Ben Franklin

Man, was Ben Franklin a crazy cat. More so, I feel that in the light of all of the slanderous work modern day historians have done to destroy historical figure's images, (FDR, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses Grant) he really wasn't all bad. He did invent many useful modern amenities and is known for his knowledge of quirky sayings, most of which are very true. He may have been a womanizer, but as we discussed in class today, he really was following the times, as I'm sure many other men were doing at the same time. Ben Franklin deserves respect, as he was a necessary part in writing the constitution, and he really wan't that bad of a guy.

Pocahontas Statue

Pocahontas was an extremely influential figure of her time. She affected many of those around her, whether it was the English, the colonists or even her native people. In a time of great cultural disparity, she was a necessary bridge between cultures, one that made it possible for the old world to see into the wilderness that was their colonies. Her transformation from being viewed as a native, senseless savage to a refined, Christian Englishwomen also proved that the many thousands upon millions of natives in this land could be changed and created into ideal people, those who are safe and benign with their lives. Her reform gave Native Americans hope for peace, and the English hope that all could be converted to the day’s English standards. Throughout her life, Pocahontas had a very colorful history, filled with action and events leading up to her death in England, where she is honored with a cast of a bronze statue made to commemorate her final resting place. (See figure 1)

            Pocahontas had an immensely interesting history, causing her to be known as a symbol of many ideas. Pocahontas was born around what was thought around the late 1500’s, but her actual date of birth is unknown. Around the age of eight to twelve she met a ship captain named John Smith, to whom much of her life legacy can be accredited. As the story goes, John Smith was captured by the Powhatan. Right before his gruesome death, where he was to be beaten with stones, Pocahontas came to his rescue and saved him. As William Rasmussen brings up in “Pocahontas, Her Life and Legend,” she may have actually saved John Smith numerous times, but according to other sources, this event may have not taken place at all. Since Smith is the only person to have documented this occurrence, it’s possible that it was a ploy to elevate Pocahontas’s social status once she was in England.  After these encounters, the English captured Pocahontas by luring her onto Captain Samuel Argall’s ship. Amazingly, it is reported that she was treated fantastically, so much so that she converted to Christianity and was baptized, taking the name Rebecca. When her father, chief Powhatan, failed to meet the ransom of the colonists, Pocahontas remained in captivity, and eventually denounced her own people.  Within a year, she married John Rolfe and later bore a child, Thomas Rolfe. Pocahontas’s amazing story ends quite abruptly, as she travels to England and was accepted as royalty, only to die shortly thereafter. Pocahontas created a very intricate and fantastic history of herself, and her history is honored by a bronze statue created in her honor in Jamestown and in England.

The bronze statue of Pocahontas embodies much of the same symbolism as the woman herself.  Commissioned in 1906 to William Ordway Partridge in celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of James Town, the statue was not erected until 1922 (See figure 2). This delay was due mainly to lack of funds and support, which shows just how much the meaning behind Pocahontas has shifted in the minds of society.  Where she used to be an icon of change, peace, and ultimately a success story of Christianity, Pocahontas now is only a person in history to some.  The financial issues also affected the payment of the artist- he didn’t get half of the money until a decade after the original construction.  The artist did a great job with the idea of Pocahontas, if not with the accuracy of his details.  The figure is welcoming; her arms are held out showing how Pocahontas peacefully filled the gap between two extremely different cultures.  The placement of the statue is very low to the ground; Pocahontas was a human and can be related to.  Because of the warmness and portrayal of Pocahontas in the artwork, it doesn’t even matter that the woman seems to be much older than twelve, or that her shoes or the pattern on her vest are not of the Powhatan culture at all. Perhaps her headdress was created to represent stereotypical Native American dress. Accuracy isn’t the goal; the idea is to show what Pocahontas meant to all the people she affected. 

Pocahontas is not only a symbol of peace; she proved that two completely different and conflicting cultures could cohabitate, and even assimilate into one another.  She reached out the first welcoming hand, and she is well remembered for it.  The statue that commemorates this historical woman symbolizes all that she stood in a time where peace wasn’t always the first action taken.  A copy of the James Town statue was given to the queen of England and resides in Kent in town where Pocahontas is buried.  With the existence of these two statues, on in each of her worlds, the bridge she formed between the Native Americans and the European colonists shall forever live on in bronze.

Pocahontas

Pocahontas and others like her were, and are, the defining aspect of consumer culture in the late twentieth century. I personally do not view her as solely extreme romanticism of Native American culture, but more the byproduct of a Disney money-making machine in the era that produced other very extreme romances, such as Jasmine and Arabian culture or Mulan and her Chinese heritage. I am not calling Disney some evil corporation that is out to ruin history for the appeal of little children, but rather observing their recreations as a way to make money off an opportunity that was easy to identify in that time. What is even more humorous about this romanticism is the way children grew up and learned this as history as reality, and are surprised to hear when their favorite childhood character's didn't actually have a tiger for a pet or didn't actually marry John Smith. Disney really isn't to blame in their changing of the stories, they just needed to make them more appealing to youngsters who were easily entertained by animation and playful songs. I really do wish I would have grown up watching historically correct videos, but I am kind of glad that I didn't whenever I start humming Under the Sea or Just Around the Riverbend.

