Oppression + Singing = Disney

-Part 1-
[Ratcliffe]
What can you expect

From filthy little heathens?
Their whole disgusting race is like a curse
Their skin's a hellish red
They're only good when dead
They're vermin, as I said
And worse

[English Settlers]
They're savages! Savages!

[Ratcliffe]
Barely even human

[English Settlers]
Savages! Savages!

[Ratcliffe]
Drive them from our shore!
They're not like you and me
Which means they must be evil
We must sound the drums of war!

[Ratcliffe+English Settlers]
They're savages! Savages!
Dirty redskin devils!
Now we sound the drums of war!

[Powhatan]
This is what we feared
The paleface is a demon
The only thing they feel at all is greed

[Kekata]
Beneath that milky hide
There's emptiness inside

[Native American]
I wonder if they even bleed

[Native Americans]
They're savages! Savages!
Barely even human
Savages! Savages!

[Powhatan]
Killers at the core

[Kekata]
They're different from us
Which means they can't be trusted

[Powhatan]
We must sound the drums of war

[Native Americans]
They're savages! Savages!
First we deal with this one
Then we sound the drums of war

[English Settlers]
Savages! Savages!

[Ben]
Let's go kill a few, men!

[Native Americans]
Savages! Savages!

[Ratcliffe]
Now it's up to you, men!

[All]
Savages! Savages!
Barely even human!
Now we sound the drums of war!

-Part 2-
[Pocahontas]
Is there nothing I can do?
Will this really be the end?
Is it only death that waits
Just around the riverbend?

[Ratcliffe]
This will be the day ...
(Let's go men!)

[Powhatan]
This will be the morning ...
(Bring out the prisoner)

[English Settlers and Native Americans]
We will see them dying in the dust

[Pocahontas]
I don't know what I can do
Still, I know I've got to try

[English Settlers]
Now we make 'em pay

[Pocahontas]
Eagle, help my feet to fly

[Native Americans]
Now without a warning ...

[Pocahontas]
Mountain, help my heart be great

[English Settlers and Native Americans]
Now we leave 'em blood and bone and rust

[Pocahontas]
Spirits of the earth and sky ...

[English Settlers and Native Americans]
It's them or us

[Pocahontas]
Please don't let it be to late ...

[English Settlers and Native Americans]
They're just a bunch of
Filthy, stinking

[English Settlers]
Savages!

[Native Americans]
Savages!

[English Settlers]
Demons!

[Native Americans]
Devils!

[Ratcliffe]
Kill them!

[Native Americans]
Savages!

[English Settlers]
Savages!

[Ratcliffe+English Settlers]
What are we waiting for?

[All]
Destroy their evil race
Until there's not a trace left

[Pocahontas]
How loud are the drums of war

[English Settlers and Native Americans]
We will sound the drums of war
(Savages! Savages!)
Now, we sound the drums of war
(Savages! Savages!)

[Ratcliffe]
Now we see what comes
Of trying to be chums

[Native Americans]
Now we sound the drums ... of ... war!

[English Settlers]
Of course it means the drums ... of ... war!

[Pocahontas]
Is the death of all I love
Carried in the drumming of war?

Kaylee, Hannah, and I were listening to the Pocahontas soundtrack. The song listed above is called "Savages", and for good reason. The things we heard in the song are appalling, and reading the lyrics is even worse.

At first, I was thinking about how hard it was to "Disney-fy" the movie, but even with the modifications it is still awful. The most terrible thing is that, as a six year old, all of the unethical behavior completely passed me by. I had the Pocahontas barbie that braided your hair, but while using it, the oppression of the Native Americans didn't one cross my mind. It kind of bothers me now that I didn't know or care what was really going on.

The worst thing is that there was a lyrics change. The line that says "the whole disgusting race is like a curse" was changed, either from or to (it's confusing as to which) "That's what you get when races are diverse". I can't even tell which one is worse.

I was just wondering if I was the only one who cares.

