Energy and Place
Essential Questions:
1. How does energy impact Place?
2. How does your sense of place, your environmental ethic, and your understanding of energy needs influence man's use of Earth's resources and your own life style decisions?

Artists Statement
In this painting I am expressing a situation I was in while I was lost on Animas Mountain. That night the full moon glistened over the La Plata Mountains and the forest flour below. At this time in the night I had a strange encounter with an animal and I was hiding in a tree for over three hours watching the moon slowly setting behind the La Plata Mountains.
This is meant to represent how my experience shaped my sense of place. Though this was a scary experience for me it really connected me to this place. I often find my self randomly staring up at Animas Mountain longing to explore its slopes. My environmental ethic shown through this painting is very subtle but represents my beliefs. I adore the natural world chose to paint this particular scene from my memory because it lacks any source of civilization. The whole idea of the Gaia hypothesis where every living thing is connected to each other and vital to the survival of the ecosystem really resonates with me. In the picture I made it look how it is meant to look, how this place as looked for thousands of years, and what I believe it should look it forever.
In this painting I am expressing a situation I was in while I was lost on Animas Mountain. That night the full moon glistened over the La Plata Mountains and the forest flour below. At this time in the night I had a strange encounter with an animal and I was hiding in a tree for over three hours watching the moon slowly setting behind the La Plata Mountains.
This is meant to represent how my experience shaped my sense of place. Though this was a scary experience for me it really connected me to this place. I often find my self randomly staring up at Animas Mountain longing to explore its slopes. My environmental ethic shown through this painting is very subtle but represents my beliefs. I adore the natural world chose to paint this particular scene from my memory because it lacks any source of civilization. The whole idea of the Gaia hypothesis where every living thing is connected to each other and vital to the survival of the ecosystem really resonates with me. In the picture I made it look how it is meant to look, how this place as looked for thousands of years, and what I believe it should look it forever.
Animas Mountain
Ande Lloyd
Abstract:
It was last spring when I got lost up on Animas Mountain spending the entire night trying to find my way back to my tent. Spooked from the presence of mountain lions, fighting the frigid cold, what I experienced, will stay with me for the rest of my life. I believe experience is what shapes our sense of place; the feeling when you see your house after a long trip, how you are drawn to your favorite camping spot, or the scenery that takes your breath away. All of these feelings, must come from somewhere? What you experience in that special place, shapes how see that place. From my experience on Animas Mountain, it shaped how I viewed that place into something new. Every time I drive around Durango it looms above me, calling my name. And even the scary stuff still stays with me, sometimes reminding me in the darkness of night. Animas Mountain means so much to me now, and as civilization grows expanding to every corner of the earth, I never want that place to change. Never forgetting the trees swaying peacefully in the wind.
Click here to read the rest of the story
Ande Lloyd
Abstract:
It was last spring when I got lost up on Animas Mountain spending the entire night trying to find my way back to my tent. Spooked from the presence of mountain lions, fighting the frigid cold, what I experienced, will stay with me for the rest of my life. I believe experience is what shapes our sense of place; the feeling when you see your house after a long trip, how you are drawn to your favorite camping spot, or the scenery that takes your breath away. All of these feelings, must come from somewhere? What you experience in that special place, shapes how see that place. From my experience on Animas Mountain, it shaped how I viewed that place into something new. Every time I drive around Durango it looms above me, calling my name. And even the scary stuff still stays with me, sometimes reminding me in the darkness of night. Animas Mountain means so much to me now, and as civilization grows expanding to every corner of the earth, I never want that place to change. Never forgetting the trees swaying peacefully in the wind.
Click here to read the rest of the story
Project Reflection
For this project we had to write about a place that is meaningful to us. While writing our meaningful place we had to incorporate our environmental ethic. Leading up to this project we learned about nature writing, and the use of grand style to make your writing unique and beautiful. Also we learned about how energy can be related to our sense of place, and how it can form our environmental ethic.
I challenged myself through this project because unlike my peers I didn’t write just an essay talking about my sense of place and environmental ethic, I tried to incorporate those things through a narrative. I told a story about an experience I had on Animas Mountain, and how it formed my sense of place. That experience made me care for the place and formed my environmental ethic. This was a challenge because it was hard to incorporating my ideas into the story because instinctively I just wanted to tell the story. And during the time on Animas Mountain, my mind wasn’t thinking about my sense of place or my environmental ethic. So I really had to pull myself back and think about how I was going to do this without taking away from the story. But by the end this challenge turned out to be an effective learning experience.
