The first Native American I ever met was a friend of my grandfathers. He was from a small tribe up in Minnesota. He and my grandfather both were pilots on the Great Lakes. He was a very nice man that always would make up interesting stories for me as a very young kid. It wasn't till later when i asked my grandfather about him that i figured out he was a nut. Story goes that after a couple drinks he would start doing old Native American tribal dances. So all in all the only Native American's i really know are known to be a little crazy and always good for a story. This is kind of of sad because the stereotypical Native Americans are sometimes perceived as nutty story tellers. For me to truly understand the Ways of the Native Americans I would need to go back to the time of Lewis and Clark and live among the Natives to truly identify with them.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
On the Reservation
Throughout my life I have only come in contact with a handful of Native Americans. Many of which were my parents age or older. As a kid meeting a Native American was like seeing a bald eagle, they were few and far between. But whenever I did meet one I always expected a good story. I always recieved one but whether they were true or not, who knows.
The first Native American I ever met was a friend of my grandfathers. He was from a small tribe up in Minnesota. He and my grandfather both were pilots on the Great Lakes. He was a very nice man that always would make up interesting stories for me as a very young kid. It wasn't till later when i asked my grandfather about him that i figured out he was a nut. Story goes that after a couple drinks he would start doing old Native American tribal dances. So all in all the only Native American's i really know are known to be a little crazy and always good for a story. This is kind of of sad because the stereotypical Native Americans are sometimes perceived as nutty story tellers. For me to truly understand the Ways of the Native Americans I would need to go back to the time of Lewis and Clark and live among the Natives to truly identify with them.
The first Native American I ever met was a friend of my grandfathers. He was from a small tribe up in Minnesota. He and my grandfather both were pilots on the Great Lakes. He was a very nice man that always would make up interesting stories for me as a very young kid. It wasn't till later when i asked my grandfather about him that i figured out he was a nut. Story goes that after a couple drinks he would start doing old Native American tribal dances. So all in all the only Native American's i really know are known to be a little crazy and always good for a story. This is kind of of sad because the stereotypical Native Americans are sometimes perceived as nutty story tellers. For me to truly understand the Ways of the Native Americans I would need to go back to the time of Lewis and Clark and live among the Natives to truly identify with them.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Propaganda Today
Propaganda has increasingly become more widespread because of the advances in social media. When ever I think of propaganda I immediately think of mudslinging advertisements for political power. Every election, in Chicago at least, there are always those ads that put down the other opponents. The most recent one I've seen is about Rahm Emanuel and his residency issue. Without knowing whether or not he was living in Chicago ads were being broadcasted talking about, "Do you want a mayor that lies about his residency???" This was a tactic that was used against him just to make the opposition stand out better. These "rumors" whether they be true or not fuel ideas into the public to influence their choices. It is just like brainwashing in a sense. It uses controversial questions to influence the general public one way or another.
In the past propaganda was most commonly used during times of war to "rally the troops." We don't see this so more. For the war in Iraq they didn't push the public to fight in the war like they did in World War II. Although there were no Uncle Sam posters the media made a case of why you should. They riled up the public by instilling anger over 9/11. However, politics still make the biggest market for propaganda. For as long as there is voting propaganda will exist. Also it will never completely go away. It is a seed that is planted and when the public need something to turn to and blame, the seed will continue to grow. For a last example, Obama's residency was once a huge controversy. Was he born in another country? How can he be president? These ideas that were planted after the inauguration maybe a wall that the public can lean back on when things start to go south. When things go down, it is human nature to turn around and blame someone or something else.
In the past propaganda was most commonly used during times of war to "rally the troops." We don't see this so more. For the war in Iraq they didn't push the public to fight in the war like they did in World War II. Although there were no Uncle Sam posters the media made a case of why you should. They riled up the public by instilling anger over 9/11. However, politics still make the biggest market for propaganda. For as long as there is voting propaganda will exist. Also it will never completely go away. It is a seed that is planted and when the public need something to turn to and blame, the seed will continue to grow. For a last example, Obama's residency was once a huge controversy. Was he born in another country? How can he be president? These ideas that were planted after the inauguration maybe a wall that the public can lean back on when things start to go south. When things go down, it is human nature to turn around and blame someone or something else.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Beat Street
Beat Street.... What a movie. This movie is very interesting because it shows a unique perspective of life in New York. It hides all the glam of the city and portrays the "darker" side of the city, the Bronx. It shows how kids grew up in the city and learned the way of the streets. Although it is an 80's movie it is very interesting because it shows how as a kid you could make it out of the backsides of New York. Beat Street also just goes to show there is talent no matter where you come from. Weirdly this movie makes me think of 8 mile. This is a long shot but, they are similar in the respect that they show how people grow with a talent they are given. One of the main characters Double K is a DJ that is mixing sounds on very basic equipment where as others are making comparable mixes on way more advanced equipment. It shows that talent is found with in a person and nothing else matters. Beat Street is a rare point of view that is shown and it is very heart warming because it proves that their are people that work hard for what they want and it pays off for them. In this world to many people are where they are at because of what someone else did for them. Unlike that Beat Street portrays kids that worked to become a somebody.
