All over Ditto Landing are these annoying Donalds and Daffys that wouldn't stop quacking. I have rarely been to Ditto Landing so I haven't noticed these animals at all.In conclusion, these ships were great and I applaud whoever constructed them.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Replicas of the Nina and the Pinta
On Saturday, October 2, there were two replicas of two of the three ships of Columbus at Ditto Landing in Huntsville, Al. Motivated by interest and extra credit in two classes, I checked them out. I got cool pictures.
All over Ditto Landing are these annoying Donalds and Daffys that wouldn't stop quacking. I have rarely been to Ditto Landing so I haven't noticed these animals at all.In conclusion, these ships were great and I applaud whoever constructed them.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Benedict Arnold: America's 'Favorite' Traitor
1. See!!! Look how sneaky he is. Just look into his eyes and you'll know, unless of course they are decieving. He was a troubled child from the start when he was born in Norwich, Conn in 1741. It all started at the age of fourteen when he ran away from his parents, not one... but TWICE to serve in the Seven Years War. Also, the picture depicts that he was on drugs. Truth is he took this practice up before he reached his TEEN YEARS!
2. This is a picture of someone young and grounded (cough, cough) and it is of the Colonel Benedict Arnold himself during the Revolutionary war before he bloodied up his coat with red. He was a successful leader for the American army and played an integral role in our early success. One of his most famous victories was at Ticonderoga in May of 1775 when he was only thirty four years of age. He was promoted to brigadier general the following year, despite an unsuccessul attack on Quebec alongside British general Montgomery.
3. I will give props to Benedict Arnold in the sense that he did a great job in winning important battles at Lake Champlaign and preventing Burgoyne from extending a military foothold in North America. I will especially give Arnold credit for helping General Horatio Gates in an important win against the British at Saratoga because that battle led to alliance with France. I do think that Arnold deserved a lot of credit for what he did in these wars. However, George Washington was the rallying point and Benedict should have taken his role like a man.
4. Oh, only if you stayed with us, Benny. George Washington might have not taken the spotlight all to yourself. You would get the credit you deserved you demanding monster. Think about this. In Britian, they hardly ever recognize you because you didn't do anything. YOU WERE DOING SO WELL with the American army. Imagine the monuments of you today. The Arnold Memorial next to Washington's Monument or a city or state named after you. How about your face tatooed to Mt. Rushmore or a one dollar bill.
5. AHA!! What be this? It looks like two friends, from two countries that were againsts each other at the time of the war. Wait, who is that man in blue?... OMG.. Oh No he didn't! Benedict Arnold has secretly been negotiating to switch armies? but he was doing so well. In case you don't know the man in red is British officer Major Andre. They were negotiating because Arnold needed more money and wanted more respect. This negotiating took place throughout 1780 until Major Andre was captured and killed. Arnold did betray his fellow country in 1781.
6. Avert thy eyes! Yes, Benedict Arnold did convert to the red coats to join the British forces in order to earn more money. He was offered a high position as a brigaider general (the same position he had with the Americans). At first, this felt like a huge blow! Benedict Arnold had won some significant battles and prevented any blow from happening. George Washington was really affected by this loss and didn't know who to trust for some time before he got back on his feet and FINISHED THE JOB. Arnold held Virginia captive for some time before his army was forced to retreat and he burned New London, Connecticut. After the war was over, Benedict Arnold moved to England where he would spend the rest of his life (1801).
7. Again, Arnold (left) could have been someone great (refer back to the fourth picture). Instead, this is the feedback he gets and what he rightfully deserves. This cartoon was printed out during 1865 during the CIVIL WAR. He is joined with Confederate President Jefferson Davis and of course Satan. The pot says treason toddy because Benedict Arnold committed treason when he was out in the woods with Major Andre. All of the Patriots thought that Benedict Arnold was going to hell after he died for the lies and the chickening out that he was able to pull of. Arnold will always live in infamy.Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The Great Awakening
Explain what the Great Awakening was. Assess the extent to which the Great Awakening, an intensely religous movement, contributed to the development of the separation of church and state in America.The Great Awakening was one of the largest religous movements that put fear into the bellies of the people and brought them closer to their faith. Just before the time of the Great Awakening, which occured during the 1730s and 1740s, liberal ideas such as more scientific ideas and doubts on predestination along with the need for good works. What made this threatening to the Puritan Church was when Dutchman Jacobus Arminius preached that free will, not divine decree would judge a person's fate. This led to a large religous revival around the entire New England which was lead by Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield. Edwards wrote 'Sinners in the Angry Hands of God,' which even though had a brutal story of hell and scared people, it brought them closer to God. George Whitfield took a more calm approach and used his magnificent voice to make the people of New England weep but repent their sins and go closer to the church. Even though the Puritan religion became more passionate about their religion, this led to a split between church and state.
