Author: Kamron Knowlton

To begin, the documents take resemblence to each other as both state that the Land of Israel is the birthplace of their respective people, the Jewish and Palestinians. Despite the difficulties from their proclaimed one and only homeland each take pride in that the people held on to their faith and cultural values for their religions in hopes to dispel their exile and or to restore their national independence. Tied down willingly to their proclaimed homeland each took their heritage and each generation to build up their defences, masses, and fought towards national independence with consideration for their beliefs in loving peace.

Religion is a natural link that binds the people together mixed with a sort of related identity that comes with the beliefs in their heritage and ancestors whom followed the same beliefs. However its important to note that just because they are Jewish or Arab does not mean they intensly follow the common beliefs of their people however only that they may feel a connection to their descendants birthplace in the case of their homeland. Therefore they are not necessarily driven solely or even entirely by their religion. This goes with the formation of norms and values which do not relate to the readings of their respective religions, they are separate entities formed by their societys and the people themselves.

The jewish do not really define the palestine directly only that they will accept their existence and in text strive to ensure complete equality to all inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex with hopes to preserve peace despite the onslaughts launched by Arab inhabitants.. The Palestinians do not seems to be as fond of the jewish with their “intensify efforts whose goal is to end israeli occupation”. They claim to be a peace-loving state yet jump at the idea of competiton to proclaim whom is just and for “whom justice is the only recourse”.

 

 

The British colonialism of India was an ambitious venture consisting of liberalism and the attempt to government with not mainly force but with manipulation of religion and impartial understandings of local customs. This was a poor attempt towards a humane approach of colonialism that had reverberated negative effects that still shape India’s policital and social engagements. As read in “Colonialism and Its Forms of Knowledge”, Britian was extensive and cherished the collections of “facts” and “data” to later be interpreted by preconcieved british officals into useful forms such as to “effectively” use on the colonization of India.  A census was perfomed in which mass amounts of information such as caste systems, names, age, religion and much more was collected which introduced the creation of social categories. The British assumed that this reflected the basic socialogical facts of India to which could be used to better rule. This lead to a historical drift from secularism in which a already socialy diverse and religously divided continent became ever more divided into a hierarchy of religions constructed to benefit the british rule. However, as mentioned in “India at 70, and Passing of Another Illusion” demonstrates that even with the removal of british rule, India still practices the injustice seen in modern civilizations as a persons quality of life is dependent on their social and religous uprising which predeterminately places them on the higher or lower ends of the religous and political hierarchies.

This weeks lectures really focused on the inequalities, corruption and the effects of transculturation in Latin America very much similar to the extent of what happen and or what is happening in Africa as well.

Latin America is subject to, compared to other nations over a long period of time, a large scale of sudden historical integration with a mixer of people and cultures irreversibly changing the dynamics of Latin Americas structure and representation. Outside foreign forces such as the Slave trade driven by European countries as the growing demands for many cheap labours to produce raw material goods. In turn distributed a massive influx of Africans to later be somewhat assimilated into Latin America after the abolishment of Slavery. The structure of the population consisted of the local natives, Africans and Europeans, a vast cultural difference. The large population of African could presumably do no better for their own good as many were formal slaves with no education and political experience. Even with the removal of European colonialism which set the stage for the structural groundwork of inequalities that now characterize Latin America. The European hierarchy of unequal power was only replaced with a slightly better alternative, for example Bolivars, that have no choice but to be based upon their “successors” as Latin America has never seen any longterm stable success and justice. The common people of Latin America have so little to cherish compared to Americans that anything a smigden better is shockingly praised and fought to continue despite the underlining corruption it may entail such as grid-locking the political system so that a select few can stay in power indefinitly. On page 318 in the third paragraph of “galeano upside down” a nice quote continues this arguement and inquiries additional thoughts. In particular “Perhaps that explains the case with which it fell, without pity or glory, and the rapidity with which a new power emerged featuring the same personalities.”.

