response to Jills blog

I really enjoyed Jill’s blog on music. I had thought, coming in to this reading, that I knew a lot about music; wasn’t it that stuff that you listen too on your iPod? After reading Jill’s reasearch on music, I found music is so much more then something we listen to, but a way of expressing culture, a way to connect with strangers, and of course a method of entertainment to which satisfys millions and millions across the globe. I loved the quote incorperated in one of her slides, “music is what feelings sound like”. I know personally I often feel an emotion which cannot be totally expressed. Then, a song may come on my iPod which almost perfectly defines what I’m feeling. Hearing how I’m feeling always makes me feel better; it’s like I’m finally getting answers. From personal experiances, I know and truly believe in the quote Jill put on her blog, “music is what feelings sound like”. Another conponent of Jill’s blog which I really enjoyed were the videos provided of “We are the World” and a tribute to Micheal Jackson which was preformed at the Emmys. These videos reminded me how at times of terror among our world, music is a conponent which can help spread awarness and raise money. Further, Jill write albums which spread awarness like, “We are the World” show people, “in Hati people care about them, that there is hope”. Jill goes deeper into this idea as she tells us that music can spread awarness for causes but also can display a, “feeling of unity”. Jill tells that the opinions on rap and violence cause a difference of opinon which causes seperation of the unity. Because of this double sided argument, while music may be looked at as an element which brings people together, it may also tear people apart. Jill anaylized music in a way which I had never thought before. I was happy to read her ideas and gain more knowledge on a topic which I had thought I held information of, but clearly had not.

Response to "My Blog Log"

Having no previous information on the Environment, I knew immediately I wanted to read a blog to which this topic was its main focus. The author of blog log focused on using images to show, rather then tell, her messages of global pollution and the effect it has on our everyday life. I expecially enjoyed the first twelve slides which told what would have been a normal story but had images expressing a totally different view point. For example, under the title, "or take a walk along a beautiful lakes, rivers, and ponds..." was a pond which was clearly polluted as it rained of dead fish. The images displayed immediately opened my eyes to the effect human carelessness has had on our environment. The next section of the presentation was dedicated to facts, displayed with vivid pictures along side. I had no idea that, "1,500 water bottles are thrown in the garbage every second". This astounding fact allowed me to see the full magnitude of the waste of the world. If every fifteen seconds 1,500 water bottles are thrown away, then while I've been writting this post over 15,000 bottles have been thrown away world wide. That's a lot of bottles. I also thought it was clever that the author did not only tell the reader about the horrors of our wastefulness, but what can be done as a population to help the situation. This was a clever idea because I felt horrible about the images I had seen, and now know what I can do to make sure no more of those horrible pictures of our enviorment can ever be taken. Before watching this presentation I had little knowledge on global pollution, but feel after reading this blog, I now have a better understanding. The author of the blog should feel proud of themselves because there was not a large amount of text, yet I was still able to gain total understanding of the topic through pictures, videos, and music. I will officially never throw away a plastic bottle ever again in my entire life.

Response to "Thoughts on yesterday"

I really enjoyed the blog, "Thoughts on yesterday". Having only little previous knowledge on homosexuality in the United States, I found this very interesting and factual. A major current even focused on was the, "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, a policy which orders homosexuals not to tell others in the military they are gay, but rather keep quiet about their sexual orientation. This is enforced because if it is discovered one is homosexual, they may be kicked off the military. This dehumanizing law demonstrates how ones personal choices in America can have such a strong effect on themselves. I thought the author of the blog had a good point when they wrote, "this policy (don't ask, don't tell).... only enforces and encourages silence within the gay population. This is yet another way to keep homosexuality out of our culture". I thought this was a solid point because is goes back to a central question asked from this class, what does it mean to be an American? As a country, I would say we pride ourselves in being fair and equal to all, but what kind of message does it spread if we tell citizens that they do not have the freedom to be themselves during their occupation (ie: the military)? The author of this blog proves an interesting when they comment how we trying to "keep homosexuality" out of American culture. In a YouTube video shown in the final presentation posted on the blog, there was a debate between military officials on gays in the military and how the topic should be handled. One of the military officials asked another, who was African American, how he felt about gay rights in the military. When the official replied he was against it, the other military man asked if he though racial segregation would be appropriate in the 21st century. I thought this was a great point. If we don't discriminate some one for the color of their skin, why should we treat a human different because of their sexual orientation? I really enjoyed reading this blog, not only because I learned new information, but because it made me ask myself questions which I had never thought of before, further questioning my morality.

