Title: How to demonstrate power without using Violence

Topic: Being a peacemaker



Relation: Week 16 Discussion  "Violence"

Source: "Teaching American History" http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/the-power-of-non-violence/, "Gandhi's Non-Violence" http://www.socialchangenow.ca/mypages/gandhi.htm

Description: The article, "The Power of Non-Violence" written by Martin Luther King, Jr., tells us how to become a speaker of justice and not use violence. In the article it says that "the nonviolent resister does not seek to humiliate or defeat the opponent but to win his friendship and understanding." It tells about how the aftermath of nonviolence is reconciliation and that the goal is to have a community that is more intertwined with one another and now is able to see the other persons point of view. Martin Luther King, Jr. also talk about how he is only proud to be "maladjusted" when it come to segregation and discrimination. He states that he never intended to adjust himself to the tragic effects of the methods of physical violence and to tragic militarism. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked for others to do the same thing and not turn their head or ignore these things that would make others feel discriminated against.


The article, "Gandhi's Non-Violence" recalls of a time when Gandhi demonstrated non-violence. Gandhi was another leader in non-violence. On April 6, 1930, Gandhi arrived at a coastal village of Dandi, India and gathered salt. He had been traveling 241 miles on foot to get to this village. Gathering of salt was illegal under British colonial rule of India. Many people followed Gandhi's example and gathered and produced salt illegally. The poilce became violent against the people. The salt march was a stepping stone that lead to India's independence from Britain. The march was a demonstration of non-violence.


Analysis: I think that the best way for people to communicate is by sitting down in an environment that is comfortable for each party. The best way to have an argument is to let the other person state their concerns and then address those concerns with valid clear answers. If we start with our selves then we will set the example for generations to come that speaking and be compassionate is the only way to help the world become a better place to live in.

Rite of Passage

Title: Rite of Passage

Topic: Bat Mitzvah



Relation: Week 11 discussion, "Identity Symbols"

Source: "Judaism about.com, http://judaism.about.com/od/lifeevents/a/What-Is-A-Bat-Mitzvah.htm, Jewdaism, http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/index.htm, Judaism: Virtual Library,  http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaism.html

Description: According to, "Judaism about.com" a Bat Mitzvah means "daughter of commandment." When a girl reaches the age of 12 she becomes a "bat mitzvah" and is recognized by Jewish tradition as now having the same rights as an adult. She is now held responsible for her own actions and choices. A ceremmony is held and after follows a celebration party. Bat Mitzvah's are traditionally new in the Jewish history. According to, "Judaism about.com" the first Bat Mitzvah ceremony was performed by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan in 1922 in America for his daughter.
In Reform and Conservative Jewish communities require the girl to prepare for a religous service. Usually, she studies with a Rabbi or a Cantor from as little to a couple of months to years. The role that the girl will play in the ceremony defers from each Jewish movement and synagogue, but it typically does include: leading specific prayers or leading a religous service etc. During the Bat Mitzvah the family is honored during the service with a (or many) aliyahs. A symbolic jesture is usually performed in which the Torah is passed down from the grandparents to the parents and finally reaches the hands of the Bat Mitzvah. This is to "symbolize the passing down of the obligation to engage in the study of Torah and Judaism"(Judaism about.com). The bat mitzvah marks the beginning of a lifetime of Jewish learning, study and participation in the Jewis community. Over the last couple of decades public celebrations of Bat Mitzvah's have become common also among Orthodox Jews but are not exacty as the Bat Mitzvahs that are celebrated by Reform and Conservative Jews. The party that follows the Bat Mitzvah is not tradition and is mostly celebrated by libral Jew and not Orthodox communities (Judaism about.com).

Analysis: After reading about the history of a Bat Mitzvah it sounds like a good idea to celebrate when a child becomes an adult. In the Jewish religion it is 12 for a girl. In the United States a child becomes an adult at age 18. I think that it is important to celebrate when a person has come to a point in their life in which they are now an adult and can make their own decisions.

Pilgrimage

Title: Hajj

Topic: Pilgrimage





Relation: Week 8 Lecture, "Religion."


Source: "Mecca Pilgrimage," http://www.meccapilgrimage.com. "Journey to Mecca, In the footsteps of Ibn Battuta," http://www.journeytomecca.co.uk/about-ibn-battuta/introduction.

Description: The website, "Mecca Pilgrimage," tells about the Hajj and how it is a yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. The pilgrimage to Mecca, "is a religious obligation that should be performed at least one time in every Muslim's life" (Mecca Pilgrimage). The pilgrimage is celebrated from the 7th to the 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah this is the 12th month in the Islamic calendar. The sacrament of the pilgrimage to Mecca has been going on for thousands of years dating back to Abraham. When the pilgrims reach Mecca they begin a state of ihram (which means purity). Males who are in this state of purity will wear ihram clothing, this clothing consists of two white seamless sheets that are draped around the body and sandals. The clothing symbolizes the state of holiness that the pilgrims have entered into and shows a "sense of impartiality and harmony by erasing visual signs of wealth, culture and class" (Mecca Pilgrimage"). Females also dress in white with only their hands and faces exposed. Pilgrims are not to engage in sexual relations, cut their hair or nails, fight or hunt while they are in the state of ihram. After arriving to the city of Mecca the pilgrims begin their rituals.
"Journey to Mecca" is a film about a man names Ibn Battuta who is one of the most famous travelers in history. The scene brings the audience back to the year 1325 to Tangier, Morocco and send them on a journey to Mecca to perform the Hajj.


