Blog.
“Anyone who refused to submit to what God himself had commanded was thus by definition a ‘rebel’ or an ‘unlawful combatant.’”
(Last Days of the Incas, p. 33)
“Most serene Inca! You will know that there are in the world two princes more powerful than all the rest. One of them is the supreme pontiff who represents God. He administers and rules all those who keep his divine laws, and teaches his holy word. The other is the emperor of the Romans, Charles V. king of Spain. These two monarchs, aware of the blindness of the inhabitants of these realms who disrespect the true God, maker of heaven and earth, and [who] adore…the very demon who deceives them, have sent our Governor and Captain General Don Francisco Pizarro and his companions and some priests, who are ministers of God, to teach Your Highness and all his vassals this divine truth and His holy law, for which reason they have come to this country.”
(Last Days of the Incas, p. 62)
From the perspective of a citizen living in 2011 with all that is going on in the world today, what do the statements above make you think? They were pronounced 500 years ago. How do they strike you? 130 years after Pizarro, the Puritans fled England in search of religious freedom in the New World. Nevertheless, within two years of their arrival they began slaughtering Indians under the same justification. That is, the Indians were heathens, non-Christian, barbaric and deserving of death. That slaughter lasted for 200 years in North America. Many of you read the article about Guatemala and the Alliance for Progress. Those of you who didn’t can read about it in the comments posted in Assignment 2 of the blog. In that article we see Christian missionaries (Catholic Action) forcibly imposing their beliefs upon Mayans who they continue to consider primitive and backward. Of course, today throughout Central Asia, in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, the same words used by the Spaniards are appropriated by radical Muslims in the name of Allah instead of the Christian God. Pizarro, the Puritans, and Muslims invoke these words at some level of sincere belief. But they also do it to justify conquest and control over other people and their land.
The point is to see constancy in human behavior, hypocritical as it has been and is. That which is constant is the use of ideology or theology (which is to say belief systems) to justify acquisition and/or control over other people’s labor and resources. It’s important to be on the look-out for this behavior in the past and the present. Therefore, for your blog contribution this week I want you to find an example of this behavior in the past or the present and to describe it in roughly 100 words.
Find an example (from the newspaper, history books or your own experience) in which an individual or group invokes an abstract belief (religious, patriotic, political or other) to legitimate their subsequent forcible control over other people’s labor and/or resources, and describe it. Remember to insert your class-list number at the start of your posting. All postings are due by Saturday, Feb. 5, at 5 pm.
[15] Sex trafficking has been a problem in the United States and around the world for many years now. According to the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, "the Super Bowl is one of the biggest human trafficking events in the United States." So, this weekend, thousands of adult and underage girls will arrive in Texas for Sunday’s Super Bowl hoping to attract the fans. These girls are controlled my men (called pimps) who invoke the abstract sexist and sometimes cultural belief that women are to have no self worth and must sell their bodies for money. The girls are torn apart psychologically by their pimps to hand over their services without a fight. This belief system, prominent in many countries in the form of traditional prostitution (street corners, internet, etc.), is destroying the lives of many women and underage girls.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/31/idINIndia-54543020110131?pageNumber=1
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ReplyDelete[7] There are many examples in which an individual or group invokes an abstract belief and uses forcible control. One example of groups such as these is terrorists. Terrorism refers to violent acts which are intended to create fear and are perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal. Terrorist acts frequently have a political purpose while their abstract beliefs are also patriotic and religious. These acts definitely affect other people’s labor and resources. An attack on a country can physically impact resources and labor and disrupt a region, community, or all those involved. Terrorists target victims and the victim’s suffering accomplishes the terrorists’ goals of creating fear, getting their message out to an audience, and satisfying the demands of their religious and political agendas.
ReplyDelete[21] I found an article about the rape of young girls in Nicaragua, from the Amnesty International website. The article, although short, included several shocking facts, and pictures of victims, for a more emotional read. The article claims that more than 66% of the rapes reported between 1998 and 2008 were against girls under 17 years old, and almost half the cases were to girls under 15. Further reading reveals that the cultural stigma of sexual crimes in Nicaragua often blames the survivor and not the offender; the victims also face a failing justice system and if pregnant, the option of abortion is banned in all circumstances regardless of age or health risk. Even though rape is not as obvious a rights violation as maybe the Holocaust or genocide, it is a serious issue, especially when its victims are essentially being ignored. Nicaragua’s government does not have programs to help victims cope with emotional damage, or to help take care of a new born, or even to try and arrest and try the offenders. With no hope of restoration or justice, this is a huge violation of basic human rights: the right of dignity, safety, and the right to one’s own body. The government of Nicaragua is primarily run by men, the rape offenders are typically the girls’ male relatives- in a society where men fundamentally have all the power, they use it to abuse young girls, blame them, give them no justice and no choices. All the rights to their dignity and bodies have been taken from them by men.