Fall

The fall. A wondrous season, enjoyed by all in this beautiful weather. A very short season, I am reminded of past falls, where apple picking and pumpkin carving. Fall is the shortest season, a time where the leaves fall off of the trees and make way for snow to occupy their branches. The smell of fall is a very distinct, crisp, heartening smell, where your nose tingles in the warm fall air. We have also been able to taste the apples that come in the dawn of fall, where fresh honey crisps meet your teeth and the juices fill your mouth. I do love fall, and whether it is from stepping on a particularly crunchy leaf to feeling the cool winter air creep forward, I am reminded of this awesome season constantly.

The Struggle of Authority

Some would call Anne Hutchinson a peculiar leader in a time of consistent uniformity. Others might say that she took a stand against male dominance in a male society by inserting her female authority. And still others, such as Marilyn Westerkamp, might call her a religious nutritionist, nourishing her public’s constant hunger for spiritual and religious exploration. Anne Hutchinson was a leading example of dissent of the people in early America and she, as a character in history, embodies the spirit of America in all of her actions, beliefs and teachings.

            Born in England of a prominent clergyman, Anne soon made her way to New England while following John Cotton, who preached words of puritan appeal. It is very important to note that her father owned a library where Anne learned to read and write, an uncommon theme for women in that time period.  After settling down and marrying, Anne began her legacy by offering meetings to the community around her. As Anne played a prominent role as a midwife throughout New England, many women had a close relationship with Anne and could easily relate to her therefore attendance at these meetings at first consisted solely of women. Soon her assemblies became a place where men and women could come together and discuss their relationships with God. At these meetings, as Margaret Bendroth would put it in “Feminism, Anne Hutchinson and the Antinomian Controversy,” Anne’s teachings would stray away from the common instruction of the day that declared that grace must be used as an assurance for being saved by God but instead believed that one had a very personal and individual relationship with God without outside inquiry or judgment. Through her success, Anne soon met troubles that would dissemble her power and authority in New England.

 As Anne was becoming an important member of her New England society, she was soon considered a threat by a man named John Winthrop. John Winthrop, a prominent citizen in puritan society, strongly opposed her views and, after being elected as governor of New England, lead the movement against her deviance. During a trial that was called for by Winthrop, Anne made a very costly mistake and declared that she spoke directly with the Holy Spirit. By saying this, she now was guilty of blasphemy and was quickly banished from society as the masses soon were against her. It seems very peculiar to us at why Anne was treated the way she was, but she was in an obvious battle for ideological authority.  In her battle with John Winthrop, she has an intellectual advantage against John’s power to turn the public away from her. The ideals of the Puritans seem to be exactly what Anne does, fight for and preach what she believes in and stray away from the corrupt and the overpowered. Anne Hutchinson was a Puritan American and a symbol of what the spirit of America will come to be.

Indians, Tigers and Bears

I really find it fascinating that we as Americans have always associated Native Americans with the wilderness and the outdoors. I mean, ask any normal 8 year old what an Indian is, and most likely he'll tell you that they are the people that live in tepees, ride horseback and shoot bow and arrows. I distinctly remember visiting my grandmother's school where she taught kindergarten when I was in kindergarten and making a vest with drawings of Indians fighting cowboys. I must figure then, that this is purely romanticized, and we teach this to our children as a fun way to teach history to make it more interesting? I also think that this rise in Indian romanticism came only at the time when I was a seven year old, as right now there is a push to help Native American culture revive from the thought that they hold powwows every week and it would be common to find a wigwam somewhere in the forest now. I feel that emphasis should be put on the successful Native American tribes in the country, such as the Menominee Indians in Wisconsin. I gained the opportunity to drive through the reservation this past summer, and I drove mistakenly into the wrong town. I looked all around myself at these amazing schools and what looked like great parks and clean streets, and I was surprised. I was under the impression that Native American life was terrible and they always could use some more money, but this proved otherwise. Native Americans deserve a renewal of what their culture really was and is.

St. Olaf Around You

My Podcast Script

Narrator 1: [Light classical music] Hello! And welcome to St. Olaf. At this moment, you probably are sitting in the admissions office and may be wondering why mom dragged you here in the first place. You may be wondering if this whole confusing college thing will ever make sense to you.[fade to silence] On the other hand, St. Olaf may have been an aspiration, a place where you have aimed to attend for your entire life.

Narrator 2: No matter why you are here, know this one thing; St. Olaf has a physical and mental landscape that students here identify with. Here at St. Olaf, students develop a keen sense of place through St. Olaf’s emphasis on community values and academics.

