Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Power, Decisions and Struggle

After reading the assigned chapters for tonight's class, I'm left feeling like I want to become a yogi on a deserted island and live off the land like my ancestors did many, many years ago. In general, I do believe that humans are born "good". We do the best we can with what we have and some of us try to include others in our way of thinking and living. I think (hope) that everyone will agree that Hitler's actions against the Jews was unforgivable. But what was Hitler thinking when he started the nazi movement? Did he really think it was best for his people? Were his decisions made out of desperation to gain and maintain stability? For some Germans, it was a good move, but can casting hatred on anyone ever result in long-term stability? How often do we think of long-term stability versus getting through the immediate crisis.

Throughout this class, we have read about people trying to gain power, losing it and then trying to recover. It has happened everywhere. So why do we continue to use the same methods to create stability? I'm beginning to feel as though government is not the answer, but then what is? Taking a step back, we clearly do not evaluate the real repercussions of our actions but perhaps, some people just don't care. 

There needs to be healing. I can't move past the fact that we are all human beings and that so much suffering is inflicted upon us. Some intentional, some not. But it is tough. We are all trying to survive. I'm currently angry with the decisions those in power make, but when I was driving to work this morning and rolled up my window so that the scary man on the corner wouldn't ask me for money. I ignored his basic human needs for food and shelter. I justify not helping him because I work at a food bank where I work to make sure everyone who needs a meal can have one, but in this one to one situation, I was in power and chose not to help him. Was it to inconvenient? Was I afraid? Did I just not want to be bothered?

Communism, fascism, socialism, democracy - they were all created because someone thought it would best suit the needs of the people at the time. In theory, some of them sound like great solutions, but in practice, well, not so much. 

The more aggressive solutions seem to always e the answer although we have the Ghandis, the Madelas and Martin Luther Kings of the world. Perhaps the answer is a spiritual one, not a governmental one. I wonder how things would be if Buddha or Jesus were alive today. Would they have the same impact? Would people listen? I'd like to say I would, but Id din't helpt he man on the corner today, so I don't know and that frightens me.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Blog #6

After hearing the news that the Supreme Court took a  HUGE step today by ruling DOMA as unconstitutional AND the ridiculous Texan bill on abortion did not pass, I have to admit, I want to be out celebrating that our country has made such progress in the equality for all people, not reading Stayer or going to class. However, I was so happy to find Ch 17 was about the Atlantic Revolutions. The two sections that stood out for me personally were the abolition of slavery and the beginnings of the feminist movement.

These two historic events allowed me to celebrate what an incredible day today is in our history. This day will be written about in history books. Finally! I'm not writing about how depressing the greed of humankind (interesting word "kind") can be. Instead, I'm trilled that as humans, we are making a turn in our ignorant and prejudice beliefs.

Not long ago, the marriage of my parents would have been illegal. They were an interracial couple and produced a biracial child. As a child, there were not many biracial children but I'm proud to say I have been a radical trail blazer for the next generation of biracial people. Ok, maybe a radical trail blazer is a bit of an exaggeration, but I did and will continue to fight against the "check only one" section of a form when it asks about race. I will continue to fight for love, regardless of the race of the couple, the genders of the couple or any other "abnormality" that our ass-backwards country has a deemed wrong or sinful.

I am not ignorant to the fact that although the abolition of slavery happened and the feminist movement began and is in full force, there is still prejudice against African-Americans (terrible name - I prefer to say black)  and women. There are still hate crimes. But changes in the law, over time - sometimes a loooong time, do change the beliefs and behavior of humans.

Today, I am proud. Today, I am hopeful. Viva la Revolucion!

Lastly, I want to add that my birthday is June 19th (yes, I spent it last week in class), the African-American holiday known as Juneteenth - the day abolition was announced. I am honored that my birthday falls on this day and think it is my fate to stand behind "liberty and justice for all." Ok, I'm done ranting now.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Blog #5

Sugar Hell, Nutmeg Turf Wars and The Perfectibility of Humanity.

This week's reading on the Early Modern Era was, as usual, interesting and painful. I enjoyed how Strayer broke this period into empires, commerce and religion and science. From each chapter, there was at least one description that really stood out in my mind.

The description of the sugar cane "factories" as horrendous or scenes from hell, once again reflect how man's desire for wealth overrides any consideration for the care of a human being. The use of slaves was profitable so who cares if they worked in horrendous, hell-like conditions?