I am very proud of my visual piece. My environmental ethic shown through my painting is very subtle but represents my beliefs. I adore the natural world chose to paint this particular scene from my memory because it lacks any source of civilization. The whole idea of the Gaia hypothesis is where every living thing is connected to each other, and vital to the survival of the earth. This idea really resonates with me. In the picture I made it look how it is meant to look, with no human presence, how this place as looked for thousands of years, and what I believe it should look it forever.
Going off the essential question, how does energy production impact place, and the connection between our humanities project and our chemistry project I learned that energy has everything to do with impacting your sense of place. In chemistry we learned about the green house gasses and how we are emitting CO2 into the atmosphere that is causing global warming and other problems. Though we can’t see the CO2 in the atmosphere, everyday it is changing the place we live. Ocean acidification is were CO2 in the atmosphere gets absorbed by earth’s oceans and increases the acidity during the process. Coral reefs around the globe are so fragile that the increased acidity in the water is making them die off. They are literally disappearing from the face of the earth. So the need of energy that humans require does impact place, it kills it, and changes it. So there is no doubt the energy and place are connected.
For this project we had to write about a place that is meaningful to us. While writing our meaningful place we had to incorporate our environmental ethic. Leading up to this project we learned about nature writing, and the use of grand style to make your writing unique and beautiful. Also we learned about how energy can be related to our sense of place, and how it can form our environmental ethic.
I challenged myself through this project because unlike my peers I didn’t write just an essay talking about my sense of place and environmental ethic, I tried to incorporate those things through a narrative. I told a story about an experience I had on Animas Mountain, and how it formed my sense of place. That experience made me care for the place and formed my environmental ethic. This was a challenge because it was hard to incorporating my ideas into the story because instinctively I just wanted to tell the story. And during the time on Animas Mountain, my mind wasn’t thinking about my sense of place or my environmental ethic. So I really had to pull myself back and think about how I was going to do this without taking away from the story. But by the end this challenge turned out to be an effective learning experience.
I am very proud of my visual piece. My environmental ethic shown through my painting is very subtle but represents my beliefs. I adore the natural world chose to paint this particular scene from my memory because it lacks any source of civilization. The whole idea of the Gaia hypothesis is where every living thing is connected to each other, and vital to the survival of the earth. This idea really resonates with me. In the picture I made it look how it is meant to look, with no human presence, how this place as looked for thousands of years, and what I believe it should look it forever.
Going off the essential question, how does energy production impact place, and the connection between our humanities project and our chemistry project I learned that energy has everything to do with impacting your sense of place. In chemistry we learned about the green house gasses and how we are emitting CO2 into the atmosphere that is causing global warming and other problems. Though we can’t see the CO2 in the atmosphere, everyday it is changing the place we live. Ocean acidification is were CO2 in the atmosphere gets absorbed by earth’s oceans and increases the acidity during the process. Coral reefs around the globe are so fragile that the increased acidity in the water is making them die off. They are literally disappearing from the face of the earth. So the need of energy that humans require does impact place, it kills it, and changes it. So there is no doubt the energy and place are connected.
Historical Fiction Project
Project Reflection
For my project I wrote a historical fiction story about the long-term effects of Indian Education. And when I finished my story I didn’t only reflect on Indian Education but showed modern what Indian life looks like. My story is about a Native American who lives on the Navajo Reservation who is a rancher living with his mother, and had lost his father to alcoholism. The main character is set to represent the struggles of the Indian people and show the emotional effects of the modern Native American.
I have learned that this tragic story of the Native American people is not over. Even today many struggle with poverty, alcohol, and suicide. The American Indian Boarding Schools have contributed greatly the numerous problems of the Native American people. They have “civilized” them into European values and caused them to loose some of their culture. With every generation the language slowly slips away, and with the loss of language, there is a loss of culture.
The narrative strengths of my project are the emotional perspective of David who the main character in the story. The strength of the story is showing descriptive language of the place where David lives, and the emotional state David is at the time. Also I think that my story shows how the modern white civilization is ignorant to the struggles of the Indian people through Craig, who is the other main character.
The difficult part of this project was trying to incorporate the historical narrative into the story. In my first draft I got a little carried away telling a story about Craig getting lost and his encounter with a mountain lion. This first draft didn’t focus on the historical perspective of the American Indian Boarding Schools but more focused on a survival story, which was not relevant toward history.
History can really be brought to life through narrative when history can be defined through the emotions of others. It helps people relive those events and get more out of learning history through narrative. With textbooks you can get a general picture of the events that happened during that time, but who loose the culture, the perspective, and the emotion of that time. With history brought to life through narrative you really can learn the significance of that time.
I have learned that this tragic story of the Native American people is not over. Even today many struggle with poverty, alcohol, and suicide. The American Indian Boarding Schools have contributed greatly the numerous problems of the Native American people. They have “civilized” them into European values and caused them to loose some of their culture. With every generation the language slowly slips away, and with the loss of language, there is a loss of culture.
