Crucifix

Abstract

A crucifix is religious symbol, used by Christians, as a reminder of the crucifixion of their deity Jesus Christ. People will wear crucifix jewelry around their neck to show their faith, ward off evil spirits or some people even were them to upset other religious groups. The crucifix symbol can be found on T-shirts, bumper stickers, religious flyers, cartoons, displayed at religious holidays and of course in its real form for extra symbolism. (see Figure 1: Crucifix)

The diversity of Christian belief causes stress in some cultures where Christian zealots have caused harm to others or used religion to persecute others, hence when in the company of others or in other countries, the outward wearing of the crucifix should be avoided.

The Deity and the Symbol

A crucifix is religious symbol, used by Christians, as a reminder of the crucifixion of their deity Jesus Christ. It is believed that this man was a god on earth in human form, whom delivered believers from eternal damnation caused by their sins, some 2000 years ago. The Christians believe a religious group known as Jews put the Christ to death on the cross; hence, there is some tension between the two religions in some sects but not all. Christian zealots have in the past persecuted and indeed waged wars against people around the world for opposing religious beliefs.

Wear the Goods

People will wear crucifix jewelry around their neck to show their faith, ward off evil spirits or some people even wear them to upset other religious groups. Generally, the crucifix is worn only by Christians wanting to give an outward sign to those around them of their deep belief in the Christ deity. Generally, non-Christians resent the exposure to the crucifix believing that it is being thrown in their face. Schools in some countries ban the wearing of crucifixes or any religious symbolism for that matter (wikinews 2005) (hrw.org 2005).

Keep it to yourself

The diversity of Christian belief causes stress in some cultures where Christian zealots have caused harm to others or used religion to persecute others, hence when in the company of others or in other countries, the outward wearing of the crucifix should be avoided.

The meaning and practice of Christianity is very broad and practiced in many different ways by hundreds of sects. The diversity of Christian belief causes stress in some cultures where zealots have harmed other due to religious beliefs. The Holy Wars between the Islamic and Christians alone should impress all to show restraint with religious symbolism in the homeland and abroad. When traveling or moving to foreign countries it is vital that old beliefs and customs not be pushed on the new natives, the results will be anger and resentment.

What I believe

I believe that any outward expression of religious, political, social, and dress beliefs should be kept to oneself in the country or out of the country. I consider bad manners to my opinions on others unless we have gathered to have open discussion as friends. Among foreigners, it is essential to understand that most non-Americans do not like Americans. Most cultures find us arrogant, loud, egocentric, and ignorant. My children have traveled to Europe with their colleges and are told not to wear any items that outwardly show they are Americans or their religious beliefs as it would upset the foreigners.

What I need to keep

I wear no jewelry, non-descript clothing, plain shoes, no facial hair, no perfumes, and no makeup. I would have a problem giving up running, sanitary water, clean clothes, shoes, medications, coffee, deodorant and a bug free environment. I believe I would have no problem being polite and non-offensive but I would miss the comforts we enjoy in America.

Reference:

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/British_schoolgirl_told_to_return_home_for_wearing_crucifix

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/11/16/turkey12038.htm

Melting Pot?

The United States is as much a melting pot as it has been at any time in it’s brief past. The people living through the mass immigrations of bygone years established homeland communities, which allowed marriage to like thinking mates from like thinking families from the homeland. People in these enclaves found comfort in the shared problems and solutions to being in a new country. Enclaves existed for each ethnicity and most immigrants shunned other immigrants just as the whitey Americans shunned all of them. It takes years to overcome and accept outsiders, but as children mingle and make friends with outsiders, acceptance begins.

My children are far more accepting of outsiders than I am because of their greater exposure to the various ethnicities. It is not wrong or right that the older generations cannot be as flexible in understanding as the new generation. The next generation will think the previous was inflexible as well and this continues for each successive generation.

Interethnic marriages seem queer to the old because they still hear the echo of their parents and grandparents extolling how wrong it is. The echo fades with each new generation. The dirty, conniving Cubans, Mexicans, and Indian/Asians we complain about today are the Slavs, Italians, Germans, and Irish of our ancestors.

The Melting Pot lives.

We all love the varied foods that each culture brings with it. As a child, my mother made Mexican rice, which was Minute Rice with tomato soup mixed in. Today we have fabulous Mexican restaurants and I know what Mexican food should taste like. How about the French, Italian, Indian, Mandarin, Tai, Cajun, and German restaurants we all enjoy, they transplanted from other cultures and have changed part of the American culture. Now people take trips to see German Villages, Italian and Slovak festivals because those cultures assimilated into America. Today only remnants of the old enclaves remain since they gradually integrated into America. America is more politically correct today because we works with many different peoples on a daily basis and we are actually aware that we are no better than they are, just different.

The changes each ethnic group brings are subtle and filtered through American society until all accept part. You see we really do try to adapt to each other but it takes time

Empire

Empire is a nation that has military superiority over all nations of the world and uses that power to influence activities of other nations.

The United States emerged as an empire following the conclusion of WW II. Following then end of WW II each action the USA takes has repercussions for every nation of the world directly or indirectly. American leaders strive to influence the political makeup of all nations.

America spends more on it’s military than the next 22 largest counties combined, and that figure does not include money spent on active conflicts which would double the US spending figure and would put it’s spending at more than the rest of the world combined.

Due to the technological and monetary commitment to its military the United States enjoys free reign over world events. Although the US requests the approval of friendly nations before proceeding with global actions, it is just as likely to act without any approval even from its closest allies, which it of course does not need. In reality the US answers only to its voters at election time, for once elected the President has free reign to determine world events for 4 years.

In its short history Americas leaders positioned the nation as the most powerful empire the world has known

Tension in the Mideast

Abstract

Tension in the Mideast took a huge leap in July of 1956 when Egypt seized the Suez Canal and claimed it to be its own. Amid increasing tensions in the Mideast three western allies, Britain, France and Israel (The West Tripartite Group) plotted and carried out an attack against Egypt, which was backed by Jordan and Syria (The Mideast Tripartite Group), on October 28, 1956. The attack, defeat, and occupation of Egypt lasted until December 2, 1956 when all foreign troops evacuated. Had the nations involved in the 1956 Egyptian War been moving toward a culture of peace the entire incident could have been avoided.

It’s mine mine mine!

Tension in the Mideast took a huge leap in July of 1956 when Egypt seized the Suez Canal and claimed it to be its own. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser had been antagonizing the Israelis for several years with on again off again by closing the Suez Canal to Jewish traffic and finally in 1956 with the backing of the Soviet Union he seized the canal for the glory of Egypt. In the eyes of the British and French this was tantamount to stealing the canal as they had a company set up which owned the canal. The Egyptians agreed to pay the stockholders for the canal but that did not appease France or Great Britain (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/egypt2.htm).

No, it’s ours!

