Assignment 1.
[23] Write your Alphabetical Number as I just did. Tell us about yourself. Are you an ADP student, a Seton Hill undergraduate, or other? What is your major? Where is your home? Why are you taking this course? Have you been to Latin America? If so, where and for how long? Do you speak Spanish? Who is your favorite historical figure?
Then.
Read the Lars Schoultz article, “Two Centuries Later” from Problems in Modern Latin American History, pages, 274-280. You’ll also find the article separated into four jpeg files (Schoultz 1-4) in the Handout section of our GriffinGate course page.
The Lars Schoultz article points out that John Quincy Adams and the founding fathers simply believed that Protestants were superior to Catholics, that Anglos were superior to Hispanics, and that white people were superior to dark skinned people. This is a set of prejudices that North Americans have held for over 200 years. Too many US citizens still hold these prejudices. Moreover, as the Schoultz article argues, US policies toward Latin America are still based upon them. 200 years ago North Americans openly thought Protestants to be superior to Catholics, Anglos superior to Hispanics, and light-skinned people superior to dark-skinned people. Today these opinions are officially repudiated, yet they remain central to debates about illegal immigrants, for instance. Look at the bigger picture on the blog and describe aspects in it that might reinforce the biases described in the Schoultz article.
Please post your answer between noon and 5 pm on Saturday, March 5. I would like to avoid one person reading what another says and then repeating that with a minor alteration.
10. I am a Seton Hill undergraduate majoring in Child Care Administration. My home is in Pittsburgh, PA. I am taking this course because it satisfies the Non-Western Cultures requirement of the Liberal Arts Curriculum. I have never been to Latin America and I speak a little bit of Spanish. My favorite historical figure is Madame CJ Walker.
ReplyDeleteDue to the fact that I am in one of these groups that Schoultz called “inferior”, it was hard for me to see anything wrong with this picture. I could not see how it could reinforce the biased opinions in Schoultz’s article. It could be a holiday gathering.
If I think in the world of bias, one could assume that because its daylight and the men are just sitting there, that can appear as lazy. It also may appear because it is daylight and there are young ladies and a young child they are not going to school. So the prejudice there is that particular group is uneducated. The obvious prejudice is this group lives in a third world, poor and backward community.
18- I am a Senior ADP student. I am a very busy married, working, mother of a thirteen year old boy and a eleven year old girl. I chose this class based on interest as well as fullfilling my final requirements. I can not speak Spanish, although I have had two semesters of it.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at this picture, it is full of Schoultz' biasis'. The obvious poverty would be commented on and the response would be that they can not handle their finances. This would lead to the assumption of political instability. The next thing I notice is the men sitting and relaxing and enjoying the day. This is not how that would be interpreted by Schoultz. It would be perceived as a severe Jack of ambition. The final comment that I will make is the condition of the. surroundings are not "spectacular ". For someone who already felt they were better than these amazingly, culturally, diverse people. the condition of these streets would not be acceptable. All of thses
[2] Greetings! My name is Monique Chamberlain. I am currently a senior seeking my Bachelor’s degree in History, as well as my certifications in both Elementary and Special Education. I just recently moved from good ol’ Imperial Pennsylvania to the lovely area of Greensburg. I am taking this course to fulfill my History course requirements, and just for common interest. I, unfortunately have never been to Latin America myself, but would eventually like to get there some time in my lifetime. I took seven years of Spanish throughout my primary years, but I can assure you I know little to no Spanish today. My favorite historical figure is Joan of Arc.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we live in a world where we are constantly making biases against each other. The people represented in this photo, are no exception. In this picture, the people are huddled together, possibly looking for warmth. They are dressed in their finest of wools and warm materials that potentially blocks the cold from them. Many of the people look dirty, unreliable, and mischievous. These perceptions of Latin American culture are what have been beaten into our heads as a result of being raised and influenced by a Caucasian American culture. Schoultz claims that these people are “inferior” to the American culture. Unfortunately, times have changed, but our mindset has not.
