Author: Nathaly

You walk down the stairs of the metro to approach your oncoming train. You look at the signs on the wall to help guide you. Is it Port Dauphine or Nation? You make your way down the stairs, hurryingly. Beep, beep, beep. Hurry up! You jump on the train as soon as the doors close. You sigh in relief as you find a seat on the metro.

Bienvenue to Line 2

1.         Barbes- Rochechouart

As soon as you get off on Barbes- Rochechouart you’re greeted with an African and middle eastern neighborhood. It is apparent that is it of lower economic status. The neighborhood is right next to tourism however. What shocks you most is the staggering contrast once you go up the hill and turn left. You’re met with tourism at the turn of a corner. You were just in an African and middle eastern neighborhood. There are lots of businesses and graffiti. The streets are flooded with culture. People are talking, hanging out, working, and living. Then, you walk less than 2 kilometers and you’re introduced to instant tourism. Chic cafes greet you everywhere you go. Pretty flowers surround every corner and the demographic changes. Now you see mostly white people, maybe American or European, and the energy is different. It’s no longer an urban feel but a leisurely stroll. You begin to hear different languages and instead of graffiti, portraits align the cobblestone roads.

But this is the reality:

France colonialism. France owned Morocco, Lebanon and other Middle Eastern colonies. The people immigrate to Paris to work and obtain a higher quality of life since life is very disrupted in their home countries.

2.         Anvers

            Anvers is the stop where Sacre Coeur (sacred heart) is. Sacre Coeur is a catholic church that signifies the sacred heart of Jesus. It is in Montmatre, or the mountain of martyrs, which is where Saint Denis was beheaded next to a Roman temple and two other men were beheaded next to him. Montmatre today is surrounded by tourism and is famously known. It wasn’t always important though; it becomes important when Christians feel threatened by Vikings in the year 1000.

Sacre Coeur is made of white stone and is known as a party town. The Commune of 1870- ideal communist state created fights here. It was the center of socialist uprisings that rejected the church. France declares war on Prussia. Paris forms it’s own government. The Prussian and French government take them down and there is public execution. Also, during this time we have the birth of Impressionism, which is accessible to everyone and is printed in small pictures for everyone to have.

The church, Sacre Coeur, was built to establish their power. The church was built to pay for the sins of previous French people, and is paid for by the French government. Here we see the Pendulum shifting again. Amidst everything that happened here, so did the round up of Jews.

In the 20th century there is an explosion of artists and music.

The Deerings were included as well.

Black musicians could play in downtown Paris but could not stay. They had to go to Montmatre to play the authentic show and stay here.

There was segregation although France was more liberal than The United States.

There is always someone officially praying for us to be saved from our sins at the church.

Back then, they wanted this church to be medieval style in order impose their power, as they were trying to reinsert medieval Christianity.

In the church Catholicism was established. The statue of Peter, the disciple can be found in the church. According to popular legend, Peter means rock or piedra, and he is the rock that Jesus will build the kingdom of heaven on while on earth.

Peter is the representation of God on earth and you have to obey him, according to the story. Christ is available to everyone.

During WW2, there was allied bombing and the bombs hit Montmartre.

No one dies and the church is not hit, however the stained glass is blown out.

The crusades are celebrated after WW2.

Ultimately, there are always two sides to everything. It’s all about perspective, and love is essential as motivation for art.

            3.         Blanche

            Get off at Blanche and you can see the famous Moulin Rouge along with a strip of shops. Common to today’s liberal culture, the shops are sex shops and other clubs. The irony falls in place as blanche means white, which is a pure color, yet the area is filled with impurities. However, just like in Barbes-Rochechouart you turn the street and you’re in a chic touristic spot again. It is resemblance of contradictions and how good lives with evil, similar to this world we live in.

Shortly, as we walked down the street we were met with Josephine Baker’s nightclub. Being the most recognized performer in all of Europe in 1939, Josephine experienced segregation and later became apart of the French resistance. Close to Blanche, Josephine Baker was an independent woman who opened her own nightclub. 

4.         Stalingrad

You hop on the metro again and make your way to Stalingrad, in which you encounter a circular building, that building is Place de La Bataille de Stalingrad. You curiously notice people eating around that building and lighthearted music playing, shouldn’t a building of great importance be highlighted differently? ,” You ask yourself. However, you quickly come to realize that the monument to the battle of Stalingrad is simply just named that way after the battle, it is actually a bar/restaurant! It is located between the Canal de l’Ourcq and the Canal Saint Martin. It was officially inaugurated on July 7^th 1945 and it was named after the battle of Stalingrad, which occurred on July 17^th, 1942, between the Germans and the Russians during World War II. The battle is believed to be significant in how it weakened German forces and caused the eventual decline and defeat of Hitler.

Amidst the history that the building represents, the area is one of leisure. The irony comes into play when you realize that there’s a building that many pass everyday, yet are unaware of it symbolic importance. It’s funny how we live amongst history yet many of us aren’t aware of what’s right under our noses.

