JRHS Writing BLOG

Monday, March 17, 2008

Massachussets video game ban

Now the legislators of Massachusetts are trying to ban violent video games from being sold to minors.  This would “Teen” rated video games that include violence. 
“This Massachusetts bill would be based on anti-game attorney Jack Thompson’s unsuccessful strategy that seeks to define violent games as “harmful to minors” in the same manner as pornography.  It’s also made to hopefully stop the rise in gangs and street violence.
Lynne Lyman, a spokesperson for Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, told Game politics that the Massachusetts legislation was patterned after a video game bill then under consideration in Utah. Massachusetts officials, at that time at least, felt the Utah measure had the best chance to succeed.
As events would later prove, the Utah bill failed when the legislature concluded it was not likely to withstand legal challenge. Thompson’s Louisiana video game law had already been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge in November 2006.
Despite the setbacks experienced by similar measures, the Massachusetts bill, HB 1423, has now been placed before the State House. No less than 21 individuals are listed as sponsors, including Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, whose office initiated the push for the legislation. Menino was also a key figure in last year’s move to ban ads for M-rated games on public transit in Massachusetts.” (Game Politics)
Even though I don’t live in Massachusetts, I think that any ban like this to occur in any state is wrong.  Not every single young person who plays video games with violent suggestions suddenly turn into gang-bangers.  The parents are the ones who should conclude if their children are mature enough to play these games, not the state.  I believe that in the end, if a young person who is mature enough too play these games and not become obsessed with violence in the real world should be able to get these games, with their parents consent.

http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/11/massachusetts-video-game-legislation-resembles-failed-bills-from-utah-louisiana/

Constantine

Constantine (2005) was a movie that showed a completely new view towards the Christian religion claiming that angels and demons walk the earth. The main character in the movie was named John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) who was a ruthless hero in the movie, smoking and drinking his life away, even though he had already died once. In the early days of his life, he had the gift of seeing demons and angels among human beings. Because of this gift, which drove him crazy, he tried to kill himself. He failed because his parents, knowing that he had the gift, brought him back. He was dead for one second, and in this one second he lived an entire lifetime inside of Hell learning how to kill and destroy demon entities. This experience made him into the perfect demon destroyer, creating the ultimate exorcist.
The demons and angels are not truly angels and demons, they are half breed. These demons have crazy power: in the movie they have the power to tell someone to do something, thus making them do it. For an example, maybe Adolf Hitler was associated with some kind of demon who told him to do everything he did. Maybe he was just a demon himself.
The movie shows a example of some way that the Revelation could happen. The spear of destiny goes into the hand of a simple person who is possessed instantly when he touches it. The possessed man starts to travel to a certain person. While this is happening, Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) is asking Constantine how her twin sister was killed. Constantine finds that she committed suicide, only because a demon told her to do so.
Towards the end of the movie, Angela is used as a transport from Hell to bring out the son of Satan because if the son of Satan is brought into the world then the Revelation begins. The angel Gabriel tries to help bring out the devil’s son but is stopped by Satan himself because it was not time for the Revelation. Constantine saved the world because he asked Satan to save Angela and Satan did so only because he would bring Constantine into Hell. Constantine made a religious pact with God so that he could not be brought into Hell. Constantine tricked Lucifer.
This movie shows a different view of the world today, saying that demons and angels walk the earth and who knows, this may be actually real. Constantine was not Christian, he was in the middle, almost a gray. He was not white (a believer) or black (not saved), he was just in the middle, and if he died his existence wouldn’t be judged by either Satan or God. Constantine shows a different view to the world today and shows one of the many ways that the Revelation could happen in this world.