[9] Well I am an ADP student, majoring in accounting and I hope to graduate next year. I was born and raised in North Huntingdon Pennsylvania and lived here all my life. As for taking this course, mainly because it is a requirement, but also to learn about the other cultures the world has. I have never been to Latin America, I have never been out of the country, and it would be nice to one day to see the other parts of the world. The only language I speak is English, but will be taking Spanish next year as part of the curriculum. As for my favorite historical figure there is probably many to choose from, to go way back I would have to choose Sacagawea. She is was an instrumental part of Lewis and Clark’s expedition west and I have always been fascinated with Native American culture.
ReplyDeleteIn looking at the picture above, an aspect that could reinforce prejudice is the overall look of the picture seems to show a run down town. While the people in the picture seem to be dressed decently, they are all wearing similar style hat. Usually a run down looking town could make someone think that the area is bad and full of violence. So when someone looks at the town the prejudice that American’s have could be reinforced thinking that this is a poor run down town and possible full of violence, however, this could be a very active and rich town looking at the way people dress. Many of the main highlights from the news that deal with Latin America deals with the increasing violence and drug activity. I do not know much about Latin America and how they live, all that I do know is what is heard on news
(22) Hello everyone! My name is Chase Simons. Right now I am a sophomore that is seeking my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with Special Needs Certification. Prior to this year... I used to live at my parents house in Harrison City/Irwin, but starting at the end of last year and all of this year - I have lived in Greensburg, PA in my own apartment. I am taking this course for the required History course, but have always been interested in Latin America. In school we always talked about the European countries, and neglected the countries so close to the United States. Because of the lack of Latin American education in my high school, it has sparked my interest in college. The closest that I got to visiting Latin America is Mexico. My favorite historical figure is Martin Luther King Jr.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at the picture, you are made to believe that the people in the picture are poor. From the clothes they are wearing, to the aesthetics of the buildings in the foreground and the background, to the buses that the Latin American people are boarding, the exposed pipes below where the people are standing, and even to the roads that the buses are driving on. Do we know if the people are truly poor? We do not, but because of the society that we have been brought up in, we are inclined to believe so. Shoultz says in the article prejudice has continued for nearly two centuries. There are prejudices in the world everywhere that no one can truly explain such as racism, homosexuality, religion, gender, and even financial. Since we are brought up in an uptight, traditional seeking society... we are told to believe what we have always commonly believed. It is sad, but entirely too true.
(24) I am a full time ADP student and a full time marketing manager for a technology firm, my major is business/marketing, the rural side of Sewickley Township is my home and I'm taking the course to fulfill the reqs-but I enjoy history, learning about cultures (and then traveling there and I love this region-so...) and basic absolute learning-so I'm expecting to enjoy the course. I've been to the Baja many, many times, but I can truthfully say I never thought about that area being Latin America, I always think of the Baja as a extension of CA. I absolutely love Valle de Guadalupe-great wine, wonderfully friendly people, beautiful scenery-it's great. On the coast San Felipe holds fishing villages and an orphanage that I've visited to deliver school supplies from a closed school in San Diego, these are proud people who are grateful and very caring.I can not speak Spanish and never had a class. A historic woman who made a significant difference in the lives of people with disabilities is Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller s teacher. She pioneered the way disabled people are taught and didn't give up. She persevered and insisted that Helen deserved a chance to learn, and knew she could learn if taught with behavior modification. This method has changed many disabled peoples lives today.
ReplyDeleteSchoultz's article doesnt surprise me. Historically government continues to treat LA as a subhuman culture that should be grateful and glad to have the US even care and intervene. The consistency of each US Official never setting foot on LA soil is the status quo. All determinations fueled by ignorance as it is today, with the current border battles and illegals utilized as the US sees fit. The US wants to keep them out on one hand, and on the other have them perform domestic and agriculture labor for pennies on the dollar. Treating the LA peoples as though they are a commodity and not equals. The pic above depicts many facets of the LA life, yes they are poor, but that doesn't make them violent or less than, they are humble peaceable people who happen to live in a country that doesn't have the industry or means for the socioeconomic opportunities the US does. Instead of chastising and condemning them as violent and unable to manage on their own, but use them as farm hands and housekeepers, let them become equal citizens. Explore, learn and evaluate the demographics and culture then formulate policies that help. Yes, unfortunately today the exact same biases run strong, they are just (sometimes) stated in a more politically correct way. Just convoluted political rhetoric.