I had a really difficult time accepting people as commerce during the reading. It is unacceptable that people purchased other people. My brain cannot understand this concept. I know that human trafficking still exists and it sickens me. Where in the "evolution" of man did this become ok? Once we discovered that dominance will bring power, money and luxuries. I'm disgusted.

Then I read about the Dutch destroying 15,000 people for...nutmeg? Countries killing each other over routes? All I could think about was our current turf wars between drug dealing gangs. Is crack the modern nutmeg?

At least the reading ended on a somewhat positive note, the scientific revolution. While the ideas and discoveries that bloomed during this time, didn't result in as much violence and pure disregard for human life, it was not without controversy. I can't wait to read a chapter on human harmony but I don't think anyone can write that chapter just yet. I'm banking on Condercet!


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Ch 5 Outline

1.     China and The Search for Order
·         One of the earliest civilizations, back to 2000 BCE
·         The Zhou Dynasty took power in 1122 BCE and had adopted the notion that the Mandate of Heaven had taken root and the normal and appropriate condition of China was one of political unity
·         When the Zhou Dynasty weakened, the “age of warring” came about (403 – 221 bce) and centuries of turmoil and disorder prompted Chinese to think about how to restore order and go back to a time of tranquility. From their answers, classical cultural traditions of Chinese civilizations emerged.
The Legalist Answer
o   The idea that disorder emerged from a lack of rules and laws
o   Moved to clearly spell out a system of rewards and punishment
o   Mostly a pessimistic point of view – people were stupid and short sighted
o   Only the state could act in terms of long-term interests
o   Promoted people with essential jobs like farmers and soldiers – essential functions
o   Artists, merchants, the rich and scholars were seen as useless
o   The Qin Dynasty drew from the legalist answer but it was short lived (221-206BCE)
o   No philosophers or rulers openly advocated the ideas
o   The Han and all following dynasties drew from Confucianism

The Confucian Answer
o   Confucius was born into money and ambitious
o   He thought he found the solution to disorder and sought political office but never gained it
o   His ideas was not based in rules in laws but in moral examples of living – the key to restoring harmony
o   He focused on the superior party of each relationship: husband to wife, father to son, ruler to subject, and believed if the superior party behaved with sincerity, benevolence and genuine concern, then the subjects would respond with deference and obedience
o   It had to happen in personal and political platforms = REN, the human-heartedness, benevolence, goodness and nobility of heart
o   He believed education would nurture these human virtues, as well as rituals
o   Focus on importance of education, earnest striving for moral improvement, and good government
o    Confucianism became the central educational system which prepared students to take political office
o   Generation after generation of males were steeped in Confucianism
o   Family life was important – ancestor veneration, visiting graves, offerings to the deceased
o   Ban Zhoa (45-116BCE) a woman writer – penned Lessons for Women
o   Be humble
o   Appear afraid
o   Be careful
o   Prepare meals
o   Cleanliness
o   Confucianism prepared women to better serve their husbands
o   Confucianism was not religious
o   It was concerned with relationships, worldly and practical


The Daoist Answer
o   Counter thinking to Confucianism – calling it artificial and useless
o   Daoism encouraged withdrawal into nature, encouraged spontaneous, individual and natural behavior
o   Focused on the realm of nature and mysterious unfolding patterns
o   The Dao – an elusive notion that refers to the way of nature, the underlying and unchanging principle that governs all natural phenomena.  All life comes from it. Called the Way.
o   Encouraged people to disengage from politics and social activism
o   The elite saw Daoism as complimenting Confucianism, not conflicting
o   Came to include magic and fortune telling unlike Confucianism
o   Meditation, breathing


2.     Cultural Traditions of Classical India
·         Indian civ was much difference than China b/c of emphasis on spirituality and gods
·         Hinduism had no historical founder, but grew after many centuries – not a missionary religion, but grew like Judaism, associated with people and territory
·         Distinctive because it accommodated a diversity of people

Ritual Sacrifice to Philosophical Speculation
o   VEDAS – earliest text, collection of poems, hymns, prayers and rituals
o   Brahmins – priests who compiled the Vedas, passed along orally until written in Sanskrit in 600bce
o   Performing sacrifices empowered the Brahmins greatly, including wealth, but also acquired criticism, heavy fees were required to perform
o   The UPANISHADS came from those dissatisfied with the Brahmins – mystical and highly philosophical works that probed the inner meaning of the sacrifices the Vedas presented
o   World Soul – the final and ultimate reality
o   ATMAN – the individual soul is part of the Brahman- beyond pleasure and wealth lay the ultimate goal, union with Brahman – doing so would take many lifetimes (SAMARAS)
o   KARAMA – allowed you to advance in the next life by good actions
o   There are many ways to achieve Moksha but all include mediation and practice

