Transcendentalism is the belief that every individual is capable of doing the right thing if they rely on themselves and distrust organizations that attempt to control them. I would identify as a transcendentalist. I believe that governments' purposes are honorable in their intention, but they have become too much of a comfort object for humans. They are corruptible and many times only seek to maintain power, and this poisons the communal spirit of society instead of fostering it. Religion, again is honorable in its purpose, but it assimilates people into reestablished groups, and eliminates from them their freedom of mind. I believe that government in particular sets limits on people, preventing them from reaching their potential and fulfilling their sense of identity. People spend their lives making money and working jobs in order to pay taxes that support their government. The government regulates money, which is what the people are forced to obtain in order to survive. They cannot truly rely on themselves when they must constantly feed this system. It is like applying their own life support. They rely on the government, rather than solely themselves. Religion does not conflict with transcendentalism as directly as government does, but its assimilation of people into established thought groups destroys their freedom of mind, and as a result, their individualism. It is possible to be a religious transcendentalist, but only if the religion is what the individual truly wants to follow. Even in this case, limits are set upon individualism. The mind's future growth is inhibited even if the present state is fulfilled. They answer to another power rather than themselves, and this treads upon their sense of individualism. I identify as a transcendentalist because I do not want limits set upon my mind.

Bowling for Columbine

I believe that Michael Moore made a very strong argument in Bowling for Columbine. America has the most gun related deaths in the world, and Moore has gathered substantial evidence as to why this is so. An inherent fear in the American culture has driven many Americans to use guns for protection. Celebrities who support the use of firearms set an example for the rest of the country to follow. For these reasons, the number of gun-related deaths in America dwarfs that of any other country. Moore believed that the American public had always harbored a certain degree of fear. America, regarded as a melting pot around the world, also proved to be a breeding ground for tension and fear between the races. This tension has boiled over many times. The discovery of Native Americans already living in the New World, the mistreatment of slaves during the 1800’s, and the actions of the Ku Klux Klan during the Civil Rights Movement were examples of the inherent fear resulting in violent actions. The fear demonstrated by these events is still present in America today. It was exposed when Moore visited the house of James Nichols in Michigan. Nichols’ brother, Terry, was a conspirator in the 1995 bombing of Oklahoma City. James slept with a gun under his pillow at night. He claimed that he did it so that he would be able to defend himself in case an intruder broke in. James claimed that there were some “wackos” in the world and that one could never be too prepared. This type of paranoia and mistrust has often resulted in an Americans being more than willing to use guns. Moore also explored some of the reasons the gun culture in America has become so big. One such reason was the popularity of gun-toting celebrities, including Charlton Heston. Heston, a Hollywood movie star, was one of the NRA’s most valuable voices. He had given pro-gun speeches in Littleton, Colorado, and in Mount Morris Township, Michigan. These speeches came mere days after shootings occurred at the Columbine and Buell schools in each respective town. The speeches helped quell the surge of anti-gun sentiment that had been unleashed by the shootings. Heston’s fame attracted many followers, and many gun enthusiasts were encouraged by his speeches. A big reason for the rise of gun usage in America is the example set by our gun-toting celebrities. Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine presented a very convincing argument for stricter gun control laws. The inherent fear and tension between the different ethnicities in America created a society where the use of a deadly weapon was the first reaction for many people. The weapons themselves were promoted by celebrities such as Charlton Heston, who acted as a spokesperson for the NRA, attracting many new supporters for the association. The number of gun deaths in America continues to grow, and Bowling for Columbine highlighted excellent reasons for why this was so, and why change was needed.