ReplyDeleteI believe this type of abuse stems from a superiority complex held by the offenders. In their minds, men are superior to women; therefore, women have fewer rights allowing them to be used however, men see fit. Granted that rape and sexual abuse of women and children is still a global problem, but many countries now offer therapy, education, public awareness, abortion (or at least better adoption services) and some justice for victims. Although it will probably be many decades before rape and sexual abuse completely fade from society, the very least governments can do for victims now is acknowledge that a crime took place, and offer support to victims.
Article found at http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR43/006/2010/en/b72d5323-91bb-4b20-b541-a3fdeef3b4b6/amr430062010eng.pdf
[20] Adolf Hitler, during his reign, as Führer of the National Socialist German Workers' Party instilled in the masses of Germany in the belief that the Jewish population was the reason for the destruction of Germany from within and that they needed to be expelled from Germany. Specifically, Hitler would express that Germany lost WWI because of the Jews and were the reason for political insufficiency as it was the Jews who brought down the monarchy in 1918. With the country self-destructing from economic hardships, masses of non-Jews agreed with Hitler, as they all wanted someone to blame. Hitler used the tactic of fear to convert many to his side, while others joined with him instantly without questions asked. Hitler created a world for many to escape hard times.
ReplyDelete[17] An example I found was an article in the New York Times about an Abusive Child Labor Ring in China that had been uncovered. It is absolutely horrible that children have to be exposed to such horrific conditions and working environments. Children should not be put to work at such young ages. The reason for this abuse and forced employment is due to joint pressures of worker shortages, high inflation and a rising currency that have reduced profit margins of some Chinese factories and force them to scramble for an edge to stay competitive. The article I read stated “the children, mostly between the ages of 13 and 15, were often tricked or kidnapped by employment agencies in an impoverished art of western Sichuan province called Liangshan”. These kidnappings took place in one of the country’s largest manufacturing centers for electronics and consumer goods sold around the world. This problem is something that happens all over the world, not just in China. Forcing people, children, to do what you need done is absolutely outrageous. Child labor is destroying lives and ruining families and it needs to end.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/world/asia/01china.html?_r=1&ref=childlabor
[14] The Ku Klux Klan is a racist hate group that has been in existence since 1865 during the period of Reconstruction in the South following the Civil War. The political ideologies of the KKK are white supremacy, white nationalism, and nativism. Terrorist acts and extreme violence are the methods used by Klan members to impose their beliefs such as racial segregation and anti-Semitism. The Klan’s abstract beliefs and terrorist acts against groups such as African Americans invoked fear in many Americans and affected their labor and resources as the goals, ideas, and efforts of the Reconstruction era and the Civil Rights Movement were set back. The Klan managed to gain much support as they played on the fears of many Americans regarding the changes taking place in the country, influencing others to believe that African Americans did not deserve the same rights as whites and that they were doing the country a “favor” by trying to eradicate the problem of non-whites taking over.
ReplyDelete[9] After examining several different acts of people invoking an abstract belief on a group of individuals, I felt that Joseph Stalin and the Communist Party were a very fitting example of this. Communism is a social and political movement that aimed to make a classless society and make goods and labor common to all. As the Grand Secretary of the Communist Party, Stalin set out to rid the country of people who chose not to abide by this lifestyle. As part of his rule, he implemented the Five-Year Plan to try and improve the country’s well-being. Once again however, if people were believed to be sabotaging this plan or did not meet the standards, they were exiled or killed. Stalin forced the idea of Communism on the country of Russia and purged anyone who did not abide by his rule.
ReplyDelete[6] The article I found came from CNN online. There has been an ongoing case about a Pastor who was accused of engaging in sexual actions with man, and this was considered sexually immoral conduct, and he was not longer allowed to work at the church. There was an ongoing discussion about what had happened and what kind of actions needed to be taken. At the end of the article once he finally admitted to these acts, they thought it best that he resign from the church, and take a break from preaching. He was forced out of church and from his profession for life. I think that the power of the church and the religious strands behind them is the reason this man lost his job. Although pastor’s preach all the time about equality and what is fair, he still lost his job because of religious power.
