Blog 14

It is interesting to know that Chinese officials that governed China were elected through examinations. If this kept occurring, the governmental institutions would be all over the place because they might have gotten a leader that was corrupt and maybe a benevolent and understanding leader next. With governments, there must be stability and they must keep in mind the best interest of the people. Further, the examination system that it was based on was very conservative as a result making the people be more conservative not allowing them to express. Further, a document written in 1898 that critiques the examination system states that the way exams were programed were very corrupt and students found it difficult to balance out their social life and responsibilities with these examination systems. Further, they saw themselves falling behind in comparisons with other countries. It is nice to know however, that citizens oppose and express their concerns. The document that I found most interesting was Qiu Jin's document on women's rights. She mentions foot binding and explains that on a woman's wedding day, people compliment the father on doing a good job on his daughter's feet not really the daughter or the mother. This is interesting because he may not have even played a part in the foot binding other then ordering that the mothers do it yet he still gets credit. This is patriarchy taking its course. Further, women were seen as someone else's property in the 1900's. With the roaring 20s on the rise and the abolition of slavery in the United States, it is hard to crazy to know that women were seen as property still being treated that way in other parts of the world. Women in China had no say in what their future would look like. Women in China were not living, they were surviving. It is also brave and courageous that Qiu tells her readers to no longer depend on men and to stop binding their daughters feet.

Blog 13

I found it interesting that although some believe they are helping by donating to third world countries, it turns out that the best way to help third world countries is through developing programs and provided jobs and resources in place of bandaging the issues. In addition, it is believed that one of the reasons third world countries have issues is due to historical colonialism. Colonialism itself was damaging however, the attitude behind colonialism such as the hunger for power, domination a  has been passed on through generations. Today, it seems that competition is becoming more and more of an essential key to success. Further, as John Paul II explains, sinful greed and evil structures are largely contributing to poverty in third world countries. Advice


- resource exploitation destabilizes especially when factories are destroying their enviro
- forced religion
Although research shows that many preachers and ministers denounced injustices including slavery, this was more than conversion this was about control
- understanding is important
2: the church repeatedly insists that all people should care about poverty and do all they can do address this as part of common humanity bc all members of human family. Church believes all people in first world countries should donate a bit to help third
- far away so not relevant to individuals life
- inviting believers to ponder causes of poverty and offer suggestions for improvement
- advice by church leaders changes over time which is not good because no concise
- bishops Vatican council on how to change poverty
- chuches concerns in maldistribution
- what should be done by church and nations to address global development

- some blame put on colonialism
- need vs wants of affluent
-more concerned in profit for the few not for most useful for the many
- most efficient: micro development self improvement is how to fix (ex: employment opportunities) not put a band aid over and donate because that makes them dependent
- faith based organizations
- christians must provide opportunities to disinherited
- John Paul II wasteful materialism "super development"
- evil: arms race, debt, economic domination = neocolonialism
- global probs: thirst for power and materialism
- modern day christians: guilt but probably struggle for suggestions for immediate solutions
- no individual can change so each person has to pitch in
- call to all christians to help poor inhabitants of the world
- official voices of the church
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Blog 3

The fur, spice and silver trade was beneficial to many nations however it gave rise to slavery. Although we still benefit from these trades today, enslaving others was detrimental to humanity and society then and today. Further, it led to competition and the desire for control between nations. Perhaps this was where racism and/or prejudices all started. The desire to control people and use them in order to make an individual’s life easier was desirable. It seems that humanity took steps leading up to this. In other words, control over the living progressively got worse. For example, it might have first started with Paleolithic people’s taking advantage of nature and the environment. One example could be seen in the burning of plants in order to keep warm. Although this was vital to their survival, it still harms the oppressed group that cannot speak for itself, nature. Then, perhaps the next step was controlling another oppressed group that cannot speak for themselves, animals. For example, the domestication of animals, such as horses. Then perhaps, it led to the control over humans. Perhaps there is something within us that feels the need to control something whether it is humans or the way we look. Perhaps the control of fire was where it all started… who knows?

