Nosfertu Review

I have learned or come to understand certain things about “Nosfertu” and the time period. Like when filming one guy couldn’t act even in silent films so they shot what seemed like 30 scenes of him traveling on horseback. He must have been the son of someone important or the producer owed someone big time. But judging from the people it is amazing that the human race survived after such intelligent decisions like taking the only body found from a ship that had sailed with a full crew, to a very public building without knowing how everyone died.  And also public notices that said something about if your neighbor is sick DON’T take them to the hospital.

Mid Term

                                                                               Mid Term

                I was having problems coming up with what I really wanted to say in this essay for unless I wanted to state the obvious this isn’t a history, or any other comparative type writing. So other than going the route of “If you want a pony ask your parents for a horse” argument on how I deserve above an A, I’m going to state some of what I have already done and what I plan to do.

                From the dawn of the first day of class(couldn’t resist sorry), I have been to all classes except two and because checking Global Connections would involve thinking before I left the house I have even come on days when class was canceled to prove my determination to learn! I have taken notes that are neat, clean, precise, and with little doodles on everything that was written up on the board. I have actively paid attention as well as voicing my opinions and working hard in group work.

                From now on I plan to continue on doing the same with participating in class, taking notes, and showing up to class. But I also plan on taking you up on your suggestion on writing papers, how I should space it out and take little breaks.  I will try to cut more of the sarcasm out of my papers even though I personally feel those are the best parts. I will avoid any cookies offered by Kyle.  I also plan to start to check Global Connections before leaving the house.

Notes if needed

Settlement Colony:

The settlement colonies were Europeans from 1559 and onward who came to the Americas and Canada. The Colonists traveled to the New World for greater wealth and or legal status and in some cases be free from religious prosecution. Many of the early colonies were failures and many people died because of ignorance of local agriculture and conflicts with the natives. But later the Colonists discovered crops that would bring in a good revenue (tobacco) and brought more colonists to help fight off the natives.

Simon Bolivar:

Simon Bolivar (July 24, 1783-December 17, 1830) was a military and political leader in Venezuela  who played a main role in Hispanic Americas successful  struggle for independence from the Spanish empire. In his life he led Bolivia, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in Hispanic America.  

Tokugawa Shogunate:

In 1603 was the end of the Japanese civil war and Tokugawa Leyasu became Shogun (military style prime minister). He hardened class barriers so only certain families that were seen to be legitimate samurai could retain arms and privileges.  The Shogunate also persecuted Japanese Christians and made them renounce their religion or die. He Kicked out Catholic Missionaries and only had contact with the Dutch to stay knowledgeable of the outside world. (See Last Samurai for historically inaccurate but still cool action scenes)

Trading Post Empire:

Europeans built trading posts in the 13-15 centuries along the coasts of Africa and Asia for you guessed it, trade. They were small forts to protect the merchant’s interests and I’m sure to make nice with the locals so they would want to trade. Some of the effects of the trade were the Portuguese set up a trading post on Africa for slaves. Christopher Columbus also approached the Spanish with a faster route to trade with “India”.  So taking after the Portuguese’s example  other European countries set up trading posts   but it was the English and the Dutch who managed to rival or surpass the Portuguese.

Zheng He:

Zheng was the second son of a Muslim family, born in 1371 in Kunyang.  When he was 11 he was captured by Ming Muslim troops and made a eunuch (ouch) and his name was changed to ‘San Bao’ meaning  ‘Three Jewels’ (Really don’t want to know).  He became a trusted advisor to the Yongle Emperor and was given the name Zheng He. (important part*)Zheng He was admiral over seven naval expeditions in the Indian ocean(1405-1433) in ridiculously huge ships made to impress and intimidate  expanding trade and getting tribute.

Fallacy

I’m sure most people by now have heard about the ‘amazing’ Community Center that is going up 2 blocks from ground zero. Many outside people have claimed it is a mosque but in an interview with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf he makes claims that it is just a community center. Like a YMCA.

But when I looked up the building plans that encompass said Community Center they include a swimming pool, gym and basketball court, a 500 seat auditorium, a restaurant and culinary school, exhibitions, educational programs, a library, reading room, art studios, childcare services, a September 11 memorial, and a mosque.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1gMHP-OY5xs

But Greg Gutfeld has an interesting idea about if to promote tolerence Muslims are building the community center/mosque then to further efforts of tolerence we should build a gay bar next door.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24-mHcA54Ik&feature=player_detailpage

Final paper 1

Jessica Bagby

Dr. Brandon

English 112

16 February 2011

                                                            First Paper

     Everyone has known bullies, they have either been bullied by, known a bully, or have been the bully. The Spanish Conquistadors were the bullies of the 1500’s, who came in groups and wielded broadswords. From the accounts of the Japanese and the natives of the Indies, both have in common the negative impact from the Spanish. The Spanish conquistadors were self-righteous and manipulative; they used religion as a way to justify their actions and takeover other countries.

