tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421039709321794850.post2653766773427518013..comments2023-10-23T14:33:38.071-07:00Comments on Burg Berry: Historical Histrionics: Case Studies in European, American, and High School DramaticsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421039709321794850.post-72196625549800136102011-05-09T19:39:21.377-07:002011-05-09T19:39:21.377-07:00@ Jenny -- wow, that was some fascinating informat...@ Jenny -- wow, that was some fascinating information. Thanks!<br /><br />@ Carolyn -- you're right about Haiti, of course. In fact, I do know a little bit about Toussant L'Ouverture and the slave rebellion. I just don't think of Haiti as being part of "Latin" America, since it was a French colony.<br /><br />I remember when Cheryl was taking that "Protestantism in Latin America" class. She told me about it at the time, and I agreed it was interesting. I think she said something about employers liking to hire Protestants because of their work ethic. Which I thought was funny, given their "grace only" perspective...<br /><br />The Mexican law you mentioned reminded me of the French headscarf law. One of the legacies of Henry IV (of France) was religious tolerance. But in France, that idea developed as "absolutely NO religious displays" instead of "almost ANY religious expression".<br /><br />You know perfectly well I can't read constitutions in Spanish. Though it's funny to try "translating" based purely on cognates and context, it's something I prefer to do briefly, and in online conversations. Silly Carolyn.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13719154384364654744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421039709321794850.post-45896524481221490292011-05-02T12:07:26.250-07:002011-05-02T12:07:26.250-07:00You could have always switched to studying abroad ...You could have always switched to studying abroad in college, Gail! You would have had to beg the parents for a plane ticket, but otherwise it's not that expensive!<br /><br />As for your Latin American History, I might give you a C. You forgot the original Haitian revolution, which is of critical importance, well before Simon Bolivar et al. It's also not a very persuasive or argumentative essay, as such "historical" essays are supposed to be in academia.<br /><br />You did do an accurate broad sweep. And you know enough of the highlights to quickly find more information on wikipedia, and then start serious research from that summary.<br /><br />The key feature I feel you left out is the Latin American religious history! (Both Cheryl and I love that). The indigent tribes --> catholocism --> pentecostal and/or megachurch boom is fascinating.<br /><br />I particularly enjoy two features of religion in latin american public life, which I wrote papers about. First, that because of the utter corruption and failure of their states, the churches have more or less become the governing and/or welfare institutions. But second, the state is annoyed at this power-grab, so a lot of them are actually constantly trying to demonize the role of the Catholic church in particular. Mexico nearly passed a bill last year which would have forbade public officials from even speaking about their religious beliefs / religious affiliations / religious basis for voting decisions in any of their government duties. <br /><br />If you want a good laugh though, read Latin American constitutions (in Spanish! it's more fun that way), and then read the news.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691867023839548351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421039709321794850.post-88146179840204915622011-04-29T14:18:22.960-07:002011-04-29T14:18:22.960-07:00cont...