Bibliography

Analytic, Current Events

Although Native Americans have a history reaching back before the beginning of colonial America, there are also numerous current events about the topic. The recent Native American current events tend to describe hardships faced by Native Americans today. The wrongs preformed by Americans in the past towards Native Americans are catching up to them quickly as our countries Natives are beginning to speak out more and more towards the unjustness to the way they’ve been treated. For example, the United States government promised Native Americans reserves, or pieces of land which are for the use of Native Americans exclusively, and further promised to make sure Native Americans were treated fairly and given health care supplied by the government if they could not afford it. The concept of Native American health care supplied by the government has been a much talked about current event. A health care specialist commented, "We can’t make all these adjustments for (the Native Americans)", alluding to the natives how it is unfair for them to demand Americans to make changes in their health care system. To this, a Native American replied, "Make us pay for health care, then the deal is off. Give us our land back, and we're good." The Native Americans reply to the specialists comment by explaining they will gladly pay for health care when they are given back the land which belongs to them, the United States. Native Americans still have not forgotten how their land was cruelly taken away from them. Hearing this argument, one is inclined to ask themselves if the natives have a solid point, should they be given their land back? As an American, one can’t possibly say yes for it would mean dismissing their home life so our countries natives could once again obtain their residence. On the other hand, if one was looking at this issue from the perspective of one who isn’t a citizen of the United States, they might be inclined to side with the Native Americans. The question that must be asked is if one should do what is right, or if one should ignore the hardships of others to keep themselves absorbed in homeostasis. Although healthcare and the moral questions we must ask ourselves about our natives are a “hot topic” in current events, another modern Native American issue is that of the generalization of the idea of the, “rich Indian”. Because Native Americans have faced such hardships throughout their lives, they have rightfully taken the unjustness of Americans to court, and usually have won. Because of this, Native Americans have accumulated money from settlements of cases won. The Sioux tribe alone has approximately 430 million dollars from pressing charges on the United States for the counties cruelty. As a result of their accumulated fortune, many Americans assume that all Native Americans are wealthy. What they fail to realize is, “"roughly 20 percent of tribal casinos are generating 80 percent of the revenues" (Jacob Coin). Because only a small percentage of Sioux natives live off of the majority of the tribes funds, the perception of all Native Americans being wealthy is an extreme stereotype. The current event of the untrue perception of the wealth of all Native Americans is a false assumption which has gained the Natives a poor imagine, especially when they ask for money from the government for necessities like food. Just because one tribe is wealthy does not mean all Native Americans are rich. Native Americans come from an intriguing history, but unlike their past, their future looks bright and hopeful.

