Native Americans one perspective

Native Americans

For most Americas when they think of Native Americans they think of Thanksgiving, which has recently been shown to be a false image of what happened. Or they remember playing cowboys and Indians as children, where no one was really killed and fun was had by all. But what do we really know about the Native people of Northern America?

DEATH

Despite the fact that the settlers thought of all natives Americans as savages, there were many different tribes, with many different customs. Unfortunately, there some tribes of which we may never know the names of do to all the “taming of the savages” in which many Native Americans were killed.

The first few death were probably accidental and were most likely caused by unknown diseases that settlers brought with them. According to Kristine Patterson (2002), “With the arrival of Europeans in the Western Hemisphere, Native American populations were exposed to new infectious diseases, diseases for which they lacked immunity. These communicable diseases, including smallpox and measles, devastated entire native populations.” These deaths following so closely to the plague that according to O'Brien (May 15, 2012), “wiped out about 96 percent of the Indians in Massachusetts” (The Indians Weren't Defeated by White Settlers) greatly reduced the number of Native Americans left. In Addition, according to "North American Indian Timeline (1492-1999)" (n.d.), "1709 A slave market was erected at the foot of Wall Street and here Negroes and Indians, men, women and children were daily declared the property of the highest cash bidder,” (para. 1709) furthering endangers the health of this once strong people. Native Americans were not keep as slaves as long as African Americans because they were capable of running off to the wildness unlike the African American slaves.

Co-habitation

Most American believe that the Native Americans started with warfare and then realizing the superiority of guns over arrows gave in. However, in reality it was just the opposite.
Reality shows that the Native Americans first tried to adopt Anglo-American practices and treaties. However, the treaties did not give the land fast enough for the settlers and therefore where a failure. In response to the demands for more land, according to "Indian Removal" (n.d.), “In 1823 the Supreme Court handed down a decision which stated that Indians could occupy lands within the United States, but could not hold title to those lands. This was because their "right of occupancy" was subordinate to the United States' "right of discovery." This lead to even more Native Americans being told were they could live, forcing them off their Native lands and requiring them to move to the west coast.

The Cherokee in 1827 tried to protect their lands using the ways of the whites and wrote a constitution. However, according to McBride (December 2006), “in 1828, the state of Georgia passed a series of laws stripping local Cherokee Indians of their rights.” By 1838 according to "CCD History 201 - History Of United States 1" (n.d.), “The U.S. government sent in 7,000 troops, who forced the Cherokees into stockades at bayonet point. They were not allowed time to gather their belongings, and as they left, whites looted their homes. Then began the march known as the Trail of Tears, in which 4,000 Cherokee people died of cold, hunger, and disease on their way to the western lands.” History shows that during this time period there were a few whites who saw the removal as an excuse to take their land, however, many people believed removing the Native Americans from the “white man’s land” was better for everyone.

Finally having been driven to violence the Native Americans began to fight back, and fought even harder when the settlers decided to try to settle the west coast. Do not all humans have a breaking point? Could you say you would not do the same when your land was taken, your family separated and abused ?

Today’s World

Modern day has seen many changes to the face of America and its people. We all know that the beginning of the settlers and Native Americans relations was a good one because we all know the thanksgiving story right? Wrong, as the internet allows for more sides to be heard we learn that Thanksgiving was nothing like the picture Americans have in the minds. Not only do we now know the name of the tribe that was there; which is the Wampanoag Nation; we also know there was no inviting was done by any pilgrims. In fact the Native Americans showed up ready for war because of the loud noise of gun fire the pilgrims were shooting off to celebrate the first harvest. So where did the happy thanksgiving story come from? It was invented to help bring a nation back together after the civil war. ("What Really Happened At The First Thanksgiving?” n.d.)

Even after all the mistreatment of the Native Americans they help America with World War II. However, they would wait years for any recognition for the huge part they played in the successful ending of the war.  ("Real Code Talker Interview", April 7, 2014).

This is not to say there have not been strives to help protect the American Indian. One such law is Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. According to "Indian Child Welfare Act Of 1978" (2014), “The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that seeks to keep American Indian children with American Indian families.” There are also the Hunting and fishing rights are some of the Native Americans enjoy due to the courts. ("Native American Rights - Hunting And Fishing Rights ", 2014). According to "Congress Granted Citizenship" (n.d.), “Congress Granted Citizenship to All Native Americans Born in the U.S. June 2, 1924” giving them the same rights as any other American Citizen. However, “until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting.” The "Congress Granted Citizenship To All Native Americans Born In The U.S." (n.d.)