Amid increasing tensions in the Mideast three western allies, Britain, France and Israel plotted and carried out an attack against Egypt on October 28, 1956. The West Tripartite Group struck simultaneously and brutally; completely overwhelming Egypt and securing the canal as well as occupying the country in a few days of fierce fighting and bombings.

Ok it’s yours

The attack, defeat, and occupation of Egypt lasted until December 2, 1956 when all foreign troops evacuated. The Russians threatened missile attacks against Britain and France if they did not immediately withdraw. The United States was embroiled in ramping up Vietnam, the Cold War, and reeling from the beating in Korea, hence was in no mood for the antics of The West Tripartite Group (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/egypt2.htm). With the two world Superpowers demanding the end of the attacks and the withdrawal of troops The West Tripartite Group had little choice but to withdraw from Egypt.

Can’t we all just get along?

Had the nations involved in the 1956 Egyptian War been moving toward a culture of peace the entire incident could have been avoided. If I was an Egyptian in 1956, I might think. The Jews have stolen our land and with the help of the infidels from France and England they are going to take over the canal and then the whole country. The Jews have always wanted what is ours, they spread their lies and deceit about a false God, they allow their women to flaunt their bodies and talk back to men. Can any disciple of Allah envision being ordered about by satanic hoards from Israel and their friends? We must keep the canal for ourselves, we must bring about the destruction of the Jews whom are bent on taking what is ours.

The article Moving from a Culture of War to a Culture of Peace in summary makes valid points and conclusions and I agree with the culture of peace goals in general. The link the author attempts to make between war and men with the glory of the peaceful woman is illusive to me as it has the ring of the “man is inherently evil” mantra that religious fanatics love to use. The “instead of” points make logical sense, and over time we are moving in that direction. I do think that he should look at the international communities response to dictatorships and the ending of these types of egomaniacal leader societies, which are breeding grounds for the same.

Conclusion

Due to the culture of war that plagues the world Egypt took actions to injure the Jews, specifically blocking their use of the Suez Canal, without understanding the anger it would create with other nations whom had stakes in the instrument of injury. The Western Tripartite acted impulsively and failed to understand that by the canal passing through Egypt they had every right to feel it should be under their control. Egypt failed to realize the Suez should be under their control but should be available to all nations without prejudice in order to maintain peace. Although Egypt in essence won the war and controls the canal, they learned a valuable lesson about how attacks on one nation can cause catastrophic actions buy many other countries to the point where they saw that in reality their fate is held in the hands of the superpowers.

Reference:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Suez_War.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/egypt2.htm

http://www.clas.ufl.edu/

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_256.shtml

http://www.virtualcitizens.com/pictures/bosworth_2006-07-28.gif

http://files.uzitalk.com/reference/pages/IDF.htm

The Sermon On The Mall

The Sermon On The Mall

By Daniel Gross

I found a great article on Christmas of all things, can you imagine. Americans, Romans, Jews, Muslims all found their way into the article and give the image that Christmas may be more than a Christian holiday, perhaps it is a holiday for the world to enjoy together. The author eludes to the various peoples in the context of a Christian holiday, hence giving the illusion that the disparate cultures will some how share or have shared in the holiday. Suddenly the author makes an abrupt turn for the rest of the article and relates it only to the American Christmas shopping season, which is where he was heading all along, forgetting that there are more than just Americans contributing to the economic impact of the holiday in the nation. Albeit this is America, the impact of non-Americans in this country on the economy is huge and apparently forgotten for the purpose of this article. The article promotes the stereotype of the American consumer being uncontrolled, irresponsible, and implies that it (spending) is one of the laughable strengths the American culture depends on. The author tries to pass off as comedy what may be more than a stereotype of the American culture, which is we are to focused on material possessions, getting high off the high life, and spending ,always spending, beyond our means.

Egypt

Abstract

Egypt was and is greatly influence by the infusion of technology from other cultures, specifically from the French and British. The French followed by the British both felt that they could educate and bring culture to the ignorant Egyptians. The Egyptians had learned through the ages that new ideas did not translate into a better life and would not readily adopt the advancements forced upon them by the new invaders. The infusion of new technology does not usually blend well with the old ways of a culture, but the Amish and the conservative Jews have managed the have the best of both cultures.

Whip-em Into Shape

Egypt was and is greatly influenced by the infusion of technology from other cultures, specifically from the French and British. The French influenced the elites into building the new Cairo (Mitchell pg.63) according French Tradition and the British, brought the Elites, their way of government (Mitchell pg.34).

In the winter of 1867–68 Ali Mubarak, an accomplished Egyptian administrator, teacher and engineer, travelled to Paris on financial business for the Egyptian government, and to visit the Exposition Universelle. He stayed several weeks, as he later described in some detail, studying the new Parisian systems of education and of sewerage. He examined the buildings, the books, and the curricula of the new schools, and walked with other visitors along the enormous tunnels of the sewage system built beneath the boulevards of Haussmann's new city. On his return to Egypt he was appointed Minister of Schools and Minister of Public Works, and over the following decade he laid out and began building the modern city of Cairo and the modern system of education. (Mitchell pg.63)

The Ignorant Natives

The French followed by the British both felt that they could educate and bring culture to the ignorant Egyptians and to some extent, they did but only to the elites. The Egyptian peasant class ignored the Brits as another annoying new fangled occupier. Indeed the French felt that virtual enslavement was the only way to get the native to understand how ignorant they were. Control their bodies so that their mind will eventually follow (Mitchell 95).

Another New Boss to Break In!

The Egyptians have learned through the ages that new ideas do not translate into a better life and would not readily adopt the advancements forced upon them new invaders. The poor Egyptians have been exposed to great conquerors and the not so great conquerors for thousands of years. Egypt looks upon conquerors as people they need to get along without resorting to constant violence, instead they practice more of a passive aggressive stance or just plain act stupid and lazy when obviously due to the hard life they live they are not (Hopwood pg.5).

New + Old = Harmony

The infusion of new technology does not usually blend well with the old ways of a culture, but the Amish and the conservative Jews have managed the have the best of both cultures. The conservative Jew still embraces kosher food, traditional dress and ritual customs in the home at a minimum, and many outside the home also. The conservative Amish keep the home free of technology and fancy things, while many at work utilize technology through an intermediary and a very few embrace technology themselves outside the home (Rheingold). In Egypt technology changed the way the entire country farms, but their religion, and poverty levels remain unchanged (LOC). Though the peasants’ economic status remains unchanged, they are displaced from their small farms and forced to moved to the cities where they remain unemployed.

Conclusion

The knee jerk reaction is to think that technology will make everything in everyone’s life better, but in reality not all people embrace technology and certainly, technology fails to make all things better. Technological changes for the Egyptians created a larger elite class and a small middle class while taking away the way of life for the poor peasant farmers whom have lived the same contented way for thousands of years. As an advanced society we assume we have the best life and ancient way equal stupidity, and poverty when in reality those that follow the old ways are not miserable. In many cases ignorance of the new ways is bliss, as the backwards people never realize they are unhappy until they are told (Ronsuskind).