Prior to the Great Awakening, Puritans basically ran almost every colony in New England. They enforced strict laws over the people such as Calvin did in Geneva. They also issued new lands to proprietors who were ready to start new towns. As time passed by and Puritans scattered to outlying towns, the Half Way covenant was issued which took away full communion, giving the people more civil liberties. Soon, people began to liberalize and so did government with ideas about more schools and universities. As soon as these ideas affected going to church, the Puritan leaders rebelled and brought the people back to normal, but there were still those who were very educated and did not want to go back to old times and government was one of those people. This is when the church and the government were separated from each other for good. This hardly happened before since in Europe, religion had a huge impact on government (Anglican in England or Catholocism in Spain and France). Without the Great Awakening, religion might still play a big part in how government decided affairs. There might not be religous toleration to the extent that it is today and minorities like Jews and Muslims might not be treated with the same respect that if the Great Awakening occured. The Great Awakening was the time when state had to move on to becomming independent from religion and that helped influence society today.
The Great Awakening was a very rousing and religious revival that brought the people back to the Puritan Church but it was the time when state had to move on. State was more focused on education and liberalizing instead of being brought back under the spell of Puritanism which caused the separation of church and state. Though this decreased their power over the colonies, the Puritans were able to work peacefully with the government in New England. This was great because today, the U.S. Government are tolerant to each and every religion out there. The Great Awakening could be just another reason why there isn't a crusade yet.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
American Picture from Alaska
This is Alaska, one of the most beautiful states in America. I know because I went there last summer. It is a picture of one of the many ice and glacier pictures with a beautiful mountain in the background with glaciers on top of it. The bear is doing its ice fishing in hopes of catching some delicious salmon. First, I like the picture because it is beautiful.Also, America is one big chunk of land which holds many landforms, like mountains, prairies, rivers, deserts, and beaches. America is doing its best to try and become nature friendly so there can be less global warming and more pictures of bears on ice with a beautiful mountain in the backdrop.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Songs Part 3 (5-1)
5. Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
This was a very interesting and sad folk song indeed. It is truly a song about love and the feelings of a lady after her love left for the war. The first lines talks about her crying on top of a hill and the second lines talk about how broken hearted she feels and how it isn't going to go away.
The third line is sweet that she will sell her possessions to help her love, Johnny fight. She will sacrifice herself to the streets to help Johnny which is really touching.
Love is important in the U.S. while in other countries, arranged marriages play a big role in culture. There is committment in families and people have to make a lot of sacrifices just to chip in. I know many teenagers my age who have fathers or mothers in the military and usually, they are called for a years service in Afganistan. It breaks the families' hearts but makes them closer.
4. Brave Wolfe
Very interesting song selection. You couldn't hear any words but there is nice music which relates that this is a war (probably revolutionary) song and talks about a hero named Wolfe who had a big impact on the war. I don't really have much to say for this song because it was hard to decode. However, relating to being a hero, its moral is that anyone can be one.
3. Shaman's Call
A nice Native American song and it is a native song. When I was in Arizona, a native told me that Native American music tells a story. This song sounds peaceful so it must be very spiritual songs because in Native culture, the peaceful songs are the spiritual ones. I am pretty sure this song was sung before the arival of the Spanish or French or English.
Anyway, Shaman must be a profound ancestor and this must be his call to the Gods which is probably very notorious. This is one of those songs where the culture is there and so is the deserving pride.
