November 5th Class Discussion

Monday during class, we discussed alot about the differences between Latin America and the US. During the discussion bribery was a big topic talked about. One of the quotes said was "Bribery is buisness" showing the dedication and dependence that people in Latin America show towards bribery. I have only been out of the country once, and that was to England, so therefore it is hard to me imagine such bribery being shown in an everyday setting. I find it amusing that in America, there are set prices for the most part, no bargaining goes on while shopping. While in Latin America, we talked about bargaining with the owner of a good that one desires for the price to go down. It seems that they would rather lower their price of a good and sell it than risk not selling it at all for the price they originally required. Bribery does not always consist of money in Latin America either, which almost usually comes to mind (at least to me). Bribes can be paid in many different sorts and favors, which shows that Latin America deals with alot of trust in contrast to Americans, which in my own opinion trust few (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). Another thing that we spoke about was Yellowstone Park and other 'National Parks' and whether they really were 'natural'. The class discussed how it really isn't natural considering many things are done in order for visitors to visit such as pathways and maintaing forest fires ect. I dont feel this is wrong to an extent. However I feel that is most of the wildlife and forests were maintainted by humans it would be wrong. I feel strongly that the amount should be limited.

Classroom Discussion

Today in class we talked alot about Nicaragua. I found it interesting to learn more about the way things are 'developed' there along with the way things are handled. It somewhat surprised me to see on google earth how undeveloped most areas in Nicaragua were, however it's not that I dislike that. I think that some of the world should be kept the way it is found instead of being developed with commercial things, houses, and so on much like the United States of America is. I remember Julio asking us how we think that Nicaragua should deal with different areas combining together as one and relating to that I think that all the different areas though spreadout should be handled as one whether they are getting along or not. Nicaragua is as a whole a country and I feel it should be treated this way. I find it interesting when talking about the wage that workers are paid in Nicaragua and how it differs significantly from the United States, I feel that often many times things like that are overlooked. For example, the talapia (spelling) farms that are run by people who are not native to Nicaragua due to money issues and people native to Nicaragua not having the amount of money it takes to run the buisness. Going along with the money idea in Nicaragua, one side is more heavily populated than the other due to the government not having enough money. This is a new idea for alot of us I feel because the United States is much more wealthy and alot of the issues dealt with there are not things that we need to deal with here. This discussioin made me think of a alot of comparisons between where we live and there.

Diversity

The class discussion on Wednesday, October 17th, was very informational. A lot of things were brought about society and the terms that are given to certain nationalities or groups. I found it very helpful to have different points of views coming from different people from different backgrounds and experience. That is something that I feel I never truly got growing up in private school consisting of mainly white Caucasians. We talked about the term ‘Hispanic’ being very vague and covering a lot of ground in terms of different nationalities of people which I believe is true. However, I also believe that there are a lot of other terms given such as ‘Asian’ or even ‘African-American’ that can be very vague. I understand that people come from different places and it is hard to be categorized sometimes with what one feels to be completely different group, but I also understand that every single nationality could not be named upon an application of some sort. This also made me think of being referred to as ‘White’ or ‘Caucasian’. I don’t really have a problem with that at all, but I do think that in a way that allowing and almost provoking people to forget about their heritage and where their ancestors or family came from in the first place. I also found it very interesting to look at the map and see the diversity of different groups culturally. It made me wonder how it got to be like that in the first place. I talked about where I am from, Joliet, IL and how the east side of Joliet is in majority Hispanics and African Americans. On the east side of Joliet, many things consist of this and those cultures. For example: restaurants, clothing, and grocery stores. It is definitely a different feeling when entering the east side because it is not my culture however, it is my town. Something I find very appealing about this however, is that the east side only recently (in my years) became what it is today. When my parents were young, the east side also considered part of Downtown Joliet, is where they hung out, went out, and socialized. Today is makes it very apparent that a new culture is present and it interests me to find out how exactly that began. Overall, I felt this discussion was very educational and helped me to look at everyday topics that I come across and make sense of them, when I never really questioned it before.

We Are What We Eat

I found this article very different from the rest that we have read mostly because it deals with not only the past but the present also. It made me think of a lot of things that I never really realized or thought about before but just took in because it was the “norm.” Reading this helped me to appreciate Columbus maybe more than I already do seeing that he brought over a lot of things such as pigs, cattle, horses, and sheep and opened up a lot of possibilities. It made me think of all the different food that we eat here in America and where they came from and how different cultures are mixed together to create a new cuisine. This reading was educational because it gave a lot of history as to how certain types of foods got to certain locations which shows how and why we eat what we do today and for that reason I am grateful.

The Broken Spears Chapters 1-7 Reflection

I found the readings in chapters 1-7 to be very thought-provoking. It opened up a new view for me of the arrival of Cortes and the Spaniards. I found it very interesting to learn about the omens and wonders and now see that it was in a way foreshadowing the future events. It was unique to read about what their first reactions were to the Spaniards arriving (the mountains floating in the water) because they had never seen such large boats before. It is very amusing that Motechuzoma instructed many different people to watch for the ships to see if they too could see the sight they had never seen before. It was interesting to see from his point of view as a ruler, the fear of this arrival of the unknown and his ways of going about “welcoming” them by presenting them with gifts. Though Motechuzoma feared the Spaniards it seems as though Cortes and his followers did not fear Motechuzoma and his people. At some parts of the reading, I found it hard to imagine dealing with different battles and different threats of killing off families and homes. However, in the end, I did find the reading overall to be very informative and different in it’s views. It gave a more personal one on one view of emotions, fears, and events of the arrival of the Spaniards.

The TRUE Importance of Christopher Columbus

I found the homework reading, The True Importance of Christopher Columbus to be very interesting yet frustrating at the same time. I found it interesting because there were a lot of facts and details given that I had never before heard of or realized. I was in complete agreement after reading the article as to the author’s standpoint on textbooks. A lot of the things that were pointed out as things that were learned in education previous to college I found myself recalling. I can remember learning all of the obvious things about Columbus that were stated as common in this reading. However, I did find it frustrating to feel as though I, along with many others, have been kept in a way behind the scenes while dealing with Columbus, history, and it’s details. It’s almost aggravating to find that a lot of the things I have learned have somewhat seemed to be misrepresented in a way. I am interested however to find out more about the previous journeys to the America’s by others and reasons behind it.

Bardic & Analytic Interpretations of the Columbian Voyages

In the first chapter of Crosby’s writing, I found it very interesting/surprising that there are two different and distinct interpretations of the Columbian Voyages. It is stated that the bardic version is the version that most of us grew up learning and hearing about. I find it odd, and a bit disappointing that through many years of education, I have been taught the more positive version of the story, leaving out any negative events. (For example: Columbus discovering the “New World” and the division made between the Europeans leaving out the effects that the arrival had on the native inhabitants.) The reading indicated that the bardic authors or historians focused more on heroism than anything else.
The newer version, or the analytical interpretations used different methods than pervious. I feel that all for the fact that it tries to understand and develop what kind of impact the arrival had on those native inhabitants whether it be positive or negative should explore this version more. (For example: the role that sickness and disease may have played on the original inhabitants.)Basically I believe that the newer version or view needs to be explored more than anything showing all aspects of the arrival. I was never really in complete agreement to Columbus and the praise the he receive(d).