13 Hi my name is Ron Mannon and I am an undergraduate student studying Accounting and Finance. I am taking this course because it fills the requirement for non western cultures part of the liberal arts curriculum. I am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and I have been to Latin America because I travel a lot for speed skating. However, I still have the same prejudice the rest of the United States has because I was under the mercy of where the U.S National Team was staying. I do not speak Spanish and my favorite historical figure is John Maynard Keynes.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking at the picture above, the picture screams inferiority in Latin America but also in other communities in the United States that Latin Americans live in. You do not see any signs of personal wealth in this picture which exemplifies inferiority in the eyes of Americans who pride themselves on individual wealth in our individualistic culture. Furthermore, the public transportation is another sign that individual wealth may not exist in Latin America. Public transportation in the United States is seen in poorer, immigrant ridden areas where Americans gather more prejudice toward non-Caucasians. The second bus looks like it has bars on the windows too. This could signify violence in the area, which is a staple in more "inferior" areas according to American prejudice. According to the reading, this Latin American prejudice for savage-like inferiors is indicated by that one bus if they really are bars. The unpaved and beat up sidewalks and roads also signify inferiority compared to our glamorous blacktopped super highways. Americans pride themselves on image that is one way we say that we are better than everyone else even if it is a tall tale. I know if a pipe was showing on a street in Washington D.C. that the whole construction crew would most likely be fired and easily seen as an "inferior" company.
21. Hello! My name is Brooke Sarver and I am a junior here at Seton Hill. I am an undergraduate studying Hospitality and Tourism and I absolutely love it. I come from a little town called Meyersdale in Somerset County. Like many others, I am taking this course to fulfill my Western Cultures credit but it also sounded like a very interesting class. This is a new subject for me so it is a chance to gain knowledge about a new culture. I have never been to Latin America and I do not speak Spanish. I wasn’t sure how I was going to answer the last question about my favorite historical figure but after much consideration, I think I have an answer. I’m not trying to be smart when I say this but Jesus is my historical figure. I have a very solid religious background, which revolves around him.
ReplyDeleteThe picture above is the typical idea that one would picture in their head as they read the article by Lars Schoultz. The biases described are unfortunate but present in our cultural. It is also obvious that some people have trouble understanding and accepting a culture that is different from their own. It has been a repeat offense throughout history. The article assigned is proof of this idea. The people in the picture appear to just be sitting around just hanging out. It can be assumed that they do not have jobs and are just waiting for handouts. Simply the fact that this is a poor area they are sitting in can reinforce the bias. If you think about it, it is understandable why people have these assumptions because even in our pop culture this idea is portrayed. How many movies and television shows depict the Latin American way of life as less than ours. When someone flees the country in the movies they appear in a place that looks a lot like this picture.
[16] My name is Lindsey Pavlikowski and I am a sophomore in the Physician Assistant program. I am currently in the undergraduate part of the five year program, and I will be going to graduate school in January of next year. I am from Johnstown which is in Pennsylvania and about 45 minutes away from Seton Hill. I am taking this course mostly because it is required, but I would like to develop my knowledge and understanding of Latin American foreign policy and how it has changed over the years. I unfortunately do not speak Spanish and my favorite historical figure is Dmitri Mendeleev.