The Buddhist Challenge
o   Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism had a founder, siddartha Gautama
o   The idea was to teach suffering and how to end it
o   Suffering came from the ego, or self, the cure was living a modest life and meditation
o   The idea is to reach nirvana or enlightenment
o   There are many hindu traditions from which is sprang
o   Ordinary life is an illusion
o   Karma and rebirth
o   Overcoming ego
o   Meditation
o   Hope for final release from the cycle of rebirth
o   Other elements challenge Hinduism
o   Rejecting religious authority of Brahmin
o   No quest to know a god
o   Humans had to take responsibility for their own spiritual path
o   No caste system
o   Woman could only join as nuns – but many did to gain independence

Hinduism – duty and devotion
In response to Buddhism’s rejection of the caste system, Hinduism indicated that detached performance of duties could provide liberation.






3.     Moving Toward Monotheism: The search for God in the Middle East
Zoroastrianism
o   Persian Empire
o   Placed great emphasis on free will and the necessity for each person to choose between good and evil
o   Not missionary religion

Judaism
o   Born in the middle east
o   Bc of the exodus from Egypt and exile in  babyalon, the Jews evolved over centuries a distinctive concept of god
o   Yahweh demanded total loyalty
o   He transformed from a god of war to one of compassion and social justice


4.     The Cultural Tradition of Classical Greece: The search for rational order
·         Separated science and philosophy from religion
·         600-300 BCE
·         Flourishing cities with art, literature and theater
·         Emphasized on argument, logic and questioned received wisdom
·         Socrates (469-399BCS) walked the streets questioning everything and writing nothing
o   No wealth, just pursuit of wisdom and virtue
·         Thales – predicted the eclipse of the sun, conceptualized, solid, liquid and gas
·         The idea of “tiny particle” making up everything also emerged
·         Hippocrates – explanation of disease and functioning of the body
·         Aristotle – focused on empirical observation: cities, species, logic, physics, astronomy, and weather
·         Gods of Mt. Olympus, and drinking wine


5.     Comparing Jesus and Buddha
·         Jesus - Born in a small town in a lower class family (500 years after Buddha)
·         Buddha - Born into wealth
·         Both were wisdom teachers, focus on love and compassion not wealth
·         Buddha taught Metta = loving kindness
·         Jesus – “love you neighbor” and love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you
·         Both called for transformation thru letting go, let go of suffering
·         Jesus born of Jewish tradition, intense relationship with one god and his miracles reflected that
·         Buddha did not believe in miracles but taught of ethical living and mindfulness to end suffering
·         Jesus had a social edge – speaking of the poor and oppressed, associating with lepers and prostitutes
·         Jesus was only public for 3 years vs 40 years of Buddha
·         Jesus executed because of his beliefs

·         Buddha was less threatening to political powers and died of natural causes

Wednesday, May 22, 2013


History Repeats Itself: Humankind’s Cycle of Destruction

While reading Chapter Two, The First Farmers: The Revolutions of Agriculture, I was struck by the human ability to use technology to improve and elongate lives, without consideration of the long-term effects of their technology and lifestyle on their habitats. Although the author speaks of peoples from 10,000 BCE to 3000 BCE, the behaviors and descriptions are not very different from behaviors of people today. We are extremely adaptable beings, however, our ability to adapt and invent has led us down a path of exploitation of natural resources and ultimately, self-destruction.

Instant gratification – that is what our culture is all about. We want it now, we want it bigger, we want it stronger and faster than ever before. As the most intelligent life on earth, we have accommodated ourselves with every luxury possible. The innovation of humans is no doubt amazing, but our inability to carefully consider consequences, well, it doesn’t matter because we will deal with the consequences later. We just want what we want, and we want it now.

“… Growing populations in turn required an even greater need for the intensive exploitation of the environment. And so was launched the continuing human effort to ‘subdue the earth’ and to ‘have dominion over it,’ as the biblical story in Genesis…”

Our lack of respect for the earth all started here. Our mindset of “ownership” somehow equated to abuse. We are destroying our ozone, polluting our air, earth and waters, extracting every treasure from the earth that can make us a buck. The first time I heard the song titled, “Rape of the World” it made me realize that we have taken technology and innovation to the extreme. Our need to “have more” will ultimately leave us with nothing.