Analytic Literature

Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock serves as a memoir for Victor, a Native American growing up at the turn of the 21st century. The story gives insight to the clash of Native American teenagers who try to uphold their heritage in times when those around them are expressing such different cultures. The short story suggests that although teenage Native Americans are trying to keep hold of their heritage, perhaps they are also attempting to embrace the American culture. Throughout Victor’s life, this idea is extremely apparent especially through the character of Victor’s father. Victor’s father demonstrates strong Native American roots, which he tries to bestow upon Victor. Victors father is constantly implanting Native American ideas into Victor’s head when Victor talks to him. For example, when Victor brings up the idea of joining the Army, his father tells him, "Indians... are born soldiers … (we) don't need a uniform to prove it" (NEED AUTHOR). Victor’s father explains Native Americans do not need to join the military to become warriors; instead the title is given to a native when they are born. Like many other conversations had throughout the story with his father, Victor is given a philosophical and cultured answer to a basic comment. This allows the reader to immediately signify the importance of Victor’s father, a major Native American influence on Victor. Although his parents had a strong Native American influence on him, Victor still was interested in being a “regular” teenager. He went to an average high school, off his reservation sight, and had friends outside of his gated Native American reservation. The internal clash Victor subconsioly felt was due to the many different aspect and ideas which were in his head. By using the perspective of a teenager growing up in the current time, the readers of AUTHOR’S story are easily able to put themselves in Victor’s shoes because everyone knows what it’s like to feel influenced or pushed one way or another by their parents. When Victor’s father leaves his family at the climax of the story, one is immediately able to acknowledge the symbolism as Victor comes to peace with himself, yet yearns for his father. The flight of Victor’s father symbolizes a new absence of ideas pushed onto Victor, allowing himself to make descions about himself more freely. Although Victor misses his father dearly, perhaps he needed the absence of a harsh, opinionated figure in order to figure himself out. Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock serves to be an interesting and unique story following a modern teenage Native American and the struggle he goes through due to the clash of ideas presented in his daily life.

Analutic Entry: Background

Reading background information on a topic allows one to gain a stronger foundation for the subject. When trying to gain knowledge on a certain source, one should not only look at the big picture, but also focus on key individuals and events. For example, for one who didn’t know any information about Native Americans, perhaps a key figure many know, Pocahontas, would be a good place to start. By looking at an individual one is able to focus on a particular figure and learn of the topic’s culture by noticing the individuals way of life. The ideas presented by Pocahontas show the willingness of Native Americans in earlier colonial time to reach out and help settlers, while still keeping hold of their own faith. The willingness showed by Pocahontas gives an almost false impression of Native Americans. This is because it is written Pocahontas felt she needed to help protect the white man from her “savage tribe” (World History: The Modern Era). This allows one to infer Native Americans were harassing the settlers, when in reality the Natives were only being defensive of their land. Though Pocahontas’s story gave one a false impression of Native American’s relationship with whites, it was an interesting conflicting piece of information which helped set up the idea of tension between the two cultures. Although to gain background information on a topic, one may look to gain a better understanding by focusing on an individual, it is also important for one to examine larger events to peer into periods of history and major events. For example, by looking at the Black Hill Controversy, one is able to understand how Native Americans have been treated poorly throughout history. The Native Americans were promised in the Fort Laramie Treaty that the Black Hills land would be set aside "for the absolute and undisturbed use and occupation of the Sioux” (Friggens, Paul). Although the Sioux people were promised total control and use of the Black Hills, the land was soon taken away from them by the US Government because gold was found on the property. This event is one of many in which Native Americans were unlawfully treated. Because it was the government who was performing the negative actions, there was no higher power to which the natives could go to inquire. The Black Hill Controversy demonstrates the Native Americans unjust treatment throughout the past few centuries. Native Americans play an important role in Americas society today. As the background information allows one to acknowledge, without our countries Natives our country would lose its sense of where we came from. While one may look at the aspect in this light, one may also ask if Native Americans symbolize our countries roots, then why are they a people who we hide way on reservations and strip of rights instead of respecting and honoring? This is a central question which one can try and answer but find themselves in bewilderment at the poor treatment one race can have for another. Background information can be a great insight for one to create a strong foundation for a topic, and also learn to begin to ask key questions to themselves and readers, researchers, and Americans.