            5.         Charles de Gaulle-Etoile                 

Moving from a more tranquil area to a more upscale area, you find yourself getting off at Charles de Gaulle-Etoile. Once you get off you are greeted with the famous monument to Napolean, the Arc de triomphe and the shopping district known as the Champs- Elysees.

Napoleon built the arc de triumph as a victory arch to celebrate all his victories in combat. Prior, however, Louis XIV created a road in front of the arc of triumph. The arc can be recognized as having a neoclassical art style as it was done in the early 1800s. Named on top of the arc are napoleons victories and on each façade you see scenes of battle and triumph. The arc didn’t always have an easy past though; it took 30 years to build due to political matters. Interestingly, in 1492 Jews and Muslims expelled from Spain and in 1808, when Napoleon was in charge, they were allowed to come back when Napoleon conquered Spain.

Walk down and you’ll find yourself in the Champs-Elysees, a bustling shopping avenue filled anything from high-end stores to McDonald’s. It is a very known touristic spot with many stores and a lot of diversity. It was created on a hill that way as you shop you naturally move down the hill. Fun facts about the Champs-Elysees include Louis Vuitton who invented the travel luggage and Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who was a slave owner and had a romantic relationship with a slave; he also lived in Paris.

For me, walking down the Champs-Elysees created a feeling of liberation, as it embodies the pinnacle of capitalism with all the stores lined up. Being born in Havana, Cuba where walking down a boulevard of high-end shops and businesses is not possible, I felt very grateful to be standing there as I was reminded of the sacrifice my parents made to give us a better life; and here I was, on France study abroad standing the midst of their sacrifice.

6.         Pere Lachaise

The cemetery Pere Lachaise is filled with many deceased people, some notable figures, such as Chopin, Wilde and Delacroix. The history of Pere Lachaise begins with Napolean who does the catacombs of Paris and Pere Lachaise as a fundraiser and because there wasn’t space to put the bodies. In Pere Lachaise, you are able to have a cultural connection and connect to the human side of these figures since most of them perished naturally, rather than a sacrificial death. Being amongst the dead gives the cemetery a heavy feeling to it, as cemeteries always have. It’s the dead amongst the living. There are artistic sculptures for some of the graves, which tells their story, for instance there was one remembering the lives lost in Auschwitz. There is also a lot of cultural diversity in that cemetery and people of different time periods buried there.

My presentation was on Marcel Proust, one of the most important French novelist’s of the 20^th century. Presenting his life made me aware and conscious of the small moments, like he says, which are the ones that count. It also gave me a feeling of connection with the late author, as I was able to learn and share his life with my classmates.

Walking through the cemetery is like waking through a city, it is huge with hills and stairs. At the top you see the view of the city and you’re reminded of being alive. Looking up at the trees and sky amongst the gravestones was a stark contrast that made me feel grateful to be alive. It served as an ever-present reminder to focus on the living.

            7.         Jaures

Get off on the stop Jaures to experience a different cultural environment and two bodies of water, the Canal Saint-Martin and the Bassin de la Villette. Surrounded by an urban area, you see a lot of graffiti and people of African or Middle-Eastern origin.

The Canal Saint-Martin is 4.5 kilometers long and is surrounded by trendy café’s and restaurants. The Bassin de la Villette is also surrounded by the same type of business and by people. People come to sit nearby and enjoy good conversation or fish. You can even see children playing in the fountains on the lake. The Bassin de la Villette is the largest artificial lake in Paris.

Sitting around its edge while overlooking the beautiful view and the boats of love that would pass really made me reflect on how wonderful life is if we choose to look at it that way. Later, I went upstairs to dine overlooking the lake and it was one of those moments that cultivate human connection, moments that we live for.

            8.         Belleville

When you get off at Belleville you are met with the park de Belleville. Here you can see kids playing, people talking and the overall calmness of the area. It is a large green space and the highest park in Paris being that it is on a hill 108 meters high.

This park dates back from the Middle Ages where religious communities would settle and farm. Wine was made from the grapes grown here and in the 20^th century the cottages that were once nearby turned into modern buildings. Wine is still made here however, as a reminder of the park’s history.

While walking through the park, I felt peace and stillness as I was surrounded by all the greenery. The children playing filled the atmosphere with joy and served as a remembrance of the precious moments that truly matter. 

            9.         La Chapelle               

Nearby La Chappelle, you can find Gare du nord: the North Station. Gare du Nord is a large train station in the 10^th arrondissement and has international trains as well. The front of the train station is neoclassical and has served in transporting people for years. With the rise of modern industrialization, we can now travel easily from place to place, thereby trading languages, ideas, and customs. The Gare du Nord is useful and I’m sure one day I’ll use it in my travels.

            10.       Couronnes

As you walk through Couronnes you experience street art on every corner. Walking past one corner however, I noticed an elementary school with a dedicatory plaque. The plaque read, “ In memory of the pupils of this school deported from 1942 to 1944 because they were born Jews, innocent victims of Nazi barbarity with active complicity of the Vichy government. They were exterminated in the death camps. The 13^th of May, 2000,” (Google translated). The plaque shocked me and I stayed there standing for a minute. Especially, because this was an elementary school. To recount and remember the horrendous events that happened during WW2 is a responsibility that we must never let slip and the culmination of this class. Throughout all we’ve learned about the holocaust, we must never forget that innocent children were unfortunately pulled into this and that history has a tendency to repeat itself, which is why we must never let it happen again.