2. Apache NATIVE AMERICAN Drums
Another very cultural Native American song. This one must be very cultural since drums were a key instrument in Native culture. I can picture Natives dancing to this beat around a fire. It sounds more violent that Shaman's Call but it still resembles peace; it is just less spiritual. It also makes the people proud to be who they are. The last song was serial and serious, but this one was a happy and more playful.
and finally... 1. Anon: Virgen Madre de Dios or Virgin Mother of God
This song lets us know where the Europeans (and most of America's ancestors) came from. At the time the Europeans came (and thank AP Euro) Catholocism was big in Southern Europe, especially Spain, Portugal, and France, three big countries that colonized places in America. They sent with them Jesuit priests who came and taught these spiritual natives Catholic music. This is a depressing songs and reflected the hardships of the natives who were conquered, enslaved, and forced to change religions. Catholocism ended up becoming THE religion in South and Latin America along with Mexico and it is thanks to the Spaniards.
I enjoyed this project and learning old songs and stages of American life. It is nice to take a break from rap.
This was a very interesting and sad folk song indeed. It is truly a song about love and the feelings of a lady after her love left for the war. The first lines talks about her crying on top of a hill and the second lines talk about how broken hearted she feels and how it isn't going to go away.
The third line is sweet that she will sell her possessions to help her love, Johnny fight. She will sacrifice herself to the streets to help Johnny which is really touching.
Love is important in the U.S. while in other countries, arranged marriages play a big role in culture. There is committment in families and people have to make a lot of sacrifices just to chip in. I know many teenagers my age who have fathers or mothers in the military and usually, they are called for a years service in Afganistan. It breaks the families' hearts but makes them closer.
4. Brave Wolfe
Very interesting song selection. You couldn't hear any words but there is nice music which relates that this is a war (probably revolutionary) song and talks about a hero named Wolfe who had a big impact on the war. I don't really have much to say for this song because it was hard to decode. However, relating to being a hero, its moral is that anyone can be one.
3. Shaman's Call
A nice Native American song and it is a native song. When I was in Arizona, a native told me that Native American music tells a story. This song sounds peaceful so it must be very spiritual songs because in Native culture, the peaceful songs are the spiritual ones. I am pretty sure this song was sung before the arival of the Spanish or French or English.
Anyway, Shaman must be a profound ancestor and this must be his call to the Gods which is probably very notorious. This is one of those songs where the culture is there and so is the deserving pride.
2. Apache NATIVE AMERICAN Drums
Another very cultural Native American song. This one must be very cultural since drums were a key instrument in Native culture. I can picture Natives dancing to this beat around a fire. It sounds more violent that Shaman's Call but it still resembles peace; it is just less spiritual. It also makes the people proud to be who they are. The last song was serial and serious, but this one was a happy and more playful.
and finally... 1. Anon: Virgen Madre de Dios or Virgin Mother of God
This song lets us know where the Europeans (and most of America's ancestors) came from. At the time the Europeans came (and thank AP Euro) Catholocism was big in Southern Europe, especially Spain, Portugal, and France, three big countries that colonized places in America. They sent with them Jesuit priests who came and taught these spiritual natives Catholic music. This is a depressing songs and reflected the hardships of the natives who were conquered, enslaved, and forced to change religions. Catholocism ended up becoming THE religion in South and Latin America along with Mexico and it is thanks to the Spaniards.
I enjoyed this project and learning old songs and stages of American life. It is nice to take a break from rap.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Songs Part 2 (10-6)
10. Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday (1939)
One of the ealy anti-racism songs and it did leave scary thougts running through my mind.
It was hard being an African American in the south during the early twentieth century with the massive dicrimination against them. Here, Holiday was pointing these truths in a really realistic but scary way. She sings about the violence in the south with blood and it was really interesting when she said, 'here are magnolias, sweet and fresh, then the smell of burning flesh. The strange fruit was supposed to represent the African Americans who were dubbed strange during the time that this song came out. She portrayed herself as a strange and bitter crop.
This song was to raise awareness of how the African Americans were being treated and how it needed to end.
9. Do Re Mi by Woody Guthrie (1940)
Interesting song that was written during the time of the Dust Bowl and talked about people in the East wanting to move to places like California. This was also written during a time of a recession after the depression and it was hard to move to another state and people were trying to find work or money. It would be hard to move to places without money. He summed it up when he said that 'but believe it or not, you won't find it so hot if you ain't got the do re mi.' Do Re Mi was a slang back then for money and without it, life just isn't as good, especially during a recession.