Reference:

http://www.ronsuskind.com/newsite/articles/archives/000033.html - Ronsuskind

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.01/amish_pr.html - Rheingold

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/egtoc.html - LOC

Colonising Egypt : Mitchell, Timothy. Berkeley University of California Press, 1988 eBook ISBN: 9780585116723 Egypt--Relations--Europe. Egypt--Civilization--1798-

Egypt, Politics and Society, 1945-1990, Hopwood, Derek. London ; New York Routledge, 2002. eBook ISBN: 9780203304266 ISBN: 97

Hopwood

Abstract

Hopwood found that when the French took over Egypt in the late 1700 they began a large immigration of Europeans, which stayed until the 1950’s. The rest live in the cities and consider themselves the elites (Hopwood page 6). Egypt’s education system is largely influenced by the Islamic religion. Egyptian society is homogeneous—Muslim and Arab. There is, however, a large minority. The Christian Copts are the descendants of the first Egyptian converts to Christianity and, therefore, of the original Pharaonic inhabitants.(page 171) Egyptian society is basically homogeneous—Muslim and Arab. Marriage is naturally at the centre of life and Islamic law has closely governed its provisions. The ideal laid down by Egyptian textbooks is that woman is made for marriage, that she should obey her husband, stay at home and love her children. The ideal husband should love his wife (no mention is made of love of the wife for him), treat her well and be responsible for her. ‘God dislikes divorce’ because permanence in marriage is of value to the children. Polygamy is not forbidden; neither is it encouraged. In practice, Egyptian women writers complain, marriage is still a very unequal partnership(Booth pg.169).

Migration and Immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries

Hopwood found that when the French took over Egypt in the late 1805 they began a large immigration of Europeans, which stayed until 1952. (Hopwood pg. 6). The influx of Europeans built a new Cairo, which was more organized and prettier to look at, adjacent to the old part of the city. (Hopwood pg. 11). The Europeans treated the Egyptians like they were criminals, requiring them to live as if in a barracks, to walk outside required the Egyptians to produce papers and identification, they were under constant surveillance, and surrendered their crops to the government (Mitchell pg.34). With political upheaval in 1952, there was a huge exodus, which left Egypt a country of 97% natives mainly Arabs and Muslims. Today, the current makeup of population in Egypt is nearly 60% peasant. Fortunately, the peasants do not feel that is a bad thing, as they have lived for thousands of years this way and like it as they are very suspicious of new ways(Hopwood pg.162 ).

Education Today

Education is compulsory for a basic nine-year cycle but attendance not enforced; approximately 16 percent of school-age children do not attend. (Library of Congress-LOC) Egyptian culture is mainly that of peasants (60%) and the peasants feel that a formal education is neither needed nor desired. In the minds of the peasants, the outsiders are not to be trusted with their new ideas. The peasants prefer to pass on to their children all they need to know. (Hopwood pg.163 ). Outwardly, the appearance is that ignorant peasants are unaware of the value of education, but from the peasants view education is just a bunch of new ideas that the latest government is espousing. Soon, the peasant believes, the government changes and new ideas must be learned, henceforth the best plan is to keep isolated and let the governments come and go.

Family and Social Structure

The focus of Egyptian life today is marriage, with the males being the dominant and important person. Women are second class citizens with little exceptions as the old ways of the peasants linger due to their poor education. Egypt remains under the social, political, and cultural dominance of the elite, a pattern it has retained since pharaonic times. (LOC) The Islamic religion greatly influences the daily life, education, marriage, and politics of the nation as it has for thousands of years. Most foreigners were forced out of the country in the 1950’s and today a small number of elite Arabs and Muslims enjoy all the political and economic wealth. Under British and French rule in the past

In the second quarter of the nineteenth century the people of Egypt were made inmates of their own villages. A government ordinance of January 1830 confined them to their native districts, and required them to seek a permit and papers of identification if they wished to travel outside. 'It was scarcely possible', we are told, 'for a fellah to pass from one village to another without a written passport.' The village was to be run like a barracks, its inhabitants placed under the surveillance of guards night and day, and under the supervision of inspectors as they cultivated the land - and surrendered to the government warehouse its produce (Mitchell pg.34).

Women although their status has improved in the last 20 years are, predominantly, relegated to being submissive to men. Throughout Muslim-majority societies today, advertising life histories of the earliest Muslim women is one potent way to articulate visions of what gender ought to mean in a modern society (Booth pg. 281).

Conclusion

Egypt has seen conquers come and go yet for thousands of years they have lived the same basic peasant lives. They have no desire for the new ways of the world such as wealth, technology, and politics. To the native Egyptian the land and the Nile River have always provided for them and always will, the governments and conquerors are minor inconveniences. Husbands, wife’s and their children have to work the land and river and wish to be alone, their tip of the iceberg is that they appear poor and stupid to outsiders but outsiders fail to see that their simple ways have worked for thousands of years without interference and they have found happiness and contentment. The peasants shake their heads at outsiders strange ways and wonder why they never learn.

Reference:

Egypt, Politics and Society, 1945-1990, Hopwood, Derek. London ; New York Routledge, 2002. eBook ISBN: 9780203304266 ISBN: 9780203204573, Subject: Egypt--History--1952-

May Her Likes Be Multiplied : Biography and Gender Politics in Egypt, Booth, Marilyn. Berkeley University of California Press, 2001. eBook ISBN: 9780585389295 English

Colonising Egypt : Mitchell, Timothy. Berkeley University of California Press, 1988 eBook ISBN: 9780585116723 Egypt--Relations--Europe. Egypt--Civilization--1798-

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/egtoc.html#eg0006

Picassos Guernica

The year is 1937 and the lunatic Francisco Franco of Spain with Hitler’s war machine carried out practice bombing on the people of Guernica, Spain. Pablo Picasso is in Paris when news of the atrocities hits the papers and thus Pablo finds a meaning for his mural at the Paris Exposition.

Picassos Guernica is an expression of the horrors of war and its effect innocent people whom have nothing in the conflict other than the location where they live. The mural Guernica is a reminder that most of the people affected by war are not active participants but merely simple people going about their lives. The painting is a reminder that politicians cause actions, which effect large numbers of people, for their own egos. Picassos painting shows his fear rather than the terror of those in fray, the painting brings to life what his fears of the bombing are and the results would affect him.

http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/guernica/gmain.html

Culture Shock

I think the Culture Shock Stages would go something like this.

Euphoria – You are elated to engage the new culture and soak up the native life. The natives are great, they look different, dress great and they are happy to see the funny looking foreigner which is you.

Isolation and confusion – Wait this new place is not so great, it is impossible to communicate with the natives, they eat horrible food, and they act as if they are annoyed with me for not understanding them. It is best to keep to myself and avoid any unnecessary contact.

Rejection of the new culture – The natives are stupid, they eat food, which will kill you, the water is unsanitary, they cannot learn anything, and they have to live like this because they do not know any better.