Conclusion

In today’s world the remaining Native Americans live on the “roughly three hundred Indian Reservations in the United States” ("Indian Reservations", n.d.) instead of throughout Northern America. Although, they are no longer treated by laws as second class citizens and are not told where they must live, they still face hatred and discrimination throughout America. Historians are still learning the real truth of what happened to the Native Americans and the facts stated here only cover a small portion of what we know. Despite laws that were enacted to protect the Native Americans the “white man” still seems to find ways around these laws.





Resources:
• Patterson, K. (2002). Smallpox and the Native American. Retrieved from      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12003378
• O'Brien, J. (May 15, 2012). 6 Ridiculous Lies You Believe About the Founding of America. Retrieved from http://www.cracked.com/article_19864_6-ridiculous-lies-you-believe-about-founding-america.html
• Indian removal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html
• McBride, A. (December 2006). Cherokee Indian Cases (1830s). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_cherokee.html
• CCD HISTORY 201 - History of United States 1. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://roebuckclasses.com/201/conquest/removal.htm
• NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN TIMELINE (1492-1999). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/notes/nativeamericanchron.html
• What Really Happened at the First Thanksgiving? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/11/23/what-really-happened-first-thanksgiving-wampanoag-side-tale-and-whats-done-today-145807
• Real Code Talker Interview. (April 7, 2014). Retrieved from http://navajocodetalkers.org/
• Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.nicwa.org/indian_child_welfare_act/
• Native American Rights - Hunting And Fishing Rights. (2014). Retrieved from http://law.jrank.org/pages/8750/Native-American-Rights-Hunting-Fishing-Rights.html
• Indian Reservations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.indians.org/articles/indian-reservations.html

Do the positive effects of consumerism outweigh the negative effect, or are we just ignoring the consequence of this life style?

I am writing this for my college class but i thought it would be worth share . hope you all like it.

Do the positive effects of consumerism outweigh the negative effect, or are we just ignoring the consequence of this life style? In American people are surrounded by advertising, no matter where they are. Whether they are driving down the road listening to music, or reading billboards, or at home playing games or watching television there is someone trying to sell them something. This is not news to anyone living in today’s world. “However, as the years have progressed, the sophistication of advertising methods and techniques has advanced, enticing and shaping and even creating consumerism and needs where there has been none before, or turning luxuries into necessities.” says Anup Shah (03/04/2012),   in her article Media and Advertising.  Or as Chuck Blore,  said in The Media Monopoly, Sixth Edition, (Beacon Press, 2000), p.185. said “Advertising is the art of arresting the human intelligence just long enough to get money from it.”  Products, and even beliefs, sold in the form of entrainment and have made consumerism a way of life in America but is the true cost?

The first question that comes to mind when we think about consumerism is; when did it all start? The Industrial Revolution, in the 1800’s allowed products to be mass-produced but it was not until about 1906 that consumerism really took off.  According to Gale Research Inc. (1996 and 2002), “The radio got its voice on Christmas Eve 1906.” (Heading title: History). With the invention of radio, businesses were finally able to reach people in their own homes allowing consumerism to move full steam ahead. In 1927, with the invention of television, consumerism was already a way of life in America but television gave a renewed passion to owning things.

Though mass-production and in home advertising American were encouraged people to think about leisure actives and devices. In addition, the high demand for newer and better things, brought on by this, allowed for the invention of newer and better things. However, consumerism also made noticeable classes available in America and started the saying “keeping up with the Joneses.”

            Consumerism also had an effect a “The Great Depression.” According to the history books, The Great Depression of the 1930s started with the stock market crash of October 1929 and lasted until early 1940s.”  Rosenberg (2014)  Some believe The Great Depression was the first effects of a consumer driven society. Many blame mass-production for The Great Depression while others do not think it is that simple. Whatever the belief it is easy to see how The Great Depression lasted longer due to the overstock of products brought on by consumerism.

However, without mass-production and consumerism we would not have had the factories to help us with World War II. According to "The Rise of American Consumerism" by PBS (n.d.), “Wartime production had helped pull America's economy out of depression.” One has to wonder how much longer the depression might have lasted if the factories were not available to help the United States.

The belief that consumerism only has good outcomes has continued to make it a huge part of American culture. Of course, everyone can see how consumers need for the latest gadget is pushing for new inventions. It is easy to see how this continuous turn over for newer and better products is also allowing for more jobs in and outside of the factories.  The saying “yesterday science fiction is todays science fact” is easy to see in the world today. Within this height of consumerism, we can also see how it has led to many people thinking outside the normal product and services box. Consumerism therefor is allowing from growth in smaller or owner run business. (Self-publishing, Uber, EBay sales, just to name a few.)