References:

https://en.parisinfo.com/transport/73398/Gare-du-Nord

https://www.paris-walking-tours.com/parcdebelleville.html

https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71943/Bassin-de-La-Villette

https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/canal-saint-martin-paris.html

https://www.eutouring.com/place_de_la_bataille_de_stalingrad_square.html

Professor John W. Bailly’s Lectures

Lyon as Text

Remember What Happened and Share it

July 8^th, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

Today we met Claude Bloch. Claude was an accountant in his life. He is also a husband and a father, all of which compose his identity. One part of his identity, however, was once temporarily erased in the eyes of the Nazis and German war generals: his humanity. You see Claude Bloch wasn’t just an accountant and a husband and a father, he is alsoa holocaust survivor. At the ripe age of 15 years, Claude Bloch faced challenges unimaginable. He was sent to prison for the sole “crime” of being Jewish along with his mother and grandfather. As he told his story to us, silent tears streamed down my face.

 After being interrogated, his grandfather was murdered. His mother and him were sent to Montluc prison, a prison we visited as a class and imagined what is must have been like to be held captive there. 1, 2, 3, … that’s how quickly Claude was stripped of his freedom. He was later sent to Birkenau, known as Auschwitz 2.

There he was saved by his mother as she pushed him away into the line where the men were.  Women with children were declared unfit to work and were gassed, which is why she pushed him into the line with the men. That was his last memory of his mother.

Claude experienced torture, punishment, intense cold weather, and hatred, but he never lost hope. When Monsieur Bloch was asked how he endured the holocaust, he responded that he never considered dying; he just knew that he would push through.

On May 10, 1945, the Red Cross helped the survivors; amongst one of them was Claude. Claude weighed about 60 pounds at 15 years old by the time he was seen by a doctor.  At last, the war ended on September 2^nd, 1945.  Claude went back to his home with his grandma and reenrolled in school again. Today Claude tells his story to schools and groups so that the memory of the holocaust never fades. His mission is to keep these events alive and active in people’s minds so that this monstrosity never happens again.

As a class we experienced extreme respect for Mr. Bloch for enduring the holocaust and it’s events. We can’t imagine fully what he went through, but we can place ourselves in his shoes and feel a sliver of what he felt. As an individual, I felt honor and an immense feeling of gratitude. I am grateful for the position that I’m in, as a student on study abroad, grateful to live in America, grateful to be free. To have freedom of expression, the freedom of religion, and simply, put, freedom. Freedom, where I’m from, which is Cuba, is a privilege instead of a right, due to Cuba’s communist government. I am reminded of Monsieur Bloch’s words when asked, “What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?” to which he replied, “Never trust the extremists”.

Sincerely,

Nathaly Lopez

Reference:

https://convoi77.org/en/deporte_bio/bloch-claude/

Izieu as Text

The 44.

                                                                                                                        July 10, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

On April 6, 1944 their fate changed forever. The Gestapo and leader Klaus Barbie sent a military to raid the innocent home of refuged Jewish children. Sent there by their parents to stay protected from the war, 44 children were arrested, detained in Montluc prison, and later executed… What caused these series of events to happen? I ask myself. 44 innocent lives taken, as if they meant nothing. My heart aches for those children and their families. For the Jewish population and allies known as the Resistance. They knew no harm and did no evil.  Claudine Halaubrenner was 5 years old.         The U.S CIA later employed Klaus to battle against communism for 40 years. Klaus was then tried and brought to Montluc prison for one night, then he later died of old age in prison. Reports show that Klaus was prideful after murdering innocent children.

Santa Spiegel was 9 years old. My heart hurts. Izieu was more of a home for the children than a refuge.  It was a house, school, infirmary, and a safe place surrounded by peaceful nature.  The school leaders wanted Izieu to be as normal as possible for the children, therefore they had class in their classrooms where the children learned about geography and more. During our time spent there we saw letters and drawings done by the children. Some pieces were graphic, portraying brutal scenes, which gives light to the fact that the children knew about the war and that they knew where they were and why they were there.  In many letters, the children write back to their parents, asking them to send them school supplies and sending them kisses. Paulette Mermelstein was 12 years old.

That is when I ask myself the question: Would I have sent my children to Izieu if I were in the parent’s position?

I don’t think I would. As a family, I would want to stay together, although I understand their parent’s decision of sending their children to a refuge from the war.

Why did this happen?  Raoul Ben Titou was 13 years old.

The evil in Hitler and Klaus’ hearts could not have been fault of any one religion, because truly, at the heart we are all the same. We are a part of one human race. Sadly, the evil in Hitler, Klaus and the Nazis blinded them far beyond any sense of morality. Charles Weltner was 10 years old. Zygmund Springer was 8 years old.

