The last chapters...for now

"Life can only be understood backward, but it is lived forward." - Danish philospher, Soren Kierkegaard
Taken from Strayer's Ways of the World page 1118, this quote pretty much sums what we have learned from this course.  So much progress but at the same time at the price of others in some cases.  There are still issues similar to our ancestors' encounters.  Overall we can learn from the past and choose to make wiser, more educated choices.  This class in general has helped me see things through a different perspective and may have helped me understand and cherish what our ancestors have done or fought for.  Our generation will probably never get to know what it was like to live in a region with limited supplies or electricity.  But if we get to travel and experience, may we take the time to cherish everyday items such as running water, stove tops that heat instantly and of course the septic tank. I hope we can stop and question-why not them? Why do some have more than others?  Perhaps if businesses weren't always profit driven and instead teach social responsibility as many companies are now considering and contribute to the more needy we can see some balance in economy.

CH 20-21; 7/2/14

There is clearly a difference in time when you start to read about the Communist Party.  Just getting settled into the first couple of pages in both chapters the entire attitude and perspective to me is gloomy.  The Great Depression, WWI, and WWII are all relevant to world history but it really sets a different mood altogether.  Strayer definitely captures and entertains that gloomy feeling and to think that people actually lived through this is heartbreaking.  Families, for example during the Nazi concentration camps, were taken and separated from the culture and lifestyle one had made their own.  The ability to adapt is resisted at first but overall one had to comply to make stay alive, if ever so lucky.  In a black and white timeframe, the only known color to the Communist Party was red. Red, a symbolic color known for energy and to entice emotion. It also portrays a strong and powerful masculine energy.  Go figure!  Most of the communist leaders were known to be male leaders.  They were fearless and did as they pleased without showing emotion or sentiment to their thoughts.  It was their say or nothing!  Germany, China, Russia, and Cuba are all known for this communist government system elevated during historical times.  Why did it not cross to North America?  What was the motive for this type of government that was not accepted into the Americas? Was it fear that held civilians from fighting back?

Overall, this week’s reading Strayer really captured the negativity associated with Communism and a completely different perspective compared to all the eras.  As one of the inserts mentioned by Etty Hillesum in the concentration camps, it was really spirituality and faith that allowed this change in lifestyle but also her way of dealing with it all.

Ch 16, 17, 18

I have mixed feelings about the Haitian Revolution because in one part you have the group of slaves who could not tolerate the inequality and on the other, you have slaves that refrained from acting out in revolt.  What position or stance would I have taken if I had been in that situation? Does one sit back and let faith in their God do all the work or do you stand up and take matters in your hands? In Haiti, the slaves stood up for what they believed or pretty much died trying.  The repercussions, I assume were negative for owners and slaves of colonies in America and/or abroad.  Each had to protect themselves with weapons and be prepared to protect for what they believed in.  We learn so much from history but overall, slavery was everywhere and not just in Africa, Haiti or Islam. It was everywhere and until now, it appears that one could have lived without slavery.

The feminist movement was also interesting in the respect that some women left their families to pursue, similar to the Haitian slaves, what they strongly believed in.  The women were finally able to work in the Modern Era post Industrial Revolution which offered many new technologies and opportunities.  Women felt the need to vote and until 1920 this strong belief system was made real for women in the Americas. 

If we fast forward time to the present, one can only imagine what precedence these movements had and the influence they have made up until this day.

Ch13, 14, 15

“Silver made the world go round” was the phrase that stood out the most in this week’s reading.  As mentioned in Ch 14 Commerce & Consequence (1450-1750), global commerce was the one bandwagon many countries wanted to jump on.  As with many lucrative markets, the Europeans and North Americans always jumped in on the action to get a piece of the pie.  Fur, silver, textiles, spices pretty much sums up the most lucrative goods to move through commerce in this time frame.  But in this time frame, I don’t blame them for wanting to enjoy the finer things in life.  Can you imagine the smell of chocolate, teas, coffee, sugar, spices and whiskey all in one century? That was a pretty tasty and delightful time frame to be living in.  Everything gets resolved with chocolate.  Well at least for my taste buds it does.  Not so fortunate were the poor animals that were hunted for fur and led to extinction for the greed of men.  But the greed of men also came with a price-the price that no one can put on anybody and at the expense of others-slavery. 

I recall a family trip to Acapulco, Mexico and in the many tourist avenues were the numerous stands of silver.  Silver jewelry with .925 engraved finely in the back of charms, pendants, and key chains, nonetheless decorated the streets.  I understand how the historical commerce set precedence to this city.  It was cargoed by ship in the hopes to dominate. 

All countries wanted to dominate in the economy and unfortunately the price was set on peoples’ health.  All the goods mentioned brought riches but nothing was as rich as one’s health.  The Europeans carried small pox and influenza to many of the Huron tribes.  This, in addition to the binge drinking and dependency, led to Native Americans' decline in numbers. 

