comparing through paraphrasing

     “The Gospels According to Spider-Man” by Richardson and the “What about Privilege” article by Johnson are similar in the fact that they deal with power and privilege to some degree. Spiderman has great power and privilege in having super power abilities and being able to help many people. He can handle situations that the police and fire department cannot control. Spiderman and the Green Goblin are pitted against each other on the basis of morality, one good, the other bad. “What about Privilege” talks about how different groups of people in society are pitted against each other, not necessarily through good and evil, but because they may look, act or think differently. Many people deny and discriminate against others based on their morals and values, Spiderman and the Green Goblin do the same. They both have different intentions in mind and will do whatever it takes for their intentions to be fulfilled.

      A significant line from Spiderman is “with great power, comes great responsibility,” which means that with great power comes great privileges and opportunities. Spiderman is now a hero because of what he is capable of doing. He is an example for all. The same is seen in society; those with success have bigger houses, nicer cars, and greater opportunities. Both of these articles imply the premise that the more power you have, the more privileges you possess. Both articles also deal with differences, in the case of Spiderman the difference of good versus evil.  In “What is Privilege” these differences tend to isolate one group from another. That is why  “The Gospels of Spiderman” and “ What is Privilege?” have much in common. 

Example of Privilege.

      An example of Privilege can be seen in Religion. For example, during the Holocaust the Jewish people were persecuted for their religious beliefs.  Non –Jewish “blonde hair blue eyed” Germans were considered a “superior race” and not subjected to any of the atrocities suffered by the Jews. There was nothing to make the Jewish people different from the non -Jewish people. The Germans, for no other reason, were considered the “privileged ones.” The Jewish people were brutally attacked, tortured, and killed; their freedom was taken away completely, while many of the other religions went on living their everyday life. The non-Jews did not protest the unfair treatment of the Jewish people out of fear that they too may be subjected to the same treatment. They felt privileged that they were able to live above such treatment, so they just ignored it.

     The non- Jewish people were privileged, in the way that they were able to live their lives, while thousands or Jewish people were being killed in gas chambers each and every day. What gave the rest of German society the freedom to live their everyday lives free of torture and death while the Jews had to suffer tremendous injustices?

    Today as we look back and reflect on this time, it is hard for us to believe that this type of cruel and inhumane treatment of the Jewish people was allowed to happen. It should serve as a warning to us all that when anyone of us looses the privilege of their freedom at the hands of another, that we as a society all suffer. To be privileged in any way is to have something valuable that others are denied, that is exactly what happened with the Jews and non-Jewish people, in Germany during the Holocaust.

 

About Me

My name is Stephanie Pugh and I am 18 years old. I was born and raised in Camarillo, California. I am a recent graduate from Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Ca.  I am currently a freshman at Azusa Pacific University. Some of my favorite things to do are watch movies, listen to music, hang out with my friends, go to the beach, bake and take pictures. I love animals and have a golden retriever named Sara.  My favorite color is purple and I love Mexican food.  I have a passion for traveling and have been to Oregon, Washington, Delaware, and Washington D.C. Over spring break of this year, I was blessed to travel to Romania on a Missions Trip. It was definitely the most memorable trip I have ever been on. I learned that little things can make an enormous difference in the lives of people who have nothing.  The trip made me extremely grateful for all that I have, and all of the opportunities that are available to me.

     This semester I hope to grow not only in knowledge, but also in my relationship with Christ. English is one of my favorite subjects and I have always enjoyed writing. I am excited to be learning it in a new way, through watching films, not just in-class lectures.  I hope to leave this class at the end of the semester having become a better writer and a more well- rounded person. I hope to improve my grammar and debate skills and learn more about various superheroes through the films we watch in class.  I look forward to learning new things, and being able to apply them in class. I am excited to see what this semester has to offer me.