8. Jesus Christ by Woody Guthrie (1940)
How about that, another Woody Guthrie song! However, this song is totally different from Do Re Mi.
This is a religous song that compares today with the time of Jesus. Jesus spoke about giving to the poor and the rich disliked him, sending poor Jesus to the grave. The rich today are no different, they would be mad at Jesus if he taught the same thing. Christians today promise at church to follow Jesus, but would they really do it if he came here telling us so? The rich would argue that it wouldn't help them and would get mad at Jesus. America has become like that. I remember the rich getting upset when Obama came and said that money from the rich will help the poor and I have lots of friends against him for that. Ignorance has blinded us.
7. Paddy's Lament by Flogging Molly (2002)
Really good song with a kick of Irish to it.
This song talks about an Irish imigrant during the 1840s who escaped like many from the potato famine. However, he was taken advantage like most other immigrants and became a soldier during the most bloodies wars in American history, the Civil War. Though he must have been angry and terrified but he had to suck it up and move forward.
This song is represents the story of an Irish Immigrant who like other immigrants moved during the 19th century for a better life, only to be taken advantage of and abused. Flogging Molly tells the story of this immigrant over 150 years later. It was a good song for folk.
6. Hard Times Come Again No More by Stephen Foster (1854)
This was a very peaceful song that has a positive ring in all of us. It talks about the people who are suffering but are in hope that these hard times will come to pass. Growing up in a safe community, I tend to forget those living in the streets working to make ends meet and are singing this song. This song could be traced for today with the recession (especially in my hometown of Detroit) with people out of work and are dealing with the poverty line. I know that there are many who are singing this song for hope so they can pay off debts and live peacefully. This song should bring hope and I have heard new versions of this song, primarily sung to people who are suffering.
One of the ealy anti-racism songs and it did leave scary thougts running through my mind.
It was hard being an African American in the south during the early twentieth century with the massive dicrimination against them. Here, Holiday was pointing these truths in a really realistic but scary way. She sings about the violence in the south with blood and it was really interesting when she said, 'here are magnolias, sweet and fresh, then the smell of burning flesh. The strange fruit was supposed to represent the African Americans who were dubbed strange during the time that this song came out. She portrayed herself as a strange and bitter crop.
This song was to raise awareness of how the African Americans were being treated and how it needed to end.
9. Do Re Mi by Woody Guthrie (1940)
Interesting song that was written during the time of the Dust Bowl and talked about people in the East wanting to move to places like California. This was also written during a time of a recession after the depression and it was hard to move to another state and people were trying to find work or money. It would be hard to move to places without money. He summed it up when he said that 'but believe it or not, you won't find it so hot if you ain't got the do re mi.' Do Re Mi was a slang back then for money and without it, life just isn't as good, especially during a recession.
8. Jesus Christ by Woody Guthrie (1940)
How about that, another Woody Guthrie song! However, this song is totally different from Do Re Mi.
This is a religous song that compares today with the time of Jesus. Jesus spoke about giving to the poor and the rich disliked him, sending poor Jesus to the grave. The rich today are no different, they would be mad at Jesus if he taught the same thing. Christians today promise at church to follow Jesus, but would they really do it if he came here telling us so? The rich would argue that it wouldn't help them and would get mad at Jesus. America has become like that. I remember the rich getting upset when Obama came and said that money from the rich will help the poor and I have lots of friends against him for that. Ignorance has blinded us.
7. Paddy's Lament by Flogging Molly (2002)
Really good song with a kick of Irish to it.
This song talks about an Irish imigrant during the 1840s who escaped like many from the potato famine. However, he was taken advantage like most other immigrants and became a soldier during the most bloodies wars in American history, the Civil War. Though he must have been angry and terrified but he had to suck it up and move forward.
This song is represents the story of an Irish Immigrant who like other immigrants moved during the 19th century for a better life, only to be taken advantage of and abused. Flogging Molly tells the story of this immigrant over 150 years later. It was a good song for folk.