Analysis: My research has shown me that the pilgrimage to Mecca is a sacred one. Those that participate in this religious journey have an experience that can't be duplicated. I think that everyone should be able to participate in a spiritual journey. "Mecca Pilgrimage" does a good job of helping explain the rituals and practices of the Hajj. The film "Journey to Mecca" looks very interesting and I think it would also help give a person a good look on what the Hajj might be like from the year 1325.

Title: Yoga

Topic: Tradition



Relation: Yoga has always been a tradition in many religions, starting back century's ago. It is an old world practice that is now being passed down from generation to generation. In each generation a new form of yoga begins and mutates into something new to practice and yet still holds on to the basics of what is the tradition of yoga.

Source: -Yoga Journal http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/2623?page=3, http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/2610

Description:  In the article, "Have  more fun," a girl named Rea who joins a yoga anthropology dance class. Rea was inspired to gain more experience in the art of yoga from a visit that she had in Africa. She heard the beat of the drums, and felt like it was the sound of her future. Rea connects with the traditions of yoga and its meaning in the form of dance.
Another article from the Yoga Journal called, "Yoga's greater truth" takes a journey to the root of what yoga is and means. This article starts out with a person looking at a book that had a person doing familiar poses that resemble yoga poses. The book however was a text which described the early 20th century Danish system of dynamic exercise which is called Primitive Gymnastics. The person who is telling this story is confused as to what they have just discovered. "What did it mean..."
The Scandinavian Gymnast had never been to India or had never been taught asana. The questions of what this meant lead to more research. What was found from the research is that the Danish system was a branch off of a 19th century Scandinavian gymnastics tradition. This tradition changed the way that Europeans exercised. The systems that were based on this Scandinavian model started popping up all over Europe, it was the new way that military and other schools would train. This way of training eventually made its way to India. Mark Singleton (the person who wrote "Yoga greater truth"), tells us that yoga asana is commonly presented as a practice that was handed down for thousands of years, it originated from the Vedas which is the oldest religious text of the Hindus. He continues to go in to depth about how yoga was brought to the west and the tradition that goes along with the practice of yoga.
 


Analysis: The tradition of Yoga is found in different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. From these foundations of religion yoga has spread across the world. What was started as a religious practice has now for some become a tradition of exercise. This practice has also allowed many to reach deeper into how their own body works. The world has just started to recognize the magical benefits from the practice of doing yoga.

Title: Ancient Artifacts
 
Topic: Material Culture

Relation: Ancient Pottery is linked to material culture because it shows how our ancestors used the earth to their advantage and be able to be more productive in making their food and increasing their knowledge about different types of ways to prepare food. Material culture refers mostly to pysical objects that people use to define their culture. These physical objects include communities, homes, schools, places of worship, stores, etc.

Source: My research was from http://proteus.brown.edu/artifactsinarch2012/home

Description: In the article , "Artifacts in Archaeology: Understanding Material Culture & Ancient Technologies," it tells about how the manufacturing of artifacts seperates us from other species. In order to comprehend our "human past" archaeologists have to take time evaluating each article that they find. Archaeologist may at times find it hard to interpret the data that they have collected, such as stone tools. Stone toolds are not like today's technology. They have also made mistakes in using present day comparisons to try to understand the use of the artifacts.



Analysis: Finding out how our ancestors used tools and built structures could help our present day culture by letting us know of technologies that may have been lost forever. Millions of years from now, what will be found from our present day cuture? Maybe a cup that was made in China and sold at "The Pottery Barn" or a painting from a local artist. I think that knowing what was in our past is key to help us grow as a community.

 

 

Title: Food Culture

 

Topic: Modern World of Food

 

Relation: Week 3 lecture "Cultural Change," identifying change in a culture.

Source: The resources that I used for my blog came a youtube video called "Bushmen Buisness," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UHY7mcRWio 

Description: This video shows how the elders are trying to pass on their rituals to the younger generation. It shows the difficulties that the "bushmen" face as they are pulled into the idea of being "modern." Instead of going out and picking your own spices and veggies from the forest, the modern world is teaching the younger generation to rely on a store. In the video, it shows that for a boy to become a man he must be taught by his elders and then when he is ready he must go out into the wilderness and hunt. He must then be able to bring his food back to his home, then he would be considered a man.

Analysis: I think that in our society many people would not even consider the fact of going out into the forest and gathering dinner. This fact is very sad to me, I think that many people rely too much on what is grown and produced by other people. I am not saying that it isn't a good idea to trade with each other, I am saying that it is wise to be able to grow and produce the food and neccessities that "you" need to be able to grow and help the community.