Life notes week 1

“America does not belong to one race or one group.” (Takai 1993) The United States has been through its good times and bad times. America has become one, if not the most racially and culturally diverse countries in the world. This being said, we have had a lot of issues dealing with our differences. However, the citizens, the government, and society in general have made great strides in promoting equality and justices in a country that got off to a rocky start. The United States is a “melting pot” and every person no matter their race, cultural background, religion, or economic standing is equal share holders. Without anyone of these diverse groups, the United States would not be the country that it is today.

“Tell me and I will listen, show me and I will understand, take me in and I will learn.” (Charles 2007.) At first, Charles was very reluctant and resistant to changing his lifestyle. In the classroom, Charles was extremely intelligent and finally accepted the traditional European name Charles. This was his first big humility, but it was very significant because it exemplified that Charles really wanted to excel and succeed in this new life that he was pushed to live. His attitude in acceptance of assimilation was what really allowed him to persevere through these hard times of turmoil. Charles was highly motivated and utilized his intelligence and education to become successful.

“Get a torch over here I don’t want to see a single t p standing.” (General of the 7th calvary 2007.) When the general and his soldiers arrived at the Native American village they has one goal, and that was to destroy. The mind set of the whites during this time was to basically demoralize the Indians physically, psychologically, and spiritually. They did this through brute force, racial/cultural prejudice, forced religious conversion, and really smothered the Native American culture through government laws. This specific example of the complete destruction and burning of Indian’s settlement really symbolizes how the whites attempted to completely erase and bury the cultural and spiritual identity of the Native American people through assimilation.

“You must go there is no future outside the white mans world.” (Charles’ father 2007.) At this point turmoil between the whites and Native Americans was high. Charles’ father had already been absorbed so to speak by the European lifestyle. However, it was by his own will and he led Charles in this direction out of concern for his son’s future. He had already lived among the whites and knew that Charles would have the most promising life if he accepted this new life. The whites were in power and unfortunately for the Native American people that was a rapidly ensuing reality. It is almost like the saying goes, if you cannot beat them, join them. Equality is what was being preached, but the sad truth was the hostile take over and stripping of an entire culture. The Native Americans were pretty much the victims of genocide in early United States history. What Charles and thousands of other Native Americans went through was horrific. They were basically robbed of their land, culture, spirit, pride, and identity. I feel fortunate that I did not have to grow up like Charles and many others alike. I did not have a perfect childhood by any means, but I feel blessed and appreciate the life that I have been given. I grew up living in the suburbs with caring parents, and a roof over my head. I grew up in a Catholic family with a strong Irish and German heritage. Although I never experienced what Charles and other Native Americans went through, I can only imagine what that must have been like. It would be like if some other group in power such as Iraq came into the United States and took away my rights. I could not imagine being taken out of my home, and watching my hometown burn up in smoke. On top of that, being taken away to some settlement under Iraqi law and having a dress code would be horrible. Furthermore, I would be forced to change my religion from Catholicism to Islam. One thing I would also really struggle with would be the schooling aspect. I feel like it would be difficult to learn Arabic, for example, and be expected to speak fluently. Furthermore, much like Charles, I would have a hard time giving up the name I was given by my parents to something such as Amir for example. This whole experience would be very devastating and humiliating. Just simply imagining and writing up this scenario makes me feel a great deal of empathy for the way the Native Americans were treated. I have no problem with Muslims or Islam as a religion. My roommate who happens to be one of my best friends is Lebanese and my brother converted to Islam about two years ago. I have been fortunate enough to have been exposed to Islam and the rich culture that comes along with this religion. However, I know that id some other group tried to change my life and take away my freedoms, I would hold deep resentment. After analyzing this created scenario and reflecting on the documentary, I really disagree with how the Native Americans were bullied and assimilated. The major issues that caught my eye were the prejudice, mistreatment, violence, and absence of choice for the Indians in assimilation. This country was supposed to be built on the principles of freedom and equality, none of which were present in the forced assimilation of the Native American people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ48PlBr7Oc

Globalization and Culture

“Hybridization involves the melding of cultural lenses or frames such that values and goals that were focused on in one context are transposed to a new context.” (Spring 2006 ) There is definitely hybridization occurring in the United States today. This quote kind of goes hand in hand with the idea that the United States is known as a “melting pot.” The United States is a very diverse nation racially, ethnically, and culturally. At the same token however, as individuals, we can pick up on each others cultures and integrate it into our own lives purposely or even unknowingly. This cohesion is what broadly makes up American culture. We all come from different backgrounds and cultures that we individually identify with, but interacting with people or different backgrounds can help shape us into more well rounded or melded individuals.

“Through the use of educational methods that promote cultural pluralism, Singapore has been able to maintain Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures and languages.” ( Spring 2006) There seems to be a high sense of cultural identity in cultural pluralism. This example in Singapore allows students to maintain their culture and language. This style of education supports the household upbringing of the students. Cultural pluralism seems to value the notion of separate but equal. Although this education system seems to work well, it almost parallels segregation in the Untied States before the civil rights act in the mid 1900’s in my opinion.

“Understanding how republicanism, democracy, and equality are compatible with racism and religious intolerance in some people’s minds is key to understanding American violence and the often tragic history of education.” (Spring 2006) This quote is relevant to social, racial, and educational problems of the Untied States in the past, which are still questionably present today. We live in a democratic society that has contradicted itself in many ways. Although their have been vast implements socially and educationally in the United States, there is still a lot of room for improvement. We have come a long way since the days of segregated schools, but prejudice views continue to plague our schools and country in general. Our laws have been modified in a positive direction, but old prejudice views and animosity still seem to lurk in the shadows of our society.

Which educational method would be best in promoting educational equality in the United States?

I went to Brunswick High School at a time when the student body consisted of about ninety percent white students. In the last few years, the student body has progressively become more racially and culturally diverse. I see this as a big positive for the students, the staff, and the teachers alike. I grew up with a great group of friends that consisted of relatively the same ethnic backgrounds as me. I have always been a good people person, but I wish I could have been exposed to more kids that differed from me both racially and culturally growing up. I have always liked meeting new people and I think we should all get out of our comfort zone to meet people that are different from ourselves. If there is one thing that I have learned in my life so far, it is that you cannot judge a book by its cover. We all come from different backgrounds, but we all have similar problems and can relate to each other in many ways. I personally feel that the best education system for the United States would be a happy medium between cultural pluralism and hybridization. In the system there could be a balance of cultural identity and cultural interaction between different people.