Confident of survival – I can get through this, I’ve learned some of the language, some of these people are coming along to a better way of thinking, and heck, I picked up some of the local habits and these people are all right.

Independent, living comfortably in the new culture - I love this place, the pace, the food, the people. If people would just get to know the natives, they would not judge them so harshly.

I find in best when in a new cultural environment to:

1. Speak when spoken too.

2. Always listen more than talk.

3. Observe all interactions carefully.

4. Do not take notes as it offends or puts people on the defensive.

5. Thank people more than you normally would.

6. Smile do not frown.

7. Do not become animated when you speak and do not talk loudly.

8. Do not act as if you expect to be waited on, be humble.

I try to remember that I am new to them also and they are wary of me. I have intruded into their space and I should

Cultural Values

Cultural Values

Cultural values mean those behaviors that we act out as we move through the day, month, and year with constant thoughts of how we are supposed to act. Our values are what give us pause when making decisions. With no cultural values, we would only act as needed to suit ourselves. Thoughts of the group needs would never play roll in our decision process. With values we ask ourselves; what would “insert name here” do.

In my youth my family rejected religion and sent me to public school, I was a Cub Scout, and watched the hippies go through their routine as well as the Vietnam War body count on the evening news. Technology did not seem to be a big part of life. My culture always emphasizes family, religion, lifestyles.

Ancestry

The wide varieties of ethnicities in my family tree have no doubt caused the watering down of any specific culture. Each generation gave up more of the values, and traditions until any semblance of the past cultural richness is gone. Most of my ancestor came across the Atlantic Ocean via boat.

Current Culture

My current culture is more of an amalgam of easy to follow values. The strict rules of my ancestors have given way to cliché values such as “go along to get along” and “forgive and forget.” Our food choices no longer pay homage to the rich narrow diets of our past cultures. In the absence of any passing on of history, there have been two possible outcomes of culture on my family's values: perhaps my family culture has gravitated toward religion or perhaps religion is the only remaining vestige of my culture's past. Religious beliefs, if any, were left behind in the cross marriages that consumed the heritage. My family currently has no traditions, values, language from any previous ethnic group; all cultural nuances seem to have disappeared over time. Gone are, apparently, the rich varieties of foods that Seneca Indians, Swiss, Italians, Slovaks, and Austrians would have enjoyed.

Culture of the Hood

The culture of the neighborhood and school in which I grew up was, in retrospect, focused on looking back towards the past and a time that my peers and I never knew. Parents and teachers talked about the past as if it had been misplaced, yet no one new when this misplacement had happened or how. Left to their own devices it was as if the adults I knew were testing new ideas and theories in an attempt to find direction to their life. Henceforth an inordinate amount of time was left looking to the past, the children were consequently left alone to wander and flounder as well. Most children were spanked, paddled and verbally abused for their punishment. Youngsters were expected to accept punishment without explanation; never question adults, children are to be seen but not heard. Disbelief in a God was the norm in my neighborhood.

Characteristics of the Past Culture

Gas grills were installed in every yard, lawn tractors mowed every blade of grass, neighborhood streets were gravel, kids played ball in fields of weeds, kids and parents alike dressed up to go to school and work, respectively. The schools and local government celebrated Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving—and no one questioned this practice. The students lined up into long lines for their vaccinations, and savings bonds were sold in the school with the weekly collection of dimes and quarters. We ate cherry pie in February and we knew the reason behind it: there really was a man named Abe and he was honest and a President who gave a speech that we all new by heart. We were Americans and that’s the way it was.

Bringing Culture Forward

Forty years later, we still have Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Thanksgiving in our home. We send our children to public schools that they thrive.

Leaving it behind

The schools now have Winter Festivals, Spring Festivals, and Fall Festivals. As it turns out, the schools learned the Pilgrims killed all the Indians with contaminated blankets—which is not quite the occasion my peers and I celebrated growing up—and as a result many schools now celebrate what is called a Harvest Festival instead. Some now consider Halloween the work of Satan and children celebrate a Fall Festival. The Supreme Court due to the government’s responsibility to uphold the separation of Church and State bans both Easter and Christmas. Many children cannot play in fields of weeds due to allergies or asthma. A special day has been set up to acknowledge all Presidents.

Conclusion

Mainstream USA is quite the blending of world cultures leaving the basics that bind us together; religious freedom, the hope of upward mobility, choosing public officials, strong defense, good healthcare, and free education for all children. It appears that most people trade in their cultural when they begin to assimilate in America, it is neither good nor bad but rather, just the way it is.

Personal Portable Electronic Health Record

Personal Portable Electronic Health Record

Businesses create popular culture; popular culture is an offshoot of the profit machine. Without a desire for profits there is no need for a popular culture. Business need to create and manipulate excitement about their products so the public will develop a desire for the product.

Popular culture creates a bond of sharing amongst society and a point of reference to facilitate conversation and share feeling while engaging in the use of an artifact. For example:

1. People who drive Jeeps® wave or nod as they pass a fellow Jeep® driver, and when questioned about it respond, "It's a Jeep® thing".
   
2. People with iPods reminisce about their affection for the device.
   
3. Macintosh users give each other a knowing nod when they make eye contact with a fellow aficionado.
   
4. Cell phone users can not stop themselves from envying the next generation of cell phones, and talking about who has a better plan.
   

For a business nothing says you've made it more than endless love chatter among owners of your product. As an individual I find myself desiring all the latest gadgets, home products, clothes that everyone else has to the point that it is distracting. I find myself thinking of far fetched remodels, different sized iPods®, Blackberry's®, and tools of every kind.

The value to the study of popular culture would be awareness to what is influencing our decisions and why. By understanding the existence of marketing schemes we as a society can make more thoughtful choices about needs rather than wants. Individuals can understand what is going on around them by studying popular culture and the nuances which go with it, such as why rap songs are so angry, why teenage girls dress the way they do, why teen sex ebbs and tides. For a business not to understand popular culture is to go out of business for a failure to adapt to the target audience. A business must stay relevant to the populace, to be a business.

Abstract

To create a popular culture artifact takes elements of what is popular, relevant, needed, and desired to be assimilated into society. I propose for my artifact, a dedicated Portable Personal Electronic Health Record or PPEHR. The PPEHR will come pre-installed with open-source software, readily available at medical facilities and be inexpensive, come in variety of colors and be cool looking. The design of the PPEHR will in and of itself will become an icon playing off the current icon for medical care, the caduceus. The function of the PPEHR will be to ensure that patients can have ready access to their complete medical record in a format that any computer can recognize and access and hence insure that at the time of need as in an emergency or in the regular course of accessing health services all parties have accurate information.

The Popular Culture Artifact

To create a popular culture artifact takes elements of what is popular, relevant, needed, and desired to be assimilated into society. Our nation is going through what at times seems like an obsession about health care. People are learning what blood tests they need to establish their current health condition, they are finding out what each specialty of medicine concerns itself with and they are frustrated each time they see a healthcare provider they must regurgitate their entire health history in the lobby on paper and again in the exam room with the doctor. Doctors likewise are frustrated because they spend their time gathering a good history from the patient only to find later that important information has been left out that was vital to an accurate diagnosis.