slaughtering bad cows in America for food consumption

As you know, all meat from Feb 1, 2008 from Westland/Hallmark Meat Company was recalled.  This company provides meat to various federal programs.  Federal officials suspended operations at Westland/Hallmark after an undercover video from the Humane Society of the United States surfaced showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts.  Now I am not really an animal activist, so I don’t really care that cows have to be moved around.  But most of these cows were unable to walk, and it is a known fact that cows that can’t walk have a greater chance of having disease. 
Two former employees were charged Friday. Five felony counts of animal cruelty and three misdemeanors were filed against a pen manager. Three misdemeanor counts — illegal movement of a non-ambulatory animal — were filed against an employee who worked under that manager. Both were fired. Over 150 school districts received this meat from the injured cows, thus endangering school children who were eating it. 
Personally I think that the USDA needs to tighten up their operations in inspecting the cows. They must tighten up the inspections and make more random visits to the slaugtering factories.  If they had done this in the first place, the “downer” cows as they are called, could have been noticed and taken off of the slaughterhouse facilities. 
The best way to avoid these cases of downer and mad cow diseases is to buy from a local slaughterhouse.  For example, my family buys a cow from a farm up around Bethlehem NH, and gets it slaughtered up there.  It’s more convenient and safer than those larger slaughterhouse factories out west.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

An Arabian Man Cut His 15 Months Old Nephew at the Super Market.

This week, everybody in Saudi Arabia was very frightened when they heard about a man who cut his 15 months old nephew in front of the baby’s mother inside a crowded super market. The incident happened on last Sunday morning, at the AL-Marhaba in Riyadh. According to the Arabic newspaper, a man killed his nephew after he had a conflict with his sister and his brother in law. Some of the people were unconscious when they saw the incident. The killer was arrested and he will get the death penalty. But in the Arabic rules, even if a person has the death penalty, the victim’s family can ask for mercy for the killer. In this situation, it can be expected because the killer and the victim’s family are relatives. This is the newest incident that happened in Arabia in this year. That was very cruel to kill a person by cutting his head and in this incidence that man cut his nephew’s head and the victim is his nephew although he was just 15 months old. That man needed to be punished because of his barbarism, I feel really sorry for the victim’s family, they will have to suffer a long time because of the death of their baby.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Illegal Immigrant Drivers License

Illegal immigrants come across the borders to the United States everyday, and they are now obtaining drivers licenses. Legal immigrants and American citizens should be the only ones allowed to obtain licenses. The state of Texas, which is full of illegal immigrants, is one of the few states allowing licenses to be given to people who can’t show their citizenship. Illegals are flocking to states like Texas to gain their licenses and then move back to wherever they came from. This should not be allowed.
These immigrants have to be careful when driving, which is why they mostly drive by night.  Police officers are cracking down on these illegals but are also pulling over legal citizens because they are looking for the race not the offender.
In short, drivers licenses should only be allowed to citizens of the United States who can prove their citizenship by showing their birth certificate or social security number. Licenses should not be issued unless proven citizenship, or immigration papers are shown. Simply, illegal immigrants shouldn’t come to America in the first place.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Have you Forgotten?

Do you feel courage pumping through your veins,
At this country’s very name?
Does your blood boil every time,
You see those planes on that skyline?
How about those people that died that day?
Those who lost their lives without a say.
Have we forgotten them over the years?
Have we already finished shedding our tears?
How about the heroes who died just doing what they do?
Have we forgotten them too?
Have you forgotten why we fight?
Have you forgotten those September flights?
I haven’t forgotten,
And neither should you,
I haven’t forgotten why we fight proud and true!
America’s at war,
As it has been before,
But why are you backing down,
Instead of standing up?
Are you afraid to give up something you love?
Could I say I know how it feels,
To lose someone I love on the battlefield?
To lie awake, wishing them home,
Instead of them in a grave all alone?
I cannot say that I feel what you feel,
But I can say what I do feel!
I feel great honor, pride, and respect,
for those who died just trying to protect,
this great country of ours,
which has been attacked,
but is being avenged with blood in Iraq!
I have one question,
So answer me please,
Why a teenage boy,
With his life all at ease,
Has more faith in his country,
Than men twice his age,
And is willing to fight and die,
For this great land of his,
In which he lives?
A boy soon becomes a man,
For he knows for whom he fights and stands!
He will never stop until the job is done,
Even if that means losing some!
He knows for whom he fights and dies!
It’s for those who do everyday still cry,
For the loved ones who on that day did die,
Who get remembered on the by and by!
Everyday I remember what happened there,
By those towers near the pier.
I will never forget the black smoke against that blue sky,
Or the terror I caught in the peoples eyes!
I will never forget why we fight,
And why they die!
It’s to keep Old Glory flying high,
In America’s wide open skies!