6. Hard Times Come Again No More by Stephen Foster (1854)
This was a very peaceful song that has a positive ring in all of us. It talks about the people who are suffering but are in hope that these hard times will come to pass. Growing up in a safe community, I tend to forget those living in the streets working to make ends meet and are singing this song. This song could be traced for today with the recession (especially in my hometown of Detroit) with people out of work and are dealing with the poverty line. I know that there are many who are singing this song for hope so they can pay off debts and live peacefully. This song should bring hope and I have heard new versions of this song, primarily sung to people who are suffering.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Songs Part 1 (15-11)
I have decided to work backwards here.
15. We didn't start the fire by Billy Joel (1989)
I was really happy that this song came up.
Here, Joel was recalling historical events during his life that occured around the world but mainly in the United States. He did not just recall the political events but also pop culture.
However, it all came together through his chorus when he explains that 'We did not start the fire.' How things have came to be this way is through what happened in the past. When he says, 'it has been burning since the world has been turning,' means that conflicts have always been there, and when he says, 'no we didn't light it but we've tried to fight it,' means that we have tried to prevent new conflicts from arising but it is inevitable that new events will occur and the future will be scarred.
I like this song because Billy Joel has listed events from the past and has connected it to life in the present and basically predicts what will happen in the future. The past is concrete because he lists events randomly, the present is during his refrain. The future is the abstract part that it is inevitable that some fire will occur that will spur the future like it has done with the past.
14. The Hands that Built America by U2 (2002)
I love U2 as a band. This is a very patriotic song in my opinion even though the artist isn't even American.
The song is about how America has been built and developed into the country that it is today.
The hands that have built America are the immigrants and the diversity has contributed to the diverse cultures America holds today. Also, the Native Americans who were there to show the immigrants when they came the first day. In the beginning, U2 sings about the journeys immigrants had to come from in foreign lands and how America has grown considerably.
13. The Times they are A-Changin (1964)
This song talks about how time is coming by. It reminds me when an aunt tells me that it feels like yesterday when I was born. Well, time has A-changed and it has a-changed pretty fast. This song points this out that time goes by fast and it would be nice if you kept up or you would fall behind. America has grown and many events have changed it. The waters have grown and are now filled with oil as Dylan points out. Bob Dylan hits it right on the nail when he says that the present now will soon be the past and something for better or worse will succeed today's event.
12.Youngstown by Bruce Springsteen (1995)
Mr. Springsteen here is talking about life in his former city of Youngstown, Ohio, where he grew up. First, he talks about its history that it was found near a creek like most cities and became an important city during the civil war. Also, he talked about growing up with his dad doing a dangerous job in the furnaces which he related to hell. Then, he talks about WWII and how his dad served there and how Youngstown was an important place. Then, he talks about Youngstown still being the same, hard working city in Northeast Ohio.
He points out the hardness people go through in America to make a living in dangerous places like the furnace or the coal mine.
11. A Change is gonna Come by Sam Cooke (1963)
This is a civil rights song which points out segregation during a time full of it. In the first two lines of every verse, Cooke talks about how hard it is to be colored and his last two lines are 'it has been a long time coming but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.' Cooke points out that his people have been insulted for centuries but is optimistic that they will get their freedom. His song and other civil rights songs have been key in making almost equal rights today. Granted, there is still racism today but change will come to make things better.
15. We didn't start the fire by Billy Joel (1989)
I was really happy that this song came up.
Here, Joel was recalling historical events during his life that occured around the world but mainly in the United States. He did not just recall the political events but also pop culture.
However, it all came together through his chorus when he explains that 'We did not start the fire.' How things have came to be this way is through what happened in the past. When he says, 'it has been burning since the world has been turning,' means that conflicts have always been there, and when he says, 'no we didn't light it but we've tried to fight it,' means that we have tried to prevent new conflicts from arising but it is inevitable that new events will occur and the future will be scarred.
I like this song because Billy Joel has listed events from the past and has connected it to life in the present and basically predicts what will happen in the future. The past is concrete because he lists events randomly, the present is during his refrain. The future is the abstract part that it is inevitable that some fire will occur that will spur the future like it has done with the past.
14. The Hands that Built America by U2 (2002)
I love U2 as a band. This is a very patriotic song in my opinion even though the artist isn't even American.
The song is about how America has been built and developed into the country that it is today.
The hands that have built America are the immigrants and the diversity has contributed to the diverse cultures America holds today. Also, the Native Americans who were there to show the immigrants when they came the first day. In the beginning, U2 sings about the journeys immigrants had to come from in foreign lands and how America has grown considerably.