"New hopes on health care for American Indians" response

The article, "New hopes on health care for American Indians" from The New York Times focuses on the current issue of health care for Native Americans. The central question asked is if Native Americans should receive health care supported by the United States, and if so to what extent it should extend. The article begins with informing the reader that President Obama has been looking into this contemporary problem, having realizing that he needs to, "do more to address this issue" then done by previous presidents. Although Native Americans currently receive free health care from the United States, it is questionable how effective the health care system is. Native American's health care is low budgeted, and heavily understaffed and the natives are under constant struggle to receive medical help. Although their health care budget is over 3 billion dollars, "a third (of all Native Americans) are uninsured and a quarter live in poverty". The idea of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans living in poverty is unacceptable. Although it is apparent these people need our help to survive, one may ask why we feel obligated to help the people who we took land from. You don't see many other countrys who put the time and effort into supporting those who they've brutally evacuated from their homeland. A health care specialist commented, "we can make all these adjustments for you guys", alluding to the natives how it is unfair for them to demand Americans to make changes in their health care. To this, a Native American Replied, "Make us pay for health care, then the deal is off. Give us our land back, and we're good." The Native Americans reply to the specialists comment by explaining they will gladly pay for health care when they are given back the land which belongs to them, the United States. While one understands the Native Americans argument, one can not help but to feel selfish and want to keep their land and continue to support the US government for it's what has made up our country and allows us a sense of patriotism. To accept the Native Americans are right would be to give them their land back, ultimately giving up our homeland, the United States of America.

New hopes on health care for American Indians.(National Desk).Pam Belluck.
The New York Times 159.54877 (Dec 2, 2009): pA1(L).
http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C16%2529Native%2BAmericans%2524&contentSet=IAC-Documents&sort=DateDescend&tabID=T004&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1&currentPosition=10&userGroupName=deer63488&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C16%29Native+Americans%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=A213278573&docType=IAC

The issue of suicide among our country's natives

Although Native Americans may be thought of to be happy, spirited people, the harsh reality of their younger generation is quickly becoming more apparent. As the Natives become accustomed to American ideas such as divorce, their young find themselves confused by the clash of cultures. For example, Cynthia Lindquist-Mala, a Native American who grew up on a reservation in North Dakota, tells her struggle during her parents divorce. Divorce is not a concept which is grasped by many natives because it goes, "so strongly against the idea that a man and women who make the commitment to raise a family are bonded eternally". Because of this, when Lindquist-Mala discovered her parents were getting a divorce, she turned to drugs and alcohol for help. Cynthia describes how she felt forced to convert to drugs and alcohol to keep her happy in times of such sorrow such as divorce. Cynthia tells the reader she never realized how modern tools such as drugs and alcohol could make her feel as if she didn't have fear or unhappiness in her life, even with her parents divorce. Cynthia's decisions show a much larger issue occurring with today's modern Native Americans. Our countries Natives are now facing the issue of having to choose between a society filled with iPhones and airplanes, or one filled with family and culture. Although one may think the Nativities would chose the option of relatives and history, one finds them actually choosing the other option. When teenage Native Americans go through events like divorce in their family, a concept which was previously foreign, they find themselves using modern strategies to cope. This opposing view point really allows one to peer into the eye of a Native American and see some modern issues which are currently effecting their lives.

"Helping to reach the American Dream" current issue response

The article, "Casinos Help Indians Achieve the American Dream" by J. Trovey Jr. was interesting in many aspects. What immediately caught my attention about the piece was its contradiction to the last article I had written a response on. The previous article read described to the reader how their is a false public perception that the average Native American generally posseses a great deal of money due to the exclusive right their tribes has to run casinos in certian states. The article went on to say that this was a false impression because 20% of Native Americans live on 80% of the profits. The idea of the article was not to say that Native Americans were greedy, but rather sucsess is shared with tribes, not for the Native American as a people. The article I just examined tells the reader that this is a false impression, and that all Native Americans are finacally stable. The natives are financially stable because they,"have, in effect, a job for every tribal member who chooses to have it... our services have multiplied". Trovey jr. tells the reader that Native Americans are doing financially well because they give opportunities to their fellow natives as to support each other and bring about overall success as a people. This contridicts the previous article read which told the reader only certian tribes are wealthy because the natives only support fellow tribe memembers. After reading the article, I questioned what the Native American author mean by entitling the article, "Casinos Help Indians Achieve the American Dream". How can the successes and employment of a persons race help to achieve the "American Dream"? The natives do not measure sucesses in profits, but rather in land and tradition. I came to realize that what other countries envy of Americans is the easy employment opportunities, and the idea of overall personal success. Although they do not seek high profits, the Native Americans felt by employing each other and helping each sustain a job they help each other arise as a race from poverty. The idea of an entire race coming together to help each other is almost inspiring, and although most likely not the purpose of this article, it serves as a strong defense for Jacob Coin's article, which is summarized and analyzed below.