ReplyDeleteThe picture on the blog could reinforce some aspects of the prejudice against Latin Americans because it shows a large group of Latin Americans sitting at a bus stop. Someone could interpret this group as being lazy and not proud of their culture because they are all sitting or standing around. The appearance of the group is all very similar, with men and women dressing alike almost to blend into a crowd. It seems somewhat mysterious that the women are in ponchos, scarves and hats and it could appear that they are hiding something. This image could encourage the thought in the article that suggests that Latin Americans are comparative to children and need to be supervised and guided because no one is being active in this picture. Americans that share the prejudice beliefs of our former leaders could assume that if left alone, Latin Americans are incapable of controlling their own government because it appears they do nothing in their everyday lives. The facial expressions of the group imply that they all are very content doing nothing and that the group has no set schedule to follow. It is easy to assume that a uniform feeling of complacency is cast about the group, which could suggest that many if not the entire group is unemployed and that this moment in as opportunistic as their day gets. Also, the group's facial expressions suggest that they are all used to living in poor condtions. This could mean that no one is motivated enough to change their living situations. However, we do not know the context or background information of the picture, nor do we know the people in this picture as individuals, so it is impossible to develop an accurate opinion on them from their appearances alone.
I am number #6. I am a 20 year old Caucasian male. In my free time I enjoy doing several outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, and hiking. I am also a sophomore at Seton Hill University and am enrolled in the physician assistant BS/MS program. I attended high school at Greater Latrobe and currently live in Greensburg which means I am also a commuter student. I am taking this course because I would like a greater understanding for modern Latin American culture and current issues along with fulfilling my undergraduate requirement of completing a non-western or U.S. cultures course. I have never been to Latin America, but currently am in Miami for four days, which seems to heavily influenced by Hispanic culture. I have taken four years of Spanish speaking classes. As far as speaking the language I can piece simple sentences together, but that is about the extent of my bilingual abilities. My favorite historical figure would be undoubtedly be Jesus.
ReplyDeleteWhile reflecting on the picture posted on the blog I personally would not find any biases’ towards the Latin American people depicted in it. I full heartedly believe that God created man equal and additionally that one human is in no way superior to another. However, simply because I may think in this manner does not repudiate the existence of such prejudices’, as exposed by Schoultz in his article. After reading “Two Centuries Later” and being endowed with the task to identify biases’ form it, I could begin to suppose as to what some people may think why these pictured individuals are inferior to our dominant Anglo culture. First off, they may see their homely look and dusty environment and think of them as filthy individuals. They appear to be simplistic in their attire and also possibly impoverished due to the use of public transportation, opposed to owning their own vehicle. Additionally they live in houses that for most American’s standards would appear to be condemnable. I believe more than anything people would believe that these people are inferior simply from the differences they display. In our haughty pseudo-pious views we, as America s, occasionally believe that just because someone or something is not similar to our social norms then they must be beneath us in social stature. It is a shameful truth that in this day and age there are still acts or prejudices’ and biases’ present, such as the crisis with the illegal immigrants, in which people are treated with the lack of dignity and respect that anyone bearing the gift of life should deserve.
[19] My name is Jessica Richard. I am an undergraduate student majoring in Elementary/Special education with a minor in Psychology. I live in Vandergrift, PA, which is 45 minutes north of Greensburg. I enrolled in this course due to the liberal arts requirement and genuine interest. I have never been to Latin America, but I hope that changes in the future. I studied 4 years of Spanish in high school and a semester in college. I can recall the language and speak it, but I am not proficient at it. My favorite historical figure is Thomas Jefferson.
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing the picture, many instances relate directly to Schoultz's article. For example, the streets are unpaved and crumbling in areas. Just by that fact alone, the United States would deem this a poor area. If a place does not have the "proper" resources (according to the United States), it must not know how to instill growth in their region. Additionally, the buildings in the background are not in the best shape. If a place does not have sound buildings, money must not be managed with due diligence. Finally, the people and where they are standing would draw criticism. How dare the people not have the latest fashion! Additionally, if they made it themselves for warmth, that is even worse! Only inferior people rely on their own materials. Finally, street corners in the United States carry a very negative connotation. If multiple people are huddled around a street corner, there must be some type of violence involved. All of these examples and the criticisms they draw all are infered in Schoultz's article. Are these inferences a correct depiction of the picture? The United States would say it is due to previous knowledge. However, that previous knowledge was actually based on a person's inability to seek truth.
