As I read the words that were supposedly from the mouth of Cochise on pg 383, I was moved with great sympathy for he, and his people. Having read somewhat extensively in a history book about what the indians went through with the Spanish Conquistadors, I hated for a period of time that the United States was built on the blood of others. Not only did African Americans suffer by dehuminization through the process of slavery, and stripping of basic needs, but Indians were tortured, women raped, and children essentially left parentless, or left for dead.
When I read Cochise's speech, I see it very sadly as an admission of defeat. He knows that the white people have won, every valuable possession has been stolen from him, and that he has no choice, but to treaty. Essentially, he is saying , 'Fine, I give up. There is nothing else for you to take. We just want to reserve what little we have left in peace.' I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I pictured a tired old man, give what he had left of his pride away. I remember reading one portion about the Spanish Conquistador's heartlessness, as they took the land and the lives of Natives in the name of their Catholic throne, that sickened me immensely. Instead of sharing it with you, you can read about it in a book called."Portrait of America, Volume One by Stephen Oates".
As I continued to read pg 385 in our literature book, I could see Charlot in a sense take back the pride of his ancestors as he stated how horrible white Americans had been to Native Americans, and that taxxing his people was the final straw. The whole piece fluently stated the cause of Native Americans, and the sins of caucasians, and it had a ,"So There!" tone to it that made me smile. I could not help but put myself in the shoes of these people as they pled their cause, and made their issues known. I cannot help but wonder if Charlot was absolutely correct when he spoke of our motives as a whole nation. Are we greedy people as a whole, and do we consider ourselves to be above others? Do we now think that because we are born here that we deserve the best, and that others deserve less? These questions and more fill my mind, and search my soul.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Letters from Earth.
Mark Twain's "Letters from Earth," pgs. 307-318
To be honest and sincere, I felt passionately that this piece was Twain's personal opinion. I believe that if he had wanted it published he would have done so himself. Another thing that frustrated me is the fact that we as students seem to be able to study what some consider,"blasphemy", with references to God and the Bible, and yet are unable to study the Bible in a public institution as the main text without a challenge.
I respect Twain's right to an opinion, and he must have felt strongly about his opinion, in order to challenge the stance at the time. It seems as well thought out and written, as his other work. Having the Bible as a reference, I did note that some of the things he had written were true according to the Bible I have. He essentially makes the case that God could not be real because what happened in regards to Noah's Ark is impossible, and further makes God to be simple minded because he killed people when the earth was flooded. He makes God out to be a wishy-washy, out of balance creature. His tone is condescending and demeaning in certain parts. I felt that he stated his opinion as fact on several occasions throughout the piece.
He seems to have taken some kind of poll in which he discovers that heaven is a certain way and that most people would dislike the atmosphere there. My understanding having read some extensively of the Heaven in the bible is that it is a place of celebration. I do not believe it to be exactly the place that Twain described. I also do not believe that most people stereotypically dislike church. I know many, many people that personally give their money, talents and time to their church. Perhaps in the time, church was rather boring? I know that church years ago was more oppressive, with many rules to obey, and as further interpretation has come to the church about what is acceptable, there have been many changes. This piece was interesting and made me think, rethink and research. For that, it was valuable, and unforgettable.
To be honest and sincere, I felt passionately that this piece was Twain's personal opinion. I believe that if he had wanted it published he would have done so himself. Another thing that frustrated me is the fact that we as students seem to be able to study what some consider,"blasphemy", with references to God and the Bible, and yet are unable to study the Bible in a public institution as the main text without a challenge.
I respect Twain's right to an opinion, and he must have felt strongly about his opinion, in order to challenge the stance at the time. It seems as well thought out and written, as his other work. Having the Bible as a reference, I did note that some of the things he had written were true according to the Bible I have. He essentially makes the case that God could not be real because what happened in regards to Noah's Ark is impossible, and further makes God to be simple minded because he killed people when the earth was flooded. He makes God out to be a wishy-washy, out of balance creature. His tone is condescending and demeaning in certain parts. I felt that he stated his opinion as fact on several occasions throughout the piece.