God Bless America!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Some interesting things maybe you don’t know

These are some interesting things I’ve found on the internet, some of them are very amazing. Some things you may know but somethings you don’t know. In this world there are a lot of things which are very interesting but maybe you’re never heard about them. There is one thing that makes me a little sad because I’m a lefty person. Let’s take a look at these things.

1/Human skeleton is not white but light brown. The rib bone is harder than concrete.
2/When you were born, you have 300 bones, when you grow up you just have 20 bones.
3/A woman uses about 20kg of lipstick in her life.
4/You can kill your self by stopping breathing.
5/The lefty people have the life 9 years shorter than the righty people’s life.
6/Our ribs move about 5 millions time a year.
7/ ¼ our bones are in our leg.
8/ An average person smiles ten times a day.
9/ 2/3 your mass is water. There are 92% of water in your blood, 75% water in you brain and also 75% of water in your muscles.
10/You cannot sneeze with your eyes open.
11/Every year, the number of people who die by bees are more than the number of people who die by snakes.
12/” Almost” is the longest word in English to have the letters in order.
13/”Rhymn” is the longest word in English which has no vowel.
14/Each continent has a city named Rome.
15/The month which started on Sunday have Friday 13rd.
16/The longest flight of the chicken is 13 second long.
17/Elephant is the only mammal which can’t jump.
18An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
19/Dolphin sleep with one eye closed.
20/”French kiss” in English is “English kiss” in French.

Speed limit, or no limit?

In the state of New Hampshire, the government is looking into the idea of changing the speed limit on freeways from 60 MPH to 70 MPH. Reasoning behind it is that drivers drive 70 already because of the unwritten “5 over” law, so the speed limit should be raised 5 MPH. By doing this, people should drop the 5 over law on the freeway. This should, in fact, lead to fewer tickets and a “safer” freeway.

In my opinion, all of this is stupid. People naturally want to push the limits. People get told that they have to go a certain speed, so they go a little bit faster instead. In fact, there will always be a “5 over” law among drivers. Police may start out strong with the new law, and there may be fewer tickets given out for a little while, but it is very evident that if everyone is doing it, they can’t pull everyone over.
What happens when police just sit back and let it happen like they are now. No one has a problem with it now. Police rarely go after the speeders who are doing over five over. People doing 10 or 15 over the speed limit are usually the people who get caught, not the person who is doing 5 over. Within a year after the law would be passed people will be doing five over again, but this time, instead of doing 70, they are doing 75. In ten years are they going to pass another law to have it raised again? If they are going to do that then they might as well just take all speed limits away and let people go as fast as they want. Of course that will lead to countless numbers of crashes, but at least the people can go as fast as they want.
I, myself, like to drive fast, but I am not a crazy driver. I like to do 5 over and I like to keep it like that. Rarely will I do more than that. I wouldn’t mind if the speed limit were raised, but I still think it’s a stupid idea in general. People will only be going faster. If they want people to stop speeding, they would need massive amounts of police officers on the freeways at all times, and they would be handing out hundreds of tickets a day.

I think that the speed limit should stay the same because people are used to it; it is a safe, moderate speed, and not many people have a problem with it. Let the cops pull over the people who are going excessive amounts over, and let the people who are following the 5 over law keep at peace, and follow the flow of traffic.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Cloverfield’s 9/11 Imagery Upsets Media

The following article is based on the article “Cloverfield: Horror Film Not Sensitive About 9/11” by Roger Friedman of Fox news.