13. The Times they are A-Changin (1964)
This song talks about how time is coming by. It reminds me when an aunt tells me that it feels like yesterday when I was born. Well, time has A-changed and it has a-changed pretty fast. This song points this out that time goes by fast and it would be nice if you kept up or you would fall behind. America has grown and many events have changed it. The waters have grown and are now filled with oil as Dylan points out. Bob Dylan hits it right on the nail when he says that the present now will soon be the past and something for better or worse will succeed today's event.
12.Youngstown by Bruce Springsteen (1995)
Mr. Springsteen here is talking about life in his former city of Youngstown, Ohio, where he grew up. First, he talks about its history that it was found near a creek like most cities and became an important city during the civil war. Also, he talked about growing up with his dad doing a dangerous job in the furnaces which he related to hell. Then, he talks about WWII and how his dad served there and how Youngstown was an important place. Then, he talks about Youngstown still being the same, hard working city in Northeast Ohio.
He points out the hardness people go through in America to make a living in dangerous places like the furnace or the coal mine.
11. A Change is gonna Come by Sam Cooke (1963)
This is a civil rights song which points out segregation during a time full of it. In the first two lines of every verse, Cooke talks about how hard it is to be colored and his last two lines are 'it has been a long time coming but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.' Cooke points out that his people have been insulted for centuries but is optimistic that they will get their freedom. His song and other civil rights songs have been key in making almost equal rights today. Granted, there is still racism today but change will come to make things better.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Questions to Consider about Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (Part 2 or 2)
8. Compare Philbrick's portrayls of natives in Mayflower with the ways in which they have been represented in pop culture. How does Mayflower encourage us to rethink those representations? Are there some popular images of Native Americans that seem to be somewhat rooted in what actually happened in the seventeenth century?
There were a lot of similarities between the Natives in the book and Natives portrayed in pop culture today. When we think of Native Americans, we think of two kinds of tribes: warring and peaceful. The tribes of New England had tribes of each. The Mohawks were a tribe large with war and smaller tribes were very peaceful. Also, Native American cultures of spirit and dancing were portrayed in the book and in movies. However, the natives in the book seemed more accepting of the English God than how I cam to know them before. Mayflower gives us an in depth understanding about certain tribes and their methods unlike when I previously thought they all had similar concepts. It could have very been possible that popular images were rooted in Native tribes in New England because of the Native ideas of being spiritual.
9. In the chaotic and atrocity filled conflict known as King Phillip's war, does anyone emerge as heroic? If so, what made them a hero?
Benjamen Church of Plymouth emerged as the hero because of his confident swagger and good military skills that were effective enough to defeat the Pokanoket Sachem. People were afraid of Phillip, especially when he joined forces with powerful tribes, but Church acted as though it was no problem.
10. As Mayflower shows, the Native American tribes of New England were not monolith, culturally or politically. However, the English were not consistantly able to think of them as separate tribes with different loyalties and desires. How did mosconceptions of racial identity complicate the politics of King Phillip's War?
The tribes the Phillip allied with did have different goals and different reasons. This led to complications because what would have happened if Church and the English lost? Each tribe had to get what they wanted. Some of the goals targeted the English. Tribes were either fighting for power, death to the English, or wampums.
11. During King Phillip's war, significant numbers of Native Americans sided with the Enlgish. How do you regard those who took up arms against their fellow natives? Do you see them as treacherous, opportunistic, or sensible? If you were a native, which side would you take and why?
The natives who took up sides had good ideas. Some tribes like the Awashonks were made a sensible offer by the English. Others just had a rival tribe fighting against the English. The tribes that have proven themselves will prove to be sensible. The tribes that are good at war and are friendly is sensible and opportunistic. The Narragansetts? Treacherous and stupid. If I was a Native, I would have sided against the English if the Natives were my friends because it is our land. However, if other tribes were mean to us, then I'd side with the English, pending on their loyalty to us.
12. Philbrick shows that the English engaged in barbaric practices (like the natives) such as torturing the captives as well as taking their possessions. Could either side in King Phillip's War made any legitimate claim to moral superiority?