Casinos Help Indians Achieve the American Dream. J. David Tovey Jr.
At Issue: Indian Gaming. Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006.

Modern Issue, the idea of the "rich indian".

For my first contemporary issue I read, "Most Native Americans Have Not Profited from Gaming". The article consisted of Jacob Coin, a Native American who works as the director of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, discussing his views of how the Government has been handling affairs with Native Americans. Coin tells the reader that because there is a serious generalization that all Native Americans are wealthy, "Elected officials are proposing to slash by 70 percent funding (for Native American reservations)". The generalization of the "rich Indian" comes from the exclusive right to build casinos, which was given to Native Americans from the the American government. Due to the success of the Casinos the natives pursue, in times of finals troubles, the United States government has no guilty conscience to simply take away parts of funding for Native American projects. What the US government fails to acknowledge is, "roughly 20 percent of tribal casinos are generating 80 percent of the revenues". This means that only a small portion of Native Americans are making a maximum profit off of their casinos. 80% of the natives involved in the casino business are living off of 20% of the profits made overall. Because of this, many Native Americans are as financially excelled as the government may believe. Because the government believes Native Americans have more money then they really do, they cut down on their finances without realizing the truth of what their doing, further impoverishing our countries natives. Interestingly enough, taken even further, the state of California was, "a great share of tribal gaming revenues to help bail the state out of its fiscal woes". As if it wasn't ridiculas enough that the government is debating taking away a portion of the profits made from a right which they legally gave the the Native Americans, the US Government also claims, "tribes do not pay 'their fair share'...". The US government explains they believe the Native Americans are not paying for the land and rights which they were given. Should the government look around, they may realize they did not give the Natives the land they live on, but rather allowed them to live their. The Natives have been forced out of land which was rightfully theirs for years, but still the US government pushes the race around. Even today rays of the ruthless first Americans are shown.

Most Native Americans Have Not Profited from Gaming. Jacob Coin. At issue: Indian Gaming. Ed. Stuart A. Kalled. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2006.

Short story, "Because my father..." literary connection

For my Native American short story, I read Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock. The short story serves as a memoir for Victor, a Native American growing up at the turn of the 20th century. The story gives insight to the clash of Native American teenagers who try to uphold their heritage in a time when those around them express such different culture. This is expressed by the theme of music throughout the story. Victors father, a heavy drinker, found peace in listening to Jimi Hendrix's music. Although he listened to the modern music at the time, Victors father tried to keep the pride of being a Native American alive. Victors father attempts to express that Victor doesn't need to go to war to prove he's a warrior because, "Indians... are born soldiers anyway... (we) don't need a uniform to prove it" (25). Victors father tells Victor that because he is a Native American, he has already been born a warrior, and doesn't need to be put in the situation of war to prove it. Although in this passage Victors father describes the influence of being a Native American on Victors life to Victor, there were other times when he described the importance of accepting and embracing the American culture. Perhaps this clash of modernism and attempting to keep the traditions of being Native American alive led to Victors fathers downfall at the end of the story, as he ran away from Victor and his wife. Leaving ones family in the Native American culture is highly frowned upon because it is an idea which has been thrust into the natives mind by Americans. The Native American culture would never find the choice to leave your family acceptable. This piece of information really showed me the importance and theme of family which Native Americans highly value.

