Blogpost 2/25/06

1. What are Ishmael’s two general rules on how to identify people from our culture? Do you agree with Ishmael when he says that people from all over the world are part of the same culture? Why or why not?

The two General rules on identifying people is by their flaws and by their culture. Each culture has different flaws based on their way of living. For example, there are tribes still living the Amazon. They don’t have common day clothing and they hunt for food. Then you see people like the United States and the United Kingdom. We are different. We also have different flaws by the way we live. For example, government. North Koreas flaw is living under a dictatorship. Another flaw is China exporting poisoned goods to other countries and having heavily polluted air. I do agree with Ishmael that we are all part of the same culture. even though we all have different cultures now, we did start out as one culture, but we eventually branched apart.

2. Ishmael disagrees with Mother Culture’s voice that says that humans are inherently flawed. After reading through page 66 of My Ishmael do agree or disagree with him? Why?
I do agree that we are inherently flawed because if we weren’t, we would be perfect and too powerful. If we didn’t purposely have flaws, we would be above everything else. For example, if we didn’t have flaws, but monkey’s did, what would be the point of the monkeys existence? It would be unfair for humans to be perfect and for anything else not to be.

3. Ishmael uses a parable of Tunes and Dancers to explain his idea of Takers and Leavers. Who are these Takers and Leavers and how do they relate to American culture?

Agriculture is represented by the Takers and Leavers, and life before agriculture, such as hunting and gathering and being nomadic are the Tunes and Dancers. That would show that American Culture are takers and leavers. We don’t have as much freedom to food or other supplies as we would if we were Dancers. As Dancers we can roam free and pretty much do what we want.

Blog Post Assignment 2/23/09

What does it mean to live sustainably?

To live sustainably means to live for a long, on going period of time. That would mean that a civilization that is sustainable must have some sort of discipline among the people. This type of discipline would come from a type of government. Although a society might be sustainable, it does not mean that they have to be perfect. For example, China is a communistic nation that has lived on for many years. Although China is corrupt and has sweatshops and other horrible things flowing through their country, they are still living sustainably. We can track China all the way from 50,000 BC till Today. They are definitely an example of a sustainable country that is far from being a Utopia. An example of a civilization that was not sustainable is Eastern Island (The Rapanui). Their civilization fell and is no longer around today. They most fell because of their lack of Government and their technology.


How much freedom and independence do you have as a 14-16 year old in our society?

In the United States, we have a lot more freedom than most people in other countries. That is because we have human rights that are respected in our society. But just comparing ourselves as an American to our society, we don't have as much independence as our elders. For example, if our parents are at a job that they loath, they can decide to quit. As for us, if we go to a school that we don't like it's not that easy to say "I quit" or "I need to switch schools". The decision is mainly based on the adult. As 14-16 year olds, we are controlled by the adults. Most teenagers don't feel they have enough freedom because their parents don't allow them to be who they want to be. It seems the Bill of Rights only effects us when we turn 18.

As a 14-16 year old, how can you currently live your life more sustainably?

Well if a civilization lives sustainably by living for a long period of time, adolecents can live sustainably by setting future goals. With that comes that famous line "Live your life the best you can". So all we have to do is be the best we can be and do whatever we can to live on. That is how everyone should live to be sustinable.