The narrative strengths of my project are the emotional perspective of David who the main character in the story. The strength of the story is showing descriptive language of the place where David lives, and the emotional state David is at the time. Also I think that my story shows how the modern white civilization is ignorant to the struggles of the Indian people through Craig, who is the other main character.
The difficult part of this project was trying to incorporate the historical narrative into the story. In my first draft I got a little carried away telling a story about Craig getting lost and his encounter with a mountain lion. This first draft didn’t focus on the historical perspective of the American Indian Boarding Schools but more focused on a survival story, which was not relevant toward history.
History can really be brought to life through narrative when history can be defined through the emotions of others. It helps people relive those events and get more out of learning history through narrative. With textbooks you can get a general picture of the events that happened during that time, but who loose the culture, the perspective, and the emotion of that time. With history brought to life through narrative you really can learn the significance of that time.
Story Preview: The Truth of the Living Indian
Craig
It’s 43 degrees today, typical for a winter day in Southeastern Utah. I sit resting, conserving my energy, and I look across the small wash and watch the sunlight creeping away. I tell myself that there is no other place I would rather be. I love the desert. I love the canyons, the lonely towers scouring the ever-blue sky. And of course, I love Comb Ridge; the landmark that gives me a feeling of longing every time I see it, like I belong exploring the never-ending strip of sandstone rock. I get up and start heading across the ridge top, seeing a beautiful array of landscape. Jagged sandstone pillars beautifully emerging out of the earth like frozen missiles rocketing out of the ground. The ridge is like a giant wall, protecting the land behind it. Looking up you see small cliff dwellings hiding in small alcoves hidden, out of reach. Then Looking down I see my trail of tracks sunken into the sand. They are like little bits of history temporarily marked into the earth. I walk with a tired swagger as I approach the last stretch of my two-week long backpacking trip in the desert. My feet sore from pacing through a maze of canyons and sandstone ridges, I Remember the satellite phone in my pocket, I reach down, only to find that it is gone. It must have fallen out when running and stumbling down that wash. It isn’t a big deal because in the distance I can see an old looking shack neatly resting in between the rolling hills. My hands stiff from the cold, and my face frosted to the bone, I look up and see the sun starting to rise. The shack was a long trailer home painted white with stains soaked in from the weather. Little white dots were moving not far off from the small abode. Those little white dots where sheep that were wondering about. A skinny brown horse was standing in a small wooden pen, and an old looking truck was baking in the morning sun. |
David
David sat by the window of his home. His mom sat rocking back and forth in her rocking chair staring into space oblivious of her surroundings. It was a hard life on the reservation. Barely any money came in for his mom and David to survive. They had no electricity, and no heat to keep them warm at night. An old broken down truck lay beside their home unable to transport them into town. David’s only source of transportation was an old dainty brown horse that stood in a little pen slowly scuffing through what little food they had for her. Like his father, David was a rancher. But David’s father died some time ago due to alcoholism. David could remember seeing his father staggering about searching for another drink. He never stopped, dawn till dusk until one day David saw his father lying outside with no life left in him. All of it sucked out by the addicting poison. David feared the stuff, never wanting to even touch it. And when is father died, things got really hard for David. Through loss of his father he is reminded of the consequence of his actions and the curse that has set upon him. He was all alone trying to run the ranch, and all alone tending to his mother. In her later years she began to forget things. Over time it got so bad that she even forgot who David was. This was hard for David, he loved his mom, and he knew she loved him too. But day-by-day the love was forgotten by his mother, her blank eyes just staring past David, not knowing where she was, or who the people where around her. And he couldn’t bring her to the hospital because of the lack of transportation. But the hardest part for David was when his mother spoke Navajo. Though David was Navajo, he struggled in speaking the language of his own people. His old mother, losing her precious memory could only speak in her native tongue. Every word she uttered was like a knife in David’s heart. How could she? Why didn’t she ever teach David the language of his culture? David would have given anything to understand his mother. But he knew deep down why his mother didn’t teach him. She wanted to help him, help him survive in the new era. As David stared out of the window he suddenly could make out a small figure happily trudging toward the ranch. Bouncing up and down as if nothing in the world could go wrong. Confused and curious David wondered who that could be. No one had ever happened upon his property. Not even his friends in town, because it was often too far and out of the way just to get to the ranch. Click Here For Entire Story https://docs.google.com/document/d/18ZcC8Pr3lDe0jEa9k0dh28okVBgrZat58u2M_MNRTrw/pub |
Burry My Heart at Wounded Knee: Historical Inquiry
Our task for this assignment was to become Wounded Knee historians. We had to analyze ten primary sources on the event of Wounded Knee then write a textbook passage summarizing the event in an unbiased way. After that we watched a film, “Burry my Heart at Wounded Knee,” and analyzed the films historical accuracy. Our final assignment was to write a historical inquiry comparing watching the film, to learning history through a textbook.