[5] Hi, I’m Christina Cunningham. I am a Seton Hill University undergraduate, and my major is currently undecided. My home is located in Westmoreland County. I am taking this course to satisfy the nonwestern cultures requirement of the liberal arts curriculum. I have never been to Latin America, and I do not speak Spanish. My favorite historical figure is Robert Hooke, even though he is not considered one of the more typical and or traditional figures that come to mind when one thinks of history.
ReplyDeleteOne aspect of the picture that could potentially reinforce the biases described in the Schoultz article is the “horrendous poverty depicted by the shack-like shelters and the overall dinginess of the area”. Two bias views described in the Schoultz article were the prejudice notions that Latin Americans are violent and economically incompetent. Society in its entirety has a general misconception of the link between poverty and crime; this misconception gains justification in the minds of many Americans due to the statistics released by the U.S. government that show a direct correlation between poverty and crime rates. Although those who are impoverished often do commit crime, all those who are poor do not commit crimes, and therefore, it is inaccurate and inane to claim that all Latin Americans are violent criminals that threaten nationality security, whether it is by their politics, economy, and culture. Since most of Latin Americans are statistically poor, the aforementioned misconception further justifies the beliefs that not only are Latin Americans, as a whole, violent and gang-like, but they are also economically incompetent. According to the article, Schoultz claims that American legislators view Latin Americans as analogous to children because Latin Americans possess all the materials and ideas to establish a thriving capitalistic economy, but they simply do not understand how to utilize and or put into practice these aforementioned materials and or concepts. However, what these legislators fail to comprehend is that only a select few have access to these aforementioned materials. Like America, despite how we may attempt to convince ourselves otherwise, the government of Latin America is controlled by a select few, and these select few do not always have in mind the best interests for the general public. Other misconceptions include the assumption that people of color are automatically more likely to commit crime because of the color of their skin rather than their surroundings, upbringing, or opportunities. The fact that many Americans are still hung up on the color of a person’s skin and the belief in white supremacy or the ideal of Anglos as a superior race is ironic because this perception is essentially homogeneous to what Hitler said, and we all know how appalled Americans were by some ideas expressed in the speeches made by Hitler, which reads as followed: “If nature does not wish that weaker individuals should mate with the stronger, she wishes even less that a superior race should intermingle with an inferior one because, in such a case, all her efforts, throughout hundreds of thousands of years, to establish an evolutionary higher stage of being, may thus be rendered futile”… It is alarming that Americans, who were so aghast at hearing this so many years ago, still utilize this line of thinking when it comes to the establishment of American polices toward Latin America. One would postulate that people would realize that this kind of bias, racist thinking has not been successful in any situations in which it was employed in the past, which should lead the intellectually superior society we claim to be to stop utilizing it and incorporate a new more effective pool of more opened minded ideals. I, however, observe nothing essentially wrong with the picture, seeing as it appears to be nothing more than a group of garrulous people enjoying their day.
[12] Hi, my name is Kelly Lowery. I am an undergraduate student in my junior year majoring in dance. I live in North Huntingdon, PA, I am taking this course to help with the liberal arts requirements. I have never been to Latin America and know very little spanish. My favorite historical figure I would say would be Ann Frank. I am most interested in this time in history.
ReplyDeleteI do not know much about Latin America. By looking at this picture it appears that the town is low class. As an American most people would look at these people and also say they are low class citizens for being pictured in this town with the clothing they have on. With not knowing a lot of background on Latin America, I want to believe that this picture shows a wealthier part. The people seem to be clothed properly and also have extra accessories such as hates and jewelry. If they were low class citizens, I believe they would not have those extra things to wear.
