The second class we started with a ritual where we observed the different directions we were facing. At first I thought we were doing something similar to a Pledge Allegiance. I believe the message was more in tune with the way the indigenous thought of the earth and their place.
We discussed the reading assignment and the consensus was that it was a hard read. I would have to agree with that as well. I found the introduction interesting but the first chapter there was a lot of information with facts and dates. I found the discussion much more interesting material.
Curtis had a show and tell of different natural items on a map. Curtis used the donkey jaw and a stick to use it as a musical instrument. I found this interesting as I remember it being similar to a Mexican toy - wooden animal (frog) with a serrated edge and a stick to make a very similar sound.
We learned more in depth of the different Indian tribes – Olmec, Maya, Aztecs, Incas. The Mayans were big into sacrifice. They would play a game similar to basketball were the victor was sacrifice to the gods. This was considered an honor. This practice does not fit much into the way the world could be seen today with a “Survival of the Fittest” attitude.
We learned more about Tenochtitlan. This is where the Eagle and Serpent was first discovered on a cactus. The indigenous meaning symbolizes the sky with the eagle and the ground with the serpent and together it is an earthbound being. My thoughts were more of a battle of good versus evil. This symbol is currently depicted on the Mexican flag. The Church of Guadalupe was made of the same red stone as a buried indigenous structure. Today it would be called recycling but I am sure that was not the intent. The intent probably had more to do with dominance and conquer. The video showed Tenochtitlan surrounded by water. If this is now Mexico City, I wonder what happened to the water.
The last thing we discussed was the Virgin of Guadalupe. We were shown the examples of syncretism that enabled Catholicism to be the accepted religion. Could this be why people named Guadalupe also go by the name of Maria?
We discussed the reading assignment and the consensus was that it was a hard read. I would have to agree with that as well. I found the introduction interesting but the first chapter there was a lot of information with facts and dates. I found the discussion much more interesting material.
Curtis had a show and tell of different natural items on a map. Curtis used the donkey jaw and a stick to use it as a musical instrument. I found this interesting as I remember it being similar to a Mexican toy - wooden animal (frog) with a serrated edge and a stick to make a very similar sound.
We learned more in depth of the different Indian tribes – Olmec, Maya, Aztecs, Incas. The Mayans were big into sacrifice. They would play a game similar to basketball were the victor was sacrifice to the gods. This was considered an honor. This practice does not fit much into the way the world could be seen today with a “Survival of the Fittest” attitude.
We learned more about Tenochtitlan. This is where the Eagle and Serpent was first discovered on a cactus. The indigenous meaning symbolizes the sky with the eagle and the ground with the serpent and together it is an earthbound being. My thoughts were more of a battle of good versus evil. This symbol is currently depicted on the Mexican flag. The Church of Guadalupe was made of the same red stone as a buried indigenous structure. Today it would be called recycling but I am sure that was not the intent. The intent probably had more to do with dominance and conquer. The video showed Tenochtitlan surrounded by water. If this is now Mexico City, I wonder what happened to the water.
The last thing we discussed was the Virgin of Guadalupe. We were shown the examples of syncretism that enabled Catholicism to be the accepted religion. Could this be why people named Guadalupe also go by the name of Maria?
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