An Age-Old Hate Crime

Many would say that a myth set or religion is essential to growing up with a strong set of values. How else can a child learn how to live without examples of what is right and wrong? A religion is what defines a person, cultural group, or country, so how can one be defined if they don't have one? The United States gets a lot of abuse from people thinking that with no specific religion, there are too many valueless Atheists. Maybe with a common myth set, this country would be better off. The more similarities within a nation, the more a people will unite. It is differences that cause violence.

The common myth set first known to be prevalent in the region now referred to as the United States was the Native American religion. Joseph Campbell states that there are four functions to religion, and Native Americans' religion was no exception. Campbell's first function was the "Mystical Function", seeing the wonder of the universe and to feel awe before this mystery. Native Americans definitely saw the wonder of the universe, and thus treated it with great respect. They, as a culture, were careful with their land. they took only what they needed and nothing more, for they knew that there would not be supplied another Earth and they would be living on it forever, along with their children and grandchildren. They knew that the mystery of their lives and homes could be gone if abused, so they treated the earth well.

The Scientific Function, the one which shows the shape of the universe and reveals the names and purposes of things in such a way that the mystery of the Mystical Function is preserved, is the second aspect of religion according to Campbell. I think the concept of cyclical time is one of the most detailed explanation of how the world works. Native Americans realize that when they die, they will live again with those who came both before and after them. The shape of the their lives was a circle, and they would be joined in that circle by those born to it afterward.

The third function is the Sociological Function which validates the social order within the religion. In The Earth Shall Weep, it was made clear that in Native American culture women have their place and men have theirs. It is commonly referred to as Matriarchal, but roles in the "tribes" were often equally important and relied upon tasks of the other gender. For instance, it was common practice to the Iroquois for the women to make weapons and tools which the men would use for hunting. Both sexes had very important, yet distinct, roles in society.

The last function, according to Campbell, is the teaching function. This function shows how to live a human life under any circumstances and how to be a "great" human under stress, fear, illness, power, etc. In Black Elk Speaks, Black Elk's role in his "tribe" was to retell his visions so that they could be used to aid his people. When under stress, illness, fear, and power struggle, the Native Americans' lives had to go on. People were dying, but others were left to live with that. There were still people who needed to stand up and, maybe not be successful, but great for their nation. It was more than lives that were at stake, so it was important that both people and their culture was saved. When there was no one to turn to, and nothing but lies coming from the opposition, they turned to their gods for guidance so they could get through the circumstances blocking their path. They lived their lives for their religion.

All of these functions help explain the Native American Religion, but they also define the European beliefs during that time period. Europeans were much less careful with their land, probably because they believed that they were never going to see it again after death. Christianity and science were at two completely separate ends of the spectrum; many scientists were thought to be anti-religious, and there was no common agreement between culture and religion about all of the facts of life. Similarly to Native Americans, there were gender roles in European culture as well. The similarities end there, though, because the role of women were very diminished in society and it was clear that European government and culture was Patriarchal. Concerning being great under difficult situations, European Christians turned to God to guide them through their troubles. Corrupted as the church was, it gave people hope.

Through the extremely one-sided comparison given, one can see that there aren't many likenesses between he two religions. With so many differences, is it really possible that these two peoples could livecopacetically on the same land without conflict? Their whole lives were different. They did not share religion, diet, immunities, or appearance. Though you could call all of these differences superficial, when there are differences, conflict in inevitable. Racism, sexism, homophobia, and religious prejudice cause conflict because there are differences in people, superficial or not. Accordingly, where there is conflict, there is violence. There is an entire crime for people who commit prejudicial acts of violence, known as hate crimes. If there is violence in the "civilized" world that we live in because of these differences, it's more than certain that violence was bound to happen in the "uncivilized" time surrounding the colonization of this country.

Looking back, Americans talk about how poorly the "Indians" were treated. What they don't see is how it is mimicked in their own society. There is so much general hate and misconception in the world based on stories, myths, and war tales about people who are different. Kids are growing up thinking that being from Iraq makes people terrorists, being Hispanic means they must have "hopped the border", and being Native American makes a person noble for no reason at all. Differences will always lead to conflict, and conflict will always lead to violence. Like it or not, it's the way it is and always has been. Maybe "civilization" will change things.

