Week 2

What are these histories, cultures, nations?
President Obama speaks mainly about the Americas and some of the Muslim countries and their specific cultures and customs.
What is your summary of this video?
Obama basically is talking about the fact that this is OUR world and that if the Muslim countries would work together with America then together we could succeed. We could forget all of this terrorism drama and move on toward a better future together.
What information did you learn that you did not know before?
I didn’t know very much about the Muslim culture before listening to this speech. I also didn’t know the extent of Obama’s dreams of making the whole world a unified nation. Most presidents only worry about their own country.
What does the President say about 'dialogue'?
He says that the verse “do unto others as we would have them do unto us” is universal rule for every religion/belief system in the world. This is true. It is in the Talud, the Koran and the New Testament. If people only knew that we were all striving for the same thing then they may not be so darn nagative. We are all on the same team.
What did he say that relates to culture through either one of these items: the visual arts, drama, film, music, dance, literature, philosophy, religion?
When he spoke about culture he was just getting the point out there that there are so many different aspects of culture and although so many people have different ideas of life, that deep dwn inside they will have something in common, whether it be art, music, or even with their thoughts of how to treat others… there is always something there.
Why do you think this relates to Latin America?
Well, this is defiantly a world issue. And Latin America is a part of the world, but the truth of the matter is that as Americans, I think that people just group everyone else together as different or bad… this is not true… we have a future that will invole Latin America as well as the Muslim countries.
PART 2
This video was taken at a commencement ceremony at Duke University?
Yes it was
Who is in the video?
Oprah
What summary can you provide of this video?
Oprah gives a speech and tells 7 different stories about how people in life have succeeded and become her personal heroes.
What part strikes you the most?
I love the story about the Columbine episode that she recorded, but never aired. I love the fact that she thinks about her viewers and puts out positive messages to her audience. She didn’t air the episode because it was too dark for her viewers.
Does this person affect any part of our culture through either one of these items: the visual arts, drama, film, music, dance, literature, philosophy, religion?
Oprah talks a lot about the value of all of these things
Do you think this person has influence for our interdisciplinary studies (why/why not)?Oprah has an influence in all things she touches. She is one of the most influential people in the world. The fact that she is a woman and African-American just adds to the power of her persuasion.
Alyssa said “As people we need to learn about others and understand other cultures to better ourselves.” VERY TRUE!!!
Candace thinks that President Obama wants to let the Muslim people know that America has no ill will towards them as a people and that we are aware of the contributions to the modern world made by the Islam societies. --- I agree that this was his exact intention!
Isbell President Obama very eloquently and firmly opened the door to building solid relations with the Muslim world.
Julisa mentioned that Oprah’s godson William Bumps was graduating.
Logan restates that Obama mentions the injustice of woman's rights and the history of African Americans throughout our own history.
Mike said President Obama's speech to the Middle East is a positive step forward by the US to communicate the new approach our country is willing to make to establishing a new type of relationship with people in the Middle East and establishing a new paradigm in solving problems that have long made our relations less than desirable and productive between our country and the Middle East.
Nancy thinks that Americans may recognize and connect with some of the Muslim cultural values Obama mentioned.
Robert believed that every statement he makes applies to Latin America
Shannon says that Obama believes now is the time for a new evolution of humankind and that evolution begins with a pledge to dialogue.
Susan thinks that this video is about reaching out to other country's and trying to bring Muslims and Americans together.

Week 9

Independence Era refers to the violent time of lain America's history where they broke off from the hold that the Spanish had on them. Many people think that the seperation had been simmering sinse the US departed from Great Britian.

I chose to learn about Our Lady of Guadalupe because I grew up Christian and had many Catholic friends who attened the Our lady Guadalupe church in Windsor, and I never knew what it was all about. I laughed when I realized that Lady of Guadalupe and the Virgin Mary were the same person.

Fun Facts Section

1. The Lady of Guadalupe, is also known to many as the Virgin Mary. Who is a key figure in the New testament of the Bible. The Virgin Mary is the mother to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

2. Many Catholics believe that it was Our Lady of Guadalupe who told Juan Diego to build a church in what is now known as Mexico City. Diego didn’t believe her, but she told him to go and pick a bundle of flowers and although it was winter, he was able to gather enough Spanish roses. He gave the roses to the Bishop, and when they fell, the image of the Virgin Mary was imprinted on his apron.