Recently, Matt Reeves and J.J. Abrams, the latter being a respected movie director and producer and creator of the show “Lost”, released a new movie directed by Reeves and produced by Abrams. “Cloverfield” is a wreck-happy monster romp flick set in New York City. Abrams claimed America needed a monster of its own, as Godzilla stemmed from Japanese roots. Where Cloverfield differs from Godzilla, however, is its realistic portrayal of chaos. The entire movie is shot on a camcorder, and we are made to believe that it is raw footage found from a tape, months, perhaps years after the monster attacked, in an area ‘formerly’ known as Central Park. The technique results in shaky footage, the camera being dropped a few times, and other clever gimmicks that encorperate its cinematography style. It’s not far off from the technique used in “The Blair Witch Project”, a smash-hit low-budget horror film which claimed its footage was real footage found from a camera whose owners were hunted and killed by a witch.

Recently, however, Cloverfield’s scenes of destruction have caused some to think its disrespecting and outright “dissing” those affected by the tragedy of September 11th. One scene in particular, a building collapsing downwards and setting off a huge cloud of dust and smoke on the streets below, has people exceptionally outraged. Later on in the movie, we are shown two paralell buildings, one slightly collapsed, leaning on the other. The characters ascend the upright building and cross onto the roof of the diagonal one to save a loved one.

Let’s be completely honest – the idea that these images were created by J.J. Abrams in order to offend 9/11 families is absurd, paranoid, myopic and tunnel-visioned. Cloverfield is simply a thrilling action movie that involves the destruction of New York City by a giant monster, much like King Kong or the American Godzilla movies. In the film, when the building collapses, what did you really expect? It’s a giant monster, of course hollywood is going to have it knock over a few buildings, and anyone who has seen a building fall knows that there is only one way for it to collapse. People seem to be convinced that the collapse of the World Trade Centers were the first buildings that ever fell and therefore every reference to a following building from thenon must be disrespectful.

In fact, a 17-year-old whose father was killed in 9/11 recently posted a blog on the subject, and he insisted that Cloverfield was in no way offensive. He even went as far as to say the following:

“Have you people ever thought that us 9/11 families just want to see an action movie without having everyone remind of us of 9/11 because they claim the movie is trying to offend us? The thought would have never crossed my mind when I watched Cloverfield if all these attention-craving lunatics didn’t point their fingers and blindly scream, 9/11! 9/11! Take offense!”

Furthermore, New York City’s destruction is far from a new subject in movie making. The Day After Tomorrow, Godzilla, Aliens, Independence Day, King Kong, I Am Legend, Ghostbusters, Artificial Intellegence, The Siege, Armageddon, Deep Impact, Doomsday, Planet of the Apes, When Worlds Collide, War of the Worlds, Soylent Green, Escape from New York, 2019, Endgame, Time Machine, The Core, Children of Men, and countless other films employ the destruction of New York City, and not a single one of them has been criticised for offending 9/11 families. I have not a doubt in my mind the creators of Cloverfield had not a single intention on offending victims of 9/11. How would this benefit the moviemakers whatsoever?

The author of the article that this blog was based on, Roger Friedman of Fox News, even goes on to say that Cloverfield is “a big-budget take on The Blair Witch Project”, exposing his lack of knowledge for cinema. The Blair Witch Project is the exact opposite of clovefield, confining its characters in insecurity and a enviornment too small for them, and scaring its audience by showing them nothing. Cloverfield, however, places its characters in confusion in a situation much too large for them, and scaring the audience by showing them everything. They’re complete opposites, sharing only their “found-footage” fake-tape style. It’s like saying “Some Like it Hot” is the predescesor to “Schindler’s List” because they both feature black and white – its nothing more than a cinematography style and should not be overread.

Overall, Cloverfield is a movie that’s been accused of being many things that it simply isn’t and wasn’t ever meant to be. It’s not an insult to 9/11 families, it’s not a Blair Witch ripoff, it’s not Godzilla 2. Everyone needs to relax and take Cloverfield for what it is – a well-made monster movie done in found-footage style.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Obama Borrowed Deval Patrick’s Lines.

On Monday Sen. Barrack Obama was accused by Hilary Clinton’s spokesman Howard Wolfson of plagiarizing Gov. Deval Patrick.