Many of the lectures and readings touched on the growing dreams and desires of the early europeans who were born and lived through the two wars which extends to the future generations and the change in state. Fridays reading “From Michael Hunt, The World Transformed 1945 to the present” pg 338 really vocalizes the internal struggle and suffering of citizens during the war. The loss of fathers, family and homes would in most trigger hatred and unrest towards the war and those involved in it however european bonds are tighten and amended by the early generations who grow tired of the conflict. Carrying the experiences and teachings of the past to proclaim a strong desire for strengethening the lack of welfare and humanitarianism. Unlike a state of war making into a government focused on serving the people and their needs instead of the governments. This forms the basis for the reading “Europe as a Way of Life” were a higher standard of living is seen with less complexations for the citizens in terms of anything that would strike against a peaceful life. As great as an idea this is, it is simply not completely possible at the present. Europeans desire no conflict however outside forces such as immigration and terrorist attacks prove to be fatal to the people and its government who do not have proper preparations for the influx of population and lack of funding for protection against terrorism. Its important to note that they attempt to uphold their desire for no adventures and integration but feel that its necessary to protect this ideal at the cost of bending them

Africa was and still is an interesting subject in which historical events are greatly affect by outside sources such as european and other western powers. Large imperialism colonization movements took place where economic benefits were thought to be easily accessable and justifiable. Justifications in terms of caucasians believing they were a superior race as to the point of even funding expeditions in Egypt to declare Egyptians, the great civilization, as whites. Ironically, it was originally believed by french scholars that Eqyptians were indeed black but this knowledge funded a movement to disprove this theory as seen on page 17 of Africa/African by Jemima Pierre. While it was important for the Eqyptian text to be read and translated. The scholars translating this information, like many of us, had a preconceived notation of the text as they themselves only really know their culture and way of life. Romila Thapar has an interesting interview about this topic. Fast forwarding to the present, its important to note that like in Egypt racial influences (such as the ebola outbreak) and the distortion of African history or representation is still present to this day. The information about Africa goes through a screening process usually by non-natives of Africa. Whether intentional or not the information is distorted, as I’ve seen, into two extremes. As read in “The Hopeful Continent”, Africa seems to be experiencing a breath of fresh air in which their is economic growth, employment, rising agriculture and tiredness of violance. If you read sources such as american news articles, it hits the otherside of the spectrum with civilwars, political corruption, massacres and assassination depicting them as not desirable people. These reports may indeed be factual, however context is appropriate in articles so that a better mutual understanding between the reader and the reading can be made. This plays along with need for a broader outlook on events instead of writers providing a small lens of arrogance and bias. This is a difficult process but communication is key.

Without a doubt imperialism caused much conflict and misery between the citizens of Japan, Korea and China. War was a demonstration of power and a usual tool for expansion. Japan took advantage of it superior military as a means to build debt for neighboring nations, not only to acheive influence but as well as cashing in the debt for land. With imperialism and the empire of japan came nationalism, inspired by the west, in the form of japan radically distinguishing their identity and culture as superior apart from the rest of East Asia. At the same time, china and others found a hole in their growth when woman were seen as untaped resources. Stunting growth as they were approximatly 50% of a popullation. Chinese men took strides to improve and moderize woman to be a more useful and prominent resource in society. This as well relates to woman being forced to become comfort woman for soldiers as seen by Kimiko Kaneda in Korea. Horrible situations in which woman were forced to be prostitutes for soldiers in action being abused, broken and used. Tools for moral recovery in times of war. Its necessary to note the extensive means of human life used and desposed of for imperalism however this is not a new development in history. I would say Japan gained many benefits from imperialism and the empire with growing economic stability, woman roles and power. Yet korea suffered conflict between themselves, china and japan. China was not much better off with the Qing empire as they were constantly humilated by the actions of the western powers and japan, clearly suffering from lack of a central government and divided territories between shogun.