This is where I think that the New England Puritans became very cocky. In the Mayflower on the page before chapter one, there was a picture of a native with a flag reading 'come help us'. This was Puritan art and what they believed of how superior they were to others. Since they believed in different Gods, they believed that they had the divine right over the enemy. Therefore, they did this. The answer is no. Just because one is at war, they have no right to treat hostages like they did. This was what the first generation Pilgrims were afraid of. In a previous attempt to convince the natives that the English were not bad people, the second generation acted like gangbusters and imposed their selfish will on innocent natives. That is pushing it.
15. One reviewer asserted that Philbrick avoided moral issues and took no sides. Do you find this to be true? any moral lessons Philbrick wants us to know?
I agree with the critic. Even though he gave some adjectives to describe the English or the natives, he made this novel as factual as can be. How he told this story was only there to give us the truth of the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Natives. He didn't have a significant moral that he gave out directly, but the obvious indirect moral would be to learn from the past and use it for judgements of the future. There are plenty we can take away that is good and bad of the Pilgrims and work towards a better future. His tale is like any historical tale because it has the same objective.
There were a lot of similarities between the Natives in the book and Natives portrayed in pop culture today. When we think of Native Americans, we think of two kinds of tribes: warring and peaceful. The tribes of New England had tribes of each. The Mohawks were a tribe large with war and smaller tribes were very peaceful. Also, Native American cultures of spirit and dancing were portrayed in the book and in movies. However, the natives in the book seemed more accepting of the English God than how I cam to know them before. Mayflower gives us an in depth understanding about certain tribes and their methods unlike when I previously thought they all had similar concepts. It could have very been possible that popular images were rooted in Native tribes in New England because of the Native ideas of being spiritual.
9. In the chaotic and atrocity filled conflict known as King Phillip's war, does anyone emerge as heroic? If so, what made them a hero?
Benjamen Church of Plymouth emerged as the hero because of his confident swagger and good military skills that were effective enough to defeat the Pokanoket Sachem. People were afraid of Phillip, especially when he joined forces with powerful tribes, but Church acted as though it was no problem.
10. As Mayflower shows, the Native American tribes of New England were not monolith, culturally or politically. However, the English were not consistantly able to think of them as separate tribes with different loyalties and desires. How did mosconceptions of racial identity complicate the politics of King Phillip's War?
The tribes the Phillip allied with did have different goals and different reasons. This led to complications because what would have happened if Church and the English lost? Each tribe had to get what they wanted. Some of the goals targeted the English. Tribes were either fighting for power, death to the English, or wampums.
11. During King Phillip's war, significant numbers of Native Americans sided with the Enlgish. How do you regard those who took up arms against their fellow natives? Do you see them as treacherous, opportunistic, or sensible? If you were a native, which side would you take and why?
The natives who took up sides had good ideas. Some tribes like the Awashonks were made a sensible offer by the English. Others just had a rival tribe fighting against the English. The tribes that have proven themselves will prove to be sensible. The tribes that are good at war and are friendly is sensible and opportunistic. The Narragansetts? Treacherous and stupid. If I was a Native, I would have sided against the English if the Natives were my friends because it is our land. However, if other tribes were mean to us, then I'd side with the English, pending on their loyalty to us.
12. Philbrick shows that the English engaged in barbaric practices (like the natives) such as torturing the captives as well as taking their possessions. Could either side in King Phillip's War made any legitimate claim to moral superiority?
This is where I think that the New England Puritans became very cocky. In the Mayflower on the page before chapter one, there was a picture of a native with a flag reading 'come help us'. This was Puritan art and what they believed of how superior they were to others. Since they believed in different Gods, they believed that they had the divine right over the enemy. Therefore, they did this. The answer is no. Just because one is at war, they have no right to treat hostages like they did. This was what the first generation Pilgrims were afraid of. In a previous attempt to convince the natives that the English were not bad people, the second generation acted like gangbusters and imposed their selfish will on innocent natives. That is pushing it.
15. One reviewer asserted that Philbrick avoided moral issues and took no sides. Do you find this to be true? any moral lessons Philbrick wants us to know?