Obama argues that Wolfson was going to far by saying he plagiarized Patrick. Obama doesn’t think that he was wrong using Patrick’s
words because they share their ideas with each other all the time.

Over a year and a half ago Patrick used words, like “I have a dream” and “all men are created equal.” On Saturday night in Wisconsin
Obama used the same lines.

Obama said that Patrick suggested to him to use his lines when he responded to Clinton’s suggestion that he is more of a talker than a doer.

In my own personal opinion that Obama was wrong to plagiarized Patrick’s words, even if Obama argued that Patrick suggested it to him.

I also think that Hilary’s spokesman Howard Wolfson was right in saying that Obama should not have used Patrick’s words in his speech
against Hilary.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Need or No Need for Speed

Need or No Need For Speed
I have read an article about how the New Hampshire State House Transportation Committee would like to raise the speed limit.  “The New Hampshire State House Transportation Committee on Tuesday heard on legislation that would make New Hampshire the first northeastern state to increase its maximum speed to 70 mph since the federal government ordered the state to drop its speed limits from 70 mph to 55 mph in 1974.” (http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/21/2179.asp)
The fines for going over the speed limit are as follows:  “1-5 miles:  $65.  6-10 miles:  $100.  11-15 miles:  $150.  16-20 miles:  $250.  21-25 miles:  $350.  26+ miles:  Requires a court appearance.” (http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/21/2179.asp)
I think that the New Hampshire State House Transportation Committee should not increase the speed limit.  Raising the speed limit will make drivers want to go faster.  It would increase the amount and severity of accidents .  Insurance rates would increase.
Do you think the New Hampshire State House Transportation Committee should raise the speed limit to 70 mph or not?  Why or why not?

Two women bomb themselves in Baghdad.

There were two women who bombed themselves on February 1st in a pet market in Baghdad. The explosion injured over 100 people and killed 73 people. This is one of the most violent attacks in Baghdad since America put 30,000 more soldiers in the west of this country last year. In the first attacks, a woman started a bomb which was hidden in a Jewish traditional coat in the center market of Al-Ghazl. Violence had decreased in Iraq since 7/2007 and people began to come to the markets, they tried to get back their original lives. But since 11/2007 at least 4 explosions were made by the women and all of them were in Diyala, the North East of Iraq. From now on, the number of women who bomb themselves had increased in the world. In October, Al-Qaeda warned that they would have the second woman bomb herself. At that time, she was with her husband and she bombed herself in a group of American soldiers when they were marching in Mosul. And in 9/11/2007 there was the third woman named M.Degauque. The attack was unsuccessful but she died and the American policemen killed her husband. She killed herself with a group of Iraqi policemen. I think Al-Qaeda found a new solution to kill people: use the women. The American government was very concerned about this and they think that this tendency will spread wider in the world. This is so cruel to kill people in this way. We need to find the solution to stop the terrorists from killing people. Because if we don’t, many people will die in their hands and they will never stop doing this. Maybe they will do the same thing not only in Iraq but also in Europe, especially inside of the United States.

Monday, February 18, 2008

US recognizes new country… good idea or bad?

Yesterday, February 17th, the new country Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. Several countries, including the US and Great Britain, have recognized Kosovo’s sovereignty, while countries such as Serbia and Russia are refusing to do so. Other countries, such as Spain, Romania, and Greece are staying out of the argument, preferring to make no comment. China has stated open resistance to the present situation.
Though we as US citizens do commend countries trying to set up a free and equal government, we must also be careful to endorse a new country without viewing the concerns that will undoubtedly arise. Kosovo’s economy is already weak, and its unemployment ratio is extremely high. Breaking off from Serbia has caused tension, and can easily flame up into something more. Kosovo has asked for financial assistance from western powers, including the US. If fighting opens up on the borders, Kosovo will undoubtedly call for military assistance from the supporting countries in the EU, as well as the US. This something we must be cautious of; being careful to not jump into a war that has nothing to do with us, besides the fact that we support their decision.
The next few weeks will prove interesting. 5% of the Kosovo population is Serbian, many of whom clashed with riot police yesterday, along with openly rioting in favor of staying with Serbia.
Our hope is that this nation can gain footing, and strengthen itself from the inside; without massive amounts of foreign help. Only time will tell.