3. Catholics pray through the Virgin Mary, and they also hold a nine day celebration in her honor "Novena." Here is a copy of the prayers for the nine day celebration:

First Day: Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favor......Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Second Day: O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Third Day: O Mary, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Fourth Day:Dearest Mother of Guadalupe, I beg you for a fortified will to imitate your divine Son’s charity, to always seek the good of others in need. Grant me this, I humbly ask of you.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Fifth Day:O most holy Mother, I beg you to obtain for me pardon of all my sins, abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Sixth Day: Mary, Mother of vocations, multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, safety in stormy nights. Beg your Son to send us many priests and religious. This we ask of you, O Mother.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.

Seventh Day: O Lady of Guadalupe, we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in a Christian manner; that children obey and follow the directions of their parents; that all members of the family pray and worship together. This we ask of you, O Mother.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Eighth Day: With my heart full of the most sincere veneration, I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy.Our father, Hail Mary, Glory.
Ninth Day: O God, You have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favors by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant us, your humble servants, who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven.Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory.

http://www.sancta.org/novena.html --- a .org site. It is an organizationally run site and trustworthy.

Peer Readings

1. Theresa- said that while reading she was "drawn to the articles and videos of this ancient and often mislabeled people, the Moors."

2. Susan Said that the Conquest Era stands out as being the era that shaped Latin America the most.

3. Stacy was "been both fascinated and horrified by the ways the indigenous cultures (Maya, Inca, Oltec etc.)"

4. Shannon chose to talk about C ortez and Columbus because there were a few quotes in the book "A People's History of the United States 1492- Present" that she wanted to share with the class.

5. Sara was interested in the housing styles of the aincent Latin Americans.

6. Robert chose to study how Columbus was a “conquisitor.”

7. Jamison said that native populations were wiped out and exploited by the Spanish.

8. Gray wrote about the significance of bells in the misions.

9. Brandon was immedietly intrigued wih his topic, once he found some information.

10. Logan Mission Dolores of San Francisco is the oldest standing building in the city standing at 116 years old.

INTDIS 4 week 8

Columbus and Cortes
1. The Conquest era refers to the years roughly between 1492 (when Columbus set sail) until around 1533. The time in which the Incas and Aztecs were conquered. Some people call this the mixing of European and Indigenous cultures and customs, but history has taught us that it was more likely the time of European dominance.
2. I chose this topic because growing up in elementary school I was always taught that Christopher Columbus and Hernán Cortés were good guys and that we should honor and celebrate their discoveries in the “New World.” But as I grew up and studied the topic more and more, I was surprised to see all of their heroic attributes fly out the window. I want to get another look at Columbus and Cortez and see if they are heroes or villains.
Fun facts 1: Columbus didn’t go to much school, he learned to read and write in Spanish while sailing, and he taught himself Latin, Because he needed to know how to read the maps, which were mainly written un Latin. Cortes on the other hand, attended the University of Salmanca, and was well educated. I think that the difference in their education levels is interesting, because they are so different from each other.
Fun fact 2: Cortez landed on what is now known as Baja California on his very last expedition. This was the first landing on what would become the United States of America. Many people believe this to be the reason that we live there today. Without this last expedition, this land may have remained uncharted forever.
Fun fact 3: I found it interesting how Columbus renamed the islands. Guanahani became San Salvador (Holy Savior) and Cuba which he renamed “Juana” after the Spanish princess.
Fun fact 4: The whole time Columbus was in Latin America, Columbus thought that he was in Asia.

http://www.harlingen.isd.tenet.edu/coakhist/explor.html
This site is reliable because it is a .edu site, which means that it is an educational site.


1. Alyssa chose to look at the Aztec’s because she remembered studying them in school and she fond them interesting
2. Beatriz chose to do the Aztec because she has family in Mexico City.
3. Brandon has always been interested in the Mayan culture.
4. Candace thought that the religious ideas behind the City Where Men Become Gods were interesting.
5. Jamison chose the Aztec because of their rich culture and human sacrifices, advanced mythology and calendar system.
6. Kathy chose to study the Guarani because she had not studied them in school.
7. Kelsey liked the Mayan Pyramids of Chichen Itza.
8. Kim visited the Coba ruins and included a picture of the ball courts.
9. Logan felt a “weird obligation” to pick the Olmec.
10. Sara found the level of the Mayan intelligence surprising.