“New knowledge and technology emerged as human communities explored and exploited that changed environment. The disappearance of many large mammals, growing populations, newly settled ways of life, and fluctuations in the process of global warming – all of these represented pressures or incentives to increase food production and thus minimize the risks of life in a new era.”

Where does it end? When will it be good enough? While our intelligence has given us “dominion over” the earth, it is that very intelligence that is destroying the earth at a rate faster than it can heal. So what happens when we have exhausted all natural resources? Will we develop an application for our smart phone that will make food? Will we create a technology that will slow down global warming? Let’s hope so, our future depends on it.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

RA #1

History Repeats Itself: Humankind’s Cycle of Destruction

While reading Chapter Two, The First Farmers: The Revolutions of Agriculture, I was struck by the human ability to use technology to improve and elongate lives, without consideration of the long-term effects of their technology and lifestyle on their habitats. Although the author speaks of peoples from 10,000 BCE to 3000 BCE, the behaviors and descriptions are not very different from behaviors of people today. We are extremely adaptable beings, however, our ability to adapt and invent has led us down a path of exploitation of natural resources and ultimately, self-destruction.

Instant gratification – that is what our culture is all about. We want it now, we want it bigger, we want it stronger and faster than ever before. As the most intelligent life on earth, we have accommodated ourselves with every luxury possible. The innovation of humans is no doubt amazing, but our inability to carefully consider consequences, well, it doesn’t matter because we will deal with the consequences later. We just want what we want, and we want it now.

“… Growing populations in turn required an even greater need for the intensive exploitation of the environment. And so was launched the continuing human effort to ‘subdue the earth’ and to ‘have dominion over it,’ as the biblical story in Genesis…”

Our lack of respect for the earth all started here. Our mindset of “ownership” somehow equated to abuse. We are destroying our ozone, polluting our air, earth and waters, extracting every treasure from the earth that can make us a buck. The first time I heard the song titled, “Rape of the World” it made me realize that we have taken technology and innovation to the extreme. Our need to “have more” will ultimately leave us with nothing.

“New knowledge and technology emerged as human communities explored and exploited that changed environment. The disappearance of many large mammals, growing populations, newly settled ways of life, and fluctuations in the process of global warming – all of these represented pressures or incentives to increase food production and thus minimize the risks of life in a new era.”

Where does it end? When will it be good enough? While our intelligence has given us “dominion over” the earth, it is that very intelligence that is destroying the earth at a rate faster than it can heal. So what happens when we have exhausted all natural resources? Will we develop an application for our smart phone that will make food? Will we create a technology that will slow down global warming? Let’s hope so, our future depends on it.

Quiz #2

Crystal Ulrich
Quiz #2
World History Summer 2011
June 22, 2011

1.      What was the role of caste to give social structure in India’s civilization?
The caste system in India defined people by their social class into which they were born. It was a hierarchy that provided structure to help govern the people.  It allowed the rich to continue to exploit the poor, and a way of controlling migrating people.

There were four different levels, each associated with a color, a body part of a god and specific duties. Once born into a level, there was no way to move levels other that being reincarnated in the next life to a different level. One could not even marry someone of a different caste then themselves.

Buddhism became attractive to the people of India because it offered a different alternative. Ultimately, Hinduism prevailed, but had adjusted its beliefs to include being able to advance through the next life.

2.      Compare the lives of Jesus and Buddha
Jesus and Buddha represented many of the same beliefs although their upbringing was very different. Jesus was born into a poor family of laborers while Buddha was born into wealth. They both believed in living an honest and moral life, full of love and free from suffering. Jesus believed in one god while Buddha did not believe in a god but in the power of reaching nirvana through meditation. Buddha was present in the world for over 40 years and died of natural causes as an old man. Jesus however, was present for only four years and dies at the age of 33 from persecution.

3.      Give an example of a civilization that was in Africa during the Classical Era and list a couple of characteristics about it.
The Nubian civilization flourished on the Nile River. They traded and fought with the Egyptians but maintained their own culture and identity. They had flourishing cities with booming commodities and crafts such as masonry, pottery and weaved goods. They were also known for their use of metals to create weapons.
4.?