Above all, my comfort lies in that the children were surrounded by joy brought by the other children and teachers, peace from the beautiful landscape outside the home, and love from their parents miles away. One other valuable thing that the children held onto was hope.  Hope that this would soon all be over. The war did end and although they didn’t get to see it, their hope wasn’t in vain, as it is our responsibility to share the story of the 44 children of Izeiu so that it doesn’t happen again.

Sincerely,

Nathaly Lopez

Versailles as Text

“Love and War”

July 3^rd, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

The palace is like no other, filled with marvelous art, social hierarchy and bad decisions amongst many of them. What captivated me most about Versailles, wasn’t just the adorned palace, it was the gardens that accompanied it. An explosion of flora and fauna that retells of French history is found at the Versailles’ gardens.

In 1631, Louis XIV, who dubbed himself “The Sun King”, built Versailles. He did so to establish political power and to protect himself against the French people. The rest of France was experiencing dire poverty, but King Louis XIV’s priority was to construct Versailles as we know it today. That decision however, impacted history forever, thus his lineage was affected as well. In 1774, Louis XVI came into power along with Marie Antoinette. Louis XVI allied with American rebels against the English, a decision that later inspired the French Revolution, turning his own people against him. The people of France disliked the reigning French monarchs at that time because of their ignorance to public concerns. Therefore, Louis XVI and Marie’s lack of action led to corruption, and one could argue that they lost their minds before they were even beheaded.

On July 14^th, 1789, the storming of the Bastille occurred, thus propelling the French Revolution. From that point on, the French monarchs were headed for their fate, which resulted in public execution in 1793. France then established a government and the monarchy was terminated at last. 

Flash forward to today, where Versailles serves as a monument for people to observe, I found myself interested in the gardens of Marie Antoinette. As I was standing in front of the Temple of Love, admiring the beautiful and delicate nature where Marie used to recluse in, I thought about the irony of it all. How was she so connected to nature yet so disconnected from the rest of the world? Nature is extremely peaceful and something that connects us to each other, however on the outside of palace walls people were starving and a revolution was forming. How could she be so blind to that? Maybe I would have been too. It’s similar to today’s society in how we are so connected to social media, yet so out of touch with the reality happening right before us. Maybe we’ll wake up before we lose our minds too.

Sincerely,

Nathaly Lopez

References:

https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history#versailles-and-the-french-revolution-1789-1803

https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/louis-xv

Paris as Text

“Seen at the Siene”

July 15, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

Day 1: I arrived to Paris and was immediately immersed into different cultures, art styles and ways of living. The urban charm reeled me in, and I found myself hooked on the beauty of the city. I enjoyed admiring the architecture in all its splendor. Massive parks welcomed you to stay and socialize, and I never wanted to leave. Paris is more than what meets the eye though, being rich in history, the Seine River tells the story of Parisian life.

Today: It’s been 15 days since I arrived to Paris, and the Seine River has demonstrated it compatibility with all walks of life. The river passes through the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Orsay, les Invalides, and more monumental structures. The buildings are each a world of their own, with the Eiffel tower being created by Gustof Eiffel in 1889, and the Louvre being filled with key pieces of art from artists like Michelangelo, DaVinci, and Rafael.

Not only does the Siene River host historical monuments, it also is home to today’s French culture, especially the youth. Many people gather around and sit at the river’s bank to eat and converse. The social atmosphere made me, a foreigner; feel welcome and connected to the culture. To think that I’m walking down the same streets that Ernest Hemingway walked on is both an honor and a joy.

Overall, the Siene River is more than a river; it is a bridge between the past and the present. It connects people from different places and cultures and is the breeding ground for creativity to emerge.

Sincerely,

Nathaly Lopez

Reference:

https://www.parisdigest.com/map_paris/map_of_paris_seine_river.htm

Normandy as Text

“Unknown to many, Known to All“

It is a heavy responsibility writing this.

 I am representing thousands of Comrades who perished in the war. 

All for one and one for all.

They fought until the very end. They fought for our liberty, so that tears (of gas) would be no more. They fought savagely for something greater than themselves.

And they won.

They did it, without even knowing they did. They accomplished it.

So many people saved, because of them.

Who are you Comrade In arms? Your families never got to say goodbye. They do not know where you are buried.

But where one is buried, all are buried. And if one suffers all suffer.

For we are all one.

This is what your sacrifice means.

Claude Bloch lives to be 93 years old.

This is what your sacrifice means.

The 44 children of Izeiu live in our memories and their testimonies are in our hearts.

This is what your sacrifice means.

Today, people of Jewish backgrounds live freely in society without fear of being punished.

A moment of silence please…

What would I have done? Would I have sacrificed my life for others to live theirs?

You marched, Comrade, you fought, and fired, and died, so that I could live.

How old were you, Comrade? Were going to be a father or had you just graduated high school?

A comrade in arms is a symbol of bravery, freedom, and brotherhood.

The comrades in arms are our heroes and we don’t even know them fully.

We don’t know their faces or their names. We don’t know what they cared for or who they loved.