Textbook Passage: The events of Wounded Knee on December 29th, 1890 the 7th Calvary of the United States encountered Big Foot’s band camped near Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota off the Good River. Big Foot’s band were heading toward Pine Ridge after Sitting Bull was killed, and about three hundred people that were joined with them form Sitting Bull’s band, most of them were women and children. The Indians were starving and freezing due to the fact that the food provisions and warm clothing that the government promised, never came.
Textbook Passage: The events of Wounded Knee on December 29th, 1890 the 7th Calvary of the United States encountered Big Foot’s band camped near Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota off the Good River. Big Foot’s band were heading toward Pine Ridge after Sitting Bull was killed, and about three hundred people that were joined with them form Sitting Bull’s band, most of them were women and children. The Indians were starving and freezing due to the fact that the food provisions and warm clothing that the government promised, never came.
Burry My Heart at Wounded Knee Historic Inquiry

“Burry My Heart at Wounded Knee is a film depicting the massacre of Wounded Knee that happened with the Lakota Indians, December 29th, 1990. About 300 innocent Lakota women and children died that day, and about thirty U.S. soldiers died. When analyzing history, it is hard to see and feel what it was really like at that time, and the best way to express emotion through history is with film with stories. Although films and stories are not perfectly historically accurate, history is best told though emotion.
Normally when in history class, you don’t really see yourself analyzing fictional stories or watching films on events that may not have happened. But from my experience the best films or stories are the ones with that “Based on True Events” written on the cover. Those films and stories are the ones that bring people to tears, they are they ones that make people cower in fear, and they are the ones that can make someone feel so angry. Historical fiction brings out the emotion in history.
When history can be defined through the emotions of others, how does historical fiction educate people about history? While history is based on fact, from reading and analyzing ten primary sources on Wounded Knee, I thought I knew a lot about that event and what it was like. But reading all these sources was tedious and required a lot of hard work, and in the end I realized I missed some very important things. For example, the death of Sitting Bull was one thing I missed from reading all those primary sources. His death played a huge role in the causing the tragedy of the massacre and after reading all those primary sources I did not see that connection at all. But after watching the film, I was put into that emotional state in which the Lakota were at that time. And I realized how much of a symbol Sitting Bull was for the people. After watching that film, I understood the event way better than I did after reading all the primary sources.
Although the film we watched wasn’t perfectly accurate, it had such a greater impact then it had from reading all the primary sources. I heard my peers after finishing the film saying, “that was the most impacting thing I have ever seen. Wow, what am I doing with my life, I need to give something back to the world.” The experience I had was very similar. At lunch after watching that film my friend Gordon and I, said almost nothing. We both felt so terrible and sad, it was reflected throughout the day. When do you ever get this effect reading a textbook? The power of filmmaking is so unimaginably great many don’t even realize how great it is. With films you use the power of music, the expressions shown on actors’ faces, and the tone of voice being expressed, all of those things are ways to bring history to life. And even if they aren’t perfectly accurate, they impact people more making them feel what others felt at the time. When you do that, you understand history a lot better.
There are many ways to learn about history. But the best way to learn history is to experience it. Those films and stories of historical history are the ones that bring people to tears, they are they ones that make people cower in fear, and they are the ones that can make someone feel history instead of reading it. Even if historical fiction through film and story telling isn’t perfectly historically accurate, history is best learned through emotion.
Normally when in history class, you don’t really see yourself analyzing fictional stories or watching films on events that may not have happened. But from my experience the best films or stories are the ones with that “Based on True Events” written on the cover. Those films and stories are the ones that bring people to tears, they are they ones that make people cower in fear, and they are the ones that can make someone feel so angry. Historical fiction brings out the emotion in history.
When history can be defined through the emotions of others, how does historical fiction educate people about history? While history is based on fact, from reading and analyzing ten primary sources on Wounded Knee, I thought I knew a lot about that event and what it was like. But reading all these sources was tedious and required a lot of hard work, and in the end I realized I missed some very important things. For example, the death of Sitting Bull was one thing I missed from reading all those primary sources. His death played a huge role in the causing the tragedy of the massacre and after reading all those primary sources I did not see that connection at all. But after watching the film, I was put into that emotional state in which the Lakota were at that time. And I realized how much of a symbol Sitting Bull was for the people. After watching that film, I understood the event way better than I did after reading all the primary sources.
