Journal for Pima "Stories of Creation"

Jessie Akers-Bell

12/12/11

Author Quote: "In the beginning there was no earth, no water-- nothing," (Norton 22).

Internet Quote: "We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children," (Native American Proverb).

Summary: The first quote says at the beginning of time there was nothing to be found. In the second quote is saying that it is your children who you take the land from and what ever you do with it will effect your children.

My Ideas: The first quote strikes me as very similar to Gods creation story, the creation story I grew up with. It annoys me when people hate on Christians and say that there isn't any similarity between their beliefs and mine, and then when they start to talk about their beliefs, I see all sorts of similarities. Then when I point out these similarities the people who I'm talking to say I'm lying, or something to that effect. The Pima's story of creation is very similar to the story of "and on the first day he" did this and on the second day he did that, and on, and on, and on. I did enjoy this way of creation, it made me think "well what if God's creation story was like this?" or any number of other questions like that.

The Second quote I think is very relevant to today and the author quote, because that was a theme I sensed with the Pima's creation story. I wish it was applied more today, people are starting to think this way (sorry for this connection but it's all I can think of right now) it is a lot like the people in the show "Whale Wars" on Animal Planet. The crew of the two anti- whaler ships chase after Japaneses whalers in the Antarctica waters trying to stop them from killing so many whales, so that whale will be around for younger generations. So, in a sense, we are borrowing the world from our children and other future generations.

Journal for the Iroquois Creation Story

Jessie Akers-Bell
12/12/11

Author Quote:"Among the ancients there were two worlds in existence,"(Norton 18).

Internet Quote: "The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity" (Rollo May)

Summary: The author quote is pretty straight forward. The Iroquois thought that their was a human world and a demon world. I see it as a heaven and hell put together. The the second quote is saying that by not being yourself you are not being brave and telling people you are not perfect.

My Ideas: Both of these quotes I just like. For what they are saying and the ideas they provoke in my head. For the first one, since I am a Presbyterian, it makes me think about what if heaven and hell were one and the same. That would certainly throw a wrench in the machine of Christianity. It also makes me think that maybe not all demons are bad. Since in the Iroquois always call the beings in the not human world monsters, but it was a monster who got land for Sky Woman, and she is not hurt in her fall from the human world. I just find it an interesting that it was a "monster" that saved her and not and "angel, a "being of light", or something that makes you think of feeling safe.
The second quote I just love, because I never understood why cowardice is the opposite of courage or bravery. Cowardice is just showing people that you are not perfect, which nobody is. The part of the quote that says that conformity is actually the opposite of courage makes sense to me, but at the same time it doesn't. Maybe because if it is true then our society as a whole is screwed, since we are told in the media and a lot of pop culture today that being popular and a conformist is good. Though we are starting to brake out of that mold, it probably will always be there.

Journal For Cabeza de Vaca

Jessie Akers-Bell
 12/8/11

Author Quote:"These people love their offspring more than any in the world and treat them very mildly,"(Norton 42).

Internet Quote:"Raised by his paternal grandfather, Pedro de Vera, one of the conquerors and governor of the Canary Islands, Cabeza de Vaca joined the Spanish army in 1511 and served in Italy, Spain, and Navarre,"(Encyclopedia of World Biography).

Summary: In the first quote de Vaca seems surprised about the level of love shown to everyone, even children, in the Natives community. Children back in Spain must not have been treated as well. The second quotes  talks a little about de Vaca's past. He was raised by a conqueror, which makes one think that his Grandfather was a strict military man. He followed is his grandfathers, and ancestors foot steps by joining the military.

My Ideas: I'm surprised at de Vaca's surprise about how well the Native children are treated. I know life in that time in Europe wasn't easy but the surprise in his writing suggests that it is. I guess I take the fact that most parents are good; sense I have such wonderful ones myself. I'm one of the lucky kids. Children, except for the aristocrats' kids, probably worked and worked for very little pay. His surprise at how well the Natives children are treated is so different from what de Vaca is used to. Though his grandfather was a governor of one of the Spanish territories. That means money and comfortable living, for that time. His surprise could also come from the fact that these people are supposedly savage, and to see them showing affection and treating kids well is the surprise. It could be his surprise at being shown that the Natives are not that savage.
Being raised by a military conqueror must have been interesting to say the least. Having grown up in his Grandfather's shadow helped to shape de Vaca. Also it probably was his Grandfather who got de Vaca into the military. I understand that since two of my uncles joined the U.S. military; one who joined but didn't fight, and the other was in the air force. My uncles also grew up in a military family because my Grandfather was a doctor for the army. So I understand, a little, of what it must have been like for deVaca to grow up in that situation.

Journal for Columbus

Jessie Akers-Bell
12/5/11

Author Quote: "Seven years I was at your royal court, where all to whom this undertaking was mentioned, unanimously declared it to be a delusion,"(Norton 34).

 

Not a delusion anymore.

Internet Quote: "Riches don't make a man rich, they only make him busier,"(Christopher Columbus).

 
Summary: For seven years Columbus talked about a land that lay across the Atlantic, and for seven years people told him he was crazy. Did he ever prove them wrong. Then in the Internet quote Columbus is saying that a person who has money is always very busy looking after land, merchandise, or what ever it is that made them rich in the first place. Plus they also have to keep up their social lives, so being rich does make your life more hectic.