ReplyDeletehttp://articles.cnn.com/2006-11-03/us/haggard.allegations_1_sexually-immoral-conduct-morning-services-church-forces?_s=PM:US
[5] After searching for a few ideas, I remembered a television program that I had seen a while ago about mass religious suicides, in particular, one of the largest ones lead by Jim Jones. He originally founded his "Christian" cult in Indiana, then moved to several locations in California, but eventually moved to Guyana and founded Jonestown because of legal issues in the States. He believed that he and his followers had to all die together to reach eternal bliss, and even "practiced" suicides with his followers with fake poison. When a few members of the Jonestown cult tried to leave it, they were shot at by Jonestown body guards. Jones then lead everyone in the town to commit suicide, and a total of 914 people died. This is an unique case of oppression in that the people that joined this group did so freely, but once they were in, their actions and lives were completely controlled by the cult. In this case religion was, yet again, used to control and oppress people, this time to support an unstable man's beliefs.
ReplyDeleteSource: http://www.religioustolerance.org/dc_jones.htm
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ReplyDelete[11] When I read our assignment for this blog, the idea that immediately came to my mind was that of a "cult". A major example in which an individual or group invokes an abstract belief to legitimate their forcible control over other people is that of Charles Manson. Charles Manson is a convicted serial killer who founded a cult known as "the Family". He manipulated the cults members into murdering others on his behalf. Living in San Fernando Valley, Manson took bits and pieces of different religions and formed his own philosophy in which he manipulated his cult members into believing. A Beatles song called " Helter Skelter" was a major influence on Charles Manson and the Family. He believed that the song predicted a race war between the blacks and the whites. When the race war never happened, Manson told the Family that they needed to start it. This led to a series of murders done by the Family and Charles Manson.
ReplyDeleteI found an article on Manson and the Family at http://history1900s.about.com/od/1960s/p/charlesmanson.htm
I read an article this morning in the Tribune Review that I thought could be applied to this topic. The former Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld just published a new autobiography. In his autobiography, he states that the war in Iraq has been worth the cost and does not regret any decision he made regarding the war. The United States entered Iraq in 2003 when the threat of weapons of mass destruction surfaced, however, no such weapons were ever found. The United States military has been in Iraq for years and has completely taken over the lives of the citizens. I feel the United States had just cause to enter Iraq in 2003. However, they have been involved in Iraq for years, liberating the country, creating a new form of government and promoting effective use of their resources. It seems to me that the United States entered Iraq with the intention of protecting our nation and then eventually, just took over the country, politically and economically.
ReplyDelete13] When I first read this question I did know from my basic knowledge what to write for this answer, but then I went and poured myself some Kool-Aid, and it hit me, CULTS. Cults have been in the news throughout history, and they were lead by manipulators like Jim Jones. Jim Jones was famous for heading the cult known as the Peoples Temple. In this cult Jones manipulated through his speeches of anti-capitalism. His followers believed in him so strongly that they agreed to take part in the largest loss of American lives before 9-11. Jones had convinced his people that a mass suicide would make a statement on history that you were against capitalism and you were had control of your life. The people agree and a mass suicide was the result. Jones had forced his ideas so strongly that people began to believe in him as their savior of sorts. Jones controlled these people to the point f death.
ReplyDelete[12] When I read the assignment for the blog this week it was weird because were just talking about ideology in my sociology class. We had to read two articles that dealt with ideology. The article dealt with gender and how ideology towards it evolved over time. We have various beliefs and values about how women should be treated and some include, being respected, treated equal to men and never to be taken advantage of. The article I read was about ESPN reporter Ron Franklin and a foreign announcer, Andy Gray. Both of them were disrespectful to women. Franklin called another female reporter, "sweet baby" and "sweet heart" after he was warned once about it. Gray was caught on video tape sexually harassing another female reporter. Both men were fired. They were fired because of the ideology that we have in place involving gender. We have many belief systems towards the way women should be treated. This is just one of the many ways ideology steps in to protect people or groups.
ReplyDeleteThis topic has so much history in it. The article I looked at is about Hitler's Weltanschauung ideology. He wrote this when he was in prisson. He believed that the Aryan race(Nazi) were a dominant race, which was influenced by the Darwin social view. It was their destiny to conquer all who were not of the Aryan race. He believed that in war, man showed his true abilities. Hitler use this ideology to invade poland and other countries. He killed many people(Jewish people, Gypsies, and other non-aryan races. He convinced the working class that the only way for Germany to get out of the depresion, was to focus on racial ideology's, meaning destroying non-aryan's and unifying a united Germany, rather than focusing on their own working class struggling problems. This compares to other ideology believes in history. Such as the Crusades, Puritains destroying the Indians because they were not christians and others in history.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.holocaust-education.dk/baggrund/nazismensideologi.asp#Hitler og Mein Kampf
[24] The first thing I thought of when I read the question was slavery. It is one of the best examples of one group of people forcibly making another group feel inferior in our nation’s history. In the 19th century most slaves could be found in the southern states. They worked in horrible conditions on tobacco, cotton, sugar, and coffee plantations. Almost all were unpaid and received filthy places to live in; they were treated worse than animals. The white race used their power and money to force the blacks to work under these conditions, and for the longest time they did not have the power to stand up for themselves, so they had to endure these cruel conditions that were forced upon them.