Although the film we watched wasn’t perfectly accurate, it had such a greater impact then it had from reading all the primary sources. I heard my peers after finishing the film saying, “that was the most impacting thing I have ever seen. Wow, what am I doing with my life, I need to give something back to the world.” The experience I had was very similar. At lunch after watching that film my friend Gordon and I, said almost nothing. We both felt so terrible and sad, it was reflected throughout the day. When do you ever get this effect reading a textbook? The power of filmmaking is so unimaginably great many don’t even realize how great it is. With films you use the power of music, the expressions shown on actors’ faces, and the tone of voice being expressed, all of those things are ways to bring history to life. And even if they aren’t perfectly accurate, they impact people more making them feel what others felt at the time. When you do that, you understand history a lot better.
There are many ways to learn about history. But the best way to learn history is to experience it. Those films and stories of historical history are the ones that bring people to tears, they are they ones that make people cower in fear, and they are the ones that can make someone feel history instead of reading it. Even if historical fiction through film and story telling isn’t perfectly historically accurate, history is best learned through emotion.
Montana 1948 Literary Analysis
For this assignment we read Montana 1948 by Larry Watson then wrote a literary analysis making a claim about what we thought the book represented. Through this assignment we learn how to form opinions about work and how to support those opinions with evidence.
Montana 1948 is about a young kid named David who lives in Montana and suddenly is housemaid Marie Little Soldier goes very ill. After his uncle, Frank examines her she dies not long after. Through out the book it goes through the struggles of David’s family persecuting Frank and also reflects what the mentality was like toward Sioux Indians in Montana at the time.
Montana 1948 is about a young kid named David who lives in Montana and suddenly is housemaid Marie Little Soldier goes very ill. After his uncle, Frank examines her she dies not long after. Through out the book it goes through the struggles of David’s family persecuting Frank and also reflects what the mentality was like toward Sioux Indians in Montana at the time.
Literary Analysis: What Lies in Racism

“I did not know how much was ended, when I look back now from this high hill of my old age, I can still see the butchered women and children lying heaped and scattered all along the crooked gulch, and I can see that something else died there in the bloody mud and was buried in the blizzard. A people’s dream died there. It was a beautiful dream.” -Black Elk, a Sioux Indian who witnessed the massacre of Wounded Knee, North Dakota 1890.
The massacre of Wounded Knee only lasted one hour, American soldiers killing 250 innocent women and children, and wounding 50. This was the last “battle” between the U.S. and the Indian people. This last effort before the Indian people have last been conquered. The west was now complete for the domination of the white man. When the white man settled in they continued to make their mark. The prejudice and injustice never really stopped. “Montana 1948” by Larry Watson reflects the prejudice and injustice upon the Sioux people that has been going on for many years.
From the start of American history, the white man does what he wants. Uncle Frank, the main character David’s uncle is idolized and revered by David. Marie Little Soldier, David’s housemaid, suddenly gets very ill. Uncle Frank is a doctor and comes to visit. Marie is very reluctant to see Frank for some mysterious reason. That reason is revealed to David later that night in a conversation between David’s Dad, Wesley and David’s mom. “Wesley, your brother is raping these women. These girls. These Indian girls. He offers his services to the reservation, to the BIA school. To the high school for athletic physicals. Then when he gets these girls where he wants them…he…Oh! I don’t even want to say it again. He does what he wants to do” (36 Watson). Frank molested young Indian girls during his practice as a doctor. In the beginning of American history, just like Frank, a person who is often looked as a hero in our society enslaved the Indian people, and also molested them. Christopher Columbus shows the injustice that has been enacted upon the Indian people for many years.
Injustice may have been going for many years, but also prejudice. David’s Grandfather is one character whose prejudice for Indians is most apparent. After David’s family heard the news about Frank, they are invited to David’s Grandparents house for a meal. Of course David, and his parents are hesitant to go because Frank would be there, but they went anyway since they were all family. David’s dad confronts his dad about the issues with Frank. “My grandfather boot heels thunked on the porch planks. ‘Your mother and I thought we’d have more to show than on grandchild. Nothing against Davy. But Christ-just one? From both of you?’ David’s dad response, ‘you know what we went through with David. After that we decided-‘ ‘-and white,’ grandfather interrupted. ‘We want white.’” (62 Watson). Later on in the passage Wesley’s dad starts describing an event with Frank when he was caught raping an Indian girl in the barn when he was younger and his tone of voice reveals he did not care what Frank did. As long as they’re Indians. This apathy for Indians that Wesley’s Dad shows is such deep-rooted prejudice. Prejudice against the Indians can even be found near where we live today. Just look at the reservation near Durango, it is run down and trashed. The land given has no worth, so we give it to the “worthless.” Prejudice is much apparent in this book and our world today.