What is a PPHR

I propose for my artifact, a dedicated Portable Personal Electronic Health Record or PPEHR. The electronic health record replaces the current paper that doctors offices, dentists, labs, x-ray departments' use to document and report findings to patients and other healthcare professionals involved in the patients care. An Electronic Medical Record in theory allows all providers of medical care to an individual to see the individuals' entire, accurate, medical history without having to wait for the records to be mailed, faxed, transmitted, or recalled by the patient. The medical community, insurance industry, and the government, as a result of Medicare and Medicaid, have all encountered spiraling costs, duplication of tests, deaths due to poor diagnosis and pharmacological interaction are screaming for shared medical information. The problem from a consumer standpoint is that they do not trust these entities to be guardians of their records and hence block efforts toward the sharing of their medical information. Since the consumer

accepts the myth that Big Brother is watching and therefore lacks the trust to entrust the government or large unseen entity to guard their medical information, I propose the PPEHR. The consumer will now be able to carry their medical record to their appointments, add daily blood pressure readings, blood sugar results and how they feel on a regular basis to their portion of the PPEHR. The doctor is then assured of an accurate history which can be reviewed before talking to the patient and the visit is more productive because the focus is on the treatment of a more accurate diagnosis from an accurate, exhaustive history. The patient is happy because they can add to their medical record, have the feeling of control of their information, and receive better care. The government, insurance industry, and medical professionals are happy because they reduce duplication, inaccuracies, time, money, and lives.

PPEHR.

The PPEHR will come pre-installed with open-source software, readily available at medical facilities and be inexpensive, come in variety of colors and be cool looking. The Veterans Administration currently utilizes Electronic Medical Records named VISTA and allows for free distribution of the software (va.gov). I propose a thin client based on VISTA be developed and installed on the PPEHR which will synchronize the PPEHR with the main system at the medical facility providing the service provide. The PPEHR unit will be based on open standards so that any manufacturer may produce the device to the standard which will promote competition and lower costs to the consumer.

The Icon and its Function

The design of the PPEHR in and of itself will become an icon playing off the current icon for medical care, the caduceus. The caduceus has been an icon of healing for 2.6 to 2.8 thousand years (Wikipedia) and therefore seems a likely candidate for the current job. Most people today do not realize that the origins of the caduceus are biblical and really it does not matter that it is. For the sake of background information though the caduceus first appears in the book of Numbers:

Num 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

Today people see the caduceus and know they can receive health care related services. The portability of the PPEHR is accentuated by the small unit which can be carried on a chain around the neck carried in a pocket, purse, or wallet. Just as other icons symbolize computers, music
, love, cars, stop, walk, don't walk, the PPEHR in the shape of a caduceus will symbolize healing.

Function of the PPEHR

The function of the PPEHR will be to ensure that patients can have ready access to their complete medical record in a format that any computer can recognize and access, hence insure that at the time of need as in an emergency or in the regular course of accessing health services all parties have accurate information. A patient's medical record from the time of birth until the time of death can now with the PPEHR remain on their body to fill prescriptions, access specialists, receive diagnostics imaging, and have needed surgery. The patient will be in control, not a doctor in an office, or doctor who has retired, not a distant hospital, a forgotten pharmacy, a forgotten comparison x-ray. The patient is now free to show up at any medical facility with access to a computer and hand over their PPEHR, the receptionist plugs it into a computer, the information is synchronized or viewed or transferred, the patient is registered, taken to a room and new vitals added to the current record which does not allow previous entries to be altered, the doctor then makes his examination adds to the record by adding prescriptions, orders for labs and x-rays. The patient leaves the office and goes to a pharmacy of their choice in any city presents their PPEHR which is accessed and the prescription filled and noted in the unalterable record the patient is free to go to the lab and x-ray facility of their choosing where services are rendered and unalterable notes are entered at their completion. The PPEHR ends duplication, fake scripts, over prescribing, illegible notes, waits of days and weeks; confirmation phone calls to other providers are eliminated. Nirvana!

Myth of the Icon

The icon of the caduceus, oddly enough, is the icon of a myth of a deity that created us some five thousand years ago. The myth goes that God created heaven (space and the sky), earth, and all the plants animals, fishes over a period of seven days. We as men and women are made in his image with God being a male (bible.org). At any rate, as God's people are traipsing through the desert for 40 years they were frequently bitten and died from snake bites so the deity told a follower to throw a dead snake on a staff and all who looked upon it would be healed. The caduceus is part of the most popular myth of all time and the PPEHR will use that for representation.

I chose the biblical myth because I work in the healthcare field and study all I can about the origins of the profession and have always been intrigued that the caduceus is used and has a biblical origin. The health care field prides itself on being all about the science of healing but somehow finds its origins in a mythical deity of gargantuan proportion and following. The interesting stereotype is that people some 2600 years later still look toward a snake on a stick to be healed. By doing good deeds, loving one another, and believing in a good and pious deity we can be healed and freed of our suffering if only we believe, has been the stereotype of Christianity and other worshippers for eons. Baal along with Ra will save us.

It's All About the Money All the Time

A port of the open source VISTA software could be made for a few thousand dollars, but the big stepping stone to rolling out the PPEHR nationally would be getting the doctors to give up some of their control and power by accepting an electronic health record. I have been in the health field for 18 years and I have seen repeatedly that doctors relish the power and control they wield. The greatest thing to a doctor is an ignorant patient, because an ignorant patient needs lots of care and regular visits which translate into a steady income for the doctor. If patients suddenly have a portable health record to take to any provider, the primary care doctor loses his power and control and the patient is free. So the value of my artifact is freedom and as former slaves know, freedom is very hard to achieve.

Conclusion

Icons, myths, heroes, artifacts, culture and business as it turns out have a common thread or two. One thread would be the significant impact business, money and power or the perception of power has on our civilization. Businesses create, manipulate and nurse the icons, myths, heroes, and artifacts that surround us and direct much of the efforts of our lives. It is done so skillfully we do not even comprehend it is happening. Ignorance is bliss.

My PPEHR is a small effort to bring a small amount of understanding and education into the public mind about their health and healthcare. My hope is that such and artifact will not only liberate the patients from the tether of the current healthcare bureaucracy but also by plugging the PPEHR into their home computer will start a cascade of understanding as they review their history. Perhaps, just perhaps patients will awaken and see that they control their wellbeing, their health and hence will be free.

Reference

http://www.va.gov/vista_monograph/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Numbers

http://www.bible.org/

Spiderman

Spiderman




Abstract
Like all great American literature Spiderman, the movie, is based on biblical illusions because it makes it easy for the general public to understand and relate to the plot. The formula for Spiderman is similar to the story of Jesus Christ. God so loved the world he sent his only begotten son. The son will be bit by an empowering spider. The son will perform miracles to endear him to the masses below him. The son will destroy the great evil among you.