All I know is that they loved their country and the people in it.

That’s why it is up to you and I to share our knowledge. It is our call-to-action that the events of history be kept alive.

They loved their fellow human beings enough to protect and liberate them from the nazi regime.

They cared for us far greater than we could ever care for them. And because of their courage, because of their bravery and their far-gone boldness, we live today.

We have freedom today.

No, soldier your life and death wasn’t in vain.

You died for your country and because of that we remember your pain.

Thank you is all I have to say.

Thank you for caring and for giving it all away.

Reference:

https://www.abmc.gov/search/node?keys=Comrade%20in%20Arms&page=521

Pere Lachaise as Text

Marcel Proust

Marcel Proust was born on July 10^th, 1871 in Auteuil, near Paris, France. He passed away on November 18, 1922 at 51 years old, due to pneumonia.

Marcel was a French novelist and one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

Adrien proust, Marcel’s father was an epidemiologist. He was the doctor responsible for decreasing cholera in France. Marcel’s mother came from wealthy Jewish family.

As a child he suffered from asthma, which persisted through his life.

He spent his childhood in Illiers and Auteuil or at seaside resorts in Normandy with his grandmother.

At 18 years old, he did military service in Orleans 1889-1890

Studied at the School of Political Sciences taking “licenses in law (1893) and in literature (1895).”

“In Search of Lost Time”…   A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu

Longest novel in the world.

1.2 million words.

7 volumes.

Published in 1913.

The novel was written throughout his life.

The protagonist is based on Proust’s life. It is a story of a man who searches for the meaning and purpose of life. He’s on a journey to stop wasting time and start appreciating existence. Proust’s goal was to help people.

Meaning of life from novel:

1. Social success- Proust learns that the meaning of life is not dependent on social status. He meets people in high society who don’t have good virtues.
2. Love- Romantic love. He meets a young woman and loves her =, however once the relationship ends Proust comes to the conclusion that no one can fully understand anyone., and therefore romantic love is not the meaning of life for him.
3. Art- habit is the opposite of art.  Proust says it dulls our senses. We must appreciate daily life like a child. Artists do this.

He is known for writing about madeleine’s and tea. The pair brought him back to childhood, which is also known as a Proustian moment. It’s about perspective and we should appreciate life with greater intensity.

Conclusion: everyday life is full of joy and beauty, we just have to take the time to shift our image and appreciate it.

When reflecting upon this person, I found myself relating to him very much in terms of life philosophy, because for me the most important thing we can do in life is to live in the present moment. It means focusing completely on what you are experiencing right now. Shortly, you’ll begin to feel and cultivate joy and enthusiasm for the moment and the people in it. We often become enveloped in human tendencies of life, however it is really about those in between moments that make us feel most alive and deeply connected.

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” -Marcel Proust

References:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/233619.Marcel_Proust

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/france-in-focus/20210702-a-literary-legend-the-life-and-legacy-of-marcel-proust

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marcel-Proust

Nicolas de Condorcet

Biography

Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet, was born on September 17, 1743 in Ribemont, France and died on March 29, 1794 in Bour-la-Reine France. Condorcet was known as a human rights advocate during the French Revolution. He advocated for economic freedom, religious toleration, the abolition of slavery, educational reform, and women’s rights. Nicolas was known as a French philosopher who defended the idea that humankind could reach perfection (1). 

Nicolas was from the family of Caritat, who’s title was from Condorcet in Dauphine. His early education was at the Jesuit college in Reims and then at the College of Navarre in Paris. He was also known for being a mathematician and famous for his studies on probability (4). In 1769, he became a member of the Academy of Sciences to which he contributed mathematical papers (1). He also contributed to the preparation of the Encyclopédie.

In 1786, he married Sophie de Grouchy in which they shared an intellectual partnership based on their shared views of democracy and human sympathy.

He was also a write as he later went on to write a few published pieces, one of them being the Vie de Voltaire: a biography on Voltaire.

Condorcet was revolutionary in his views for women’s rights and educational reform, but also for his plea for a democratic republic. Nicolas believed that a democracy was better than a monarchy, and that lead to him to be elected as secretary of the Legislative Assembly for Paris. He actively defended educational reform, in which he stated that the church be separate from education (3). In 1792, he declared that the king be suspended and that the National Convention be summoned.  During the Revolution, Nicolas was part of the Girondins who were rejected by the more dominant radical group led by Robespierre. In the Louis XVI trial, Nicolas voted against the death penalty, which then led him to flee from the Jacobins.

While hiding, Nicolas wrote his famous Esquisse d’un tableau historique des progrès de l’esprit humain (1794; Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind). He also wrote a testament to his infant daughter, in which he expresses his thoughts on sympathy (2). He writes about how human beings naturally sympathize with other people and how evil is what hardens people’s hearts. He wished for her to love freedom, equality and justice and that she should not hold bitterness or remorse in her heart for the people who had wronged her parents. 

Shortly, after he escaped the house he was hiding in as he believed that it was being watched. He hid in nature for three days before he was seen and captured in Bourg-la-Reine. He was imprisoned and then found dead on March 29, 1794. The cause of death is uncertain, but it was believed that he was given poison.