Reasons for this prejudice and injustice could be because of the distribution of power. David describes his family in a very truthful way. “I was a Hayden. I knew from the time I was very young and without having told, and this meant something in Bentrock. Because my grandfather was wealthy and powerful, because my father-like his father before him-enforced the law, because my uncle treated the weak and injured (and I am wrong in mentioning?-because their wives were beautiful), people had an opinion about the Haydens.” The Hayden family had a lot of influence in Bentrock. Just like the power in history always leaned toward the white man. The white man has guns, germs, and steal on there side. Because of this power the white man could feel as if he was better than everyone else. Feel as if he were more evolved. And the “other” people don’t have all the things the white man have, there for the white man has reason to be prejudice against the “others.” The power is in the white man’s hands.
Montana 1948 is just a glimpse at the untold atrocities that were inflicted upon the Indian people. Because of power, prejudice, and injustice the Indian people have been laid to waste. The last battle that they fought at Wounded Knee shows that those great dreams that they had, crushed and washed away. As a result they were shoved down and beaten off their land and put onto reservations. The book shows Frank taking advantage of the same people, which have been shot and massacred long ago. When the power lies on the White Man’s hands, it he who decides whether to do what is right, or what is wrong.
The massacre of Wounded Knee only lasted one hour, American soldiers killing 250 innocent women and children, and wounding 50. This was the last “battle” between the U.S. and the Indian people. This last effort before the Indian people have last been conquered. The west was now complete for the domination of the white man. When the white man settled in they continued to make their mark. The prejudice and injustice never really stopped. “Montana 1948” by Larry Watson reflects the prejudice and injustice upon the Sioux people that has been going on for many years.
From the start of American history, the white man does what he wants. Uncle Frank, the main character David’s uncle is idolized and revered by David. Marie Little Soldier, David’s housemaid, suddenly gets very ill. Uncle Frank is a doctor and comes to visit. Marie is very reluctant to see Frank for some mysterious reason. That reason is revealed to David later that night in a conversation between David’s Dad, Wesley and David’s mom. “Wesley, your brother is raping these women. These girls. These Indian girls. He offers his services to the reservation, to the BIA school. To the high school for athletic physicals. Then when he gets these girls where he wants them…he…Oh! I don’t even want to say it again. He does what he wants to do” (36 Watson). Frank molested young Indian girls during his practice as a doctor. In the beginning of American history, just like Frank, a person who is often looked as a hero in our society enslaved the Indian people, and also molested them. Christopher Columbus shows the injustice that has been enacted upon the Indian people for many years.
Injustice may have been going for many years, but also prejudice. David’s Grandfather is one character whose prejudice for Indians is most apparent. After David’s family heard the news about Frank, they are invited to David’s Grandparents house for a meal. Of course David, and his parents are hesitant to go because Frank would be there, but they went anyway since they were all family. David’s dad confronts his dad about the issues with Frank. “My grandfather boot heels thunked on the porch planks. ‘Your mother and I thought we’d have more to show than on grandchild. Nothing against Davy. But Christ-just one? From both of you?’ David’s dad response, ‘you know what we went through with David. After that we decided-‘ ‘-and white,’ grandfather interrupted. ‘We want white.’” (62 Watson). Later on in the passage Wesley’s dad starts describing an event with Frank when he was caught raping an Indian girl in the barn when he was younger and his tone of voice reveals he did not care what Frank did. As long as they’re Indians. This apathy for Indians that Wesley’s Dad shows is such deep-rooted prejudice. Prejudice against the Indians can even be found near where we live today. Just look at the reservation near Durango, it is run down and trashed. The land given has no worth, so we give it to the “worthless.” Prejudice is much apparent in this book and our world today.
Reasons for this prejudice and injustice could be because of the distribution of power. David describes his family in a very truthful way. “I was a Hayden. I knew from the time I was very young and without having told, and this meant something in Bentrock. Because my grandfather was wealthy and powerful, because my father-like his father before him-enforced the law, because my uncle treated the weak and injured (and I am wrong in mentioning?-because their wives were beautiful), people had an opinion about the Haydens.” The Hayden family had a lot of influence in Bentrock. Just like the power in history always leaned toward the white man. The white man has guns, germs, and steal on there side. Because of this power the white man could feel as if he was better than everyone else. Feel as if he were more evolved. And the “other” people don’t have all the things the white man have, there for the white man has reason to be prejudice against the “others.” The power is in the white man’s hands.