In the beginning
Like all great American literature Spiderman is based on biblical illusions because it is easy for the bible believing public to understand and relate to the plot. All Americans at one time shared a common thread and the thread was a puritanical upbringing. Writers and artistic types use the common thread, consciously or unconsciously, to weave-create their work and give it depth. The Bible becomes the formula garden where great adventures are grown. As in the Bible, Peter Parker of Spiderman fame becomes endowed with great powers to adjunct his puritanical (adherents) upbringing that has heretofore been unblemished by evil. In other words, the belief is that Peter’s parents are part of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) (adherents) culture and so Peter is a good person; it is a stereotype used throughout literature and movies.



Praise Jesus
The formula for Spiderman is similar to the story of Jesus Christ. God so loved the world he sent his only begotten son. The myth being that Peter’s father left his only begotten son whom upon reaching adulthood becomes a savior to the city. The creator stray from the Bible by having an uncle and aunt raise Peter By using the Biblical illusion of the messiah the movie uses the assumed prior knowledge of the viewer to gain their acceptance of the plot. In the days when the majority of Americans were exposed to the bible it was easy for writers to appeal to a large audience because they had a built in library of knowledge with every consumer.

With the Rib of Adam

The son will be bit by an empowering spider. To get the consumer to buy into believing a spider bite could give a person supernatural powers the creators used the mystery of DNA which was discovered just 10 years prior (Lemonick). People were fascinated, then as now, and could easily see how a change to the DNA could cause Peter, and anyone for that matter, to become a superhero.

Water into blood

The son will perform miracles to endear him to the masses below him. Just as Moses performed miracles that God enabled him to do, Peter Parker could spin webs, have superhuman strength, climb walls, and have precognitive senses. The Spiderman creators spun the biblical formula for believing into a spider tale. Just as the masses accepted the bible they could and continue to enjoy the similar formula for a good mythical Spiderman, and Superman. It is interesting to envision these men and women creators of tales sitting around discussing how to get the consumers to buy into different fantasies and myths buy using societies favorite stereotypes and beliefs.

Forty days in the desert

Just as Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray for forty days before her died on the cross for the sins of man and defeat Satan, Peter Parker over comes the green goblin. Of course Spiderman doesn’t die in the end because the money must continue and who has time to keep creating superheroes. When Parker collapses on the floor in his bedroom and has his visions, this in actuality is a biblical illusion to Jesus/Moses fasting and praying forty days in the desert along with their visions of their destiny.

Conclusion
Spiderman, like Superman, comes from a WASP upbringing belief, shared a myth in the father figure who gave them the advice which would carry them through their adventures, both are explored in current day settings, both are nerds in their human form, both perpetuate the strong save the day white male stereotype, while the formula for both is constant illusion to the Bible or for the sake of this course is Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth Theory - Heroes Journey formula (monomyth.org): Home, supernatural aid, call to adventure, cross the threshold, reluctant hero. Superman’s formula might be: Home, call to adventure, supernatural aid, reluctant hero, trials.
The formulas are not as readily lapped up by consumers today due to the lack of biblical understanding and acceptance but with minor adjustment will still work well.


Reference:
http://www.633main.com/dev23.htm
http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/SpiderMan.html
Lemonick, Michael, http://www.time.com/time/80days/530228.html, March 31, 2003
http://monomyth.org/teach-the-monomyth/joseph-campbells-monomyth-heros-journey/

It’s the Internet, Stupid

The Internet

Abstract

The most important part of our Popular Culture today could be the backbone of our current civilization which is the internet. The free flow of information and commerce over the internet is radically changing our society at an unprecedented rate. Just as the printed page radically changed society 500 years ago; the internet does more changing, faster than we can comprehend. The internet could be bigger in impact than electricity (Closertruth).The internet puts people out of work, creates work, closes business, creates businesses, changed the way we work, changed where we work from, and how we vote; the internet single handedly changed how we live our lives (Thompson).

Plugged In

The most important part of our Popular Culture today could be the backbone of our current civilization which is the internet. Yes, that is what I said, the internet is the backbone of our civilization, email, phone calls, medical records, business information, power plants, traffic flow, are all hooked to it and depend on it to keep the world running. Make no mistake that the biggest mistake each of us and our families can make is not understanding the impact of this thing called the internet

It's the Power, Power Wonder Working Power of the Lord Internet

The free flow of information and commerce over the internet is radically changing our society at an unprecedented rate. Just as the printed page radically changed society 500 years ago; the internet does more changing, faster than we can comprehend. The internet could be bigger in impact than electricity (Closertruth). The only thing the controllers of society have over the people is they use the money of the people to pay taxes so the authority can hire like minded civil servants to help manage the masses. When the masses are able to communicate more then they become an authority watching over government and taking power away from government. The internet will change everything, gradually.

Be a Thinker Not a Stinker

The internet puts people out of work, creates work, closes business, creates businesses, changed the way we work, changed where we work from, and how we vote; the internet single handedly changed how we live our lives (Thompson). 2007 internet sales hit 137 billion dollars and that business came from every store front out there (internetretailer). Quite simply, if you are not doing business with the internet you soon won't have a business. The internet streamlines operations and lowers cost so that you may compete with the smarter people.

Conclusion

Run; don't walk to understanding the most fundamental shift in the world in 500 years. Without a firm grasp of the technology that surrounds you, you will find yourself outside wondering what happened to the good life you once enjoyed.

Reference:

Thompson, Nicholas, http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0205.thompson.html

http://www.closertotruth.com/topics/technologysociety/102/102transcript.html

http://www.internetretailer.com/top500/index.asp

Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser catches my eye as a current popular culture topic. I don't like the show at all but I'll discuss it.

What tees me off about the show is that it is passed off as an 'overcome adversity heart breaker ', when in reality it is a make fun of the pigs' festival. It portrays the pigs as stupid until they are enlightened by the shows geniuses, once enlightened however the pigs are able to overcome their obesity problem by allowing themselves to be videoed then played back in slow motion as they run, jump, eat, walk. The slow motion is provided so the audience can see how disgusting and laughable the pigs are as they go about their daily lives.

In Biggest Loser, the producers play up their soft spoken "I care" acts so they don't offend the pigs but every once in a while they make them cry (for their own good) so the audience can see how shameful it is to be a pig. Run Piggy Run comes to mind as the pigs are stressed to work harder at losing weight or they get kicked to the curb to be scoffed at for failing yet again.

The "trainers" are made to be the sympathetic tough love gods who are able to enlighten even lowly pigs into seeing the ignorant ways. Trainers have answers to all problems pigs may encounter on their way to weight nirvana. Long Live the trainer.

So what does all this have to do with popular culture? Biggest Loser is a reflection of the feelings of the nation, hence it's popularity. It's fun and fashionable once again to make fun of people, whether they be fat or short/little. Fat people need help, your help, they are too stupid to do anything on their own and without the help of good caring people like TV producers and trainers we would have fat people stacking up along the roads.