[20]. My name is Carrie Ritenour and I am a senior. I will be graduating this May with a BA in Psychology. In January, I will be starting the Physician Assistant Program here at SHU. I’m from Latrobe and still live there today with my parents and older sister. I needed one more credit to be able to graduate, so I decided to take a class that sounded interesting to me. I’ve always loved history and recently took the class, Latinos in the U.S., which got me interested in their culture and heritage. I have never been to Latin America, but I am hoping to go to Peru very soon to visit a friend who lives there. Even though I had four and half years of Spanish, I do not speak it fluently. However, I can almost understand what someone is saying if they speak slowly enough. My favorite historical figure is probably Cleopatra because she seemed like a modern woman with modern day views who was stuck in the past. I also like Abraham Lincoln because of his great leadership and what he did for this country.
ReplyDeleteAs modern Americans with all of the social media today, we have had an image imprinted into our minds as to what poverty may look like. In no way do I think any human is superior or inferior to another. Unfortunately, as Lars Schoultz’s article shows us, people throughout history thought differently, pinning Latin American society as being an inferior culture to our own. In the article, it was mentioned that Latin Americans have an inability to achieve independence. Although the author may be referring to independence in a different context, the fact that everyone is standing together in the picture may reinforce that bias. Some people may view this as relying on others. This picture may also reinforce the bias of having an unstabilized economy. The overall condition of the roads and the buildings seem unkempt, and the only means of transportation in this photo are the public busses. One aspect I find that goes against any of the biases in this article is the clothing. The little boy is wearing jeans, the men are wearing slacks, and the women are wearing dresses, and everyone is wearing a hat. By the way they are dressed I would not see them as living in poverty or being inferior in any way.
[11] My name is Jennifer Kerestes. I am an undergraduate student at Seton Hill and am majoring in International Studies with a minor in French. I'm currently working towards developing a program for a minor in Japanese. I enrolled in this course because it is required for my major and it also meets the non-western culture requirement. I have never been to Latin America and I have very little experience with Spanish. MY favorite historical figure is Vlad Tepes.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the picture you see a sidewalk corner that appears as though it could be danger hazard if not paying attention and the buildings do not look well kept from the outside. Many people from the U.S. who look at this picture would see it as a slum area. This goes along with the bias that Schoultz points out in his article and that many other people have with Latin America. Seeing pictures like this lights the fire towards people saying we need to step in and help them. Maybe they are like this because they have strict, violent government oppression so we need to step in and help them. These are some examples of the opinions people have. It is not right to judge people because of there ethnicity. As you can see, the people seem to be clothed in what may be simple attire, but they are able to put clothes on their backs. If you also look there seems to be electrical wires going from the buildings so they are able to afford electricity. They also seem to have buses for for transportation. While there may not be any cars, there are also many places that are not able to afford buses for transportation. So while these people may not be up to many people's "standards" are they really that bad off if they have these basic necessities?
[1] Hello everyone...I am a mother of 2, a 15 & 21 yr. old. I am considered a SH undergraduate/Junior but I also take some ADP classes depending on when they are offered and if needed for my major. I live in Jeannette, Pa. I am taking this course because it seemed interesting and I needed a course for my LA core. A few years ago I had the pleasure of visiting a part of Latin America. I went to Cancun, Mexico for my cousins wedding. We were there only 5 days, wish it could of been longer though. I speak very little Spanish but would some day like to be able to speak it fluently. Hopefully, by the time I graduate. I never really thought about it or have a favorite historical figure besides GOD, but if I were to chose they would be Josephine Baker and Martin Luther King Jr.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can see in relating the photo to Schoultz article, One my get their own personal assumptions(judging a book by its cover) because of the clothing they wear,the hanging out in a groups not doing nothing, the surroundings such as buildings, and etc. are not well maintained. In seeing this one may assume or come to the conclusion that the people do not care about how they live, values/moral or have the skills for the upkeep of their environment and home-life so why should anyone else. Unfortunately, some do not realize that sometimes ones way of living is because of there economic situation that was not chosen by them but by peoples ignorance.
