From Savagery to Civilization - Coursework Example

American Civilization Anthology From Savagery to Civilization Quotation Commentary by Your Last Name 1 PREFACE The pioneers of the New World had been living in their lands primitively but peacefully with not much need of anything else except for food and shelter. With the coming of the colonizers, many lands and people were conquered; and the Indians, who were the pioneers, were characterized as savages who ought to be captured and tamed. Initially, in the eyes of the pioneers, the colonizers were civilized white men who came to help. Education and religion, coupled with the noble purpose of bringing enlightenment to those who need it, had indeed been effective tools towards progress as it transforms the lives of the Native Indians. Unfortunately, greed and ambition got the better of the European colonizers treating Indians, along with other “inferior” races as indentured servants. The process of colonization was necessary to give the ideas freedom, prosperity, and identity a potent reality in America as a civilization of peoples evolved. Immigration of new settlers coming from various parts of the world and migration to the west enabled cultural interactions which resulted to the conscious awareness of cultural differences. As history begins to unfold, the definition between savagery and civilization has become clear. As people of different backgrounds emerged, their motives which were easily characterized by their actions, defines what the word civilize truly means. Your Last Name 2 1. Richard White, “Frederick Jackson Turner and Buffalo Bill,” in The Frontier in American Culture "Twenty years ago, half our continent was an unknown land, and the Rocky Mountains were our pillars of Hercules. Five years hence, the Orient will be our next door neighbor. We shall hold the worlds granary, the worlds treasury, the worlds highway. But we shall have no West, no border, no Civilization, in line of battle, pressing back hostile savages, and conquering hostile nature.” (p.10) Richard White wrote about the frontier in American culture based on Frederick Jackson Turners academic paper entitled The Significance of the Frontier in American History. The quote is a reminiscence of the past and the prediction of what was to come in the future, seeing the how things have been going at present and for the last quarter of a century, the end of the frontier is very imminent. Immigrants have suppressed the pioneers, referred to as savages, so that the land could be theirs. As a civilization of peoples evolved, a strong, rich, and progressive America was born. Yet, being civilized ended on a superficial level because overcoming of mans hostile nature proved to be a never ending struggle. Your Last Name 3 2. Great Speeches by Native Americans, Robert Blaisdell "Father! Pay attention to what I am going to say. While you father, are setting me on your enemy, much in the same manner as a hunter sets his dog on the game..." (p.26) A speech by Captain Pipe, Hopocan, in 1781, a native Indian from Delaware, is a message that conveys the native Indians’ awareness of how the Whites view them –uncivilized savages - much like that of a dog. Yet, despite of that knowledge, their duty is to obey their Father, the whites, they still complied in obedience. Father is a term synonymous to master, only used to hide the true intention of the colonizers - to rule over the savages. 3. “The Significance of the Frontier.” An essay by Frederick Jackson Turner "The exploitation of the beast took hunter and trader to the west, the exploitation of the grasses took the rancher west, and the exploitation of the virgin soil of the river valleys and prairies attracted the farmer." (p. 247) The quote is about the westward immigration of people, an action perceived to be American. It symbolizes the moving away from European influences and the start of learning to stand on ones own feet. People of different stature and economic means all found a greener pasture in the West. It presents various series of events about a civilization rapidly growing born out of the desire for a better life. Your Last Name 4 4. Patricia Limerick, "The Adventures of the Frontier in the Twentieth Century," in The Frontier in American Culture “La frontera of the Rio Grande and the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico: somewhere in this weird hodgepodge of frontier and pioneer imagery lie important lessons about the American identity…” (Grossman, p. 94-95). Patricia Limerick presented how the stories of the past contributed to shaping the American identity in the 20th century. The quoted passages (paraphrase) represents the physical reality that La Frontera and confrontations awaiting those who look to cross over geographic, social, and economic barriers, which, until today still exist. These barriers are created by man as they come to define what an American is, consequently establishing boundaries dividing people in search of hopes and dreams. 5. Carey McWilliams, Southern California: Island on the Land "One noteworthy feature of the incoming population is that it is made up almost entirely of well-to-do - those who bring intelligence and money with them, and are prepared to improve their lands at once." (p.151) Carey McWilliams dwelled on the origins of many of Southern California’s interesting buildings, people, and sights in the 1920s. The above quotation describes the type of immigrants who came to settle in the island. Unlike the colonizers who came in search of wealth and have nothing, these new settlers came and used their wealth and Your Last Name 5 knowledge to improve the properties that they have bought. Such a contrast of purpose proved that the incoming population is indeed more civilized than the colonizers as they truly displayed all the characteristics of a civilized life - no force, violence, and false hopes. 6. California Uncovered: Stories for the 21st Century "All kinds of battles are yet to come (race and class rage bullets and blood); choose your weapons...just know that everyone is everywhere now so careful how you shoot." (p.3) Launched in April, 2005, California Uncovered is a fictional literary anthology in an attempt to draw people together in one common cause of understanding. The quotation was taken from Ruben Martinez’ poem entitled Manifesto which sends a message that California is now in a time when its civilization became so diverse that their differences (in terms of culture and ideologies) will spark confrontations; and being so, it reminds people to take precaution in whatever decision they make while facing with these confrontations. Your Last Name 6 7. "American Identity: The Frontiers of Custer and Thoreau" An essay by Tom Hayden "contented with what nature gives them. The wealth which we affect in this our Europe and elsewhere, such as gold, jewels, pearls, and other riches, they hold of no value at all." (page number not reflected on the scanned file) The essay of Tom Hayden clearly describes the attitude of the Native Americans, or the pioneers during the time. Unlike the “civilized” nations who search for land and gold, the pioneers hold peace and good relations more valuable than material wealth. Savages they might be in the eyes of these nations, their primitive ways bring them more contentment than the riches that their “civilized” counterparts are looking for. 8. Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, a film directed by Danny Leiner "How do you read that anyway? Kumar. Is that five O’s or two U’s?" This is the response of a police officer who stopped Kumar on the road for a violation. Kumar, who is of Indian ethnicity, noticed that the police officer, who was an American, was making fun of his name; although the scene does not necessarily show racial prejudice. It is just a depiction of how differences in culture interact; being of Indian ethnicity, clearly the American police officer is just making certain how to spell and pronounce the name correctly because it is what identifies Kumar; and he is not familiar with Indian names. Whether or not the officers question or tone of voice mean something, what’s important to note is America today is both a home and a land of promise for people of varying cultures as it has been for the past century. Your Last Name 7 Conclusion It is fitting to observe that, as in the beginning if her history, America’s strength and weakness still derive from her diversity and her contrast. The abundance of America’s land and the wealth of her resources created new hope for millions and at the same time offered unparalleled opportunities for a few. And yet, despite America’s success in achieving a more civilized way of life, the efforts of its people to tame and triumph over man’s innate wickedness still remained futile. Today, racial discrimination and prejudice still persists and is strongly evident in many parts of America, as it was centuries ago. The word savages were given to our forefathers simply because of their primitive way of life, ignorance, and innocence; yet, it was with these same qualities that our ancestors were able to pave the way for us to be able to enjoy the things that we now have in the hope that we will use it to promote peace and understanding amongst people. Finally, savagery did not exist during the time of the Indians alone, in the same way that civilization did not begin with the coming of the colonizers. To be civilized is to live morally, peacefully, and by adhering to a set of rules and laws; and to be savage is to display violent acts and force on people seeking to gain authority and use it to have power over others. Apparently, even how civilized the colonizers think they are, their acts prove them to be savages. It is just so unfortunate to note that the same is still very evident in the 21st century. Read More