Nicolas was known to be a man of the Enlightenment era, where he was interested in advancing public good and social affairs (1, 2). He revolutionized the implementation of a democracy, economic freedom, religious toleration, legal and educational reform, the abolition of slavery, perfectionism, sympathy, mathematics, and Women’s rights and Woman’s suffrage. He fought for equal rights for both men and women alike and declared that all human beings were equal and thus all human beings should have rights, regardless of race, religion, or sex.

Educational reform

Nicolas himself was very against the incorporation of the church and religious views into the education system. He proposed a secular view of education and sought to implement that during the French Revolution. As a schoolboy he received a religious education and then grew a distaste to it.

From On the Nature and Purpose of Public Instruction (1791) by Nicolas de Condorcet:

“Human life is not a struggle in which rivals contend for prizes. It is a voyage that brothers make together: where each employs his forces for the good of all and is rewarded by the sweetness of mutual benevolence, by the pleasure that comes with the sentiment of having earned the gratitude or the esteem of others … By contrast, the crowns bestowed in our colleges – which induce the schoolboy to believe himself already a great man – only arouse a childish vanity from which a wise system of instruction would seek to preserve us if, by misfortune, its origin lay in our nature and not in our blundering institutions. The habit of striving for first place is either ridiculous or unfortunate for the individual in whom it has been inculcated.” (4)

Here Nicolas stated that education is a journey not a race, and that one should be focused on the brotherhood and fellowships of education instead of the prize of first place.

Although described as shy, Nicolas was not shy to write about his opinions on the education system. He pushed for social and educational reform at the cusp of the French Revolution. He described a secular position to education and called to action to make it happen. In this excerpt, Joan Landes writes about his relationship with his wife and their shared ideals on education:

“Like her husband, de Grouchy was committed to bringing about major judicial and political reforms in France; and her own experiences at a convent left her with a similarly fierce dislike of the Church and a commitment to secular values. The two met through their common interest in the defence of three peasant victims of judicial error and legal abuse … whose cause had been taken up by de Grouchy’s uncle, the magistrate Charles Dupaty, president of the parliament of Bordeaux. … Mme de Condorcet was an accomplished translator and author, in her own right; and she shared her husband’s liberal and republican views, especially on matters of criminal justice, political reform, and minority and women’s rights.” (4)

Nicolas’ wife, Sophie de Grouchy, also shared his views on secular education and they worked together to promote it.

Perfection

While Nicolas was in hiding, he wrote what’s known as his best work, the the Esquisse d’un tableau historique des progrès de l’esprit humain (1794; Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind). The main point he expressed in the literature was that humanity will grow until it reaches perfection one day (1). He describes the epochs of history and how the human race is on the path to enlightenment, virtue, and happiness. So far, according to Nicolas, we have gone through nine epochs and we are making our way to the tenth epoch: the future. In this new future Nicolas defends that there will be equality between nations, the will be equality between social classes, and that people will improve until they reach perfection, intellectually, morally, and physically. Nicolas was a strong and passionate believer of equal human rights for all human beings and the right to freedom, regardless of race, gender, or color. He believed that the human mind could place no fixed limits on its growth in knowledge, virtue, and the prolongation of mortal life.

Women’s rights

Women’s rights were an impactful social issue that Nicolas took a strong stance on.  He believed that women and men were created equal and that women and men deserved the same rights. Nicolas rejected the common thought at the time that women were intellectually inferior to men and that they should not be included politically (3). In his Memoirs on Public Instruction (1791), Nicolas defended that women had a right to be part of the same educational curriculum as men and that public education should be available to both men and women. The reason why Condorcet’s fight for women’s rights was so notable was because at the time discussing women’s rights in the higher places of society was not accepted and there was not a women’s rights movement in France in 1789. Condorcet published two papers on women’s rights, one in 1787 and one in 1790, with the intent of possibly incorporating those ideas into the constitution of a new French nation. In 1790, He wrote Sur l’admission des femmes au droit de cite (On the admission of women to the rights of citizenship) in which he said :

“From a political perspective, Condorcet insists, there are no fundamental differences between the sexes. Sexual and gender differences are either the product of education and socialisation – and therefore subject to change – or they are simply irrelevant to a discussion of natural rights. The first category includes the different spheres of activity (public versus private) to which men and women have traditionally applied their intellect, as well as their allegedly different senses of morality or justice. Women, it has been said, are guided by their feelings rather than by their reason or conscience. But such differences, Condorcet asserts, are caused by purely social factors: generally excluded from public life, women have directed their intelligence toward different objects and therefore may have developed, for instance, a different sense of justice from that of me …[Condorcet writes] “if reasons such as these were admitted against women, it would also be necessary to deprive of the rights of citizenship that portion of the people who, because they are occupied in constant labour, can neither acquire knowledge nor exercise their reason. Soon, little by little, only persons who had taken a course in public law would be permitted to be citizens.” (4)