my source: CNN - U.S. recognizes independent Kosovo

Monday, February 11, 2008

Closing Defense Statement from Mock Trial

Posted for your comments or approval is the “Defense Attorney’s” closing statement to the Jury at this year’s Mock Trial. The case involved an altercation between two hockey players; had I been a participant I would have been totally convinced of the Defendant’s position :

Closing Statement:
First, I would like to thank the jury for its dedication and patience throughout the proceeding.

The defense will conclude by stating why its client, Mr. Chris LePuck, is not liable for the sufferings of Mr. Pat Dunn, which the plaintiff insists, are the defendant’s responsibility. The defense presents three main reasons to the jury as to why the defendant is not liable.

Firstly, the defendant was acting only out of the impulse of self-preservation when he struck the plaintiff on the head with the hockey stick. The defendant had been brutally struck in the face by the plaintiff’s heavy, hard hockey glove and, on top of losing his helmet to the blow which gave a natural feeling of violation and of an oppressive physical threat of bodily harm, the defendant was actually disoriented by the unjustifiable, powerful blow. The defendant’s disorientation, which was induced by the plaintiff, caused him to strike the plaintiff on the head. This was not my clients intended target; he simply struck to stop Mr. Dunn, not to injure him. Mr. LePuck has no record of violence in the past and struck Mr. Dunn only because he felt seriously threatened by him and at the probability of taking another blow from that glove. Mr. LePuck’s defending of himself by striking Mr. Dunn was completely justifiable. My client was within his legal right to defend himself.

Secondly, not only did the plaintiff instigate the conflict by tripping Mr. LePuck in the first place, he also brought the conflict to a point where serious bodily harm became a factor. He attacked my client out of anger without restraint, this much is obvious as to how my client’s helmet was thrown from his head. In addition to this form of battery upon my client, Mr. Dunn didn’t simply punch Mr. LePuck with his fist, he used a weapon in this case, the hockey glove. He assaulted Mr. LePuck with a weapon with which he was quite familiar. Mr. Dunn has been playing hockey since the age of 8 and knows that a hockey glove would pack quite a punch, if used in such a way. How can Mr. LePuck be held liable for defending himself against an attacker with a weapon?

Lastly, Mr. Dunn has had a history of head injuries. The blood clot, which he sustained due to a bike accident, was quite a serious one. With an injury like that, it is only logical to attempt to prevent it from getting worse by using appropriate protective measures. Playing a sport like hockey without a helmet and considering his past injury, Mr. Dunn was acting out of nothing short of absolute negligence. Even if the league didn’t require a helmet, it’s his responsibility to avoid situations of obvious harm. If the plaintiff had been responsible and had protected his already injured head, this event wouldn’t have happened. Why should Mr. LePuck be liable for the consequences of Mr. Dunn’s aggression and negligence?

The defense asks the jury to find the defendant not liable of the charges placed upon him by the plaintiff. I am sure the jury will act in the favor of justice.

The defense rests its case!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Learning from the Heroes of the Past

The following is an essay I wrote for my advisory portfolio this December. The essay topic asked to define and describe my hero and make parallels with my own life. (sorry it’s so long. The requirement was 6-10 pages!)

One of my greatest heroes is William Wilberforce, the man who fought to abolish the slave trade in England over 200 years ago. I had never known much about Wilberforce until I wrote an article about him for the school blog last year. Through my research, I came to truly understand and admire the man who served so many years in the British Parliament and affected such great change for the equal rights of mankind. Wilberforce was an incredible man, and I can only hope to follow his example and someday work so mightily for God.

William Wilberforce was born on August 24, 1759 to a wealthy English family. When his father died, 9-year-old Wilberforce moved in with his aunt and uncle, where he was exposed to their evangelical faith, which was his only childhood religious background. His mother soon removed him from his aunt and uncle’s care, and Wilberforce began to get a gentlemen’s education, living a life of vanity and opulence.