Blog 11

I found it interesting that Strayer reflects upon the benefits and disadvantages of being the first. He mentions that students and historians are often fascinated by "firsts"; in fact, I happen to be one of them. However, he explains that being the first does not always mean anything good. In many cases, being the first is unhealthy because the first person to invent something believes they have superiority over those subsequent to discover the invention. He quotes, "In terms of human ability to dominate the natural environment and to extract wealth from it, the Industrial Revolution marks a decisive turning point in the history of our species"(pg 859). It seems that the mentality of the Industrial Revolution never left. In other words, societies continue to believe they dominate the natural environment and extract wealth from it. A relevant example would be the first humans to land on the moon. It was said that they would own space. A recent article also mentioned the same when explaining the space elevator. The space elevator that is being built by a private corporation and by NASA, is a literal elevator that takes people up to space. The article mentioned that those who would be the first to build it, would be the owners of space. Many believe that humans have the ability to own the environment and to an extent they do. However, the more humanity thinks the way, the more destructive we will be to the environment resulting in an inability to live on earth. If space elevators thrive, I wonder if humanity will pollute outer space and not care like we do on earth.

Blog 10

Although Simon Bolivar was successful, I cannot help but to wonder what Spain would be like if they were successful in building a federation like in North America. I also like the way Simon Bolivar's letter "The Jamaica Letter" is written. He uses many metaphors and personifies the earth which gives the readers and listeners a good image. This is a powerful tactic and is helpful in rallying people up because it helps the listener paint a picture in their head. Doing so connects them to the reality of the situation helping them disregard any manipulated postulations enforced by the authority. I find it impressive considering this letter was written in 1815. 

However the line "we were never leaders, never financiers, hardly ever merchants..." and saying that "America will succeed in merging the entire New World into a single nation with a single unifying principle" does not help his cause in rallying the people. Instead, his letter is complacent and relinquish. Further, it gives the people no hope and deprives them of their pride and dignity. Although he attempts to give the Spaniards hope immediately after, those two lines were too realistic and damaging to his purpose. 

Blog 9

I find it admirable that the sisters who formed the SND congregation had revolutionary hearts and fought for what they wanted and believed in. It is also interesting to see just how much the family household dynamics can affect the children living in that household. For example, Francoise’s father was an "englightened" man who taught good moral values. As a result, Francoise became a women of action and acquired the confidence to do so. Her confidence in her own voice shows when for example, she stated the food given was "Good for dogs and chickens, but not for Sisters of Notre Dame, who are tired and need to be well nourished” (McCarthy 99). Further, the fact that her parents did not force her to marry made a big difference in recognizing her freedom and enjoying it. Also, she found the importance in being humble and respectful, just like her dad. Even when she was "living large" she did not let material things change the person she was inside. I feel that although all these great role models who do great things should be honored, in many cases people forget to honor and applaud the parents who raised such an inspiring child. 

Blog 5

It was interesting to learn that the women who had served as priests, shamans or ritual specialists no longer could have a role in the Catholic church. Since early Christianity rooted from European males with authority it only makes sense that they would make efforts to exclude women. Further, Christianity's destructive aspect is seen in Mexico when tolerance for any other religion was seen as idolatry. As a result, the bishop of Mexico destroyed 500 pagan shrines and 20,000 idols. It is also seen in the Andean region when religious images and ritual object were destroyed. What is most appalling however, is the fact that they went as far as publicly urinating on native "idols". It is difficult to tolerate that these people believed God supported these actions. Further, once the Empire supported the church, it was easier for Christianity to expand. The strategies used to execute the expansion of Christianity was also followed by gruesome and unjust actions. For example, the genocide of many Native Americans and the conversion of that took place in Spanish American.
In other words, it is difficult to recognize the purity of Christianity when it has had such a bad reputation. Although the church has become more virtuous throughout the years, it is still difficult to abide and support a religion with a history of such corruption.