Montana 1948 is just a glimpse at the untold atrocities that were inflicted upon the Indian people. Because of power, prejudice, and injustice the Indian people have been laid to waste. The last battle that they fought at Wounded Knee shows that those great dreams that they had, crushed and washed away. As a result they were shoved down and beaten off their land and put onto reservations. The book shows Frank taking advantage of the same people, which have been shot and massacred long ago. When the power lies on the White Man’s hands, it he who decides whether to do what is right, or what is wrong.
Rhetoric of the Youth
This project the youth got the opportunity to express their ideologies to the public. We wrote an Op-Ed piece on our chosen topic then did an oral presentation to go with it. This project was focused on the subject of rhetoric and how we could use it to our advantage. Rhetoric is the art of effective persuasive use of language through symbolism, literature, and speaking. Many of my peers chose to do topics like food, gun control, capitalism vs. socialism, and apportion.
What I have learned about rhetoric is that it is everywhere. On the TV, labeled on the products we use, and in the food we eat. Rhetoric is the effective use of persuasive language that can appeals to three main areas: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Ethos is the credibility of the source of rhetoric. An example of this is if I were the president of the United States I would have a lot of credibility so I would have very strong Ethos. Pathos is the appeal to emotion. One example of pathos is saying women and children died in a disaster rather than saying many people died in a disaster. This way you are appealing more to peoples’ emotions because you make them think of innocent children and women dying. Logos is known as the evidence of an argument. Logos could be statistics, photos, quotes, or videos. Through learning about rhetoric we watched a lot of political speeches and writing. After doing this I can recognize logical fallacies and locate devises used for effective rhetoric. Because of this I feel I can look passed the rhetoric and really see the content. This could help in the up coming elections where I will be voting. |
The thing I connected the most during this project was learning about American history. This was part of the rhetoric project because surprisingly I think our country is founded upon a lot of rhetoric. I love history in general and the perspective we took in learning American history this time was really cool. Traditionally it is all based off one textbook that gives a general overview of events, and often glorifies everything. But a book called “A People’s History” by Howard Zinn is totally opposite to traditional textbooks. I didn’t realize how dark and horrible our history was. I really liked seeing a bigger picture of the whole story because I feel I understand history better.
The most difficult part of the project was writing the Op-Ed. This was really hard to express my ideology because I chose a very complex idea that is a little bit out of my league. I was proposing the benefits of local markets and how it improves an economy, which is an idea that people will get entire degrees for. In my Op-Ed I made a lot of claims that I didn’t have clear evidence for. Although I didn’t have evidence for some of my claims I think those claims were valid. But in writing an Op-Ed those claims don’t work out too well. Plus I am going to try to publish my piece in the Durango Herald so I must have a very polished clear piece of writing. My ideology has changed prior to the project. Through this project I saw a wider view of American History, and I have seen a lot of bad and corruption. But I have also seen things that made me look past those bad things. A bad thing that I learned was that Christopher Columbus wasn’t this great American hero, but a horrible murderer and prosecutor. But the declaration of independence was written on ideals that are good and divine. And through the centuries all became included in this freedom including women, and blacks. Even now there is much we can do to make our country more free, but through this project I have learned to love America. Click here to view OP-ED |
This I Believe Project
What do I believe and why?...
The Power of PerseveranceI believe in the power of perseverance. Throughout life’s journey, experiencing failure will be an inevitable path that we all must undertake; and through the ruts and potholes, failure can teach us the necessary lessons of life.
I look back and see a lot of my life lessons and key experiences happening over these past six months. Running is one of my biggest passions, and one of the things I am very dedicated to. In March of 2013 I was diagnosed with a kidney condition called Minimal Change Disease. I had high aspirations for the oncoming track season and later for Cross Country season. But all of that was postponed. Through a rough struggle of recovery I learned a very key lesson in life. I learned of perseverance. Six weeks with dealing with Minimal Change Disease my physician started to taper the medication I am taking called prednisone. Aside from the side effects from the prednisone, things looked great. I thought to myself, “just two more weeks then I can start running again.” But as we started getting to a lower dose, my body relapsed and we had to start again from square one. All I can feel was disappointment. Weeks went by and we start tapering again. And then I had another relapse. Frustration, anger, and confusion rose up within me. “Why is this happening to me?” |
Not being able to run was not the only challenge I faced. School was another challenge. The prednisone was driving me insane. One day I would be this happy go lucky idiot, the other day I would be severely depressed. Trying to balance learning and the side effects was almost too much. But this was a time when I had no choice but to keep trying. I had to write down everything I did, or else I would forget it. Homework. I was good about doing it, and getting it done. The problem was I forgot I did it an hour later. But as time went on it got easier and I managed not to fail al my classes by the end of the year. When I was deep in my depression from the relapse I came to a realization. There are plenty of people that have it a lot worse than I do. There are people that have diseases that can last a lifetime, or shorten a lifetime greatly. This gave me hope. It is now late August and I am still battling kidney disease. I am still holding on to the hope that I won’t relapse again and finally get through the rough journey I have faced. Running is my passion and I have been able to do a lot of it. My goals are still the same, and even if I don’t make it this year I plan on getting back up, and trying again next year. Through my struggles I have come to believe in the power of perseverance. |
Project Reflection
For this assignment we were to write a 500-word essay on something we believe in. In class we explored the “This I Believe” website (http://thisibelieve.org) to see how these essays are written. They are all personal narrative essays, which we learned are concise and have a good authentic voice. When you read it you can almost hear the author saying the words written. Also good “This I believe” essays have elements like imagery, coherence, and narrative. The cool thing about this assignment is we get to submit our essays to NPR. And if our essays are good enough they will get recorded and featured on the radio. This project was a very unique experience and I am glad I had the opportunity.