[ #7] My name is Jenny Fyalkowski and I am a junior here at Seton Hill University. I am a Psychology major, and also working towards earning my elementary, early childhood, and special education certifications. I am from Latrobe, PA, which is about 15 minutes from here, if that. I am taking this course because I thought a class learning about Modern Latin America would be an interesting on to fulfill my Non-Western course requirement. I have also never taken an online class before, and I wanted to see how it would work out for me. I have never been to Latin America, but would probably enjoy going someday. When it comes to my favorite historical figure, it was hard for me to choose. If I had to pick, I would probably have to say Melanie Klein for her contributions to child psychology, or Vincent Van Gogh because I am in love with his artwork. I am hoping to have more favorite historical figures by the time this class is over.
ReplyDeleteIn the bigger picture on the blog, it looks as if the people in the picture are getting ready to travel somewhere. Although they seem as if they are happy in this photo, the village that they are in seems to be that of an older one that has not been recently updated in anyway. In my opinion, this reinforces the statement at the beginning of the article saying that Latin Americans are “inferior”, and not as lucky to have the places that they live in updated every so often to be better living conditions for them and their families. This issue may also bring back the prejudice in the article about them having an unstable economy. People may think that if they had a better economy, than maybe things would look a little better in the village instead of outdated and possibly unsafe to live in. In the article, Latin Americans are compared to children because they are “immature, emotional and needing supervision”. A few people in the picture look lost, or like they are in some need of direction, which would bring out more arguments in this particular prejudice opinion.
[17.] Currently I am an undergraduate student at SHU. I am a psychology/sociology major and plan to graduate in may. I have never had the priveledge of traveling to a Latin American country and I speak very basic Spanish, French, and German. I am taking this course because I have had similar courses with Prof. Spurlock and enjoyed them greatly. Right now I live at SHU but I am originally from Scottdale PA (about 25 minutes South of Greensburg)
ReplyDeleteThis picture is interesting to me because of the informal structure of the people standing in it. At first glance the picture is reminiscent of muslim society where the men sit and socialize and the women stand aside while their male counterparts go about their daily business. This is contradictory to what we as Americans view day to day in our own society. Here we are used to seing men and women coexisting almost equally amongst eachother.
Also I noticed in the picture a suprising lack of personal flare aside from some colorful ponchos and "fedora-esque" hats. When you contrast this to our high value, highly material society it is easy to see why some people view some latin cultures as inferior to our own.
Whether visible or not the differences between our society and others do exist. More often then not we, as Americans and also as a society in which white people hold the majority of the power, view differences between ourselves and others as a sign of weakness. This is also present in our policies, both foreign and domestic.
I have never agreed with the policies which favored white americans over minorities or immigrants (whether illegal or otherwise), but I do not think this is something that will be changed completely overnight. When we chose to elect an African American president I believe we took a step in the direction of correcting these unjust practices, but I believe we are still a llong way from complete equality.
[4] Hello, my name is Paul Cornelius and I am a Seton Hill University Undergraduate. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I major in Biochemistry and am taking this course to fulfill my non-western cultures requirement of the Liberal Arts curriculum at SHU. I have been to Belo Horizonte, Brazil as part of a soccer trip in 2006. While there, I experienced the intricate and quaint lifestyle and culture that Brazil had to offer. My experience in Brazil was one that I will never forget not just for the artistry of Brazilians playing “the beautiful game,” but also for the people and how welcoming they were to us. I do not speak Spanish and my favorite historical figure is Terry Fox. Terry Fox was a Canadian that was infected with cancer resulting in his leg being amputated. Instead of dwelling in despair, Terry turned his physical disability into awareness, running the Marathon of Hope in 1980 that raised money for cancer research.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the picture above, one cannot help but see how the picture reinforces the biases present in the Schoultz article. The Lars Schoultz article entitled “Two Centuries Later” outlines the reality that United States government officials know little about Latin America, but despite this, are able to determine policies on Latin America based on the beliefs of the past. The key point Schoultz’s article points out is that U.S. government officials who make the policies on Latin America have never actually set foot in Latin America. In a sense, this is what this picture really is. We, the readers, are seeing the scope of what U.S. government officials see of Latin America, which is nothing more than pictures. Pictures of what appear to be poor people, violent people, and scary people who live in war-like conditions. But, can one really get an understanding of a person or even a civilization based on mere pictures? The answer is no. But, U.S. government officials do it anyway, making decisions on policies relating to Latin America based on pictures like these and biases from U.S. government officials before who also have never set a foot on Latin American soil. The fact of the matter is prejudices and stereotypes need to be changed that people have of other peoples. This goal cannot be attained looking at pictures or reading opinions from prominent names of the past because times have changed and the current world to which we live is not what someone important from the past may have thought it was. In order to get a full understanding of people and the society one lives in we must put on another person’s shoes and step inside their world for a day, a week, a month or even a year. Once this is done decisions and policies can be made on Latin America.