What do Primative and Articulate have in common?

Though it's been said before, words aren't just words. They are what defines everything in any society, including people. What's really important is to notice how the way words adapt change everything about its meaning. After that, it's hard to describe something accurately without wondering whether it means what you think it mean, or something else entirely.

One example of this change is how the word queer went from meaning odd to homosexual or effeminate. Now, if someone my age hears someone say queer, they think that it must be a wimpy boy it is referring to. A teacher can't call something queer, meaning strange, without the students, and even some of the teachers, snickering as if someone said a swear word.

Another example is the way dumb is now used. The word went from meaning mute to meaning stupid, or unintelligent. I didn't learn what the word dumb actually meant until I read Helen Keller in 7th grade. Now, if a mute person was called dumb, there would be confusion as to whether it was meant to mean that they can't speak or that they are stupid.

This relates to what was discussed in class because it is all about what we call Native Americans that help define them to those who don't know. The word primitive used to simply mean that there was a lack of technology. The meaning it has adopted recently makes it mean something closer to stupid or simple. Cave people are often described as primitive. Monkeys are often described as primitive. A group of people should never be described as primitive.

All of this ties into political correctness. I heard on CNN (as background noise; I didn't pay full attention to the broadcast) that it was being questioned as to whether it was okay to say articulate. To my knowledge, that means you can speak well, but it was being questioned because it should be assumed that someone in power would obviously be articulate so it wouldn't be a big deal. I don't know if they've spoken with our president recently, but I know that it is untrue. Ones ability to speak isn't the only factor in ones ability to lead.

Either way, if it offends someone to call them articulate because it makes them feel insecure and uncomfortable, then don't say it. I'm not saying anyone should be able to stomp on your first amendment right, but you shouldn't not say it because you're forbidden to do so. Don't do it because it hurts other people. It's not a huge inconvenience to me, and I don't think it would hurt anyone else either to watch what they say.

Acceptance is more Easily Said than Done.

Though I am always first to stand up for what I believe in, it is a great deal harder to stand up and speak about what you're not sure you believe or don't believe. Most of the class can speak from a religious standpoint when we discuss religion, but here, I can only use logic, what knowledge I have, and a lot of [educated] guessing.

I can see how it is impossible to accept another religion when your own tells you that those belonging to that faith will meet a tragic fate. In class, I heard this compared to tolerence for other races, but this I completely disagree with. Christianity says that those of other religions are wrong. There is nothing about being Caucasion that says you must hate Hispanic people, or something about being Asian that says you must hate African American people. When dealing with religion, it is a disagreement about the facts of life and death; when dealing with race, it is solely about hating someone for their appearence.

Then again, there is a difference between disagreement and hatred.

Mythbuster: Success is more important than Greatness.

I think the term "myth" is often misinterpreted. It is always referred to as something that is false or lees important. People refer to many religion stories as myths, but it's not often a term used to describe the bible. Myths are something that people look to to help make decisions in their own lives. To say a myth is an untrue story wouldn't necessarily be correct either. The things written in the bible may have happened. They may not have. I wasn't there, so I don't know. I don't think it's whether it happened that's important. I think it's where the story leads you in life is much more important.

These stories are supposed to tell you how to have a successful life. I don't think that's true. The bible never says to go to college or do drugs, but it teaches you to do the right thing. It's not always obvious what the right thing is. If a man is unhappy with life and he does drugs, he would be looked at as a selfish loser. Why? It's his life, and he can live it in whatever way makes him happy or the closest thing to happy. How can you call this man any less great than the man who works hard in school, makes perfect grades (by, perhaps, any means necessary), gets the perfect, most high paying job, and lives his life that way. They, in my opinion, are both selfish losers. I was taught to never judge a book by it's cover. Just because the more "successful" man has stuff, it doesn't mean he's happy either, and he doesn't think about the people around him any more than the drug user. On the "greatness" scale, they're both equally not at the bottom of it.

The myth about success overpowering greatness: busted.