     The Japanese let the Spanish conquistadors into their country and many converted to the Catholic faith. It wasn’t until later that they suspected the Spanish had an ulterior motive. “We were also taught that, unless a person committing a sin confesses it to the padre and secures his pardon, he shall not be saved in the world beyond. In that way the people were led into believing in the padres. All that was for the purpose of taking the lands of others.”  (Worlds of History Vol. two p.643) When the Japanese realized that the Spanish were using the Catholic faith to take lands and other commodities, the Japanese switched back to one of the forms of Buddhism.  Even when the Japanese declared their independence from Christianity they spoke of what they knew they were giving up so there could be no question as to ignorance on their part. “Hereafter we shall not harbor any thought of the Kirishitan in our heart. Should we entertain any thought of it at all, we shall be punished by Deus Paternus (God the Father), Jesus (His son), Spirito Santo (the Holy Ghost), as well as by Santa Maria (St. Mary), various angels, and saints.” (Worlds of History Vol. two p.643)

     The Spanish took their actions to another level in the Indies. No longer satisfied with just converting the heathens, the Spanish took a more active role in taking control of the culture. “This [Hispaniola] was the first land in the New World to be destroyed and depopulated by the Christians, and here they began their subjection of the women and children, taking them away from the Indians to use them and ill use them, eating the food they provided with their sweat and toil.” (Worlds of History Vol. two p. 615)  The Spanish found themselves in a rather lucky position; here is a fertile land that they can make money off of If only those pesky natives weren’t there. The Spanish felt justified in taking the lands and killing any that opposed them because the natives were heathens and to oppose the Spanish conquistadors was to oppose the Catholic faith and put themselves in league with the devil. The Spanish not only killed, maimed, and turned natives into slaves but did so in public ways as to discourage any natives from opposing the Spanish in the future.”And because all the people who could do so fled to the mountains to escape these inhuman, ruthless, and ferocious acts, the Spanish captains, enemies of the human race, pursued them with the fierce dogs they kept which attacked the Indians, tearing them to pieces and devouring them. And because on few and far between occasions, the Indians justifiably killed some Christians, the Spaniards made a rule among themselves that for every Christian slain by the Indians, they would slay a hundred Indians….”(Worlds of History Vol. two p. 616) The natives of the Indies were not made up of warrior type tribes. The Spanish not only had far more superior and modern weapons but they also had combat skills and the experience of battle. So the Spanish very easily suppressed and ultimately wiped out the natives who questioned their treatment and that of their people.”And still more strongly I affirm that until the multitude of people on this island of Hispaniola were killed and their lands devastated, they committed no sin against the Christians that would be punishable by God’s law, such as vengeful feelings against such powerful enemies as the Christians have been, those sins would be committed by the very few Indians who are hardhearted and impetuous.” (Worlds of History Vol. two p.616)

     The Japanese and the natives of the Indies both sent messages to Spain indicating that they wanted to be left alone and the wrongs that the conquistadors had done to them, and both were eventually granted. But the Japanese differed from the natives of the Indies in that their culture had samurai, warriors who were also very deadly and had combat skills that could surpass the conquistadors. So the Spanish were not able to take over Japan in an invasion like they did with the Indies. Japan was also an empire with one ruler whereas the Indies had different tribes and chiefs, so by the time the chiefs finally realized the danger and what was going on most  of them had been wiped out or otherwise incapacitated.

     The Spanish Conquistadors felt superior to other cultures because of their religion and modern weaponry. The Spanish did whatever they thought necessary to achieve their goals even though it took advantage of and hurt other cultures. They behaved in a very selfish and immature fashion.

    

    

Works Cited

"Worlds of History Vol. two" by Kevin Reilly
"The Devastation of the Indies" by Bartolome de Las Casas
"Japanese Edicts Regulating Religion"

Critique

Kyle- The draft is good, the only thing I can think of is to bring up that it is about the Spanish and the Aztec’s sooner so anyone outside the group won’t be picturing oh say, the nun from “Unyoked is best” going Disney and then crazy on the Spanish.

Michael- Um no treasure map or anything to find it?

Bethany-I think you have a great idea if you can keep going with it but your thesis statement is one of the ‘No No Statements’. It is a little too close to the ‘They are similar but different’  we were warned about.

Elana-Had to laugh, your thesis statement is longer than my entire introduction. You have a lot of good facts in there but if you are supposed to be able to ‘question and debate’ the thesis, it’s hard to question facts.

Alex- I like that you are taking it to another level, looking at more than just ‘face value’ what’s going on but you might want to simplify and shorten.

First Draft

First Rough Draft

Jess Bagby

ENG/HIS 112

2/5/11

            Since the beginning of man, the Spanish cavemen thought themselves superior to all other cavemen, and so the problem begins. Just joking everyone, but in all honesty two completely different cultures having problems with the Spanish coming in and trying to takeover with the thought that because they are Christians its okay leads to one conclusion. The Spanish conquistadors were douchebags.

            The Japanese Edicts recounts that, “We were taught that, unless a person committing a sin confesses it to the padre and secures his pardon, he shall not be saved in the world beyond. In that way the people were led into believing in the padres. All that was for the purpose of taking the lands of others.” (Worlds of History Volume 2, page 643). So the Spanish are hiding behind the church in order to take over lands and other commodities. To question the Spanish Conquistadors actions to heathen cultures would be to question the Catholic Church, and lay blame with both.

            According to a recounting of events in the Indies the Spanish took their actions to another level, “And still more strongly I affirm that until the multitude of people on this island of Hispaniola were killed and their lands devastated, they committed no sin against the Christians that would be punishable by God’s law, such as vengeful feelings against such powerful enemies as the Christians have been, those sins would have been committed by the very few Indians who are hardhearted and impetuous.” (World of History Volume 2, page 616) The natives of the island were not a warrior type tribe, so the Spanish with their far more modern weapons and combat skills easily suppressed and ultimately wiped out any natives who objected to their treatment. And it has to be said, “Bad Spanish conquistadors! BAD!”