February 10, 2012          Zinn Reading

Hey guys,

So i'm sure some of you noticed that I wasn't in class all week. Well, here's why....Sunday evening I was on my way home on South I35 in Georgetown. I had just switched lanes to get into the exit lane to get to my house when the car right next to me on my driver's side decided to come over into my lane. They ended up hitting my front wheel and fender, causing me to lose control, skid across the shoulder, drive up the embankment, hit the exit sign, completely flip my car in the air, land on my driver's side, and slide back down the embankment. So, yeah, let's just say it was a complete NIGHTMARE. I'm thankful to even be alive. The firefighters had to take me out of my car and I was sent to the ER. So I was in the hospital and that's why I missed this week of class. It's been pretty stressful trying to recooperate, while still having to deal with a ton of insurance phone calls and stuff pertaining to that matter, plus trying to catch up with school work. But on a brighter note, I should be back Monday.

So now that all of that is cleared up. Onto Zinn!...

It was actually a great book to read while i've been bed ridden. It actually helped pass the time and keep my mind off of other stressful things. I found myself repeatedly thinking, "OMG," as I was reading this book. Even though I had a slight idea of the cruelties Zinn mentioned, i've never actually read a book that has such detail of the violence and cruelties that the Indians faced. I know that everyone in America would like to think that the start of our nation was happy and peaceful and similar to the kid- friendly Disney version of "Pocahontas." I know I certainly did. My brother even called me "Poca-Nikki" and I ran around with my long braided hair and Pocahontas shirt with the fringed sleeves. If I would have known how badly Indians were actually treated, I doubt I still would have wanted to be her.

It was really sad to read how friendly and giving the Indians were when the newcomers arrived. They were nice and hospitable, only to be paid back with harsh treatment. While I was reading, I kept thinking to myself, "I wonder what it would have been like today if they would have been nice to the Indians and not killed off the population." I was wondering if maybe that would have changed the way people view each other. Would there have been racism and discrimination? Or would it have just evolved later on anyway?

I was also thinking how scary and difficult it must have been for the Indians to not be able to communicate easily, due to the language barrier. I know this still happens today when someone doesn't speak English. It's funny how the white, dominant group expects everyone to learn/speak English when English wasn't even the first language of America. I've noticed that whatever the dominant group thinks is right and just, is what everyone else is supposed to think as well. Even if what the dominant group wants doesn't make sense, they change it to make it that way. It's easy for the dominant group to place their ideas and beliefs on everyone else, but they won't accept anybody else's.

I couldn't believe the statement of Morison when Zinn explains how he didn't lie about Columbus. He did mention the mass murder, but he mentions it quickly and goes onto other things so we don't really notice the bad part. The line, "Yes, mass murder took place, but it's not that important," made my jaw drop. What if someone were to say that about something that took place today. For example, what if the president would have said that after the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999? That's horrible. I was also shocked at how Morison wanted to focus on the "most outstanding and essential of all his (Columbus) qualities---his seamanship." Really? His seamanship? That's ridiculous.

I was also irritated by how they continuously claimed to be men of God and Christians. A quote that I read the other day on facebook came to mind when I started thinking about that. "Going to church doesn't make you any more of a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car." This quote just made me think how silly it was for Columbus and the others to claim that what they were doing was out of Christian faith. I've never seen anywhere in the Bible where it says to treat others with cruelty and murder. Maybe Columbus and I have read different Bibles. Who knows...

It's just funny how America's history is taught to young children. We all make our pilgrim and indian outfits out of construction paper and have lunch with our parents in the cafeteria for Thanksgiving. We play like it was such a happy and peaceful time between the Indians and Pilgrims. Teachers give children the idea that the Pilgrims showed up and everyone was so nice and giving to each other, and they all lived happily ever after. Now i'm not saying we should teach children about the mass murder and bloodshed, or how their hands were cut off if they didn't have a copper token around their neck. That wouldn't be right either. But should we really play up the idea that it was all lovey dovey? Just a thought.

I feel like I had so much more to say, but since I started rambling on I can't seem to remember it all. Hmm...

Anyways, on a different subject. Here's a picture I saw the other day that I thought I would like to share.

Right on!