be passionate about it to your death. This reminds me of a story about a girl who died for her beliefs. Her name was Cassie Bernall. She was martyred because of her faith. When she was asked to state if she believed in god, she replied yes and then she was shot because of her answer. This is one example of many of being passionate about something that you believe very strongly in. So, I try to remember this kind of story when I think about staying true to what I believe in.
At 12:27 PM ,
rachelleo3 said...
I believe that people should stand up for what they believe in. Such as Martin Luther King Jr. he believed that all people should be treated equally. I think i would do the same. I would because face death for something I truly believe in.
At 12:29 PM ,
ShannonW. said...
I agree with the statement that people should stand up for what they believe in no matter what the cost. I think this because no belief of anything should be belittled by anyone, everything should be treated with the same amount of respect as anything else.
Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for what he believed in, which was blacks and whites should be treated equally, and sadly enough, it ended up where someone shot him.
At 12:31 PM ,
alex72cool said...
TEST
At 12:32 PM ,
brads13 said...
i do belive that people generally stand up for there opinions. as history shows many people have given there lives for a cause they believe in so strongly.
At 12:38 PM ,
Anthony F 20 said...
I believe that you should stand up for what you believe in cause it may benefit you. Although MLK Jr. may have been shot because of standing up he also helped the black society become for the most part equal. I don't think that I could stand up to the extent he did but i would still stand up for my beliefs.
At 12:41 PM ,
alex72cool said...
Standing for what you believe in is a very noble thing when the cause is just and honorable. One man that showed your beliefs are worth dieing for when Patrick henry one of Americas founding fathers who said "Give me liberty, or give me death!".
At 12:52 PM ,
triggs7 said...
Marten Luther King Jr. stood up for the rights of African American people, even though so many people segregated him.
At 7:08 PM ,
lewis campbell said...
I think it is important to stand up and be counted for the beliefs you may have, but more importantly it is critical that you be critically introspective of your own beliefs, to see them in context to the world around you.
So often beliefs have an arbitrariness based on limited life experience, poor moral imprinting at an early age, or just a myopically jaundiced view of the world.
The passion of youth drives a knee jerk reaction of emotions to the fad like things crossing our limited attention span. A lemming like reaction going over the cliff, before we even know the cliff is there.
Living and Dying for one's beliefs is critical in a world of compromised morality. Sometimes dying for your believes is easier than living through a life of abuse for them.
When you've been tortured and or imprisoned because you are different, have a different viewpoint or just because you happen to be at the wrong place a the wrong time, you will welcome the death that does not come soon enough.
We should be willing to die or suffer for our beliefs, but for your sake and those around you, make sure they are beliefs worth dying for.
Martin Luther King did not die just for one people, he died for all who believe in tolerance and acceptance of others.
Christ was not killed by the Jews, he was killed by those who were threatened by what he represented, Jews and non Jews alike. Christ may have been a Jew, but he was a representative sacrifice to change.
Mother Teresa was not killed or assassinated but lived a martyrs life for the poor and down trodden. Her suffering was not the torture of a few hours, a split second, or a few days it was for a lifetime.
In every generation we have martyrs who die and change the social underpinnings of our way of life. Most go unheard, unnamed, most just live the quiet desperation of going to work everyday, bringing up their children as best they can, do the right thing in anonymity without regard to any place in history.
The boy-solider that throws himself on a grenade lives his death as an extension of the life he believes in, saving his friends and living through them and the families they will bring into the world.
It is the collective nature of all the unsung martyrs to our way of life that ultimately keep our society together, but more importantly they give us the moral underpinnings that push others to live for their beliefs as well.
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