Personal reflection

Nicolas de Condorcet can be summed up as a mathematician, philosopher, writer, human rights advocate, politician, husband and father, but what makes me feel most connected to him is his humanity. He recognized that all human beings are conscious beings and that transcends the limits that society places on them. He recognized that although we are all different parts we make up one body and if one part of the body is denied then the rest of the body suffers too. He knew that if I deny you of your rights, then I deny myself of mine too. He deeply experienced that we are connected and that if you fail, I fail too, and if you succeed, I do as well. His morality is something that can be found in each one of us, and this is what he expressed about it:

“The rights of men stem exclusively from the fact that they are sentient beings, capable of acquiring moral ideas and of reasoning upon them. Since women have the same qualities, they necessarily also have the same rights. Either no member of the human race has any true rights, or else they all have the same ones; and anyone who votes against the rights of another, whatever his religion, colour or sex, automatically forfeits his own.”(1)

Another way in which I felt connected to Nicolas was through his sympathy and compassion. Before his imprisonment and death, Nicolas wrote a testament to his daughter based on sympathy. Condorcet believed that human behavior was fueled by sympathy for other people. He wished to stretch out that sympathy to other beings, in that he stopped hunting and only killed insects if they were harmful (2). He wished for his daughter to have and express sympathy as well. He states how humans are naturally sympathetic and compassionate, but their hearts are hardened through the habit of cruelty. He yearned for his daughter to love freedom, equality and justice, and hoped that she would not wish revenge on the people who had harmed her parents. He felt that teachers should not humiliate or be cruel to children. Once again, I felt connected to Condrocet’s writings as I feel that there is sympathy and compassion in me as well as us all. I actually believe that is our core, love. Love in encoded in all of us as well as morality. We are born into this world needing love to survive and we all have a moral conscience as well. Some people are more aware of that morality in them, nonetheless we all love justice, equality, and freedom.

Nicolas de Condorcet was a revolutionary man. That is what inspired me to learn about his life and philosophy. He boldly declared the abolition of slavery, equal women’s rights, and a democracy in a time when society said otherwise. He voted against the death penalty and then paid for it with his life. Nonetheless, he remained true to his works, even the ones that were published after his life. His boldness and courage sparks something in me, and who knows, perhaps this is just the beginning…

References

1. “Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas De Caritat, Marquis De Condorcet.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., http://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas-de-Caritat-marquis-de-Condorcet.
2. Condorcet: 2. Social Reformism and Analysis – Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kq8gwCMg6w.
3. Landes, Joan. “The History of Feminism: Marie-Jean-Antoine-Nicolas De Caritat, Marquis De Condorcet.” Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 11 Jan. 2022, plato.stanford.edu/entries/histfem-condorcet/#RigWom.
4. “Marquis De Condorcet – Biography.” Maths History, mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Condorcet/.

Deering as Text

“Roots Grow Deeper”

Mary’s headboard at the Deering Estate. Photo by Nathaly Lopez/ CC. 4.0

By Nathaly Lopez of FIU at the Deering Estate on February 7th, 2022

The Deering Estate was an excursion like no other. Full of rich history, environment, and secrets. Like any aged place, there are beautiful, eye-captivating sights above the surface and roots that grow deeper than the mangroves do below the surface. The diversity of the Deering Estate captures many, from the never-ending forest, to the 2oth century era homes, to the palm tree aisles over the aqua landscape. However the honeymoon doesn’t last forever, and once you step onto Deering terrain you’re transported to different moments of its history, the true Deering Estate.

Step into the jungle and feel the quiet stillness of the Tequesta remains, remembering your ancestors before you. Overlooking the bay, what is a beautiful serene sight is also where 4 bahamians were killed and 5 were injured due to inadequate work conditions. Injustice is part of the Deering Estate’s legacy and it’s memory remains.

Another key aspect of the estate are the homes. The American style Richmond Cottage is a hotel, turned home, turned museum as it accompanies the Spanish Stone house once lived in by Charles Deering and his family. The house is elaborate in design, with a panoramic view of the bay from the second floor. The windows portray mosque-style to them, which is interesting as other portrayals of faith are found throughout the house. The inside of the house is detailed and decorated in various spaces, including a prohibition era wine cellar safeguarded in the basement. Deering’s status and wealth allowed him to have such privileges, a drastic juxtaposition from the poor Bahamians who built the estate.

