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.