ReplyDelete[10]When I thought about this assignment, the example that came to mind was the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The members of this church live in Hildale, Utah. This Church is the largest group of polygamist. Many times the marriages are between young girls and older men. These marriages are arranged. The former leader, Warren Jeffs, was arrested and convicted for arranging marriage between underage girls and older men, sexual conduct with minors, and incest. Many times these young girls did not want to participate in the marriage. They were told that Jeffs was a prophet and that the marriages were God’s will. The leaders of the church used intimidation and brainwashing to get what they wanted.
ReplyDelete[18] When reading about the Puritans slaughtering the Indians, accusing them as heathens and non-Christians, it reminded me of the Salem witch trials in the colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings to people prosecuted and accused of using witchcraft. In 1692 in Salem Town, more than 150 people were imprisoned by being accused of signs of witchcraft. Twenty-six people who went to trial were convicted and sentences to hanging. Salem wasn’t the only town that prosecuted people of witchcraft. It was said that a man was crushed to death when he refused to enter a plea. This example was based on panic, political issues, and religious extremism with false accusations. It shows that slaughtering was going on in other countries other than the slaughtering in North America.
ReplyDelete[16] When I saw this assignment a few ideas immediately came to mind, suicide bombings and 9/11. In a recent class I learned about suicide bombings. The people who participate in these suicide bombings are brought up to believe that dying is better than living. People train these adults and even children now how to fight and make bombs. These teachers tell these people that if they sacrifice their lives then they will be given eternal happiness. I learned in my terrorism class that the Quran doesn't support suicide and Allah is merciful and forgiving. Many people think that the religion of Islam tells its people to invoke in such acts, but that is not the case. So what causes people to sacrifice their life? I learned that the people teach children at an early age how to fight and explain to them that Allah wants them to do this; they promise these people they will be rewarded in the end. The people are being lied to; they are being told that Allah wants them to do these things, but really no where in the Quran does it say that. The people are using other's faith to get them to sacrifice themselves. These people are being manipulated through their own faith and are being forced to fight and kill.
ReplyDelete[22] I found an article about India's government taking legal action against 17 people accused of alleged money hoarding. It is said that wealthy Indians and companies are stashing untaxed money raning from $500 billion to $1.4 trillion. The money is said to be stored in overseas bank accounts and tax havens. India's government has intiated talks with 10 tax havens in various foreign countries for the exchange of their tax information to find this "black money." India is losing out of this untaxed money held by overseas rich Indians and believes this money should be rightfully returned to them.
ReplyDelete[1] After reading about the Puritans, and how they fled England at the time for religious freedom, only to slaughter and kill others for not following what they viewed and forced upon those citizens, it led me to discover the 35 year Japanese Imperial Expansion over Korea. During this time "Focus was heavily and intentionally placed upon the psychological and cultural element in Japan's colonial policy, and the unification strategies adopted in the fields of culture and education were designed to eradicate the individual ethnicity of the Korean race." This sounds very similar to what Pizarro did in Peru, and other conquistadors did all over Latin America. For the Japanese their goal was to conquer while basically making the Koreans follow, and become Japanese cultural citizens.
ReplyDelete[19]One of the main topics on my mind and the mind of many people I work with is the events over in egypt. The article I have attached below saids that as of Monday there had been no new political develops involving religion as an issue in the social unrest that is occurring over there. I find it difficult to believe that religion does not play some part in the disagreement that is occurring. Religion in any form is the moral basis for all of our beliefs and often times influences our decision making progress in regards to our actions, health care, and even educational choices. I feel that as time goes by and we learn more out the disruptance in Egypt we will find that the root of the social unrest in some shape or form is the result of religious beliefs and ideas.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/28/world/middleeast/28alexandria.html
ReplyDelete[2] Miguel Blanco, a Spanish politician for the People's Party was kidnapped by ETA members and killed. The ETA is a paramilitary group known for their torturing, kidnapping, and killing of others who do not share their Marxist-Leninist perspective. When they are held by police, and/or caught, they are known to claim that they were tortured by forces holding them. I think that the violence they use on others is sort of like what the Puritans did to the Indians/Natives-- "if youre not with us, you are againat us" group mentality.
ReplyDelete