My Ideas: I laugh at the people of the Spanish court who didn't believe in a land across the Atlantic, and thought Columbus was crazy. I bet they either regretted or hated Columbus more when they found out he was right; probably was more of the court that hated him then those who wanted to apologize. Though I look at people who say something can't happen, then it does, and they try to take back what they said but they can't. Which is why I try to always say there is a possibility anything can happen.

The Second quote I find a little confusing to be honest, since when you just light on the thought of rich people, they seem like they don't do more then laze about and enjoy expensive treats and trips. Though when you really think about what rich people do they really are busy, but I'm sure they were a lot more busy back in Columbus' day then they are now. The rich today don't have to worry about what money their land is bringing in, or how much work their surfs/workers are doing. There are similarities though, like worrying about their workers going on strike.  Or worrying about stocks, merchandise prices, the market, and more.

Jornal for Loewen; Chapter 3

New England Winter

Author Quote: "As we shall see, however, if the American Indians hadn't already settled New England, Europeans would have had a much tougher job of it," (Loewen 71)

Another New England Winter

Internet Quote: "In sum, U.S. history is no more violent and oppressive than the history of England, Russia, Indonesia, or Burundi - but neither is it exceptionally less violent," ( James Loewen Lies)

Vietnam

Summary: For the first quote what Loewen is saying is that he Americans and the pilgrims owe a lot to the natives of that area. If we thought, and the pilgrims thought, they were having a hard time in dealing with the New England Winter with the help of the Native's food stashes and the cold. All of them probably would have died without that help. For the second quote is saying that other countries can't call America out for being a very violent race without looking at their own history, but we our selves can't say that other countries have been more violent then our selves.

My Ideas: I don't think people really understand how hard it is to survive a New England winter. People in modern day New England have a tough time with it, so the thought of not having today's technology and a good insulated house to survive a harsh winter is terrifying. Yet the Pilgrims did it, though they had help by finding the food stores that the Natives in that area had made to survive the winter. Only they weren't there to use their stores, they were all dead. I agree with Loewen in the fact that the pilgrims would have had a much tougher time surviving their first winter if the Natives hadn't settled north America first. In fact I don't think any of them would have even survived. The second quote i like because it is saying that America cant say that we are this amazing group of people who have always showed kindness and compassion to other people when we have such a violent history of biological warfare and person to person warfare. But other countries can't call us out without being hypocritical as well. Especially countries like Britain, France, China, and many others. Both of these quotes say to Americans that we cannot say we are this perfect country when we needed help to get started and what we have done after getting our foundation started.

Jornal for Bradford

 Jessie Akers-Bell
Journal for Bradford
12/1/11

Author Quote: "Thus his curses lighted on his own head; and it was an astonishment to all his fellows, for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him,"(Norton 114).

Internet Quote: "All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage,"(Goodreads.com) 

Summary: The author quote is saying to people that they should be careful of what you say because it might just happen to you. Then the internet quote is saying that all good deeds in life come with work, hard times, and maybe even loss, and that both must be taken on with bravery of the same caliber.

My Ideas: The author quote is a one of those "I told you so" quotes. Or it could be seen as a "you better watch out, you better not cry" warning, but to adults instead of to kids about behaving well. In this quote though instead of getting a lump of coal for being bad you lose your life. The Internet quote is something that all people should understand and try to use in their lives. It is an idea that has been used by many great minds, and they all tell us to always expect to have hard times with the bad; to confront the bad times with the same emotions and energy as the good times. Both quotes are ideas that should be told to people today. There are many people I would like to say the first quote to, and of those people many are in the Christian faith. Then have a long conversation with them about their actions and what hurtful words they have said to people, and if they would like to have the actions those words meant be used against that person. Then maybe they would choose their words more carefully. Which is another thing I think that Bradford is trying to say. "Think before you speak."

Be Who You Are(Journal for Bradstreet)

Jessie Akers-Bell
Journal on Bradstreet
11/29/11


Author Quote: "I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,/ And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw,"(Norton 205).

Internet Quote:"Let Greeks be Greeks, and women what they are. "(annebradstreet.com)




Summary:For the author quote, what Bradstreet is saying, that no matter how hard you try to better and change yourself, you will find more aspects of your character that you will not like. In the internet quote Bradstreet is saying that people should let others be who they are not matter what the circumstances.


My Idea: I really like the things that Bradstreet writes about. They are true to her times but they can also ass on and be understood today. So many people (including my self) need to understand that being perfect is acting just as who you are. Not hiding in some clique or suppressing who you are just to fit in. That only hurts your self and does nothing for others. It is a message that is not said enough. It is being said more today, that you are perfect even with your flaws, but not to the extent that I think it should. Bradstreet is brave for saying you should. This showed men in that time that women are more then just property to own and a person who can make babies. Though what she is saying I'm sure had been said before her. She just puts it into a way that no one can misunderstand her, or twist what she is saying. I like that about her, she is blunt and straight to the point, no bobbing around what you're going to talk about for pages and pages before the writer starts to talk about what they really want to talk about.