Takaki: Chapter 2

So Takaki challenges us again with the information that the “typical American” has only been given a glorified version of Christopher Columbus and the early days of European influence on the Americas. He presents it in what is, for me, a very interesting way by using the Irish and Native Americans as examples of how the British influenced what they believed to be “lesser” cultures, not just races. Race though eventually plays a role in this especially for the Indians who become demonized. The other way Takaki shows the English attempts to acculturate other groups is with The Tempest, which makes somewhat obvious observations. During this Takaki gives examples of how desperate the Europeans were, one man eating his wife, and how will the Native Americans were to help. Through greed and lust though the Indians were mistreated because they were viewed as being “savage”, eventually being over taken by the technologically advanced British. Just because the Native Americans didn’t live up to what they believe civilization to be the British try to force them to conform and live as they do despite the fact that they have their own culture that works, and on their own land better than the Europeans. The question I always pose when it comes to Native American culture is “Are they (the individual) allowing their culture to be taken/used or are they trying to preserve it?” I’ve heard a number of different sides on this and I’ve always found that it comes down to the individual. Takaki tells us the Europeans thought the Indians could be acculturated by “consent”. The problem with this is that the British idea of consent and the Indian way of life were confused. The Indians simply did what they knew and the Europeans decided to take advantage of that. Then when it was time for the Indians to fight some did, and others traded because they wanted the things of the foreigners. From the way Takaki presents his material it would almost seem as though there was little the Indians could do and what little resistance they mustered was partially passive-aggressive. In a way he shows it like the way the American school system does. The Europeans showed up, the Indians helped, then the British started taking over. However he holds a sentiment for the Native people because of Europeans looking down their nose’s at the Indians.

As for my response to reading this I’ll say it again, its not really new and this time I didn’t really like going over it again. The use of The Tempest was interesting but didn’t do enough to get a reaction from me.

Zinn:Chapter 1

In reading Zinn's writing I myself had difficulty finding what could be called his thesis. From my understanding someone's thesis should be found and stated close to the beginning of the piece. If I were to claim anything it would be that British, "Euro", way of thinking harmed and eliminated cultures other than their own. He states that "These traits did not stand out in Renaissance Europe, dominated as it was by the religion of popes, the government of kings, the frenzy for money that marked Western Civilization and its first messenger to the Americas, Christopher Columbus." Having heard much of this before I found reading his argument somewhat difficult but I think he presented it well to those who may only have the European/American view of Columbus being a great explorer/hero. The majority of his argument consisted of the Native view and showed just how Europeans smothered the Native Americans with their weapons and lust for gold and slaves. As for having a question about the argument I would ask, since it is a hot topic in the remnants of Native American culture, should they have taken advantage of the Europeans or fought back. At the time the Indians were simply doing what they knew to do in taking care of the new people. Not helping/trading with them didn’t cross the native’s minds. When the Europeans became forceful and brash is when the issues started. To fight or not to fight. Some Native Americans allowed, in some cases encouraging, the take over because they let the Euro greed take over and they too began to want riches and things. Those who wanted to fight did so but without total support they didn’t stand a chance against the Europeans.

As for my response, it didn’t move me much in any direction. I felt like I gained more detailed information about the first contact events but other than the details it was information I knew.

Allow Me To Introduce Myself

Name: Chris Fair
Age: 22
Sex: Male
Ethnicity: White
Born: Greenville, Ohio
School: Bowling Green State University
Major: Graphic Design
Interests: Spirituality, Cru, Art, Design
Music: Danger Mouse, Talib Kwalie, Dungen, The Ceasars, Thrice, Aquabats, Trans Siberian Orchestra, John Coltrane, Frank Zappa
Movies: Shawn of the Dead, Pan's Labyrinth, UHF, Kung Fu Hustle, Stranglehold
Books: Till We Have Faces, Twilight Crystal, Indes Series (design books)