I agree with the critic. Even though he gave some adjectives to describe the English or the natives, he made this novel as factual as can be. How he told this story was only there to give us the truth of the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Natives. He didn't have a significant moral that he gave out directly, but the obvious indirect moral would be to learn from the past and use it for judgements of the future. There are plenty we can take away that is good and bad of the Pilgrims and work towards a better future. His tale is like any historical tale because it has the same objective.
Questions to Consider about Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (Part 1 of 2)
1. What beliefs and character traits that typified the Pilgrims enabled them to survive in the hostile enviornment that greeted them in the new world? Did some limit?
Words to describe the Puritans were very disciplined and very faithful. Their discipline extended to limited dancing and no shows. There was little margin or error and goofing off would not be tolerated. In the new world, goofing off would fail these Pilgrims and discipline held them together. They stayed calm in the hardest of conditions and were focused on building a successful settlement. Their faith saved them. They could have easily given up but they believed they were there to do God's word and that he does everything for a reason. The limitations were that they were English. The English have had a poor reputation with the English thanks to Thomas Hunt, a man who captured and enslaved the Indians. Regardless if there are peaceful Englishmen, there will always be the Natives who wanted to take revenge any way they could and that was portrayed by a few tribes like the Naragansetts.
3. Why has America forsaken the truth about these times in exchange for a misleading and often hokey mythology?
For thanksgiving and how it was celebrated, the written evidence describing the event was not accurate and overtime, that has caused Americans to extract new ideas about what happened during thanksgiving. Also, the mythology of thanksgiving really has established a prosperous tradition of the meal and being thankful for what one has. So, a reason was to give people a reason to establish a holiday and a tradition. Another reason was that time has passed and people would have had their facts straight if an event like this happened 50 years ago as opposed to 400 years.
4. The Pilgrims established a tradition of more or less peaceful coexistence with the Native Americans that lasted over fifty years. Why did that tradition collapse in the 1670s and what might have been done to retain it?
What maintained peace between the Pilgrims and the Pokanoket Indians was that there was an agreement reached in Plymouth. There were six guidelines: a pilgrim can't injure a pokanoket and vice versa, the offender if commiting harm should be punished by the offended community or tribe, if a tool was stolen when at work it must be restored, the unjust will not be defended by their people, peace with all neighbors, and when visiting, leave weapons behind. Governors Carver and Bradford did an outstanding job with Massasoit (Pokanoket sachem) to keep this in check for fifty years. It collapsed when Josiah Winslow and Alexander took leaders of Pilgrims and the Pokanoket tribe respectively. Tensions between them arose causing to the murder of Alexander, starting off years of blood.
5. How did the strengths and weaknesses of Squanto and his personality end up changing history and why did one man make such a difference?
Squanto was a slave to English explorer Thomas Dermer. Under Dermer, he was able to learn English. Later, his master was killed, but Squanto at this time understood the ways of the Englishmen. He was tolerant of the Pilgrims and saw the good in him like he saw in everyone. He became friends with the Pilgrims and instructed them the land. His weaknesses were that he didn't have enough power among the tribes because the Pilgrims would have been well respected among the Natives if he was. He made a huge difference because he introduced the Natives to other people where the Pilgrims were able to form alliances. Without him, the Pilgrims would have become vulnerable and wouln't make it far enough for New England to prosper.
6. The Children of the Pilgrims were regarded in their own time as unworthy of the legacy and sacrifices of their parents. Why did they acquire this reputation? Was it deserved and were the denunciations of the second generation a kind of self fulfilling prophesy?
They acquired this reputation because they were American born and did not endure the sacrifices needed to make a harsh voyage away from the persecutions of the King James. The first generation endured the hardships of getting to know the land and construct the settlement so the second generation could live easier. If I was in their shoes, I would call them lucky but not unfortunate so at first, it wasn't deserving. However, what was thought of them was true because all the peace treaties and respect earned by the first generation was broken by the second generation. This new generation attacked the Indians and therefore, attacked the agreement made the the Pilgrims and the Pokanokets. Their actions made them deserving to recieve the title 'unworthy'.
Book: MAYFLOWER by Nathaniel Philbrick
Friday, May 21, 2010
Hola
This is my first post. I be Andrew Viegas and I am a blogger for my future AP US teacher, now AP Euro teacher, and my favorite teacher, Mrs. Lawson. For all interesting things American, this is THE BLOG to see.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)