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ch.oo.lo
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Toe is in the water |
Location: Michigan, USA
Registered: August 2003
Messages: 49
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In my English class yesterday, we were talking about the Scarlet Letter and comparing some aspects of the Puritans to people nowadays. One of the things she commented on the was fact that the Puritans put the 'A' on Hester (for adultery) because, back then, life wasn't about the individual it was about the society as a whole and the individual's punishment also had to involve the rest of the town. Ms. Ross asked if we thought that this was necessary or even in existence today, most people said no. Then she asked if we had heard about the recent court decision regarding child molesters. You know, the one that says whenever they move into a new neighborhood, a letter must be sent out to all of the neighbors informing them that there is a registered sex offender living in the vacinity; OR the man (or woman) has to go door to door with a police officer letting everyone know what he's done so that they can see his face.
Two questions: 1) Despite the fact that Americans pride themselves on being different and better, in some ways, than the people of the past, is this not the same thing that the Puritans did?; 2) Do you think this is fair/just?
-Jeanne
( And in case you were wondering the other thing we discussed was that when adultery was committed, the Puritans would punish both the man and the woman equally. Unlike in today's society where, although adultery is still a crime in many lawbooks, men can get away with it with social punishment much less severe than a woman.)
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