Blog #6:

How would an Athenian of the 5th Century BCE criticize our present-day representative democracy? (or.... how would they approve of it?)

An Athenian from the 5^th century would criticize or approve of our democracy based on where they sit as an individual. It could also be based on a more general part of their democracy. Their direct democracy is a lot different then our representative democracy. Two examples of this are, one something that has nothing to do with their title, voting laws. Two they have no middle man. No legislators or senators to pass or veto their votes.

Their voting laws had stated that a slave, women or anyone under 18 could not vote. The “ You have to be over 18 to vote” law still aplys, but we don't have slaves and women rights have changed a lot. Someone in higher power wouldn't like to see that there are no slaves and any man would not like seeing women with rights. Although, a women would very much like the opportunity to voice her opinion and a slave like seeing no slaves. Like I said it depends where you stand.

Although different individuals have different points of view, a representative democracy is something that affects everyone equal (at least people who can vote). It is already hard for us to see our decisions being decided a second time in a different way. Athenians would have trouble understanding why there decision was being ignored instead of falling through. Having a direct democracy os much simpler then a representative one.

Blog entry #5:

How do we see Mayan values exemplified in modern society?

We see Mayan values exemplified in modern society in many ways, a few o fthem are through religion, sports, and art. In religion we see creation stories that we see in Judaism and Christiantity. In sports we similar entertanment. And in art we see both cultures being reflected.

The Mayan creation stories are very similar to the ones we have in the Torah and Bible. For example the Mayans believed that in the very beginning there was nothing and no one to praise the Gods. Also, very similar God creates everything by word then he would command it good. In the Bible and the Torah there the story of Noah's Ark and the flood. There was a very similar flood in the mayan beliefs.

The Mayans also had a ball game that was a very big deal to them, religiously and competitively. Although the Mayans would sacrifice the losing team, we still see similar sports today. Like soccer and basketball, their sport was very entertaining. The sport was like soccer because you couldn't use your hands. It was like basketball, because you had to get a ball through a hoop. Once one team would do that the game was over.

Like the Mayans we also reflect our culture through art. The Mayans reflected their culture through hieroglyphics, paintings and carvings. We reflect our culture through movies, stories, photography and also paintings, drawings, and sculptures. At the De Young museum there were two cylinders. One had a monkey scribe and another scribe, the other cylinder had sacrificial scene. We can infer from these cylinders that their culture valued writing and sacrifice to please the Gods.

The Mayans have spread a lot of their traditions through out the world.

Two Chinese philosophies are Confucianism and Legalist. They both have very different beliefs that effect the way they maintain order. I agree with Confucianism beliefs. They believe that everyone can be good even if you are born evil. I think that this gives the people hope that they can be good and it will make it more important to them to fallow the rules. Unlike legalists who believe that everyone is evil and they must suppress it. But by suppressing it doesn't go away it's still there. It's like hiding something under a blanket it never really goes away. The confusionists go to the root of the problem and get rid of it.

An example of this for legalists is there idea of a perfect society. To have control over everything; basically a complete dictatorship. Confusionists have a big no hypocrite policy in there government I think this shows that they care about setting a good example for the people especially ones whom have been "born evil".

Leaders must maintain order in there land. Three of the most sufficient ways to maintain order are discipline, public appearance, and security. It's important to keep order in a sufficient way, because if you don't your land, home or class room will be full of chaos and turmoil.

Discipline not only shows that you have the power or authority to punish people, but it also teaches citizens, offspring, or students that if they commit a crime, not do there chores, or cheat on a test that it comes with a price. If they learn that then they won't do it and it will keep your empire, class room, or home out of turmoil. Public appearance allows you to give a good example towards your subjects. It also shows (if your a king or president) that you also have to pay your taxes, drop your kids off, obey the law ect. If they know you have to do all of this too then so will they. And most importantly security. Your subjects need to know that you have everything under control. It's not a matter of alarms and sensers it's about peace of mind and trust. One major thing people worry about today is if our country will go even more into chaos then it already is. Good public appearances help this, such as some by Obama with him talking about how to clean up this mess with proof that we can gives us peace of mind.

These three things are very important in empires, homes and of course class rooms.

  "Geographical luck and circumstance." This is Jareld Diamonds thesis. His response to Yalli's question which was, "Why is that you white men have so much cargo and we New Guineans have so little cargo?" It seems like a simple question, but there is alot behind it. It can go all the way back their ancestors. 

About 13,000 years ago people gathered in the middle east (Mesopatamia) in a spot they call the Fertile creasent. Which is in present day Iraq. Before the last ice age it was a perfect spot for agriculture, because it was fertile. I agree with Diamond. I think that the reason why New uineans have to eat sago tree and not get the nutrition (and also the reason behind Yalli's question) is because they have to plant things that don't need alot of sun, because they are in the forest. If you try to plant somthing that needs sun light, in the middle of a rain forest it's going to work.

 

I think that there are ups and downs to everything. I think that agriculture and farming have many disadvantages, such as: what would happen if your crops died and that's how you and your family make money or that's all of your food for a while? And there's also the problem that nothing can be 100% Garanteed. There are many advantages though, such as: The satisfaction of having planting your own food, and I think that it must feel safer to have your food (and money) write there in your own back yard, instead of having to look for it.