"Forced Migration" picture analysis

For this blog post, intsed of reading an article, I analyzed a painting entitled, "The Forced Migration of Native Americans". The focus of the painting is on three central Native Americans, all of whom are riding horses, bundeled in blankets. I found it interesting that the three Native Americans blankets where each a different color; red, white, or blue. Coincidently, these colors are also The United States of America's flag colors. Perhaps this is to symbolize how the US made the Native Americans move. Although color plays a big part in the painting, so does light. In the distance behind the natives, there is the detail of a small ray of light. This is potentially to symbolize hope in the future for the Native Americans. In the distance on the picture, toward to back right, there is more people on horses, and if one looks closley they may notice what looks like an American cowboy keeping them in line. This is perhaps to show how the Americans were responsible for the natives "Forced Migration". Although I've read in articles how Native Americans were forced to leave their homes due to being forced out by Americans, I now am able to see a visual which further shows this idea.

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=4&entryid=1186426&searchtext=native+americans&type=simple&option=all

Helen Hunt Jackson (primary source)

For a primary source on Native Americans, I read an expert of a book by Helen Hunt Jackson. Ms. Jackson goes into detail to describe the conditions in which Native Americans live, and why this aspect of their life is yet to change. When discussing the progression of the Americans feeling towards the Native Americans, Ms. Jackson brings the readers attention to a document written by nine men who were appointed by President Grant to inspect the Native American reservations. The "nine men, representing the influence and philanthropy of six leading states" tell in their reports the devastating truth of the conditions in which the Native Americans live. The majority of Americans asked why their country's Natives didn't continue to preform their farming rituals and produce the crops which they excelled at so distinctively. The nine men who visited the reservation learned although this statement seems cohesive, Americans should really ask themselves, "why should the Indian be expected to plant corn... when experience has taught him that the product of his labor will be seized by the white man tomorrow?". The philanthropists who visited the reservations realized, after spending time with the natives, that their entire lives has merely been a cycle, a cycle of building, growing, living, and then having it all taken away from them. When you beat a dog so many times, what should make it want to get up in the morning? In this primary document, I was able to read a first hand account of those who visited the Native American reservations and established an understanding of why Native Americans preform the inaction they began to preform.

Helen Hunt Jackson " Indians and Whites," Annals of American History. <http://america.eb.com/america/article?articleId=386231>[Accessed February 3, 2010].

The effect of illness

"Even though warfare played a role in the decline in Indian populations, the spread of disease often ended the need for battles to take over territory or assert authority." I was astounded when I first read this. This article not only focused on the wars Native Americans were apart of, but how they were effected by illness during their battles. I never knew that although weapons killed many Native Americans, what really murdered them was the Americans indirect weapon: germs. Coming from a differnt environment, the Europeans didn't realize the diseases brought with them would indirectly kill many Native Americans. Realizing this, later in history Americans filled blankets with small pox, giving Native Americans warmth, while also secretly poisoning them. The diseases Native Americans contracted from the foreign Europeans were damaging physically, but also mentally. To be sick brings extended grief onto you and your family, as sickness usually brings with it an "unbearable" effect. Because of this, bringing sickness into the lives of Native Americans was extremely damaging for it effect the moral of Natives Americans across America.




Bowes, John. "Background Essay." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. .

The Natives Fight Back

Although throughout history Native Americans have been cruelly patronized by Americans, this does not mean the natives have not fought back. Attempting to get back the land which is rightfully theirs, the Native Americans have tried numerous tactics over the years to win back their most prized possisan: land. The Natives have done everything from Attacking Americans, trying to get the media involved, and even coming together as tribes to form unions. Although these tactics have been unsucessfull, even today the group is still attemping to fight for what is theirs. This article was unique to the others I've read because it focaused on the Natives past, but then connected it to the future by allowing the reader to follow their history in a timeline of events. In a country such as ours, one would think that the government would be understanding to minorities issues, not shut down their ideas. When we hear about Native Americans rights, we automatically think past events in which they have been demeanored and obtusley treated, but what really made me think in this article was the idea that this is a pressing issue which still applies to today's world.



"Native American rights movement." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. .