During his college years, Wilberforce dreamed of becoming a politician and he befriended William Pitt, who had similar aspirations (William Pitt later became the British Prime Minister). The friends graduated from St. John’s College in Cambridge together and often spent time watching Parliament in action. A year later, Wilberforce campaigned to become a Member of Parliament. Despite incredible odds, 21-year-old Wilberforce was elected, thus beginning his life-long political career (Christian History).

In 1784, Wilberforce began to spend time with his old tutor, Isaac Milner, an intelligent man of evangelical faith. The two men discussed and debated religion, and through the influence of Milner and his theological reading, Wilberforce realized the emptiness of his life and decided to make a change and live for Christ. Initially, Wilberforce felt he needed to step away from his political life, but he was persuaded otherwise by William Pitt and John Newton. Both men encouraged him to use his political influence to make a difference for his church and country. With the inspiration and influence of his friends, Wilberforce began to seek his purpose as a servant of God in the political spotlight.

In 1786, some of Wilberforce’s abolitionist friends asked him to lead their cause in Parliament. At that time, the slave trade was well established and widespread in Great Britain and in the opinions of many, it was justified. Nevertheless, Wilberforce agreed to lead this campaign and slowly came to understand his purpose. Wilberforce said, “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners” (Christian History, 16). This became his life mission: the abolition of slave trade and the reversal of the moral decline.

Wilberforce immediately began to work to accomplish these goals. In Parliament, he supported laws which promoted morality. He also lived his life as an example of godliness and integrity. He gave to the poor, established orphanages, and fought for the welfare of many. Wilberforce was morally upright and tried to actively do the work of God in his own sphere of influence, which happened to be Parliament. He did not need to leave the political arena in order to serve God; instead, that was the platform that allowed Wilberforce to really do God’s work. From the time of his conversion in his early twenties, William Wilberforce never took his eyes off the Lord. His life, work, and purpose were all centered on his faith in God. Being so directly in the political spotlight, Wilberforce was the ultimate example of being in the world, but not of it (World Magazine).

Campaigning for the abolition of the slave trade, Wilberforce was faced with great opposition and his call for change was defeated time and time again. Nevertheless, he remained committed and persistent. Year after year, Wilberforce brought his cause before Parliament, and year after year was defeated. Despite recurrent failure, he continued to fight for justice and liberty. Not only did Wilberforce have to fight great political battles, but he also struggled daily with his own health, suffering with ulcerative colitis. At that time however, the only medication that could be used to help colitis patience was laudanum, an opiate used to ease the pain. Although Wilberforce was constantly fighting the chronic illness, at times being very severe, he always found the strength to persevere. His persistence through failure and illness was remarkable. With every reason to despair and shrink away from the task, Wilberforce pressed on until he finally fulfilled his mission.

Finally, on February 23, 1807, nearly nine years after Wilberforce first introduced the motion, Parliament voted to abolish the slave trade. In the years that followed, laws against slavery and the slave trade continued to pass and be enforced, and Wilberforce, although no longer a Member of Parliament, continued to fight for the cause of freedom. Three days before his death, the Act of Emancipation was passed, ensuring the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom for the British slaves. Wilberforce, a man of faith and justice, lived to see his purpose fulfilled He had begun a revolution for liberty and morality (Christian History).

William Wilberforce was an ordinary man that accomplished the extraordinary and for this reason, I consider him a hero. It is humbling to so seriously consider such a great man in politics and Christianity and I cannot even begin to compare myself with him. Still, his life is inspiration to me as a model of Godly, purposeful living.