Overall, women were introduced to different aspects of life such as running pawn shops to keep up with the selling and buying of silver and goods.  Women were allowed to bring home some income and generate towards economy also.  Money was one of the languages that all understood; and if that did not work, well at least they could enjoy some chocolate. 

Ch 9,11,12

On the way to take my son to school every day and week, we pass by an Islamic Mosque.  We live in Fremont and it has been with great curiosity the sightings I have encountered while driving by the mosque.  On some days, typically Friday’s, the court within the mosque is filled to capacity with the majority-men.  If my kids and I get caught in the red light at the intersection, you can see the uniformed body posture and reverence that each person in that mosque bestows to their God-Muhammad.  All facing towards the same direction, body after body they face towards the Quiblah in Mecca.  Their belief for this religious routine is to pray or salaat in unity with all Muslims of the world, just as it is written and followed by Muhammad.  I never realized the significance until recently but now am aware of the women and children’s absence in this ritual salaat.  Women are separated from the men and are even to abide by cultural beliefs that if they are allowed in the same room for prayer, women are to pray in the back of the room so the men will not see them or lay an eye on them.  I recall watching a movie in Islamic studies and it was mentioned that when women did come together to pray or even to learn, they would do so by a female instructor and allow only women into the classroom.  Women pretty much are each other’s support system and backbone to help one another because unfortunately, the men did not support them in areas of learning, or to seek higher education, or simply to better themselves.  The downfall is that some of these women are really intellectual women but must live under certain family and cultural laws.  Divorce is rare for the women to initiate but if they do initiate, then they would have to resist what comes their way.  

Islam and Christianity have some similarities but overall their differences in belief, Quran and the Bible differ.  Islam has a great belief system with their prophet Muhammad and believes in only one God.  Christians believe Jesus Christ was called to be the chosen one and refer God as the Trinity. Nonetheless, these both religions come from the Middle East and call upon a very normal person to be the religious leader.  

Third wave civilization-CH 7,8,10

Moving forward through the many eras, most civilizations took with them or received a little of each other when it comes to religions and cultures.  For example, Buddhism faded in India in the third wave civilization but was received by the Chinese culture.  But in the case of the Chinese, it is funny how they translated some parts of Buddhism to their concept of what the role husbands and wives should entail.  One part that was translated was “husband supports wife” to “husband controls wife.”  From my perspective, it is a complete different verb and meaning but overall I find it comical in the way the male gender always seems to be the superior.  Nonetheless, the Chinese have gone through so much with political powers that even Buddhism was controlled by the political state.  But above all, Buddhism did not vanish or dissipate as other cultures or civilizations.  For some reason or enlightened strength, this culture or way of life did not vanish.  Could it be for the exact reason that the state firmly controlled it or the Chinese really enjoyed this way of life-with faith alone one could be enlightened by everyone? Korea, Vietnam and Japan also received or took with them an enlightened part of China. 

The inventions that came out of this third wave civilization were pretty fascinating to read about also.  The invention of paper, which we use daily even though we are a paperless era, was surprising to me. Perhaps that is what we can name this era-The Paperless Era.  (Just a thought.) Another invention, the magnetic compass which I am sure helped many in sea commerce trade and transactions also was invented in China.  And then, of course the gun powder was also created. There cannot be much battle without the ammunition.  Could it be that fireworks are so common among the Chinese culture, for the history related to gunpowder?

Second wave civilization

This week’s section on the second era civilization movement was somewhat dragging because nothing new really developed.  Instead reinvention and upgrades were key factors in societies and civilizations.  Much of what stands out to me was the women role versus the men role.  Slavery played a large role in Roman Empire times and in other empires such as Africa but not as much compared to the Roman Empire.  The phrase that “history repeats itself” is a very common phrase that kept playing in my mind as I read through the chapters.  Presently in Nigeria, the “Bring Back Our Girls” task is what I would compare happened to slave children years ago.  In that civilization, women were known to weave, for pottery, jewelry design and home bearing but not for education or voting.  Now decades later, these young girls are stolen from a school ground in protest of a Muslim group claiming “Western education is a sin.”  Auctioned for $12 as “wives” of militants these young educating seeking girls are the biggest threat in Nigeria.  What was their threat in second era civilization?  At least in Egypt, women were viewed differently and given the right to rule or become property landowners.  Now a days, the military fears not only drones but also girls with school bags.  The Nigeria community is bothered frustrated and outraged by the lack of community yet alone Nigerian government support.  They seek for allied help such as the United States to push things and come to the rescue. 

Which brings another question to mind…How did Alexander the Great conquer and battle so many in a ten year expedition? Was gender a contributing factor to get what he set to do? For the girls’ of Nigeria sake, I really hope that the extremists have a change of heart and release those girls out of generosity, humanity, and age.  Or else, what can be said from the past, from history?  Not much has changed in regards to gender roles and rights especially in other parts of the world.