He founded it and in only a matter of a f...cont...<br /><br />He founded it and in only a matter of a few hundred years it went from being a city-state to an empire that had assimilated many neighboring city-states. In their religion they believed that sacrifices must be made to their gods in order to be successful in war. Usually the trophies of the battles (the prisoners or refugees) were thus offered up as sacrifices - nice.<br /><br />They looked at it as actually being merciful, so that person would not have live with the shame or as a slave for the rest of their lives. <br /><br />Also, they would try to capture instead of outright kill in many cases. Even living descendants will tout...well what's the difference where you kill them? They are still you're enemy, and at least we were revering our gods. Talk about twisted traditions, huh?<br /><br />Anyway, this empire rose and fell in only a few centuries. I believe it came together in about 900AD had reached its height in 1300AD roughly and of course was in decline by the time the Spanish came. <br /><br />They were already in major decline by then, or they MIGHT have given the Spanish a run for their money. Academics fight over whether climate change, or disease did the most damage. The North American continent was experiencing a century long drought at the time.<br /><br />In fact, the Annisazi in the North American West were influenced by the Aztec and had some trading ties and religious diffusion. They were the ones that built all of those empty dessert cave city things. <br /><br />They look really eerie in a way. <br /><br />Well anyway those were being built and lived in, when the Aztec were at the height of their power. Then the drought came and the Annisazi were forced to disperse from their cities and resort to organizing themselves into tribes because the only way to live in a parched time like that is to be nomadic and form into small roaming groups. <br /><br />It's the most efficient use of human effort to graze for sparse water and other food sources for cattle and such things. Sort of like how Abraham and the current Beduan live.<br /><br />Anyhow, people imagine that the Native American tribes have always been these nomadic wild bands, but in many cases this giant drought caused all of these different peoples to disperse the way they did - especially in the west where the drought would have been the most prevalent. <br /><br />North America is actually known for having these super long droughts ever thousand years or so. There are fears that were are starting one now - hence the reason why water is in short supply. We haven't felt the affects yet because we can drill into the water table under the ground, but ground wells are also becoming exhausted.<br /><br />I saw a report on PBS of farmers in California turning their farms into water drill operations because they could get more money from drilling for water than they could for growing food - plus the plants would also take water to care for.<br /><br />Anyhow, it really fits what it says in the song, "Given this land if we live righteously."<br /><br />It's no joke guys! ;)<br /><br />Okay, that's my bit.<br /><br />Great conversation! I'm glad to have been invited. :)Jennifer Wendorfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421039709321794850.post-23719845676545351832011-04-29T14:18:05.796-07:002011-04-29T14:18:05.796-07:00Oh my gosh,
Every time I hear about that MacArthu...Oh my gosh,<br /><br />Every time I hear about that MacArthur guy I want to squeeze something. He was an egotistical maniac. <br /><br />On another note, I thought I'd mention something about Latin American history. Though I can't claim to be an expert in the classics - I took normal classes in high school so I'm pretty much self taught on anything that matters - I've had to do a little research in Mesoamerica for the novel I'm writing.<br /><br />So as far as the Book of Mormon correlating, there are a lot of different theories. The one I think that is the most plausible was a paper presented at the recent academic conference held on the Book of Mormon, sponsored by Brigham Young University in Washington DC.<br /><br />The first day of this conference was on Joseph Smith, the next was on the Book of Mormon, and BYU invited professors of any faith to come and present their papers. They had it linked to the church video website a year or two ago, but it's been awhile.<br /><br />Anyway, they've just recently discovered a smaller nation of people who existed right in the Panama Canal region. People had always assumed that when they mention the ocean on the west and the east of their empire meant they were talking about South America, and that they must have had a huge empire. Well, nearly every true historical document tends to make slight overstatements about how cool they are. The Jews do it in the Bible...so don't jump all over me here ...and that's just one more thing that makes the Book of Mormon read as authentic - it's people, even it's writers were patriotic, and they saw their nation as being bigger on the world stage than it actually was. It is now supposed that it is found on the land bridge between North and South America, (Panama region) and the Nephites were wedged in extremely close with three or four other small Empires. Their population density was enormous. In fact, it was nearly as high then as it is today all over Central and South America. <br /><br />The only reason it seemed so desolate when the Spanish came was because there had been pestilence and famine for a few decades before they even got there.<br /><br />Back to the Nephites:<br /><br />Basically, some agreement was made between the other Empires and the small Nephite Empire was over run. I can't remember their name...It started with a K...something or other. It just gives me chills when I think about it this way. Their geography is a near perfect match to the description and they were completely devistated at the right time in history. They were SO devastated, that there were NO signs of settlement discovered until recently. No living descendants to remember anyone was even there. Creepy huh? In fact, some scholars couldn't believe the similarities between the group and the story in our scriptures. They are starting to ask, "where did that farm boy get that book?" Many of them are certain he had something legitimate, even if they still don't believe he was a prophet.<br /><br />To the Aztec: <br /><br />So I know the most about the Aztec because they were my focus. At some point this big king guy - excuse my layman's terms but the names are weird and I'm too lazy to look them up - came from the North and established Tenochtilan...or something along those line. It was considered a sacred city.Jenny Wendorfnoreply@blogger.com