Helen Keller The Radical Dissent Summary

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The Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca once said, “It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.” Not everyone is always on the front lines in the battle of good versus evil. Ranks are filled with select soldiers that will take on the fight. Regardless, those willing to take the rough road, the steep hills, and the bad days are the ones that are truly filling the trenches. Anyone can be great; one way to acheive greatness is by studying this characteristic in others.

In an Article titled The Radical Dissent of Helen Keller published July 12 of 2012 Peter Dreier walks through his own views on the life, and the greatness of the conspicuous Helen Keller. He shows this in her early life, when she lets her voice be heard, and …show more content…

Some of these controversial topics include birth control, the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, socialism, feminism, and pacifism. His agreement is clear as he includes evidence only favoring her side and adds in quotes intended to be inspiring or move people to action. One such quote was from Helen Keller to a potential presidential candidate, stating, "I am for you because you stand for liberal and progressive government. I am for you because you believe the people should rule. I am for you because you believe that labor should participate in public life." (15). Though her ideas may not be universally supported, Dreier uses quotes with morals generally smiled upon such as aversion to death and suffering. This can be explicitly seen in her quote, "Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human beings! Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction! Be heroes in an army of construction!” (12). Even among the most contentious of topics, Dreier continues to venerate Keller.

In summation, in his article, The Radical Dissent of Helen Keller, Peter Dreier holds Helen Keller in the highest of regards. In each stage of early life, when she lets her voice be heard, and her interactions with women’s suffrage, civil rights, and war he continues to support and

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