"Where I Lived and What I Lived For" Guiding Questions

1. When Thoreau calls for "Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" in paragraph two, he is calling for mankind to return to simpler times when nature was more of a part of people's lives. He claims that much of life was now superficial ("...our best virtue has for its occasion a superfluous and evitable wretchedness (297)). He believed that life was far to complicated and needed nature in order to be simple again. He writes: "Our life is frittered away by detail" (297). This implies that he was tired of the small, meaningless aspects of life and wanted to go back to the "big picture". Thoreau believed that in order for life to be simple again, people needed to reconnect with nature.
5. I think that Thoreau's advice and sentiments in this essay are meant as recommendations for living one's entire life and for periodically reflecting on life's true meaning simultaneously. To summarize the piece of writing, he wants people to embrace nature. He wishes for people to, like him, stick with the simpler parts of life and ignore the little details that don't really matter. One could interpret this as something to reflect upon as they go through life, or it could mean that one takes Thoreau's advice literally and make some serious life changes. I do not, however, think he is suggesting isolation as a lifestyle. I believe that he suggests being in isolation sometimes for periods of time, but not completely start a new life alone.

Is the "Heroes of 2001" Postage Stamp an Effective Choice?

    The "Heroes of 2001" postage stamp is a very effective choice for a stamp for the U.S. Postal Service. In the picture, three firemen raising an American flag are in focus. Behind them, the rubble from the Twin Towers is visible. This photograph/stamp is an allusion to the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11th, 2001, where four planes were hijacked and two were flown into the Twin Towers in New York City, killing over 3,000 people. This was the largest terrorist attack to ever happen in the United States, and it is still fresh in the minds of many people. The picture of the firemen raising the American flag amidst the rubble and destruction of a horrific event symbolizes the integrity, strength, and courage of America. It allows people to feel a sense of pride and patriotism. It is clear that the firemen had been working hard to save people from the attack and to get people out of the collapsing buildings. It is also clear that the rising flag represents resilience. This stamp is a very effective stamp because it represents the core values that America holds by showing strength within a very real and powerful tragedy.