It has also increased the availability to Americans for more avenues of entrainment and leisurely actives. All we have to do it turn on a radio, movie, or the television to reminded that more stuff equals happiness and without consumerism we still be stuck in the dark ages. With today’s entrainment needing to double for a babysitter so both parents can work, it is even more important that it teach morals. Having one set of morals is important to ensure all of society has a similar belief system. Disney is a great example of showing how everyone can have a happily ever after if they just follow the right path.

Why fix something that is not broke right? Consumerism is breaking the American society. In addition, it is causing damage (possible irreparable) to the earth.

Businesses are using planned obsolescence (or built-in obsolescence) to make sure we continue to buy the latest product and throw out the old without getting it repaired. Dan Kulpinski’s show The Human Footprint, from national geographic, (Dec 5, 2013), reminds us “Americans generated 251 million tons of trash in 2006, the most recent year for which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has data.” Rachael Tulipano (Dec 5, 2013), further explains “This “garbage” ranges from the obvious examples of food waste, to the material goods that have broken beyond apparent repair, to the objects we choose to abandon in exchange for their newer, more efficiently innovated counterparts.”

In addition, Heinberg, R. (Jul 24, 2013) The Brief, Tragic Reign of Consumerism tells us “The math is simple: even at a fraction of one percent per year growth in consumption, all of Earth’s resources would eventually be used up. The consumer economy also produces an unending variety of wastes, of which water, air, and soil can absorb only so much before planetary life-support systems begin unraveling.” (Paragraph: What could possibly go wrong?)

Not to mention that fact that all the over time, or second job, leaves the average consumer with little or no leisure time. So who is really enjoying the benefits of all these “time saving” gadgets? The throwaway society mentality is also seeping into Americans home life. According to Meyer on about.com (n.d.), “We live in a disposable society. Marriages are thrown away in the same fashion one would toss an old pair of shoes.” (5). So what about the “fact,” “more stuff equals happiness and without consumerism we still be stuck in the dark ages”? The American dream of owning it all continues but Americas just become more depressed. According to The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2004), “Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.” (Paragraph title: Major Depressive Disorder).

However, teaching strong morals through movies and televisions is working, right? Some say American has become a nation of sheep, with the select few choosing the morals for the country, and the status quo are happy keep them sheep. One has to wonder what will happen to make Americans wake up to reality of it all. Let us not forgot, that the media maintains several antiquated ideas like that, a woman must have a man to survive or that men are incapable of raising children.

So, do the benefits out weight the cost? Are the American people still willing to pay the price of a throwaway society with increased divorce rates, increased depression, and the irreparable damage to the planet we live on? Are they willing to continue to allow a select few to set the Morals for everyone?

As they said in the Brad Pitt 1999 movie, fight club “The things you own end up owning you. Right. We are consumers. We’re the bi-products of a lifestyle obsession” We do not NEED all the things we think we need, and NEWSFLASH! When we get the things we think we need…they probably aren’t making us any happier.” (http://theblogformen.com/fck-martha-stewart-11-lessons-from-the-movie-fight-club/)

This is one American, which is ready to stop paying for the carousal ride, where you never get the brass ring of happiness. Is it not time to learn to enjoy life without the stress of consumerism?

Resource links:

·       Shah, A. (03/04/2012). Media and Advertising. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/160/media-and-advertising

·       Chuck Blore, a partner in the advertising firm Chuck Blore & Don Ruchman, Inc., quoted by Ben H. Bagdikian, The Media Monopoly, Sixth Edition, (Beacon Press, 2000), p.185. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/160/media-and-advertising

·       Gale Research Inc. (1996 and 2002). Radio. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/radio.aspxhttp://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/p/greatdepression.htm

·       Rosenberg, J. (2014). The Great Depression. Retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/p/greatdepression.htm

·       The Rise of American Consumerism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tupperware-consumer

·       Kulpinski, D. (Dec 5, 2013). Human Footprint: Where Does All the Stuff Go?. Retrieved from http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human-footprint/trash-talk.html

·       Tulipano, R. (Dec 5, 2013). America the wasteful: A detailed look into our throw-away society. Retrieved from http://gentwenty.com/america-the-wasteful-a-detailed-look-into-our-throw-away-society/http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/1786882-the-brief-tragic-reign-of-consumerism-and

·       The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2004 ). The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml#MajorDepressive