After addictively reading as much “This I Believe” essays as I could, I feel coming up with an idea for my essay was easier for me than most. After undergoing my rough life experience with kidney disease, it was obvious on what I was going to write about. The biggest challenge I faced with writing my essay was keeping my word count below 500 words. I have an original document of all my ideas and the word count is almost double the amount than my final draft. But learning to cut and make my language more concise was really good for me. I feel this project has taught me to be a better writer.
I am proud of how personal my essay is. If I chose a topic where I didn’t have as much emotion and pain connected to it my essay wouldn’t have been as meaningful and impactful. In the original version of my essay I have a lot more writing than my final draft. What I am proud of is how I managed to slim down my essay so it is concise, and coherent. I am proud of how much I grew and matured over the past six months. Also, writing for me as started to become easier and easier every year at Animas. This essay for one is one of my better pieces of writing. But this is only the beginning. After this year it will be interesting to see how my writing is going to improve.
The part of my essay that I edited the most was my sentence structure. In my essay I kept messing up the present tense with the past tense. I was doing this because I am still dealing with my kidney disease at this moment. And some of the things I talked about both reflected the present tense and the past tense. For example the part of my essay were I was talking about my relapses. The first relapse happened a while ago, while the second one happened fairly recently. If I were to further refine my essay I would focus on capturing correct sentence structure.
This project really influenced my thinking by reading my peers credos and essays. I think getting just a much out of others ideas than your ideas is really awesome. One of my peers Justin Carlson wrote a credo about the offensive use of the word retarded. I never really called anyone that except in my younger years. But his credo had a lasting effect on me. He talked about how he works for adaptive sports and had the opportunity to get to know these mentally handicapped people. Now I hate the word “retarded” and I have a new reverence for our mentally handicapped community. This project is a wonderful chance to express good to the world through what you believe.
After addictively reading as much “This I Believe” essays as I could, I feel coming up with an idea for my essay was easier for me than most. After undergoing my rough life experience with kidney disease, it was obvious on what I was going to write about. The biggest challenge I faced with writing my essay was keeping my word count below 500 words. I have an original document of all my ideas and the word count is almost double the amount than my final draft. But learning to cut and make my language more concise was really good for me. I feel this project has taught me to be a better writer.
I am proud of how personal my essay is. If I chose a topic where I didn’t have as much emotion and pain connected to it my essay wouldn’t have been as meaningful and impactful. In the original version of my essay I have a lot more writing than my final draft. What I am proud of is how I managed to slim down my essay so it is concise, and coherent. I am proud of how much I grew and matured over the past six months. Also, writing for me as started to become easier and easier every year at Animas. This essay for one is one of my better pieces of writing. But this is only the beginning. After this year it will be interesting to see how my writing is going to improve.
The part of my essay that I edited the most was my sentence structure. In my essay I kept messing up the present tense with the past tense. I was doing this because I am still dealing with my kidney disease at this moment. And some of the things I talked about both reflected the present tense and the past tense. For example the part of my essay were I was talking about my relapses. The first relapse happened a while ago, while the second one happened fairly recently. If I were to further refine my essay I would focus on capturing correct sentence structure.
This project really influenced my thinking by reading my peers credos and essays. I think getting just a much out of others ideas than your ideas is really awesome. One of my peers Justin Carlson wrote a credo about the offensive use of the word retarded. I never really called anyone that except in my younger years. But his credo had a lasting effect on me. He talked about how he works for adaptive sports and had the opportunity to get to know these mentally handicapped people. Now I hate the word “retarded” and I have a new reverence for our mentally handicapped community. This project is a wonderful chance to express good to the world through what you believe.