However, what impacted me the most was Charles’ daughter, Mary’s headboard in her room, as pictured above. Out of all the art pieces in the Deering Mansion, none I found as complex and symbolic as this one, therefore I’ll give my best interpretation. The painting depicts Jesus Christ after being crucified. His body is lying lifeless in his mother Mary’s arms. Both Jesus and Mary have halo’s which could mean they are holy and favored in God the Father’s eyes. Mary’s heartbroken as depicted by her heart having 7 arrows penetrating it. 7 is considered a holy number. Behind Jesus and Mary, there’s a veil hanging on the cross, perhaps a symbol of how Jesus hung on the cross, since veils maintain purity and Jesus is pure. The sun and the moon are above the veil which hangs on the horizontal beam of the cross. Life can be thought of as the physical world, what is limited to our 5 senses, which represents the horizontal beam. We constantly live in two planes: the horizontal plane, the world we live in as humans; and the vertical plane, where our being is, our souls. Therefore, Jesus is always described as the light of the world, thus the Son of God represent the Sun. The moon reflects light from the sun as it can’t produce it’s own, which represents us. We can reflect the light inside of us if we choose to. Where I’m getting with this is that the sun(Jesus) and the moon(us) are above the horizontal part of the cross (the world) in order to shine light and maintain purity(veil). What’s also interesting about this piece is the angels pulling back the curtains as if it were a theater performance. As if it were staged… we know that Jesus’s crucifixion was part of God’s plan to save humanity, therefore it was planned. Another interesting detail are the flowers who seem to have eyes as the audience. The painting seems to depict The Crucifixion as a staged presentation while the audience watches, and the flowers represent us, just like flowers we wither and are temporary. To conclude, this piece of art is packed with symbolism, therefore I’d say it deserves some awe and attention, however I’m still left pondering. Why did Mary have this as her headboard? Why did she keep this portrayal in her room?

Vizcaya as Text

“Light Shines Through”

by Nathaly Lopez of FIU at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on February 18th, 2022

Vizcaya is an interesting site, known for being a lover’s paradise and scenic picturesque playground, it’s romantic feel allures people of all cultures into it’s glorious nature and beautiful architecture.

Vizcaya’s origins come from James Deering’s Mediterranean vision of a new Miami. Through that dream and much wealth, he turned a green jungle into the urban jungle that Miami is today. At the time, segregation still ran rampant, especially in the south, therefore the touristic Vizcaya we know today was built on Bahamian labor, sweat, and sacrifice. It’s important to take a moment to honor these men that built the foundations of the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens we know today.

While Vizacaya today represent many things: a once party house, a couples retreat, and where people take their quinces pictures, that’s only the surface superficial view of the tropical attraction. James Deering’s egoic endeavor of having an architectural replica of European style with a very romantic expression to it is just but the tip of the iceberg. The light shines through the stained glass and James’ true intention is revealed as a sort of playhouse, with the house being a host for parties, fun, and not taking life too seriously. Some of the rooms only served the purpose of elevating James Deering’s image, such as the office space and the music room. The art, as well, was placed in each room merely for James’ enjoyment, thus marking Miami as the pleasure-seeking capital. A title that has since lived on, but I am grateful we are able to see Vizcaya for truly what it is: James Deering’s playground turned lover’s rendezvous, that was once built on Bahamian labor, in which it excluded minorities and the poor.

Miami as Text

“Peace Comes Barkin”

by Nathaly Lopez of FIU at Downtown Miami on March 11th, 2022

Miami is a cultural melting pot, filled with the different flavors and customs that make Miami, well Miami. It’s the juxtaposition of the old and the new, the rich and the poor, the sea and the land, that makes the Downtown Miami we know today. With all it’s history and art and culture and people, Downtown is a vibrant part of Miami, it’s the part of Miami foreigners dream of.

While Downtown Miami is renowned for it’s diversity, modern skyscrapers, and beach proximity, one hidden gem is the Miami River dog park. As simple as it seems, the Miami dog park is exactly that, a relaxed space for dogs to frolic in the grass and for their owners to just be. It’s at the entrance where the Atlantic ocean becomes the Miami River, which is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and life. Miami is filled with the history of slavery, the indigenous, and battle, however when coming to the dog park one forgets of all their worries and can just breath in the fresh salty air while they watch their innocent pups have fun. It’s a simple yet profound place to be at. Ultimately, we need an outlet from the hectic world we live in, in order to maintain our peace, and a space such as this one provides that peace. That is what makes this dog park stand out the most, it’s simplicity to just be amidst the busy city.

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SoBe as Text

“Sunset Paradise“

Photo by Nathaly Lopez/ CC. 4.0

by Nathaly Lopez of FIU at South Beach on April 1st, 2022

Peace. Is what this picture describes to me. Amidst the bustling traffic and noise of the cruise ships, South Beach is a relic of it’s own. Ocean Drive attracts diverse nations of people to it’s sidewalks and architectural styles flood down Fifth Street. South Beach was known as a ghost town before famous names brought popular media attention to it’s doors. Ever since, the South Beach atmosphere changed. New buildings began popping up along the corridor, some hotels, some restaurants. New life was emerging in the South side of Miami, desperate for some salt air and inclusion. All roads lead to home, or in this case, the beach. The South Point Pier is another attraction of the Miami Beach promenade, purposeful for fishing and catching a view of the open water. Cruise ships dock from there and cargo travels through it’s waters. Illegal cargo began a booming business in the 1980’s which is what contributed to South Beach’s style and culture today.

Today South Beach continues to have a liberal atmosphere when walking past it’s art deco architecture, but eventually you’ll find yourself staying at the beach. South Beach. To whom belongs the clearest water in Miami. When you do stray away from the street noise however, you’ll find what you always wanted. Peace.