Hungry For Attention
Everyone is in need of some type of attention. The ways people get attention obviously vary depending on the person. Richard did light his house on fire, but it wasn't intended to hurt anyone. When you are a young kid all you want is attention. For example, when my younger sister was born I wouldn't even look at my mom because my sister was getting all her attention. As people we thrive off attention. First place in a competition would be pointless if the winners didn't get recognition. I remember as a kid I was always trying to impress someone, rather it be myself, my parents, teacher, or anyone that cared. So to get back to Richard, he is not alone in his hunger for attention. Attention is almost secondhand nature to most people. This is unfortunate in a way though because with attention comes people that only do things when they get attention. This is sad because then the people that are "behind the scenes" go unnoticed. So for all of us that are attention cravers we must remember all those who aren't like us and do things that go unnoticed. Richard isn't one to stay out of the lime light so he needs that constant attention to maintain his lifestyle. Richard is not alone in his hunger for attention it is human nature to want to be noticed and only we can control our need for it.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Being a Mexican American
Although I'm not Mexican this is probably my favorite short story. No matter where you live in America you are most likely going to be identified with the people you hang out with. So if you live in a community made up of a specific race you are going to be identified with them. This story tells it from the perspective of a kid that is trying to defy who he is identified with. He will forever be a Mexican, but as he starts to mix with other groups he slowly looses parts of his roots. This portrayal shows how he will never be able to completely let go of his roots because they go so far back in his life. We become so connected and wrapped up with our past that there is no way to leave it behind. Some think this is bad others take it as a blessing. Mendoza believes that no matter what it will always stay with you and it makes you who you are. I agree because no matter what your past was like, good or bad, it still made You. A point that Mendoza makes is that people will never fully integrate with each other. Is he so far off? If you take a look at a diverse city like Chicago you will find that there are neighborhoods for each ethnicity. No one segregates us but ourselves. In my life time I really wonder if I will see a true mix of culture throughout the world.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
King still king?
Martin Luther King Jr. is far from a forgotten figure. His prominence is known throughout the world. However now he is looked at as a revolution. He is not just the man who started this idea he is the idea. This news of equality spread throughout the world. The Civil Rights Act not only effected the United States of America, but the world as a whole. Everyone knew about it and was amazed a feat that seemed impossible was accomplished. I think the idea that you can do anything you put your mind to is really what was brought out from the movement. People now-a-days give up to fast when the times get tough. If M.L.K. Jr. was still around I believe he would be fighting another movement for the better of a harmonious world. So Martin Luther King is still around in our lives not as a person, but as the idea of a driving force of determination.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Short Stories
For this blog I will explain why I like "This Sacred Soil" and "Children of the Sea." These two stories have very different origins and purpose, but overall a similar conflict. Both characters in each story are forced off their lands. The means by which this happen are different but non-the-less they are forced to leave.
In "This Sacred Soil," the author really put into perspective the view of the Natives. He basically wrote that the Red man and the White man, will never agree on anything. The Natives will forever worship their gods and the White man will worship his. His reason for giving into the idea of a Reservation is that he doesn't think that their will be any Native Americans left by the time the Reservation has a big impact. All he can do is hold onto the virtues they have left and pray that one day both cultures will find that their maker is the same. The part that made a deep impact on me is this: "At night when when the streets of tour cities and villages are silent and you think them deserted, they will throng with the returning hosts that once filled and still love this beautiful land. The White Man will never be alone." to me this means that Chief Seattle thinks that for as long as the White Man lives in America, he will never have the compassion of that of the Red Man.
In "Children of the Sea," the story of the life of children in Haiti put into perspective just how lucky I really am. I believe to many people take everything we have in life for granted. Life around the world is much harder than just getting by in school and having a good relationship with your family and friends. In the story the kids had to worry about staying alive. These stories of genocide really get to me because it's really hard to fathom why a race of people could turn on each other. It happens all around the world and the reasons for it are wars that have been fought for many of thousands of years and yet each battle is still in full swing. So this story is especially compelling because it puts into perspective all the things we take for granted.
In "This Sacred Soil," the author really put into perspective the view of the Natives. He basically wrote that the Red man and the White man, will never agree on anything. The Natives will forever worship their gods and the White man will worship his. His reason for giving into the idea of a Reservation is that he doesn't think that their will be any Native Americans left by the time the Reservation has a big impact. All he can do is hold onto the virtues they have left and pray that one day both cultures will find that their maker is the same. The part that made a deep impact on me is this: "At night when when the streets of tour cities and villages are silent and you think them deserted, they will throng with the returning hosts that once filled and still love this beautiful land. The White Man will never be alone." to me this means that Chief Seattle thinks that for as long as the White Man lives in America, he will never have the compassion of that of the Red Man.
In "Children of the Sea," the story of the life of children in Haiti put into perspective just how lucky I really am. I believe to many people take everything we have in life for granted. Life around the world is much harder than just getting by in school and having a good relationship with your family and friends. In the story the kids had to worry about staying alive. These stories of genocide really get to me because it's really hard to fathom why a race of people could turn on each other. It happens all around the world and the reasons for it are wars that have been fought for many of thousands of years and yet each battle is still in full swing. So this story is especially compelling because it puts into perspective all the things we take for granted.
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