Narrator 1: We asked Grant Knoploh, a junior here at St. Olaf, “How has living at St. Olaf enhanced your sense of community?” He responded by saying, “I like that St. Olaf Is a place where the students all work to their greatest potential. Through that work they create a solid community that I love being a part of.” Here at St. Olaf, there are many characteristics within the physical landscape that provide strong community values. [chattering of students] For one, St. Olaf has an architecture that is designed for interaction and sharing ideas. From the snaking couches on the fourth floor of Regents Hall to the fireside lounge in Buntrock Commons, where it is often difficult to work because of a constant desire to converse with others, St. Olaf is built with the idea in mind that the community is one of the most important aspects of student life. [Birds chirping and footsteps of students] Look outside. Around you are walkways, all leading towards centers to turn students to different areas of the campus. These pathways are crucial to St. Olaf’s sense of place, as they all pass and turn with the landscape of the college instead of cutting through and bypassing the beauty around them. [No sound]

Narrator 2: [Clinking and sounds of conversation] St. Olaf also keeps community in mind with their food. Stav Hall, our cafeteria, is built in a way that really discourages eating alone. The tables are long where students sit across from each other and large circle tables are scattered about. Although there is nothing wrong with getting a bite to eat if you are in a hurry, the excellent Bon Appetite food and a good conversation is required for a delightful eating experience. Smell around you. If you are lucky, you should be able to get a whiff of cookies, or Cocoa Puffs. This smell is a characteristic of St. Olaf, a characteristic that the community can identify and share a common bond with. Community at St. Olaf is very important and with a strong community, students and the whole student body can grow together.[no sound]

Narrator 1: [Very quiet writing sound] When asked the question, “How have St. Olaf’s academic programs played a part in your development as a St. Olaf student?” Senior Robert Croissant answered, “The liberal arts attitude of St. Olaf has given me the passion for integrating several of my interest into class projects. This integration has allowed me to enter the entrepreneurial world with multiple perspectives and an eye for innovation.” St. Olaf offers many opportunities for students to develop their sense of place through world- class facilities and excellent programs. [Fade to silence] The very new Regents Hall offers state-of-the-art science labs and a science library for research. Quiet space is abundant at St. Olaf, where 2 floors of the library are super-quiet sections and common courtesy rings true for all that are studying. From where you are, look at all the windows that are placed strategically around campus. They are numerous. Some of the best places to study are in these rooms with many windows, where you can still feel the landscape while learning about the subject at hand.

Narrator 2: At St. Olaf, there is a special atmosphere where learning is appreciated and desired by all students. This is really evident in student conversation, where it is common to find students walking outside in the cool fall air discussing global politics or theology. Here, students tend to create a developed identity that emphasizes learning and exploration of self.

Narrator 1: As you go on and explore the rest of the campus, make sure and look at the beauty all around you. In the winter, fall or spring, St. Olaf has an identity that cannot be matched by any other college. This identity is shown through all of the school’s students, who each have a sense of place that was created through their community and their academic life. The school creates students who all have a similar, familiar experience, which is like no other college experience in the United States.

We would like to thank Grant Knoploh, Robert Croissant and the St. Olaf webpage for their contributions to this podcast.

Ramen Noodles

As I eat some tasty ramen while I write my blog, I have decided to spin my eating of ramen to what we discussed earlier in the semester on my unalienable right to be unhealthy. My eating of ramen may not be the best decision for my health, because it is chalk full of sodium and preservatives, and it will not be the best decision for me in the long run for anyone because in some minuscule amount of time, my eating of this ramen will trim off some of my health and cost more to my future health insurance if I end up becoming ill. This act of being unhealthy is put up to a much larger scale when you look at the mass majority of obese people in the country, costing the government millions of dollars to support them but yet they choose to be unhealthy and inherently will be ill more in their lives. This delema is an exact contradiction to what American ideals are, and that is the freedom to do what one would like as long as it doesn't infringe on other people's well being. Now, being myself and always looking in slight extremes, i feel that these types of contradictions should be dealt with, and an external authority should decide that yes, it is alright to have the freedom to be unhealthy while acknowledging that yes, it will be hurting others indirectly. In making this decision, they also address the individual's personal right to be unhealthy as well, which would include smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol among other things. And that is all I have to say about that.

St. Olaf Archives

This post originates from the St. Olaf article we read for Wednesday.

Oddly enough, I had quite an adventure on Wednesday as I tried to navigate my way around the library and the surrounding area. I started at the first floor of Buntrock and thought, "Hey! Maybe those big white doors next to the bathroom lead to Rolvaag!" So I decided to take a new route. I ended up walking into the office of the St. Olaf history archives. This seemed very weird, because just earlier that day we had discussed St. Olaf and its founding and portrayal of an American college.

This adventure lead me to think more. What really does make a college American? Why do so many colleges show a similar scene of the forest and the changing leaves? Landscape is such an important aspect to any community, and colleges seem to be no exception. I feel that the familiarity with the fall-like advertising may have a play at connecting the students body and keeping them together where they are all again familiar with this season called autumn.