He seems to have taken some kind of poll in which he discovers that heaven is a certain way and that most people would dislike the atmosphere there. My understanding having read some extensively of the Heaven in the bible is that it is a place of celebration. I do not believe it to be exactly the place that Twain described. I also do not believe that most people stereotypically dislike church. I know many, many people that personally give their money, talents and time to their church. Perhaps in the time, church was rather boring? I know that church years ago was more oppressive, with many rules to obey, and as further interpretation has come to the church about what is acceptable, there have been many changes. This piece was interesting and made me think, rethink and research. For that, it was valuable, and unforgettable.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Emily Dickenson's "Faith is a fine invention" and "My life had stood-a loaded gun," pgs.80,89
The first poem we were assigned to read, written by Emily Dickenson caught my attention. In the opening line, she states that," faith is a fine invention for gentleman." She goes on to say that "Microscopes are prudent in an emergency!" I believe that this poem expresses the way society expresses their religion. Some people appear to be strong in their faith until crisis comes. I don't think that she is saying this alone. I think that her words convey the thoughts that just because one has faith, doesn't mean that they need to disengage their brains. Science can be helpful if one opens their mind to receive the help. I think that she is saying that we should not write off doctors and nurses and believe in God alone. Perhaps she is saying that God gives us wisdom, so that we can use it. I noticed how she used an exclaimation point at the end. I believe that she used this exclaimation point to draw attention to the importantance of her statement.
The second poem that really caught my attention is the one on page 89. The title alone drew me in. "My Life had stood- a Loaded Gun-" This statement alone says she compared her life to a loaded gun. A gun is powerful and dangerous. It has the ability to kill if aimed properly. I believe much of this poem speaks to how Dickenson felt as a woman. In line two she wrote about how the gun was in the corner. Perhaps she meant that she could receive the recognition for the power that she possessed, until a few recognized her ability to write and she was published. When she talks of wandering in sovereign woods, I wonder whether that means the woods where her master is king, but allows her to go along. It seems that she had difficulty in her personal and professional life, and mostly due to the fact that she was a woman who had aspirations to do some of the things that men did all of the time. This must have been frustrating to her having such ability and knowledge, and have to supress it. The poem shows that she was angry when it speaks of the vesuvian face. It seems that Mount Vesuvius was a volcano. She goes on to write about how she is a a foe of her master? When she writes that she calls for him, "the mountains straight reply", I am certain she means the anger. I am assuming this is her father. When she writes," none stir a second time", perhaps that means when she shoots him he won't wake up again.
The last stanza saddens me because she is writing about how upset she is. She is so frustrated that she wants to kill someone, but at the same time wants to kill herself, but cannot bring herself to do it. I think that even today, some women can still relate to the feeling powerful, and yet powerless, simply because they do not want to deal with the fear of the waves they will make. There are some that are more afraid of dealing with difficulty than dealing with the prisons they are in. Dickenson must have gone through great turmoil through out her lifetime. Just because she was born into a well-to-do family that was educated, does not mean that disfunction was non existant. When Dickenson wrote this poem, I believe she wrote it for herself, disguising it's meaning, but many women for many generations will surely feel connected to her.
The second poem that really caught my attention is the one on page 89. The title alone drew me in. "My Life had stood- a Loaded Gun-" This statement alone says she compared her life to a loaded gun. A gun is powerful and dangerous. It has the ability to kill if aimed properly. I believe much of this poem speaks to how Dickenson felt as a woman. In line two she wrote about how the gun was in the corner. Perhaps she meant that she could receive the recognition for the power that she possessed, until a few recognized her ability to write and she was published. When she talks of wandering in sovereign woods, I wonder whether that means the woods where her master is king, but allows her to go along. It seems that she had difficulty in her personal and professional life, and mostly due to the fact that she was a woman who had aspirations to do some of the things that men did all of the time. This must have been frustrating to her having such ability and knowledge, and have to supress it. The poem shows that she was angry when it speaks of the vesuvian face. It seems that Mount Vesuvius was a volcano. She goes on to write about how she is a a foe of her master? When she writes that she calls for him, "the mountains straight reply", I am certain she means the anger. I am assuming this is her father. When she writes," none stir a second time", perhaps that means when she shoots him he won't wake up again.
The last stanza saddens me because she is writing about how upset she is. She is so frustrated that she wants to kill someone, but at the same time wants to kill herself, but cannot bring herself to do it. I think that even today, some women can still relate to the feeling powerful, and yet powerless, simply because they do not want to deal with the fear of the waves they will make. There are some that are more afraid of dealing with difficulty than dealing with the prisons they are in. Dickenson must have gone through great turmoil through out her lifetime. Just because she was born into a well-to-do family that was educated, does not mean that disfunction was non existant. When Dickenson wrote this poem, I believe she wrote it for herself, disguising it's meaning, but many women for many generations will surely feel connected to her.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Lines upon the page of life
Why do I wonder.....to the end of my wit;
what to write until I spit.
I will continue to plunder, and begin again,
for how else will I become the reader's friend?
what to write until I spit.
I will continue to plunder, and begin again,
for how else will I become the reader's friend?
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