It is so hard to live in the world, but to not be caught up in it. Wilberforce understood that there was a fine line here, and he held fast to that principle. It is a daily struggle for me to live according to this idea. The pressures of some of my friends, peers, and society encourage worldly living. I constantly fight to not fall into this trap, but it’s never easy. It is amazing to me how strong Wilberforce seemed despite all the pressures that he faced. He realized that he did not have to leave the public life and join the church in order to serve God, but that he could do God’s work right where he was at. I believe that God is similarly not calling me to a life of church or missions, but to a ministry in my everyday life and in the workplace. Just as God calls all Christians to do, I desire to be directly in the world, but not be entangled in its sinful grasp, and to live as an example of Christ’s great mercy wherever I am in life.

I also greatly admire Wilberforce’s great devotion to God. This is an area where I so often fall short. In every word and deed, Wilberforce dedicated his life to God. Far too often, I try to take my life into my own hands, forgetting to trust God with my purpose and my future. Wilberforce understood fully that apart from God, he was nothing. I think that at times my pride gets in the way and I don’t see how insignificant I really am. It is so easy to get caught up in the events of everyday life and lose focus. Wilberforce, no doubt, had this same struggle, but he overcame it and I think that is precisely what I admire most about him. He was human and struggled in the same way that I do, but he is remembered for having overcome such obstacles and living a life fully devoted to fulfilling God’s purposes.

Similarly, William Wilberforce was a man of moral uprightness. He was, of course, a great sinner and in as much need of a Savior as any other man, but it is so evident that he tried in his everyday life to live according to God’s Word. This is something that every Christian should strive to do, but so many times we fail and mar the name of our Savior. Wilberforce’s life was a radiant witness of Christ, rather than a blemish to His name. This is definitely part of the reason that I consider him a hero. I can only hope that someday my life will be remembered as such a testimony to my faith in God. I do not necessarily desire the sort of global impact that Wilberforce had, but rather that the people that I do come in contact with will remember me in a similar light that the world respects the memory of William Wilberforce.

One of the attributes of Wilberforce that I admire most is his persistence. Even when it seemed there was no hope for the cause of abolition, he never ceased to fight. Few men in history have faced as much continual and recurrent disappointment as Wilberforce and still continued on with hope. Despite great obstacles, he pressed on. I definitely consider myself a fairly persistent person, but I doubt that I could continue on after so many years of no success. The situations in which I have most had to be persistent were short, with a definite end in sight, such as hiking a large mountain or working on portfolios. Although it takes great endurance and persistence to successfully accomplish these objects, it is not the same long range struggle that Wilberforce faced. I hope that if I ever am confronted with a situation requiring such lasting perseverance, that I will not shrink away from the task and lose hope, but will rather push on as Wilberforce did. His determination is certainly illustrative of Philippians 3:14, which reads, “I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

What makes William Wilberforce’s persistence even more astounding is the great battle he fought daily with his health. Living with colitis, Wilberforce suffered greatly with a physical struggle so beyond his control. Having Crohn’s disease myself, a fairly similar chronic illness, Wilberforce’s health struggles only serve to increase my admiration of him all the more. Without medication beyond opiates to relieve the pain, Wilberforce lived with a pretty severe condition in his intestine. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without my medication, and it is amazing to me that Wilberforce lived a normal life at all, let alone held public office and had such great devotion to the cause of abolition. Understanding the pain he suffered through his illness, his persistence becomes even more remarkable to me.

William Wilberforce is my hero because he overcame every obstacle and accomplished great change in the world. He lived in the world, but not of it, and learned that he could do God’s work wherever he was. He was thoroughly devoted to God and dedicated to living a life acceptable to Him. Still, perhaps above all else, I admire that Wilberforce had such great persistence, despite such great obstacles as continual failure and serious health struggles. I cannot even begin to compare myself with this great man, but rather continually look to him as an example and inspiration. I hope to find such a passion in my life as Wilberforce had for the abolition of the slave trade. Although I currently don’t know what that may be, maybe I, too, will someday be called to such a mission. No matter what I do or what I am faced with, I hope that I will always remember the example of William Wilberforce and endure in all things, for Christ’s sake.

Works Cited:

Christian History Magazine. The “Shrimp” who Stopped Slavery. Hancock, Christopher. Issue 53.
World Magazine. Humble Courage. Marvin Olasky. February 10, 2007.