Oh by the way, my wife loves Biggest Loser.

Stereotypes and Rituals

Stereotypes and Rituals


Stereotype and Rituals: A Brief Discussion
Rituals exist in society due to the need for people to connect to the past; so they know they have a history that has meaning and so they can fulfill the their responsibility to carry that history to the next generation.
Stereotypes exist as a shortcut in communication so that members may quickly verify who is being discussed and that they have the same opinion of the other group. Stereotypes can be negative but are not so by default, and are always full of ignorance and misunderstanding.
We see stereotypes in modern media and some may refer to the media as art but that description is purely subjective as I feel that art with stereotypes is simply bigotry or racism disguised as art.
I find that I am unable to shake the stereotype, passed from my elder family members, of minorities even though I know they are false, hurtful and demeaning. The echo of those I was taught to respect still reverberates in my head even though they were racists trained by previous racists. It is not an excuse, it is a fact that we each carry some of what our elders pounded into our heads forward and daily must filter the misconception out.
Marketers and advertisers play off of stereotypes and rituals for the same reason each of us do. With stereotypes and rituals in place the marketing gurus do not have to explain as much because the background stereotype/ritual information is already in the selected groups brain to be toyed with. The communication/stereotype shortcuts save companies money just as it saves us time in conversation. Society has an affinity to the use of stereotypes and rituals in advertising and marketing schemes because such schemes provide credence on a larger scale. If we see our beliefs played out on national TV or radio we receive reinforcement to our point of view.


Abstract

My favorite video game, Halo 2, provides an escape from the realities of daily life, an outlet for aggressive and tactical challenges in a harmless digital environment. Halo 2 worked its way into my favorite category over a period of years as it evolved from: Pathways into Darkness (1993) to Marathon, to Marathon 2, to Marathon Infinity, and finally into the Halo series with Halo 2 coming out in 2004. I learned a respect for the coders, the creators, the plot lines, the artistry and the time that it all took.
There is no Reality
Halo 2, provides an escape from the realities of daily life, an outlet for aggressive and tactical challenges in a harmless digital environment. Some people read, some watch TV, others go shopping, talk on the phone, collect stamps, and I and hundreds of thousands of other losers play Halo to unwind, escape, veg-out or what ever you want to call it from day to day life. I save the world from the continual onslaught of aliens that are always testing the outer defenses of the planet, the only planet, where civilization and all that is noble calls home.
Religious kooks call Halo an affront to Christianity because of the alien worshippers in it, they may be correct but that is a stretch.

PID
Halo 2 worked its way into my favorite category over a period of years as it evolved from: Pathways into Darkness (1993) to Marathon, to Marathon 2, to Marathon Infinity, and finally into the Halo series with Halo 2 coming out in 2004. With each new version of Pathways (PID) I was able to follow the evolution of the characters and the development of new plots which also increased my admiration for the developers. The original title seems, almost, omniscient as I look back over the years and see what I call a decline in the quality of life in America and a rise in the popularity of video games. The stereotype of the American kid laying around playing video games instead of getting out and doing something has its roots with games like PID and its children.

Respect and Ignorance
I developed a respect for the coders, the creators, the plot lines, the artistry and the time that it all took. I see the hard work in the Halo game and I realize why it is successful I also realize plenty of other games took hard work from other coders and those games were not successful and I understand the myth of hard work equaling success. I view Halo as a work of art due to the beauty of the landscape and the breadth of its game environment. Other for the most part view it as a game to be played by silly children with no real life and parents who do not care about them. The stereotype of kids turning into unmotivated, ADHD diagnosed, Ritalin eating, Adderall mainlining, vegetables certainly comes to mind and would be ignorant as most stereotypes are.

Concluding Thought
I can not pick out a stereotype in the game but it does have endless worship rituals that the aliens perform, which in a way make fun of religion as being silly groups of lunatics making war with other silly groups of lunatics because they believe something different. So I guess there is an obvious stereotype after all; the fanatical deity worshiper that loves rituals. We really can not get away from rituals and stereotypes as they are part of the fabric of our very existence to the point we may not even recognize them without education and reflective thinking. Which I gather is one of the points of this course.

Shucksters and Hucksters of Breakfast Cereal

Shucksters and Hucksters of Breakfast Cereal



Abstract
In Tricksters and the Marketing of Breakfast Cereals, Thomas Green gives intriguing insight into the start of the cereal food market. I found it astonishing that the whole grain debate started so long ago and is still being fought. Groups using the religious angle to shame Americans into changing their diet I found to be offensive. As a member of a generation that knew no time without them, it is enlightening to see the state of dietary intake before breakfast cereals.

Profits Please
Thomas Green gives intriguing insight into the start of the cereal food market. Mr. Green illuminates the motives of the , ’s, Grahams, Magdalene society, and the Seventh Day Adventists, which were purely selfish moneymakers. Not that we should be surprised nor should they be condemned; but it is always disturbing that so many great movements are based purely on greed. We as lowly citizens see movement to enhance our health as good and noble while it is purely profit based on the part of the marketers; they couldn’t care less if we are healthy. This is sad, so very sad.

Since Time Began
I found it astonishing that the whole grain debate started so long ago and is still being fought. In 1863 the chief prophet of the Seventh Day Adventists reported to her fellow Adventists that she had a message from God about proper diet hence entering the group into the the, “widespread and lucrative business of health resorts, spas, hydropathic water cures,”. In this and all the cases, lucrative, is always the operative word. The saga of the cereal market is reminiscent of the saying; it’s all the money, all the time.


May God bless you, each and every one
Groups using the religious angle to shame Americans into changing their diet I found to be offensive. The hucksters in the Christian religion as always put forth their best efforts to sham/scam the believers. Green points out quite vividly that the founders of good eating were shameless in their ability to inject Godliness into conning of America into the breakfast cereal racket. The use of the word racket may seem harsh but Merriam-Webster holds a similar interpretation for the circumstance.
Main Entry: 2racket
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1565
1: confused clattering noise: clamor
2 a: social whirl or excitement b: the strain of exciting or trying experiences
3 a: a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity b: a usually illegitimate enterprise made workable by bribery or intimidation c: an easy and lucrative means of livelihood d: slang
The cereal hucksters would also make illusions that God was giving the cereals as gifts to his children and like a good child we should be grateful and eat them with enthusiasm, gratitude, and without abandon. God will bless those that eat breakfast cereal.

Cereal = Life
As a member of a generation that knew no time without them, it is enlightening to see the state of dietary intake before breakfast cereals. Who would have guessed that our forefathers were strictly meat and potato eaters all the time, breakfast, lunch and dinner? Those that passed this way before us suffered the same maladies as us because we have failed to learn that no food should be eaten to excess lest we suffer in the end.