[4] Hello, my name is Paul Cornelius and I am a Seton Hill University Undergraduate. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I major in Biochemistry and am taking this course to fulfill my non-western cultures requirement of the Liberal Arts curriculum at SHU. I have been to Belo Horizonte, Brazil as part of a soccer trip in 2006. While there, I experienced the intricate and quaint lifestyle and culture that Brazil had to offer. My experience in Brazil was one that I will never forget not just for the artistry of Brazilians playing “the beautiful game,” but also for the people and how welcoming they were to us. I do not speak Spanish and my favorite historical figure is Terry Fox. Terry Fox was a Canadian that was infected with cancer resulting in his leg being amputated. Instead of dwelling in despair, Terry turned his physical disability into awareness, running the Marathon of Hope in 1980 that raised money for cancer research.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the picture above, one cannot help but see how the picture reinforces the biases present in the Schoultz article. The Lars Schoultz article entitled “Two Centuries Later” outlines the reality that United States government officials know little about Latin America, but despite this, are able to determine policies on Latin America based on the beliefs of the past. The key point Schoultz’s article points out is that U.S. government officials who make the policies on Latin America have never actually set foot in Latin America. In a sense, this is what this picture really is. We, the readers, are seeing the scope of what U.S. government officials see of Latin America, which is nothing more than pictures. Pictures of what appear to be poor people, violent people, and scary people who live in war-like conditions. But, can one really get an understanding of a person or even a civilization based on mere pictures? The answer is no. But, U.S. government officials do it anyway, making decisions on policies relating to Latin America based on pictures like these and biases from U.S. government officials before who also have never set a foot on Latin American soil. The fact of the matter is prejudices and stereotypes need to be changed that people have of other peoples. This goal cannot be attained looking at pictures or reading opinions from prominent names of the past because times have changed and the current world to which we live is not what someone important from the past may have thought it was. In order to get a full understanding of people and the society one lives in we must put on another person’s shoes and step inside their world for a day, a week, a month or even a year. Once this is done decisions and policies can be made on Latin America.
Thanks for your comments. Generally you see the poverty in the picture as containing signals of inferiority, and that indeed is a manner in which US citizens prejudge others. Their size, skin color, facial similarity, dress similarity and vague expressions are characteristics that also feed prejudice. As you all seem to know, such biases are unnecessary and unhelpful.
ReplyDeleteI took the picture in a small mountain town in central Ecuador. It is Saturday, market day, and the women are dressed in their best clothes. 90 percent of the people in this town are full-blooded Quichua Indians. Spanish is their second language. Many of them live in grass huts on mountain sides. They herd sheep, llamas and alpacas as well as farm. I'll send a picture of the market by email so that you can see that they grow an abundance of food. About half of the participants in the marketplace spend Friday night walking up to fifteen miles carrying their goods by wagon and llamas to town. They are self-sufficient if need be, but always enjoy steel utensils, boomboxes blaring western music, and a bus ride back to the trail leading to their homes.