Conclusion
The hucksters did indeed profit from their scheme but before that, before the need for cash I believe they felt that cereal was a better choice for health and they wanted to share their idea but to share they could ,and needed to, also profit. Profit by making the long process of preparing the nutritional gruel into a dried, shelf safe product that provided convenience to all. The boxed cereal meant that women did not need to make their paste, then cook it until dry, break it up, and store it. The boxed cereals gave the women the storage container and a consistent product that was generally tastier than their own. Greens article was a delightful eye opener to the beginning of breakfast cereals.



Reference:

Green, Thomas, Tricksters and the Marketing of Breakfast Cereals, The Journal of Popular Culture, Volume 40, issue 1 (February 2007), p. 49-68, ISSN: 0022-3840, DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-5931.2007.00353.x, Blackwell Publishing Inc.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

SciFi

Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)

Science Fiction is a wonderful Pop Culture topic because Sci-Fi is so popular. Ok it wasn't funny. This weekend's top box office wonder is Sci-Fi. Sci-Fi allows people to expand their dreams, escape the boring little lives we live and experience a vision of what might be or been. By presenting an alternate reality than our own Sci-Fi allows us to stretch our imagination in ways we had not considered. In Battlestar Galactica the creator presents a future overrun by robots, it is a future many people today have already considered and others can believe may happen. Corny? Of course it is, and that is what the allure is; corny but a hint of the possible just to keep us thinking. Atlantis is corny, fun and consistent with Campbell's theory on myths. Now with Campbell's theory fresh in my mind I can analyze my favorite sci-fi shows to see which parts are stronger than others and maybe I'll send critiques to the writers.

Daniel Boone American Hero

Daniel Boone American Hero Myth

Daniel Boone American Hero Myth

The Daniel Boone Song

Daniel Boone was a man. Yes a big man.

With an eye like an eagle and as tall as a mountain was he. Daniel Boone was a man. Yes a big man.

He was brave, he was fearless and as tough as a mighty oak tree. From the coonskin cap on the top of ol Dan to the heel of his rawhide shoes. The rippin'est roarin'est fightin'est man the frontier ever knew. Daniel Boone was a man. Yes a big man. And he fought for America to make all Americans free. What a Boone. What a wonder. What a dream comer truer was he.

(http://www.stlyrics.com)

Abstract

Daniel Boone is known as a tamer of the wild frontier ; a fearless man who’s only desire was to fight battles so other would not need to. Daniel went on to the Kentucky, battling the Shawnee, while losing loved ones (sons). If Daniel Boone would tame the land then there would be land; land for everyone. Upon Daniels building of civilization he and becomes a Statesman, then must return to the wild to kill Indians, then returns to be a Statesman.

Tamer of the Wild Frontier

Daniel Boone is known as a tamer of the wild frontier ; a fearless man who’s only desire was to fight battles so other would not need to. The song above is from a television series which ran for 6 seasons starting in 1964(www.danielboonetv.com). Born October 22, 1734 was called to action in 1755(Encarta) to fight the blood thirsty French and Indians. 200 years later America is making movies about the myth of Daniel Boone and his legendary fighting of Indians. The call to action in 1755 would match up with Joseph Campbell’s call to action as the first part of recognizing a myth, Boone has poor uneducated upbringing, yet is called upon to carry the burden of a nation. I can almost here the Battle Hymn of the Republic playing in the background

Helpers and More Helpers

Daniel went on to the Kentucky, battling the Shawnee, while losing loved ones. To complete step two of Campbell’s Monomyth theory, Boone must have helpers with him; and true to form he takes five men to the Kentucky wilderness in 1769(Rose). While in Kentucky he is captured by the Shawnee and befriends the chief, escapes and spends the winter in a cave, he then returns to his wife and family in the autumn. Now with talk of the bounty of Kentucky, Boone spread the word and eventually finds someone to fund his excursion back to the promise land. His son was killed in a Shawnee Indian attack during this period. In 1775 Boone is hired with thirty others to blaze a trail to the new frontier.

Land Land, for Everyone, Land

If Daniel Boone would tame the land then there would be land; land for everyone. In 1775 The Transylvania Company hires Boone and thirty others to blaze a trail into the wilderness and establish Boonesborough, Kentucky (Rose). Having blazed a trail to the new world of freedom Boone moves his family to the new found paradise where they are constantly under attack by the blood thirsty Shawnee who wish to take the land from Gods settlers. Boone and company begin a 20 year war with the savage Shawnee. Boone being the hero he is leads his fellow man to a new world and new beginning.

The Legend becomes a Statesman of the People

Upon Daniels building of civilization he becomes a Statesman, then must return to the wild to kill Indians, then returns to be a Statesman. For the 20 year from 1775 to 1795 Boone becomes a Statesman for Kentucky then is recalled to fight the savages and the returns as the conquering hero to become a Statesman again. Thus fulfilling his destiny Boone lives out his life in harmony, one with nature, ruler over the happy people of Kentucky. The End

Analysis

Whoa, hold on, hold the heck on, wait a minute, hold the phone; there never was a new world, the promise land or a new beginning. What actually happened is Boone was born in the midst of Amish Country, to the ultra conservative class and his family was ejected from the sect for long forgotten reasons (Silverman). The family moved from the area in shame and Daniel spent the rest of his life with an axe to grind against those who would force him to do anything. Boone and his toadies loved killing Indians because they wanted the land the Indians occupied; it was not a new world it was the Shawnee’s world and Boone wanted it. When Boone finally stole the land he wanted he became the largest, wealthiest, businessman in the frontier. But hold on, the new government of the United States decided he did not own the land after all and disputed his claim, took the land away and left Boone broke, penniless, destitute. Some Spanish cronies took pity on him and offered oodles of land in Missouri which he gladly accepted and he ruled over that for a few years until the United States once again disputed his ownership right and took the land from him one more time(Rose). Boone died broke while living at his sons’ home in Missouri (Silverman).

Conclusion

One television series, two songs and three books have been written about the great pioneer of the frontier Daniel Boone. He is a Great American Hero whom was a creation of great story tellers, who wanted the people of a young America to feel free to get out and explore their new world, a world which seemed to have unlimited borders and a few savages to be slaughtered. If the new Americans would/could be persuaded to kill the savages and spread out across the land then there would be vast wealth for all. So, the new ignorant people of America felt empowered to venture and kill their fellow man in the name of God and country. Daniel Boone was a man just like any other but the country needed a hero so he became one.

Reference

Drake, Francis. "Sir Francis Drake on the California Coast" in Burrage, Henry S. (editor). Early English and French Voyages, Chiefly from Hakluyt, 1534-1608. (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1906); online facsimile edition at www.americanjourneys.org/aj-032/. Accessed September 28, 2003.

Rose, Julie, http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/HNS/Boone/chronology.html , Referenced 1-17-2008

Silverman, Sharon Hernes. Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide: Daniel Boone Homestead (Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 2000), http://www.danielboonehomestead.org/history.htm, Referenced 1-17-2008

www.danielboonetv.com, Referenced 1-17-2008

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574826/Daniel_Boone.html, Referenced 1-17-2008

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/televisiontvthemelyrics-sciencefictionwesterns/danielboone.htm. Referenced 1-17-2008